《After rebirth, I rejected the rich yandere lady》 Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Its easy to latch onto a rich woman, but hard to live off her charity. Those who frequently marry into wealthy families and marry beautiful and wealthy female CEOs know this all too well. In fact, living off a woman is not so easy to do... In the coffee shop, the matchmaking scene unfolds. Xu Musen, who had already been tormented by countless "little fairies," "Feminist Masters," and "dowry experts," looked a bit dazed at the woman appearing before him. ck hair cascading like a waterfall, she wore a bespokedy''s suit paired with a light red Burberry coat, and a ruby wristwatch on her hand made her fair skin even more enchanting. Her long, beautiful legs were sheathed in ck stockings, and beneath their graceful curves, a pair of red high heels gently tapped the floor, as if stepping right into one''s heart. She gently removed her sunsses, revealing a stunningly beautiful face, and sized up the man before her from head to toe. A hint of light shed in her splendid eyes as she spoke in amanding tone. "Marry me, and you can live in a luxury car and vi as you please. You''ll have a daily allowance of no less than five figures. You don''t need to work or do any household chores. I''ll bear you as many children as you want in the future. All I ask is that you never leave me and never go against my will." The woman picked up her coffee and elegantly took a sip, her phoenix eyes twinkling confidently. She leisurely shook her ck-stockinged leg and looked at him with a self-assured smile. "Think about it?" Xu Musen''s eyes widened in shock. Hold on, isn''t this script off? After all, the typical conversation at such matchmaking events would be: "A dowry of 288,000, not a penny less!" "The house and car must be put in my name, and you''ll hand over all your sry to me." "And there are the costs for getting in the car, the gold jewelry, the change-of-name fee, the tea ceremony feenot a single red packet can be missing!" "Oh, and by the way, my family will give you a reciprocal gift of three quilts, hehe!" Three quilts, oh, enough to cover for three lifetimes. In the fiercepetition of today''s matchmaking market, the demands made by such a beautiful woman seemed like a fairy sister descending to the mortal world to save all beings. For Xu Musen, who was penniless and even saddled with a huge family debt, this offer was incredible. Why hesitate at all! Even though his current job as a doomed programmer was okay, with the boss asionally looking after him and letting him earn some money from projects, it was still a drop in the bucketpared to the family debt. With this offer, it wouldn''t just be about marrying into the family; he would even call her his godmother right there and then! If it had been someone else, they might have wondered if the other party was just trying to make quota from a border area in Myanmar. But the woman in front of him was his childhood sweetheart, whom he had grown up with and knew inside outYao Mingyue. Yet, what Xu Musen would regret the mostter on was that today, on a whim, he eagerly epted this soft rice to eat. ... After the marriage. Yao Mingyue kept her word and truly treated Xu Musen well. He didn''t have to work or do chores, as everything was provided on a silver tter. She also initiated intimacy every night, often aggressively to the point where Xu Musen felt hecked the stamina to keep up. Except for at thepany, she was always glued to his side. What was once an enviable life gradually became suffocating as Yao Mingyue''s controlling desires grew stronger. She began to control his social life, not allowing him to have other friends, and forbade any interaction with the opposite sex, not even a second nce. Later, she even took his phone, cleared out his contact list, and allowed only her number. Eventually, she prohibited him from leaving the house without her permission. He remembered once when he went to herpany to deliver documents, just because he spoke to a female employee in the hallway to ask for directions, Yao Mingyue fired the employee on the spot. Xu Musen merely pleaded for the female employee a little bit. As a result, in the following week, Yao Mingyue locked him in a room. The only view of the outside world he had was through the solitary window in the room. Yes, it turned out that Xu Musen had never known that his childhood sweetheart was actually an extremely possessive yandere. As the saying goes, your story with a yandere is interesting, but when a yandere takes a liking to you, that''s an ident. Because of the marriage, he had lost his job, his friends, and even his family seldom visited him. His entire life seemed to exist for Yao Mingyue. Even what he ate, what he wore, his tone of voice... even the rhythm of their conjugal life had to be entirely ording to Yao Mingyue''s requirements. Can you imagine the bizarre scene of saying "Chairwoman, I request to change gears,"te at night? He gradually felt that he was no longer like a person. More like a personal tool of Yao Mingyue. He had thought about having a child too, but Yao Mingyue, who had previously agreed to it, was now always making excuses to evade the matter, which left Xu Musen utterly discouraged. So he proposed divorce. When he ced the divorce agreement before her, Yao Mingyue just looked at him indifferently, "Have I done anything to wrong you?" Xu Musen shook his head, "You''ve been good to me, but this isn''t the life I want. I will pay back the debt you cleared for my family slowly, and I will leave without taking anything, let''s... part amicably." When Xu Musen said this, he felt a tinge of mncholy deep inside because Yao Mingyue had been truly good to him, except for her pathological possessiveness, which was like a mountain pressing down on him, stifling his breath. Yao Mingyue didn''t speak, just calmly looked at him for a long time, then picked up the divorce agreement and set it aside. "Fine, but before signing, join me for onest meal." Xu Musen didn''t expect she would agree so easily. After so many years of marriage, it was impossible to say there were no feelings, so he agreed. It was giving each other onest bit of dignity. But this was the second thing he regretted most in his life... After downing thest ss of red wine, Xu Musen prepared to get up. "That''s it then, I''ll pack my things and leave tonight." But just as he stood up, suddenly the world began to spin, and he copsed to the ground. In his dazed vision, a pair of red high heels and legs wrapped in ck stockings appeared slowly before him, and then the owner of these perfect jade legs squatted down. A hint of pathological expression appeared on Yao Mingyue''s beautiful face. She cradled the unresisting face of Xu Musen. "It was you who promised me from a young age, never to leave me, and since you''ve forgotten, I''ll fulfill the promise for you, you are mine, forever..." Yao Mingyue kissed him deeply. Xu Musen was thus locked in a room in the vi. He wanted to escape, but what truly trapped him was never just a lock on the door. In the end, it was he who had agreed to these terms, and indeed, Yao Mingyue had helped him and his family through a difficult time. Yao Mingyue wasn''t wrong; her possessiveness was just too pathological, and Xu Musen had underestimated the cost of being a kept man. It wasn''t until New Year''s Day that Yao Mingyue finally agreed to let Xu Musen leave the room and go home with her to see his family. The car was driving on a snowy road when suddenly a truck seemed to lose control. With the icy road surface, the truck almost instantly reached the car door near Yao Mingyue''s side. "Watch out!" Xu Musen shouted, nearly on instinct, he fiercely pulled Yao Mingyue into his arms. "Bang!" "No, no... Musen... Musen!!" In his final vision, Xu Musen saw Yao Mingyue crying her eyes out, her forehead also smeared with blood, no longer possessing the domineering aura of the tough businesswoman she once was. She cried heart-wrenchingly, holding Xu Musen''s increasingly cold body, it was the first time she was so frantically desperate, "You... you can''t die, you absolutely can''t die, I won''t allow you to die!!" Xu Musen''s body grew colder, but deep within his soul, he felt a kind of release. He looked at Yao Mingyue''s panic-stricken beautiful face, even at this moment, she was still so naively assertive. Xu Musen trembled withughter, he looked at Yao Mingyue''s tear-stained face. "If there''s a next life, I''ll never eat your soft rice again..." Yao Mingyue cried heart-wrenchingly, apologizing to him, but it was ultimately toote, his consciousness gradually faded. Xu Musen didn''t hate her, but he had had enough of this kind of life, if there really was an afterlife. He would definitely not cling to a rich woman again, as destiny should be in his own hands, that''s the true essence of life! . . . (During the new book promotion, I don''t ask for much reward, but I do seek the continued readership of all my friends. Since the new book is free during this period, everyone might as well read it on the starting point tform, where you can alsoment and interact. Help me add some followers, thank you!) Chapter 2: Chapter 2 Be an Obedient Toad "Ding-a-ling, students, please line up in an orderly fashion to leave school..." The air was redolent with the scent of gardenias, marking the season. Xu Musen felt his surroundings bustling. Waves of youthful and immature voices were continuously causing an uproar. His body still seemed to be in pain, his head buzzing like a big, broken clock, as a sliver of light struggled to creep into his vision. Amid his daze, a delicate and slender silhouette appeared before him. She seemed to be only seventeen or eighteen years old. She was dressed in the blue-and-white school uniform, her feet in a pair of pink canvas shoes. The slightly bloated uniform could not hide her outstanding figure, and her lightly rolled-up sleeves revealed wrists as white as jade while her high ponytail added to her youthful vitality. A ssic oval face with lips that were tender and lustrous, a proudly arched nose, and a pair of charming phoenix eyes which bore a captivating allure. Xu Musen was taken aback. Why did this girl look so much like Yao Mingyue? Could it be that even if he descended into hell, he could not escape her clutches? "Xu Musen, I have told you, I don''t want to be in a rtionship right now; in fact, I''ve always seen you as my brother," she said. A voice that was familiar yet somewhat naive rang in his ears, and the person in front of him became clearer and clearer, to the point where he could even smell a faint girlish fragrance emanating from her. Yao Mingyue? Xu Musen was momentarily bewildered. And the uniform she was wearing... it seemed to be from their high school days. Although sometimes she would get in the mood and put on some uniforms for a bit of novelty, the Yao Mingyue before him seemed a bit too young. "Yao Mingyue... weren''t you hit by a car?" Xu Musen''s mind was still somewhat muddled as he blurted out without thinking. Suddenly, a look of astonishment shed across the girl''s phoenix eyes, which then turned into a hint of shame and anger. A burst ofughter erupted around them. "Holy crap! That''s the first time I''ve seen someone curse the person they confessed to for getting hit by a car!" "Haha... Did he get too traumatized? Xu Musen, you''re ruthless!" The jeering noises around him finally snapped Xu Musen back to full consciousness. He wasn''t staring at a hospital ceiling but at the school building, and around him were boys and girls in school uniforms, not yet free of their youthful naivety. "Struggle for a hundred days, work hard for thest three months, and enjoy the next thirty years of your life!" "Score one more point, beat a thousand people!" "As long as you don''t die from studying, keep studying like mad!" Banner after banner full of the typical senior year exhortations appeared before his eyes. Xu Musen waspletely stunned. Had he... been reborn? Or was it just a dying hallucination? "Xu Musen, aren''t you going too far!" The girl with short hair who stood next to Yao Mingyue also spoke indignantly, "Is it because Ming Yue turned down your confession that you curse her like that?" Xu Musen looked at the people before him, the high school version of Yao Mingyue and her best friend. A confession? He looked down to see a rose in his hands. Memories of the past rushed back to him. As a student, Xu Musen had been insanely infatuated with Yao Mingyue. Moreover, this wasn''t his first time confessing his love for her. In fact, for about every week in the past couple of months, Xu Musen had made surprising confessions. But each time, Yao Mingyue had rejected him in front of everyone. Yet in private, she had said they could start getting to know each other slowly. In her own words at the time, she didn''t want her family to know about their puppy love, as academic achievements were most important. She drew the long bow all the way to their university days. It was only muchter that Xu Musen realized that Yao Mingyue, the little tsundere, just wanted him to confess to her over and over again in public so that no other girls would approach him. And guys would gradually distance themselves from him due to jealousy. The so-called brother-sister excuse, although they were childhood sweethearts, was just Yao Mingyue''s worry that moving too fast would lead her to be taken for granted once she was in a rtionship. After all, it''s the unattainable that''s the most attractive. She knew from a young age that controlling a man''s heart meant giving him a little sweetness each time he was close to giving up, to gradually andpletely master him. This drawn-out push and pull left Xu Musen with fewer and fewer people by his side, and he even began to doubt himself. Eventually, she could justifiably, even as if descending like a savior, dominate his entire life... This was a little spoiled brat excellent at making grand strategical moves. These maneuvers were simply a dimensionality reduction strike against a 17- or 18-year-old boy in the throes of love. If she were to write a book, she could probably get half the boys in the world hooked. "Xu Musen, I''m going to tell you again, I don''t want to date before college. Let''s talk about these things when we get into the same university, okay? For now, we can still be like brother and sister" Yao Mingyue looked at Xu Musen who was lost in thought, earnestly rejecting him with her words, but deep down, she actually felt a bit proud, deftly offering another glimmer of hope. "No need." But before she could finish speaking, Xu Musen interrupted her for the first time. "What do you mean?" Yao Mingyue was stunned. "I mean, I agree with you. From now on, I won''t pursue you beyond my capabilities, and there''s even less need for this brother and sister act." Xu Musen closed his eyes slightly, and the pain in his body had gradually faded away. However, the indignities of freeloading in his previous life were still clear in his mind. Reborn into this life, he was definitely not going to make the same mistakes. It was the perfect opportunity to cut ties with her. However, Xu Musen''s seemingly careless words had instantly silenced the onlookers around them, all of whom were looking at each other in bewildered confusion. How could the story take such an unexpected turn? Panic appeared in Yao Mingyue''s eyes for the first time, but then she clenched her pearly white teeth, looking at Xu Musen with some irritation. "Xu Musen, can you stop messing around! What do you mean by today? What do you mean you won''t anymore..." Xu Musen found it very annoying. Though the choices in his previous life were his own, he couldn''t me anyone else. But he didn''t want to live that kind of life for even one more second. He looked at Yao Mingyue''s radiant and peerless face, stood a little taller, and cleared his throat. "Hey hey, everyone look here, I''ve got something to announce!" His voice, which would sound every week at the school gate, rang out. But this time, Xu Musen had a smile on his face. "Thank you all for your support every week. The thing I''ve been hearing most is that a toad wants to eat swan meat. I agree with that. Compared to Yao, I''m indeed an overambitious toad." Xu Musen''s self-deprecation sounded more like ament for his tragic life in the past. Yao Mingyue and her closest girlfriend were both staring at him, spellbound. Everyone felt that Xu Musen had suddenly be different. "So, this time I choose to be an obedient toad. I, Xu Musen, hereby officially dere that I will not pursue Yao anymore!" Xu Musen''s words were undoubtedly like a bombshell thrown into the sea of people! Many knew that the two were childhood sweethearts, and that Xu Musen had liked Yao Mingyue since childhood. Even after being rejected countless times, he never got discouraged. But today, for the first time, he said such a thing. In Yao Mingyue''s phoenix eyes, disbelief shimmered, and she bit her lip until it was white,pletely unaware. Xu Musen''s gaze then turned back to her. Seeing her dazed expression, he felt somewhat ted and smiled at her. "I also believe that Student Yao Mingyue is so outstanding that she certainly won''t take this little thing to heart. From now on, everyone please monitor, I will definitely keep my distance from Yao Mingyue, and anyone who dares to cross the line is nothing but a dog eating its vomit!" After finishing hisst sentence, Xu Musen did not care about Yao Mingyue, who was as cold as an iceberg at this moment, and left the crowd with a swagger. Walking against everyone''s stares, Xu Musen no longer cared about social death. A man''s face can shine as brightly, just like the diplomacy between nations. You either fill your economic wallet, or you improve the strength and range of your big guns! Talking otherwise is useless! The tragedy of his past life was because of money! Without money, that''s why he chose to live off his wife''s family; because of no money, he owed Yao Mingyue so many favors; because of no money, he had such a stifled life So, money had be Xu Musen''s obsession. Having already reborn, why fuss about love? Lick the feet of a rich woman? With money, what can''t you buy? Xu Musen turned his back on the crowd, exhaling deeply into the sky. In this life, I''d rather entertain the whole world than let a rich woman entertain me again! Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Who is Really Craving for Whom? Xu Musen made his sauve exit, but everyone at the scene was dumbfounded. After so many confessions, Xu Musen had also changed up his tactics a few times, even saying to Yao Mingyue, "If you don''t ept me now, I won''t like you anymore." But, as expected, the next day Xu Musen would still be holding flowers and continuing his confessions. But this time, everyone felt it was different. The short-haired girl beside Yao Mingyue started speaking indignantly, "This Xu Musen must feel like he can''t win you over, so he''s purposely saying such disgusting things! With how outstanding you are, what kind of guy could you not find? His type, no money and poor gradesthat toad deserves..." The girl had intended tofort Yao Mingyue. But suddenly feeling a chill, she saw Yao Mingyue giving her a cold look, "Who allowed you to speak ill of him?" The female ssmate was overwhelmed by her formidable presence and stuttered, "I-I was just thinking he went too far today, I was doing it for you..." "I can criticize him, but others can''t!" Yao Mingyue said dismissively, her gaze following the direction Xu Musen had gone. Her phoenix eyes shimmered with a feverish glow as she bit her lip. "I really want to see what kind of game you''re trying to y..." The girl beside her was also a bit confused. So... did Yao Mingyue like Xu Musen or not? ... At this moment, Xu Musen was walking along the familiar yet strange street with a sense of lightness. This street lined with ne trees, and all the snack stalls alongside, with the scent of cumin that made one''s mouth water. The ck inte cafe that charged one yuan per hour. The vendor pushing a tricycle selling feather chicken eggs and grilled sausages. The five-spice roast duck that sold for eight or nine yuan each. The two-yuan small shops on the roadside The banners celebrating the Olympics on the streets were starting to fade too... In a few years, all these would gradually disappear with the advancement of the city. He had actually been reborn! He was feeling this eighteen-year-old body. Indeed brimming with energy, he subconsciously performed a basketball jump, his bones so light that it felt as though he could take flight. Of course, he couldn''t fly. In fact, he hadn''t felt the kind of systems or golden fingers that many novels described woulde with rebirth. Patting himself down, he didn''t find any jade pendant that needed his blood, nor a ring containing an old man or a glowing little green bottle. He was still an ordinary person. But being able to return to his youth was already the greatest gift from heaven. Arge bouquet of roses was still in his hands. These were leftovers from his family''s flower shop, and he would sneak them out to confess his love. Otherwise, he definitely wouldn''t have had enough money to buy flowers every day. The flowers, already packaged and unseble, were tossed by Xu Musen on top of the trash can lid. It was a farewell to his past self. But what he didn''t know was that right after he left, that bunch of fresh flowers he''d discarded on the trash can was delicately picked up by a pair of clean white hands, seemingly gazing at Xu Musen''s retreating figure for quite a while... ... "Xu Musen!" A calling voice came from behind. A dark-skinned boy was jogging over. Xu Musen remembered him; this was his buddy He Qiang from high school. His family contracted fish ponds, and having been engulfed by a love for fishing from a young age, he was sun-baked to thisplexion. In the previous life, after Xu Musen married into another family, he was one of the few people who didn''t shun him and would still talk to him. Butter, it was heard that He Qiang tried to challenge the title of Central ins Fish King by secretly fishing in the reserve and ended up earning two and a half years with a sewing machine for life. After his family spent a lot of money on connections to get him out, he was beaten up by his wife and then became well-behaved. "Qiang Zi, long time no see. It''s great that you haven''t been caught," Xu Musen said as he patted him on the shoulder. "Damn! Xu Musen, did a donkey kick your brain today? Why are you cursing everyone you see?" He Qiang looked utterly confused andined, "What''s wrong with you today? Were you rejected and now you''re taking it out on me? If it''s that bad, I can take you to the eighth hospital, we know the doctors there!" These youthfully petty squabbles and acting dumb were indeed quite nostalgic. Xu Musen smiled, "Alright, I was just joking with you. What''s the rush anyway?" "And you''re asking me? What was that all about just now? Are you seriously nning to cut ties with Yao Mingyue?" He Qiang couldn''t quite believe what had happened moments before. This devoted loser in love, his brother, it was as if he had be a different person overnight. "What''s there to not believe? Did you really want your bud to keep grovelling and chasing after her?" Xu Musenughed freely. "Of course not!" He Qiang immediately shook his head, and as he looked at Xu Musen''s carefree demeanor, he grew even more curious. "But you changed so quickly. I mean, you''ve been childhood friends for so many years. Or were you just lusting after her body all this time?" Lusting after her body? If anyone was lusting, it was Yao Mingyue who was lusting after him! Xu Musen remembered the time right after he got married in his previous life. To keep him from thinking about other women, Yao Mingyue implemented a merciless strategy of ''draining'' him every single day. There were all sorts of excuses like "to aid digestion before meals," "to help keep fit after meals," "we''re idle anyway," "Honey, is that a thread on your pants? Let me take a look for you..." In those days, Xu Musen would shudder at the sight of the juicer at home. Xu Musen''s expression of lingering fear was interpreted by He Qiang as a sign that his good buddy was still not over Yao Mingyue. He walked over and put his arm around Xu Musen''s shoulder,forting him, "I''ve been telling you, Yao Mingyue isn''t someone just anyone can mess with. It''s good you''vee to your senses. Come on, let''s go to the inte caf and hang out. I''ll pay for you to y the Mysian de today. Let''s y a few rounds together!" Xu Musen shook his head, "Forget it, it''s not the same ying alone." He Qiang: ??? Just then, a red BMW approached from the end of the street. In an era where most people''s cars were around one hundred thousand, this nearly four hundred thousand 5 Series stood out conspicuously. The rear window rolled down to reveal Yao Mingyue''s perfect face with her eyes slightly squinted, still retaining some of a young girl''s anger. Her gaze briefly swept over He Qiang''s arm on Xu Musen''s shoulder, and for a moment, there was a sh of coldness. He Qiang was taken aback by her aura. Those eyes... why did it feel like he was stealing her man? Xu Musen knew that look all too well. Indeed, in his previous life, Yao Mingyue would get jealous over anyone, even if her own mother chatted with Xu Musen for too long, she would get jealous. The three of them had a staring contest across the car door for a moment. Apparently noticing that Xu Musen had no intention of apologizing or exining, Yao Mingyue bit her lip with a cold snort, rolled up the window, and the car drove off. Yao Mingyue had always been chauffeured to and from school; sometimes, Xu Musen would hitch a ride too. "Xu Musen, I have this feeling that things between you two aren''t over. That look was terrifying," said He Qiang, sensing a cold sweat on his forehead despite the summer heat. Xu Musen watched the red BMW drive away and clicked his tongue, "In this summer heat, sitting in a car with air conditioning is indeedfortable." "That car must cost around three to four hundred thousand, something regr families can''t afford," He Qiang said, shaking his head. Though his family wasn''t poorthey owned several fish pondstheir car was just a Passat worth over two hundred thousand. "We still need to make money..." Xu Musen sighed. Making money wasn''t easy. He had plenty of ideas, but most required capital. He checked his pockets, not even fifty yuan to his name. His eyes then turned towards He Qiang, whose family was quite well off, even though he was usually quite low-key about it. Suddenly, he pped He Qiang''s shoulder with a bright smile, "Qiang Zi, we''re good brothers, right?" "Absolutely! Brothers in heart!" He Qiang patted his chest firmly, his suntanned face exuding sincerity and simplicity. "Good, then lend me some money." "I just remembered I have something to do, gotta go." He Qiang turned and walked away, as if he had made a firm decision. Xu Musen stood in ce. Damn! ... Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Making money is the most important thing. The school was only two or three kilometers from home. It wasn''t far, but the midsummer sun was still somewhat oppressive. Xu Musen knew that if he had just apologized earlier, he might be sitting in a BMW with Yao Mingyue, enjoying the air conditioning by now. But at this moment, the outside heat felt like a rare breath of freedom to Xu Musen. Humming a tune, he quickly arrived at his home. This neighborhood was a mix of vis and low-rise apartments. Once upon a time, the Xu and Yao families both lived in vis, and their rtionship extended beyond mere neighbors to involve business coborations. However, in the year they graduated from elementary school, Xu Musen''s father and Yao Mingyue''s father were in a car ident while traveling together to negotiate a contract. Yao Mingyue''s father eventually passed away after unsessful medical treatment, while Xu Musen''s father was seriously injured and now had some trouble walking. Moreover, because the ident dyed the contract, both families lost a substantial amount of money. Out of guilt, Xu Musen''s father did not take any of thepensation money for the ident, leaving it all to Yao Mingyue and her mother. This ident dealt a major blow to both family businesses. Yao Mingyue''s family gradually recovered with the aid of thepensation money, but the Xu family''s situation continued to worsen. Yao Mingyue''s mother also offered financial help to them, but Xu''s father, feeling guilty, never epted it. Moreover, as businessmen know, you can save someone in a crisis but not someone in poverty, so they chose to survive on their own slowly. Things might have gotten better slowly, butter Xu Musen''s father was swindled by a business partner who ran off with the investment money. That''s what finally knocked Xu Musen''s family down and out. Money, money, money... it''s always about money... Xu Musen slowly exhaled, determined that since fate had given him another chance, he would definitely not let these things happen again. He wanted to make money. Xu Musen remembered the current time period; the inte was already making a ssh, and smartphones were bing widespread. The next twenty years would belong to the inte. His mind was full of ideas for making money, but no matter what he wanted to do, he needed some capital to start. He checked his pockets, hmm, twenty yuan and fifty cents, and that included the money for tomorrow''s breakfast. Xu Musen knew a bit about stocks, but with the meager amount in his pocket, he didn''t even have the means to start and be cut as a leek by the market. Did he think he could turn twenty yuan into twenty-five million? As for things like the lottery, Xu Musen chuckled. When the judge is in their pocket, what''s the point in ying? Of course, there were those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, like the future cryptocurrency boom. He could stock up now and sell before the bubble burst, but even then, it would take years to appreciate in value. As someone reborn, enduring several more years of a penniless life would be a total failure. Difficult... He arrived at his front door. This was the townhouse area in the same neighborhood. To scrape together some money, his family had sold their vi that was next door to Yao Mingyue''s and moved here. Even this townhouse wouldn''t survive the next crisis. Xu Musen felt somewhat nostalgic as he took out the keys and opened the front door. Inside the house, the aroma of cooked food wafted through the air, immediately recognizable as his mother''s cooking. In the living room, Xu Bianjun was puffing on a cigarette while poring over the financial newspaper, seemingly trying to discover an opportunity that would bring in a bucket of gold each day. "Dad, Mom, I''m back," Xu Musen called out, his voice trembling slightly. No matter what, the atmosphere at home was still harmonious, and his parents still young, not marked by the lines of worry like in his previous life. Xu Bianjun looked up at his son, nodded, and then went back to reading his newspaper. "Go wash your hands and get ready for dinner!" From the kitchen, Jie Yunxia''s voice was as bright as ever. It had been so long since he had heard such conversations. Xu Musen felt exceptionally at peace as he entered the kitchen and saw that his mother had already cooked two or three dishes. Two vegetable dishes and a te of ribs. Even though money was tight, his parents had never skimped on his meals. He was at the age of growing, and no matter how hard it was at home, they would make sure Xu Musen ate well. "Mom, you have worked hard." Xu Musen looked at his mother''s face, which still had few wrinkles, and felt deeply moved. "Why are you sweet-talking me today? I''ve already given you your allowance, and there''s no more if you ask again." His mother responded with caution. "Mom, what are you talking about? I just genuinely want to thank you." "Go on, if you really want to thank me, then take the bowl over there and stop being in the way." "Roger that!" Xu Musen chuckled and suddenly felt that being nagged by his parents like this was a form of happiness too. He briskly took the bowl to the living room. "This kid..." His mother looked at her son, who was being so well-behaved today, and couldn''t help but smile. At the dinner table, the family of three was eating in harmony. "Dad, Mom, you both should eat more too." Xu Musen put a rib onto his dad''s and mom''s tes. This led both of them to exchange nces, then to look at their son who was somewhat out of the ordinary today. "We made this especially for you, so you just eat it. We''re old now, we shouldn''t eat so much meat at night," his mother said. Xu Musen smiled and replied, "You two have lost weight, you seem like you need the meat more than I do. You should also take care of your health." These words made Xu Bianjun and Jie Yunxia pause and feel a warmth in their hearts. At the same time, it left them with mixed feelings. "Silly child, no matter what, your food will not be short at home. Go ahead and eat yours." His mother''s voice was a bit nasal, but her heart was veryforted. Xu Musen felt a bit troubled inside. It was only after growing up that he realized that their parents'' so-called dislike of meat, and preference for fish heads, was all so the child could have more to eat. Moreover, during this time, Xu Musen was busy revolving around Yao Mingyue, having been called to meet with parents several times due to his confession and his studies were also on shaky ground. He hadn''t fully appreciated his parents'' difficulties. "Dad, Mom, I was ignorant before, but I won''t be anymore." Xu Musen said earnestly. The parents exchanged a nce, sighing with the realization that their son had grown up, and they couldn''t help nodding in agreement. "So, Dad and Mom, can you lend me some money? I want to start a business." The chopsticks of the two, just about to pick up ribs, stopped in mid-air as they looked at each other once more. Then his mother said with a forced smile, "Sure, how much do you need?" "The more the better. Ten or eighty thousand would be great. I promise to earn back several times more for you!" Xu Musen thought there were still some stocks he could buy at this time. "Okay, okay." His mother nodded, pointed to the cab on the balcony, and said, "You should look in the cab. There should still be some of the paper money left that we burned for your grandparents at the tomb. Take a few hundred billion and start your business with that." Xu Musen: ... "Mom, are you joking with me?" "It''s you who are pulling my leg here. I was saying you''re up to no good. Even if we had that kind of money, it would be set aside for your college and future marriage!" His mother red at her son, annoyed. That kid always has one trick after another. His father also chuckled and started advising Xu Musen to focus and study well, that there was no need for him to worry about family matters. Xu Musen felt a bit helpless; a skilled woman can''t cook without rice. ... Meanwhile, in a vi area a hundred or two meters away. Yao Mingyue was sitting on a soft sofa, in a living room decorated exquisitely and richly yet without ostentation. She had already changed into her home silk pajamas, and her fair arms and two slender, straight beautiful legs were exposed to the air. Her wless skin showed no signs of pores and was as tender and white as though soaked in milk, with a delicate and lithe figure. Eighteen years old. But her body already far surpassed her female peers in curves, leaning on the sofa with her diminutive feet asionally swaying, the full toes like a cluster of crystal grapes, seemingly carrying enchanting fragrance. However, her incredibly beautiful face was cold at the moment. She kept looking at her phone, waiting for that alert tone that would ring countless times every day. But since she had been home for so long, that familiar profile picture had not lit up even once. The more she waited, the more irritable she felt inside. For the first time, she realized just how annoying it was to wait for a message from someone! Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Who Hasnt Been a Bootlicker Before? After dinner. Xu Museny on the bed with his mind full of schemes to make money. It wasn''t that he didn''t want to properly experience the joys of student life again. It was because his family situation was like being nked by wolves at the front and tigers at the back. With people eyeing his family''s money greedily at the front and Yao Mingyue always ready to be his sugar mama at the back. If he didn''t work hard, he would end up being kept by a rich woman... Such a bother. At this moment, his phone on the desk rang. Xu Musen picked up the phone and saw that it was from He Qiang. He Qiang, "Finished eating?" Xu Musen, "Have you dealt with your stuff?" Xu Musen still remembered this guy''s departing back, changing his face even faster than him. He Qiang also seemed a bit embarrassed, "Nonsense, I always feel you don''t have any good farts. Are you really short of money or just pretending?" "Of course I''m short. If you don''t lend me a hundred thousand or eighty thousand, fifty or sixty thousand would also do. I''ll double it for you in my freshman year." "Ten or eight bucks I do have, but a hundred thousand or eighty thousand? What do you take me for, a rich second generation?" He Qiang sent over a face with a ck expression. Xu Musen actually didn''t hold much hope either; after all, they were all students, hesitating for a long time before adding an egg to their instant noodles. "Forget it, stop talking about this. Got something you want from me?" "It''s Sunday in a couple of days. If you''re free,e over to my ce. We''re about to change the water in the fish pond,e and cast a few lines with me!" Looking at the message he sent, Xu Musen actually smiled a little. He knew about Xu Musen''s family situation. Every other Sunday, he would use the excuse of changing the water in his fish pond to have Xu Musen join him in fishing, which was actually just an excuse to let him bring home a couple of fish for an extra dish. The care between buddies during school, unadulterated by any self-interest, can be said to be the purest. Xu Musen didn''t put on airs and replied with a simple "OK". Back to the chat main screen. A chat box highlighted in a darker color jumped into view. Yao Mingyue. Xu Musen opened the chat box. He saw that the chat history was almost entirely messages sent by him. Good morning and good night were daily necessities. Reminding her to put on more clothes and to carry an umbre when it''s windy or raining was something he would never forget. Birthday and holiday greetings were so cheesy they made people cringe... Xu Musen just quickly scanned a few of these cheesier pieces. "Xiaoyue, you know how I feel. The only girl I''ve ever been smitten with since childhood is you. I know you may not be able to ept me now, but I just want you to understand my intentions. Because I love you, and it has nothing to do with you." "Xiaoyue, it''s so cold today, remember to wear more clothes. Do you know why I caught a cold? It''s not because of the chill, it''s because I lose all resistance when I see you..." There were one or two times when Xu Musen felt so wronged, as if he was at his wit''s end. "Yao Mingyue! If you keep not replying to my messages, I will... really stop liking you." "If you still care about me even a little, tell me right now! I''m only giving you three more minutes!" However, once the three minutes were up, Yao Mingyue still hadn''t replied to his messages. Xu Musen, "Hehe, just now I was possessed by a ghost, Xiaoyueyue, may I bring you a cake to eat tomorrow, okay?" "..." Xu Musen felt as if ants were crawling all over him! Help! Those affected and pretentious words, which part of his body did he use to type them out? He decisively canceled the sticky pin and cleared the chat history. Actually, he wanted to block her outright. But the two families were only about a hundred meters apart, and sometimes they visited each other. Yao Mingyue was a little sadist. But her mother was an intelligent and elegant mature woman whosepany Xu Musen quite enjoyed, as if she was his mother-inw from the past. Considering the ties between their families, Xu Musen reluctantly didn''t block her, especially since he was the one who always initiated messages anyway. Yao Mingyue had always been cold with her replies of "Hmm, yeah, oh."the three-word truth. Xu Musen took another look at his Qzone profile, and the signature was even more impactful. [Girl, I''m just one kiss away from being certain.] He flipped through his journal and Moments. Every line was more outrageous than thest. Xu Musen suddenly had a feeling, fortunately Yao Mingyue was kind of a tsundere. If it was any other girl, she would''ve been disgusted by now. In a sense, the two of them were indeed an odd but perfect match... NO!!! Xu Musen hurriedly shook that terrifying thought from his mind and locked down those embarrassing posts. ... Meanwhile, Yao Mingyue was itching with curiosity. She sat at the dining table, in front of her a sumptuous dinner prepared by the housekeeper. But she didn''t have the appetite to pick up even a single chopstick. She kept an eye on the messaging app on her phone, but there wasn''t a single new message for her. Thinking back to Xu Musen''s sudden change that afternoon, the always confident Ming Yue felt extremely frustrated. Just a moment ago he was holding flowers and confessing to her, why did he suddenly change like he was a different person the next? It felt like a pet she had raised for years suddenly wanted to run away from home! She picked up her phone again and looked at it, she had read the chat history countless times. Even though she always acted aloof, she took screenshots of every lengthy message Xu Musen sent and stored them in her album. She even nned to print them into a book. So that in the future, after they got married, she would have him read them to her every night! Yao Mingyue subconsciously revealed a slightly manic smile, but as soon as she saw that thest message was still his morning greeting, her expression darkened once again. This was the first time she felt a bit unsure about what Xu Musen was really thinking. She opened the chat window, wanting to question him. But just after typing one character, she clenched her teeth and deleted it. She wanted to see how long this guy could hold out! Just as she thought this, a message popped up in the ss group chat. Lu Guoguan: "I think what Xu Musen said today was really harsh. Even if they end up together, and Xu Musen turns into a dog, doesn''t that make Yao Mingyue..." Pu Guochang: "Hahaha, just wait and see. If those two are really over, I''ll livestream myself doing a handstand while washing my hair!" Ai Kan Pian: "With Xu Musen not chasing after her any longer, Lu Guoguan, doesn''t that give you a chance to pursue Yao Mingyue?" Their chat messages were abrupt and disjointed. But it was clear that the information they conveyed was explosive! "666" "Epic!" "@Xu Musen." The group immediately burst into a series of expressive emojis, all of themmenting that the duo truly had guts, and some even started goading Xu Musen. Yao Mingyue''s face turned icy, her re even holding a trace of murderous intent. Just then, one of the subjects of the conversation, Xu Musen, sent a "?" Lu Guoguan: "Shit! I posted in the wrong group. Take it back!" After sending the message, he immediately retracted it, along with the messages above it. Then, the three of them started to y dead. The chat quieted down for a moment. Yao Mingyue''s heart was filled with fury. She was not annoyed by these people gossiping. It was Xu Musen who infuriated her, always watching his phone and yet choosing not to message her! She gripped her phone tightly, her eyes narrowing, and then she opened the chat window. The ssmates in their group chat were each consumed with their own thoughts. Especially Lu Guoguan and Pu Guochang, who were silently praying that Yao Mingyue hadn''t seen the messages they''d just sent. But a secondter, right below the question mark sent by Xu Musen. Yao Mingyue: "?" The group suddenly fell silent. But the mutterings in everyone''s minds grew even louder. Ming Yue''s usual aloofness meant she never posted any messages in the ss group. This was the first time she actively sent a message in the group. And it was quite clear she was directly responding to Xu Musen. Looking at the two question marks, one after the other, the onlookers felt a buzz of gossip stirring. These two, it wasn''t over between them! Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Ways to Earn Money! The stir in the ss group did not cause Xu Musen the slightest bit of emotional fluctuation. In his previous life, he was already in his forties, long immune to such childish bickering. He also knew what Yao Mingyue meant; she was reminding him to send her a message to exin or apologize. But sorry, the current Xu Musen would no longer be fooled by these smelly women! Having been reborn, who the hell would still act like apdog? He directly set his phone to silent, threw it aside, hummed a tune, and prepared to take a shower and go to bed early that day. In another vi area. Yao Mingyue had been staring at the phone screen for quite a while. In the end, she became somewhat annoyed and embarrassed. He clearly saw the message from another boy who wanted to pursue her; in the past, he would have definitely started arguing with that boy straightaway. But this time he remainedpletely indifferent! Fine, fine, fine! You''d better never send me a message again for the rest of your life! Yao Mingyue''s pretty face flushed red with irritation as she angrily stood up. "Ming Yue, you haven''t had dinner yet," said the nanny,ing over at this moment. "I''ve lost my appetite, I''m not eating." Yao Mingyue was indeed in a bad mood and turned to go upstairs. The nanny looked at the table full of dishes, sighed, and took out her phone to make a call. A few secondster, an intelligent and elegant mature female voice came through from the other end of the call. "Hello, what''s the matter, Xiao Song?" "Madam Liu, Ming Yue didn''t eat dinner today and she seems to be in a bad mood. It seems to be about..." "Mm, I know, let''s leave it at that for now, I''ll go back in a couple of days." The woman on the phone seemed to already know everything. In a bustling city center office building, within a spacious office, a tall and curvaceous figure stood by the window. She was dressed in a custom, pale-colored plum blossom cheongsam, slowly savoring a cup of fragrant tea in her hand. Cheongsams are very demanding of one''s figure, but on her, they perfectly showcased the garment''s noble elegance. The side buttons at the chest were strenuously containing her astonishing fullness, and following her curvaceous outline, there was not a trace of excess fat on her t abdomen. Her perky buttocks provided the perfect finish to the silhouette, and the cheongsam''s slit was not too high. Segments of legs, as delicate and fair as a young girl''s, were subtly visible, and on her feet were a pair of pale red high heels. Her face bore a seven or eight out of ten resemnce to Yao Mingyue, only she was clearly more mature, her whole person radiating the intelligent elegance of a mature woman. Her phoenix eyes, just like Yao Mingyue''s, carried a natural nobility. While drinking her tea, she looked in the direction of her home, unable to help but let out a slight sigh. "My silly daughter, being too excessive is never a good way to end things..." ... Sunday. Xu Musen woke up naturally; his parents had already gone out busy with their day. After cleaning up in the bathroom and looking at himself in the mirror, the eighteen-year-old Xu Musen, at a height of 1.82 meters, with sharp eyebrows and eyes that seemed to shine. Although not as good-looking as a movie star, his facial features were well-defined, definitely in the handsome category, just his trendy high schooler''s bowl haircut detracted a bit from his looks. Xu Musen, not wearing a shirt, nced at his slightly thin physique, and thought it was a miracle that he had endured Yao Mingyue''s daily torment in his previous life. Three rebirth essentials: exercise and fitness, educationaleback, change hairstyle. Indeed, there were some good points. Coming into the living room, there was still breakfast on the table. After eating, Xu Musen was collecting the tes when he found a red note hidden underneath. Xu Musen was stunned for a moment; his parents usually gave him pocket money in increments of ten or twenty yuan. It seemed that something he said yesterday had made them overthink. Xu Musen picked up the money; although the family was not in dire straits, they were still frugal. In society where the average ie was two to three thousand, this pocket money was not small at all. Xu Musen put the money away. This life, he absolutely could not let his parents worry about money again with furrowed brows every day. After changing his clothes, Xu Musen picked up his phone, which had been on silent mode all night. Quite a few people had sent messages to Xu Musen. Clearly, the aftermath ofst night''s ss group message storm was still brewing. Of course, they were all various people looking forward to the gossip. Xu Musen couldn''t be bothered with them and directly left the house. Passing by the vi area, Xu Musen unconsciously nced at one of the vis. Yao Mingyue''s home. Xu Musen could even see the pink curtains of her room window. Yesterday''s incident must have upset her quite a bit. They say that for one day as a couple, there''s a hundred days of grace, and after all, the two of them had shared a bed for so many years. Thinking of her possibly tossing and turningst night, unable to sleep because of her anger, Xu Musen felt in his heart... Why did it feel sofortable!! Humming a little tune, Xu Musen left the house, starting to hurry over to He Qiang''s ce. However, just as he had just left, a light suddenly appeared behind the pink curtains. On closer look, it was actually a pair of binocrs. Behind the curtains, still in her pajamas, Yao Mingyue bit her lip, watching Xu Musen''s retreating figure, a hint of indignant luster emerging in the depths of her eyes. Normally on weekends, he would always pester her to go shopping together. She nced at her phone again. An entire day had passed, and he hadn''t sent her any messages! She knew that Xu Musen was likely off to see He Qiang. They were boys, so they probably wouldn''t... But, just the thought of the two of them arm in arm set her heart into an unexined fit of irritation. Xu Musen''s body could only belong to her! The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, and the luster in her eyes seemed almost cannibalistic as she angrily threw the binocrs to the ground. "Xu Musen! I''m only giving you onest day to regret!" ... Meanwhile, Xu Musen was sitting on the bus and had arrived at He Qiang''s ce. Several fish ponds were nearby, with quite a few cars parked by the road, all there for fishing. "This way!" He Qiang, who had already started fishing, waved him over. "I''ve rigged the fishing hook for you, pay attention." Xu Musen walked over and sat down beside him. "Hey, the incident in the ss group chat yesterday was a big deal, even Yao Mingyue sent messages in the group. That''s a first." He Qiang immediately started gossiping, winking at him. "Oh." Xu Musen nodded. "Oh? You don''t have any thoughts about it? Yao Mingyue''s messages were clearly for you to see!" "Haven''t I already said it? Ming Yue and I have nothing to do with each other anymore." Xu Musen smiled faintly. You think I was joking when I said I''d stop fawning over her? He Qiang''s dark face looked at his good buddy and finally clicked his tongue twice, "You''re something else. After so many years as childhood sweethearts, to say you''ve stopped pursuing her and treat her even more coldly than a stranger." Xu Musen shook his head; dating was really too childish. His mind was fully upied with figuring out how to make money. He Qiang wasn''t having good luck today; his line snapped several times as he waited to rece it. Bored, he picked up his phone to y for a bit. "Damn! This crappy phone always freezes just when it gets to the crucial part. Don''t tell me it''s running out of memory again." He Qiang suddenlyined, and Xu Musen leaned over to take a look. He found him ying KartRider Rush+. One of the earliestrge-scale mobile games with the advent of smartphones. "It''s the phone memory again, not enough. A damn game needs two to three gigs. To y this, I''ve deleted more than half the apps on my phone." As heined, He Qiang tried to think of ways to delete other things to clear up memory. Xu Musen pointed at his browser: "Why not just delete the five gigs of study material stored here?" "That won''t do!" He Qiang''s face turned ck with anger, "That''s my treasured collection..." Xu Musenughed. Although phones in this era were smart devices, their storage was very limited, some even used SD storage cards, typically around ten gigs or so. With just a few downloads, space really was tight. "And my phone justgs ying these big games. If only there were a game with small storage requirements that didn''t tax the phone''s performance..." He Qiang muttered to himself. "No downloads, doesn''t consume performance..." Xu Musen repeated these words, and suddenly his eyes lit up, pping his thigh, "Right!" "Damn it! What the hell are you freaking out about?!" He Qiang almost threw his phone into the fish pond from the shock of Xu Musen''s shout. But at that moment, Xu Musen''s eyes were shining; a money-making opportunity had finally appeared in his mind! Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Xu Musen! Im never talking to you again! Although smartphones had already be quitemon at the time. Many were off-brands or knockoffs, like Coolpad, Little Pepper, Pineapple, Feixin... The big brands were ridiculously expensive, and before the advent of Xiaomi''s game-changing "Make Friends in 1999," most people were using these off-brand phones. Watching a video could beggy, let alone ying mobile games. It''s no wonder people eximed, "Xiaomi, how could I live without you!" ... Musen remembered a gaming method from his past life. Cloud gaming. The game data was all on the server; the yer''s phone was merely a medium. As long as the signal was good, they could enjoy the game smoothly. But cloud gaming required powerful server terminals, and setting uprge servers started at six figures, which was definitely beyond Musen''s reach now. So, he thought of another form with much lower costs. Mini-programs! QQ and WeChat had both be mainstream social media tforms. Strictly speaking, the previously popr QQ Farm, Grabbing Parking Spaces, and such were the forerunners of mini-program games. A good product is one that solves a consumer pain point. Even though they look so crude and childish now, they were addictive fun back in the day. Last century, lounging at home scrolling through short videos, I''d always stumble upon ads for cutting trees to level up, swallowing the universe to evolve, hatching blood eggs, and the like. These mini-program games didn''t need downloading, not even a registration; you could just click and y. The development cost of these mini-programs might be just a few thousand yuan, but the revenue they brought in was significant. I still remember a hit game "Sheep Shears Sheep" raking in a hundred million in advertising revenue in just a month or two! It sounds unbelievable. Musen didn''t expect to make a billion right off the bat. As long as it could bring in his first pot of gold, that would be enough. Moreover, there weren''t manypetitors in the market yet; whoever made it first would earn money first! The more Musen thought about it, the more feasible it seemed! He had studiedputer science in his previous life, so this bit of mini-program programming was too easy for him! "Qiang Zi, I''ve got it!" Musen excitedly patted He Qiang''s shoulder. "You got a tumor in your brain? Freaking out like this." He Qiang was speechless, feeling that his buddy had been acting a bit abnormal these past few days. "I''ve got a way to make money. Do you want to invest some money and ensure a big profit?" Musen rubbed his hands together with enthusiasm. Although the cost of mini-programs was not high, it still required a few thousand as a foundation. He Qiang looked at him and finally silently took out two fat fish from the fishing and handed them to him. "Brother, I can see you''ve been emotionally unstable these days; take these two fish home to nourish your brain." Musen looked at He Qiang and couldn''t help butugh. To be honest, if a buddy from high school got dumped and suddenly started talking about starting a business, you probably wouldn''t take it seriously either. Anyway, it would take a few days to develop the program, so the money wasn''t urgent. Musen was not pretentious, he reached out to take the fish, and said with a smile, "Okay, I''ll consider these two fish as your stake. Wait for my good news in a couple of days!" Musen turned and left. He Qiang watched his buddy''s excited figure leaving and sighed while scratching his head. ... Back at home. Musen put the fish in a basin and then dived into his room. There was an oldputer in his room, which was bought several years ago when the family had more money, costing over ten thousand yuan. Of course, it couldn''t even match the performance ofputers that now cost three to four thousand yuan, and itgged even when ying CF. "Ding~ This boot-up took two minutes and thirty seconds, beating 5% of theputers nationwide. Keep it up, yo!" Musen twitched the corner of his mouth, but knew it was definitely okay to write simple programs on it. In open-source libraries, many ready-made structures could be used directly. The programmer''s magic tool. CtrlC, CtrlV. Time quickly moved on to the afternoon. When his parents came back and saw the fish in the basin, they knew those were from He Qiang''s ce again. "It''s not good to always ept things from people. Next time you go out to y, don''t go empty-handed..." His mother pushed open the door to Musen''s room, only to discover her son typing furiously on the keyboard. "What are you doing?" She approached and saw that instead of games, theputer screen had a dense array of English letters. "Writing some programming. Maybe your son can turn his life around with this." Musen replied with a smile. His mother couldn''t understand all that, but it looked better than him idly ying games all day. She advised, "The most important thing is to study hard. There are many scammers online; be careful not to get cheated." "Don''t worry, Mom, I''ve got it under control." Musen nodded. His mother took another look at her son''s focused demeanor and couldn''t help but ask, "By the way, did you not go to see Ming Yue today?" Musen''s typing hands paused for a moment. He remembered that on every Sunday in the past, Musen would always pester Yao Mingyue to go out shopping together. "What''s fun about looking for her? It''s better to figure out how to make some money." Xu Musen replied offhandedly. His mother felt even more that something was off. A boy who thinks about dating all day suddenly wants to make money. That must definitely be because he was provoked by a girl. Although the two families had always had a good rtionship, the economic gap between them was growing wider and wider. His mother sighed in her heart, originally the two families were well-matched in social status, and both had the intention of bing inws. But now "Alright, are we having the fish stewed or braised in soy sauce?" "I like whatever you cook, Mom!" "You little rascal" His mother couldn''t help but smile, turned around, and left. Nighttime. Xu Musen was intently looking at the program that was running test after test. Meanwhile, in a vi a couple hundred meters away, Yao Mingyuey on the soft sofa, her phone not leaving her hand for the whole day. Her phoenix eyes were almost bloodshot with strain; it had been two whole days, and he really hadn''t sent her a single message! Moreover, she had even visited his social media space today, only to find that Xu Musen had locked it. Even though it was his QQ space, Yao Mingyue had longe to regard these as her possessions. After all, Xu Musen''s space was filled entirely with things about her, even if another girl wanted to chat with Xu Musen, one look at his space and she would back off. But what did it mean for him to lock his space? Was he telling others that his ''car'' was now empty and could take new passengers? The sick fire of jealousy in Yao Mingyue''s heart zed fiercely, such things beyond her control made her unable to hold back any longer. She took out her phone and opened Xu Musen''s chat window. Her delicate fingers hesitated back and forth for a long time before she sent what might be her first initiating message of the year. "?" The question mark symbol could represent too many meanings. Xu Musen, intently looking at the code that was running tests, didn''t notice the message at all. After sending the message, Yao Mingyue immediately set her phone aside. In her heart, she smugly thought that Xu Musen also had his capricious moments in the past, but as soon as she made a slight indication, Xu Musen would immediately forget everything and send her apology messages non-stop! At that moment, Yao Mingyue would feel especially satisfied. So now, like a hunter waiting for his prey, she prepared to savor the hunting moment about toe. However, the phone set aside was as quiet as if it was turned off, not a single sound. A nameless anger burned more and more intensely in Yao Mingyue''s heart; she knew all of Xu Musen''s patterns. At this time, it wasn''t possible for him to be showering. That meant, he was deliberately not replying to her messages! But she had clearly already made a concession! Yao Mingyue gritted her teeth, her phoenix eyes narrowing into a dangerous curve, as she picked up her phone and jabbed at the screen. "Xu Musen! What exactly do you mean?" This was nearly Yao Mingyue''s ultimatum. After a long wait, there was still no reply. She was almost biting through her rows of pearly white teeth as she sent the third message on her own initiative. "Xu Musen! I''m only giving you three more minutes, if you don''t reply, I''m going to stop bothering with you for real!" The three minutes passed quickly. Yao Mingyue looked at the screen that still showed only her own messages, her phoenix eyes now almost engulfed by a pathological gleam. She picked up her phone, nearly wanting to smash it to pieces; holding onto thest bit of her sanity, she sent the fourth, fifth, and sixth messages. "Fine! Xu Musen, you''re so capable! This was your choice, don''t regret itter!" "Xu Musen! I hate you!" "Even if youe apologizing to me again, I won''t pay attention to you anymore!" At that moment, Xu Musen, looking at the program that had sessfully run through once, let out a huge sigh of relief. Maybe it was because of reincarnation, but he felt that both his mind and body were much stronger than before. A task he had nned to take two or three days was done in one. It was then that he heard the persistent notification sounds from his phone. He picked it up and was momentarily stunned. Yao Mingyue''s, and she had sent so many. Looking at her frantic messages, A thought shed through Xu Musen''s mind. What''s she barking about? Looking at the threatening words, if it had been before, Xu Musen would have instantly gone to her doorstep to beg for forgiveness. But now "I won''t bother with you anymore?" Xu Musen instantly picked up his phone and replied quickly, afraid she would retract her words. "It''s a deal!" Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Which Little Fox Spirit? Yao Mingyue''s biggest w was that she was too confident. After all, she was indeed excellent, with a figure and looks that were rare among her peers. Moreover, her mother was a woman with a great business mind, the empress dowager who would govern behind the scenes of a future publicly-listedpany, and her economic status was already leagues above that of ordinary people. It wasn''t that the two of them had never had a falling out, but as long as she said she would ignore him forever or something like that. He would immediatelye over and knock on the door to apologize. This was also Yao Mingyue''s trump card. Just like in a rtionship, some girls always like to use breaking up as a threat during a fight. But the premise is that such threats only work on someone who truly loves and cares about her. If it''s someone who doesn''t love her, then such a threat is just ridiculous. But obviously, Yao Mingyue still didn''t believe in Xu Musen''s change. Finally, her phone chimed with a notification. A look of triumph appeared on Yao Mingyue''s stunning face. If everything went as expected, he would certainly send a lot of messages, or even beg downstairs, hoping she would give him another chance. However, the message alert sounded just once. She patiently waited for quite a while, but there was still no response. A bad feeling crept into her heart. She picked up her phone and opened the chat. "It''s a deal!" The short four words seemed to convey immense joy. Yao Mingyue was frozen for a long time. "Smash!" The phone crashed heavily onto the floor, retiring on the spot. "Xu Musen!" Yao Mingyue articted each word slowly, a dangerous gleam in her phoenix eyes as she fixed her gaze in the direction of Xu Musen''s home. Her delicate, fair feet pressed into the soft carpet, her five grape-like toes gripping the carpet tightly in anger. Right now, she really wanted to stomp on his mouth with her foot to see if he was truly so stubborn! But the pride in her heart at that moment still made her hold back. Her eyes narrowed slightly, her teeth gritted. "You can''t run away..." However, Xu Musen wasn''t in the mood to care about these things at the moment. The program had already run a full cycle. His creation was a knock-off puzzle game like "Crash Sheep" or "White Carrot." It was simple, educational, and suitable for all ages. The sound effects and some prop graphics were all free materials found directly from open-source libraries, and he saved wherever he could. To call it a game, its core was just an upgraded version of a connect game. That''s why he was able to make it so quickly. When strength doesn''t suffice, as long as you are small enough, you can still enter the ce you want to reach. Of course, this was just the first step. The mini-program feature had not yet beenunched, but there were already quite a few mini-games on QQ. The original intention of these games wasn''t really to make money, but to attract new users. How many people registered for QQ back when QQ Farm was a huge hit, just to y that game? Xu Musen went to the official website and sure enough, he found that there was indeed a Game Partner Incentive n. He looked over it, and it was like mostpanies recruiting partners. Thepany provides you with tform and server slot support; you need topete with other partners over a period of time. In the end, those with the best data will receive extra rewards and ongoing support. Xu Musen signed up immediately, and went to register domain names and such. To prevent others from registering them first and causing troubleter. While waiting for the results of his application toe back, Xu Musen picked up his phone, the page still on his chat with Yao Mingyue. Given her temper, she''s probably fuming by now. And this was exactly the result Xu Musen wanted. He found He Qiang,pressed the program into an instation package, and sent it directly to him. "Qiang Zi, here''s something good for you. Give it a try and see how it feels." He Qiang: "Damn, where did you get this resource from?" Xu Musen: "Is there anything other than porn on your mind?" He Qiang: "That''s called security consciousness. Randomly downloading stuff on your phone could lead to viruses." Xu Musen: "Inside is Teacher Yoshizawa''stest work." "Fuck! Why didn''t you say so earlier!" "..." Xu Musen couldn''t be bothered to exin to him anymore, knowing that his curiosity would definitely make him download it. After a while, He Qiang sent a message. "Damn it! You made me take off my pants just for this?" "Of course, how does it feel?" Xu Musen couldn''t help butugh. "It''s actually pretty fun, and I don''t even need to register. It''s only a few MB in size. Howe I never knew you had this up your sleeve!" This time, He Qiang was truly shocked, remembering what he had said that morning. He hadn''t expected Xu Musen to have it ready by that evening. Although it was a simple game, it had its charms. The most important thing was its small size, almost negligible, and you could y without any kind of phone number registration. For a student like him, the feeling of ying a couple of rounds anytime, anywhere was just too cool! Xu Musen told He Qiang he could share it with people around him to try it out first. He didn''t sit idle and sent it to his parents as well. If even middle-aged people could understand how to y, it meant that most people were potential customers. It didn''t take long for his parents to get hooked on the game, but since Xu Musen had only created seven or eight levels, they finished them quickly. His mom, overflowing with enthusiasm, was ready to ask for more: "Is this what you''ve been working on? It''s pretty interesting. Why is there nothing after level eight?" His dad: "Son, we don''t object to you doing this, but you still should prioritize your studies. By the way, how do you pass level six" Seeing his parent''s reactions, Xu Musen felt even more confident in his heart. The next day. Xu Musen got up early, and the backend application for the game partnership had also been approved. He sent over the first version of the game. The other side reviewed it and swiftly sent a digital contract for signing. In general, it was a fifty-fifty profit share. Eating on someone else''s tform, this proportion was normal. Xu Musen saw no issue and signed it. With the tform and server entrance secured, now it was time to attract users. Such small games are typically chosen by individual developers trying their luck; there are no barriers to entry. It was already good if thepany could provide a server, but promotion costs were entirely on your own. Xu Musen looked at all his saved pocket money even with his privately hoarded New Year''s money, it was just a couple thousand yuan. This amount of money was not enough for advertising, let alone printing promotional flyers. Xu Musen thought for a while, then came up with another n. He sent a message to He Qiang: "Free this afternoon? Come out with me." "Oh? Not going to apany your Sister Mingyue?" He Qiang teased. Xu Musen used to stick to Yao Mingyue every Sunday when asked to hang out. "Don''t start on any crappy love stories; I just want to make money right now! Come on, bro, I''m taking you to make a big buck!" Xu Musen got dressed, took all his money, and stepped out the door with a spring in his step. Just as he passed by the vi area, the gate of the vi was slowly pushed open a crack. A pair of phoenix eyes narrowed, appearing especially enchanting under the afternoon sun. She was dressed in a light purple long dress, her slender figure and unique presence like a budding purple violet. She wore a waffle hat, covering most of her face, with only her eyes under the brim staring intently in the direction Xu Musen had left. "I''m curious to see which little vixen you''re nning to meet..." Chapter 9: Chapter 9: The Ignorant Xu Musen! (Dont keep it anymore, sob sob sob~) Zheng City, Yinki Wholesale Market. He Qiang watched as Xu Musen haggled with the shopkeeper. "Boss, just charge me thirty cents each for these," Xu Musen said. "That won''t do, it doesn''t even cover my costs. At least fifty cents," the shopkeeper replied. "Let''s each take a step backthirty-five cents it is. If that''s okay, I''ll take them," Xu Musen proposed. Xu Musen took out several red banknotes from his pocket and stuffed them directly into the shopkeeper''s hand. All sorts of household items were sold wholesale here: spoons, chopsticks, scrubbing pads, nail clippers, with pricier items like magnifying sses mixed in among them. These were regrs in two-dor shops. "That won''t do, the lowest I can go is forty cents. I have to consider my costs too. Add a bit more..." The shopkeeper shook his head, but once the money was in his hand, he really didn''t feel like giving it back. This psychological tactic was unfailingly effective in bargaining. Xu Musen spoke with genuine sincerity, "Let''s just do thirty-five cents. We''re all students here, it''s not easy for our families. We''re trying to earn some pocket money with a street stall. Look at my brother here, he''s been working in the construction sites in the daytime and has almost turned African from the sun..." Xu Musen''s tale grew more pitiful as he spoke, and he patted He Qiang. He Qiang: ??? The shopkeeper nced at He Qiang''s sun-darkened, almost glowing face and, whether he believed it or not, he felt too embarrassed to keep raising the price. "Fine, fine," the shopkeeper conceded. "Boss, I see this little table here is pretty old, why not just give it to us? And this little cart looks good too. And how about throwing in a couple of extra woven bags, we''re students after all..." Xu Musen eyed the gear needed for setting up a stall, his gaze shining with the prospect of getting a freebie. The corner of the shopkeeper''s mouth twitched; he hadn''t made much profit as it was and would soon be at a loss. Observing Xu Musen repeatedly emphasizing that he was a student, the shopkeeper inwardly mocked himwhat a student, animals didn''t even have as thick a skin as him. Thanks to his thick-skinned approach, Xu Musen managed to save two hundred yuan from his original budget of just under a thousand. The two men had just left, when Yao Mingyue appeared around the corner. She, too, approached the stall to take a look. These little trinkets, which likely cost only a few cents to produce, were things she would never normally spare a nce. Could he be buying so much because he''s setting up a stall? But Yao Mingyue clenched her teeth, annoyed. It was the weekend and instead of spending time with her, he chose to run a stall?! Yao Mingyue really wanted to p the nearly seven-figure bank card from her wallet across his face! After all, all he needed to do was to be with her. As a couple, she would support him, did he really need to try so hard? "Ungrateful!" With a cold huff, Yao Mingyue continued to follow them. ... Eventually, Xu Musen and He Qiang came out, each carrying a bup sack and pushing a simple cart. "So this is the ''get-rich n'' you were talking about?" He Qiang felt a bit duped. Even though it was already afternoon, carrying the heavy bags in the summer heat had left him drenched in sweat. Isn''t this just hardbor at a street stall? "Everything is difficult at the start. Trust me, there''s absolutely no problem. If we seed today, I will gift you a carbon fiber fishing rod," Xu Musen promised, painting a grand vision for him. "Yeah, right. We won''t make much money from a day of street vending, and by the time you buy that for me, I''ll be half buried in the ground," He Qiang retorted, though he was diligent in helping carry things. Xu Musen smiled at the goods they had, "Who said I was going to set up a street stall?" He Qiang paused, "If you''re not setting up a stall, then what are all these things for?" Xu Musen nced at the za nearby, a sly smile curving up his lips, "Of course to give away for free!" He Qiang looked confused, while Xu Musen had already pushed the cart towards the za to secure a spot. After paying a hundred yuan for sanitation management, Xu Musen got a spot where there was a good flow of people. The night began to fall. The weather finally cooled down a bit, and people starteding out to shop after work. The two began to arrange their wares. He Qiang was still puzzled, "What do you mean by giving things away for free? Are you doing charity or what?" Xu Musen smiled and said to him, "Qiang Zi, in time you''ll understand that nothing is more expensive than a gift that''s free." With that, Xu Musen took out the banners and posters he had made at the print shop and set them up. [Beautiful gifts, free for everyone!] As for the poster, it featured a QR code for a game. Once the banner was up, it immediately attracted the attention of many people. Chinese people''s enthusiasm for freebies never wanes. Xu Musen took out a megaphone that he had used when he dered his love for Yao Mingyue. Before, it was for love, now it''s for career. He adjusted the volume control, preparing to record the hawkers'' calls, but as he pressed down, a loud voice suddenly red out. "Ming Yue! I love you!" Xu Musen: ... Dammit! He had forgotten to delete the previous recording. The surrounding crowd was also taken aback before they couldn''t help butugh. He Qiang was also dumbfounded. Weren''t you saying you were done with the fawning, bro? "My bad, my bad..." Xu Musen''s face flushed with embarrassment as he quickly deleted and re-recorded. However, just then, at a coffee shop a dozen meters away, Yao Mingyue almost didn''t keep her hold on her coffee. Her innately intimidating phoenix eyes now held a touch of a girl''s coyness, seemingly enjoying this moment quite a bit. She took out her phone and snapped a photo of Xu Musen, who was slightly flustered... The stall got on track. Although the items on the stall weren''t worth much, they were daily necessities that every household could use. "Young man, are all these things really for free?" "Can''t be true, right? There''s no such thing as a free lunch these days." Someone asked. "Of course, everything here is for free," Xu Musen said with a smile. The crowd began to prepare for their selection, but Xu Musen spoke again, "Please wait a moment, everyone. These items are indeed free, but you''ll need to scan a QR code over here. Once the information is confirmed, you can pick up an item for free." Xu Musen brought out the printed QR code. "I knew it! They wouldn''t let people get stuff for free just like that." "What is this anyway? It''s not some kind of scam, is it..." In this day and age, many people still viewed scanning QR codes with a sense of mystique, crowding around to watch. Xu Musen exined that it was just a game, and he even mentioned its no-registration, no-download features. Moreover, he specifically stated that it was in coboration with Q, having a bigpany as a guarantee, naturally increasing its credibility. And not many people were conscious about mobile security at that time... Anyway, a junior high school student couldn''t resist and scanned it. He was attracted by the unique gamey, even though the game''s graphics were crude. "Wow, it really works!" The boy''s eyes lit up instantly, and he started ying without even picking up his free item. Xu Musen immediately took up the megaphone, shouting, "Congrattions! You are our first user to scan the code today, and you may select three extra gifts! The first one hundred users to scan the code can also get an additional free item, firste first serve, until they''re all gone!" This call made many people feel that missing out was a loss, and soon many began to scan. He Qiang mentally cursed. Honestly, he had been embarrassed since it was their first time setting up a stall. But whether it was Xu Musen''s pitch or his tactics, he was pulling them off with finesse. Within half an hour, the number of people who scanned and logged in had broken through one or two hundred. Xu Musen nced at the backend data on his phone; half the gifts were already given out. Yet, he smiled even happier. ording to the contract signed, he could get a two yuanmission for every new user login. Meaning, the more he lost, the more he made! As evening began to fall. Half of the small items on the stall had been given away, and there were a good three to four hundred logins. In other words, by just taking advantage of the tform''s loophole today, he had made almost a thousand yuan. Of course, that bit of money was not Xu Musen''s goal. He Qiang leaned in and whispered, "Most of the gifts are given away, we''ve lost a few hundred already, huh." Xu Musen couldn''t help butugh, patting his shoulder: "You ain''t seen nothing yet, I''m still nning on giving away more money!" He Qiang didn''t understand what that meant. Then he saw Xu Musen grab the loudspeaker and shout again, "Listen up, everyone, I''ve actually got another gift for you all!" As soon as they heard there was more, the crowd quickly gathered again. "You''ve seen the game you just yed, no need to download or register a phone number, anyone with a phone can y. To thank our fan family, we''ve specially secured a new benefit! There''s an exclusive link on the game''s share page, and if you share it with a new user, you can enter a draw, guaranteed to win a cash reward of at least one hundred yuan!" That''s right, it''s the famous Pinduoduo red packet model! Chapter 10: Chapter 10: If you dont confess, it will affect my income. "What? You can make money by ying games?" "For real? Just by sharing it with others, you can get a hundred bucks?" "Give it a try, it''s just a matter of moving your fingers anyway..." The crowd buzzed with variousments, but where there was profit, there would definitely be people willing to give it a shot. He Qiang was confused and secretly pulled on Xu Musen''s sleeve, "Dude, what the hell are you up to? You haven''t started making money, yet you''re just throwing it out?" Xu Musen gave him a reassuring look. This trick was none other than the famous Pinduoduo red packet strategy of the previous life. A third-rate emerce tform had, with such a scheme, worked its way up to the top of the market, surpassing the two giants Alibaba and . It could be said that this modelpletely grasped the real-life standards and psychology of the people in the country. In this era, everyone''s sry was around two or three thousand, and a hundred bucks equaled a whole day''s wages, so the temptation was not small. Moreover, for each new user Xu Musen attracted, he could shear two yuan from the tform. By this calction, he was still making a profit without loss. Though it was called gaming, what Xu Musen did was entirely sales work. This guy''s mouth, besides being good at freeloading, rarely took a loss! Some people might not care about small gifts, but the temptation of real money immediately attracted many middle-aged people who didn''t y games to join in. Watching the numbers skyrocket on the backend of the phone, Xu Musen was nearly overjoyed. No wonder those live-streaming sales hosts from the past generation always called their viewers "family" so intimately. Weren''t these pure leeks? Another hour passed. The small gifts had all been handed out, and it was time to wrap things up. Xu Musen checked the backend earnings and saw that today alone, there were five to six hundred new users, and the number was still growing. In other words, he had made one to two thousand just from shearing wool today. For a student, this was a significant sum. But for Xu Musen, this was just like eating peanuts before a full Manchu-Han banquet. "You''re stillughing? You must have given away all your pocket money today," He Qiang said as he watched Xu Musen grinning non-stop. Xu Musen, looking at his good buddy who had been busy with him all day, patted his shoulder. He shared his ideas with him and even showed him the backend data. He Qiang took a good while toe around, then suddenly reached out and pulled on Xu Musen''s nose, ears, and even his arms. "What are you doing?" Xu Musen was ticked off by his slightly too friendly gestures. "Damn... are you really the Xu Musen I know? Howe I feel like you''ve been swapped with an alien?" He Qiang was a bit incredulous; aside from Yao Mingyue, his buddy had nothing else on his mind in the past. Howe ever since his failed confession, he seemed to havepletely changed into a different person? Xu Musen let out a long sighactually, He Qiang wasn''t wrong, he was indeed no longer the same Xu Musen as before. The current Xu Musen was a brand new version! "Don''t worry, no matter how I change, I''m still your bro." Xu Musen patted He Qiang''s shoulder and sighed, "When you face difficulties, those who can lend you a hand are your real brothers." "Then what about the ones who can lend you a few hands?" He Qiang was also somewhat moved. "That would be the wife." "?" As the two men stood shoulder to shoulder, contemting life, He Qiang couldn''t shake off a chill down his spine, as if a tigress was staring him down. He shivered. "Do you want to buy a flower?" Just then, a clear and pleasant voice came from behind them. Both turned around to look. In front of them stood a girl about seventeen or eighteen years old, dressed in a white long dress, with long, ink-ck hair casually draped, partially covering her face, making it difficult to see her features clearly. But through the strands of hair, one could see her fairplexion and her beautiful peach blossom eyes. She seemed a bit nearsighted, imbuing her with a transparent innocence. She held a bouquet of roses and extended one towards them. Only then did Xu Musen realize that she was sitting in a wheelchair. The summer breeze gently caressed her and revealed her pale, slender ankles. "Are you talking to us?" He Qiang looked at the rose in her handan emblem of lovesomewhat taken aback. "Hmm, aren''t you two flirting? I''ve seen people like you..." The girl''s gaze lingered on their interlocked shoulders, her bright eyes carrying a sense of obviousness. Her ent seemed to carry a bit of a Sichuan twang. ``` Xu Musen and He Qiang exchanged a nce, having just been too excited, their actions were indeed pretty "gay". "..." Fuck! The two immediately distanced themselves from each other with mutual disdain. "He Qiang, I''m saying you''ve gotten so dark, how can you still be mistaken for gay?" "You''re one to talk, Xu Musen? Isn''t it because you''re all soft-skinned without a hint of masculine charm?" They tossed the me back and forth. But they didn''t notice that when the girl heard the name Xu Musen, her eyes seemed to light up. Then, squinting, she peered at Xu Musen through the strands of hair in front of her face. Pushing her wheelchair, she suddenly moved forward a step, almost brushing against Xu Musen, even the faint scent of her body became noticeable. She looked up, as if she could finally see Xu Musen''s face clearly, "It''s you..." Xu Musen and He Qiang were taken aback again. "You know me?" Xu Musen didn''t seem to have any recollection of her. However, now that he was closer, Xu Musen could also see clearly that the packaging of the roses she was holding in her arms... Wasn''t this the wrapping paper from his mother''s flower shop? No, wait! This was exactly the flowers he had thrown away the other day! "The flowers in your hand..." "I picked them up!" The girl''s voice suddenly became wary, as if she feared Xu Musen would take them, and she immediately hugged the flowers closer to her chest. "I know you picked them up, but I was the one who threw them away." "You threw them away, I picked them up, so now the flowers are mine." The girl said earnestly, seemingly more serious than when discussing issues of national territorial sovereignty. "Anyway, you throw them away every week..." She mumbled to herself. Xu Musen raised an eyebrow; by the sound of it, had she been picking up the flowers he threw away every week? Xu Musen felt this girl''s thought process was quite unique, and he took another look at the girl in front of him. Her long, smooth hair covered most of her face, her peach blossom eyes seemed to have a moist filter, her skin was fair and delicate, and her nose was small and exquisite. The dress she wore looked very in, and the wheelchair she was using was a bit old. From her movements just now, it looked like she was out selling flowers. Perhaps she was someone from a not-so-well-off family. While peers were out shopping and ying games. One was out selling flowers, the other setting up a street stall. Xu Musen smiled, feeling a sense of camaraderie with another person fallen on hard times. Seeing her defensive movements, Xu Musen spoke with a smile, "I won''t take your flowers, just wanted to tell you that you won''t be finding any more flowers to pick up." "Why?" The girl blinked her moist eyes. "Because it''s no longer necessary, I won''t be confessing to her again." Xu Musen shook his head; he definitely didn''t want to get close to that petite sickly girl again. "Oh... that''s a pity..." The girl murmured to herself. "There''s nothing to regret, everyone chooses their own path in life, sometimes letting go is the release," Xu Musen reflexively contemted aloud on life. But the girl just looked up and blinked a pair of bright peach blossom eyes, "I feel regretful because I won''t have any flowers to pick up anymore." Xu Musen: "..." People''s joys do not coincide; all I can think is, damn! "So... what now?" The girl seemed to be unperceptive of the sarcasm. She lifted her head, and those clear, pure eyes gazed at Xu Musen, and she earnestly said, "So if you don''t confess, it will affect my ie." At that moment, a breeze blew past. It tousled the girl''s hair, revealing her whole face in front of Xu Musen. Her features were delicate, her skin was fair, and though she was a bit thin, it added to her disheveled beauty, her white dress fluttering with the wind. This was a girl whose beauty was not inferior to Yao Mingyue''s. Her naive charm seemed almost ethereal. And Xu Musen thought for an instant that his rebirth this time was indeed interesting. ``` Chapter 11: Chapter 11: The First Meeting of the Two Women. "So, should I also apologize to you?" Xu Musen met such a girl with a peculiar way of thinking for the first time. Her words made sense, yet they poked right at one''s heart. "No need for that, thanks to your continuous failures at confessing, I was able to pick up so many flowers." "..." The girl shook her head, her sincerity and innocence causing Xu Musen a bit of heartache. He Qiang couldn''t hold back hisughter nearby. He always felt his brother was immune to Yao Mingyue''s dark side but absolutely defenseless against her natural ditziness. So you do have your days! The girl lifted her gentle eyes and nced at Xu Musen, who seemed a bit speechless. From the bunch of roses in her arms, she took out another and handed it to him. "You''re a good person, my grandma always said to repay kindness. Your flowers gave me the chance to earn some pocket money. If you ever face trouble, I... will have your back!" As she said thest line, she seemed to think carefully before choosing those particrly assertive words. But her somewhat shortsighted, dazed appearance lent a certain charm to her gangster-movie line. Xu Musen looked at the wheelchair beneath her and, after a moment, gave a slight smile, epting the flower from her hand. "Then I''ll thank you in advance." The girl nodded and, pushing her wheelchair, turned to leave. Xu Musen looked at the rose in his hand, surprised that, after all this roundabout, the flower had ended up back with him. Moreover, he had received a token of appreciation which felt particrly gratifying. However, receiving flowers right after his rebirth seemed like a good omen. "I forgot to ask for her name..." "You''re not falling for her, are you?" He Qiang leaned in and teased, also ncing at the girl''s departing silhouette. He suddenly eximed. "I feel like I''ve seen her somewhere before, maybe around school..." "You feel like you''ve seen every pretty girl before," Xu Musen joked. "Nah, none of those beauties canpare to catching a big fish. But that girl does look good, it''s just a shame..." He Qiang watched her wheelchair disappear into the crowd, shaking his head in pity. Xu Musen then took another look at the rose in his hand, noticing for the first time that each flower was wrapped in colored paper. There was even a small cat''s head drawn on it. Xu Musen examined it closely and discovered it was actually hand-drawn. The colors were simple, but the lines were finely crafted. With just a few strokes, even the whiskers and fluff on the cat''s face were vivid, making it very stylish. It was the kind of drawing that was immediately pleasing to the eye. Suddenly Xu Musen remembered that in his line of work making match-three video games, two factors were of utmost importance. Sound effects and icons. A cute art style could spark the urge to y at first nce, like spotting an adorable cat on the street that one couldn''t resist petting. Moreover, most people are willing to pay just for the art style. He recalled a certain open-world game from his past life. A disposable cup with a printed pattern could sell for dozens of yuan. One coboration event could make countless yers shout slogans without regard for social suicide. No wonder there was the saying "money from the anime fandom is easy to earn." A good art style is too important, but ordingly, a good artist is very expensive. Sound effects could be synthesized, but for illustrations, one must have an artist. Xu Musen''s wallet certainly couldn''t afford a famous one. He looked at the hand-drawn illustration in his hand, and his eyes started to shine. "Qiang Zi! Where''s that girl from before? Bring her back to me!" He Qiang jumped at his loud voice: "What''s with the shock, do you seriously want that bouquet of roses back?" "It''s serious business, no time to exin, let''s split up and look for her!" Xu Musen said, and started searching through the crowd. ... But at that moment, the girl was still pushing her wheelchair around, peddling roses. The next moment, a figure d in a pale purple dress with a tall stature appeared before her. Those phoenix eyes glittered with aplex and sharp gleam as they swept over her. Finally, her gaze settled on the bunch of roses in her arms Her nce suddenly turned a bit colder. "Do you want a flower?" At this moment, the girl pulled a rose from her embrace, seemingly unaware of the emotions of the person in front of her, her voice still clear and pure. She raised her head, holding a rose with a tiny puppy pattern. Behind her messy hair, her bright and clear eyes even made Yao Mingyue retract some of the coldness in hers. "Where did you get these flowers?" The girl, as if her secret had been discovered, suddenly spoke with a hint of guilt, "These flowers are all very fresh, picked just a day or two ago" Yao Mingyue looked at her, then asked again, "The boy who was talking to you just now, do you know him?" The girl in the wheelchair thought of Xu Musen; she nodded her head, then shook it. Seeing her demeanor and the wheelchair beneath her, Yao Mingyue''s wariness rxed considerably. These past few days, she had also chatted asionally with her best friend. Her best friend had said, if a boy suddenly falls out of love, it''s probably because he''s met a new girl. Yao Mingyue had not been without suspicions in that regard. But she too had her own pride. Not just anyone couldpete with her for a man. Yao Mingyue gazed into her clear eyes. She fell silent for a moment, then directly took out a red banknote from her wallet. "I''ll take the rest of the flowers." These flowers, meant to be sent to her by Xu Musen, she could dispose of as she wished, but she wouldn''t let them fall into another girl''s hands. One hundred yuan, surely enough to buy arger bunch. But the girl in the wheelchair shook her head instead. "Too little?" Yao Mingyue slightly furrowed her brows. "No, it''s too much." The girl looked at the remaining roses and said, "Just fifty yuan is fine." "I don''t have change, just take it like this." Yao Mingyue directly stuffed the money into her hand, took the roses, and turned to leave. "Wait a moment" The girl in the wheelchair grabbed her. She fumbled in her bosom for an exquisitely sewn small purse, from which she pulled out some coins. Some new, some old, a scattering of change. She found two twenties, a five, plus five coins "The exact amount only, Grandma always said not to take advantage of others." The girl spoke earnestly as she handed the money to Yao Mingyue. "Thank you for helping with my business, you are a good person too." The girl in the wheelchair handed out another good person card, tucked her wallet back into her pocket, and then pushed her wheelchair away. Yao Mingyue watched her leaving, looked at the change in her hand, and spaced out for a while. You are a good person too... Yao Mingyue silently withdrew her gaze. She never cared about how others judged her since she only cared about the final oue. What was hers, no one else could take away! She turned and left. Xu Musen and He Qiang were also desperately searching without sess. At one side of the square''s exit, the girl gently maneuvered the wheelchair, humming a song, seemingly quite pleased with her day''s earnings. At that moment, a ck car stopped by the exit of the square, and a woman got out, smiling and waving at her. "Nuannuan..." Chapter 12: Chapter 12 When the Loyal Dog Stops Fawning, The Intelligent Claim the High Ground! Monday. Time for ss. Musen Xu got up and looked at his phone''s backend; overnight, the game''s user count had already surged past the thousand mark. Just yesterday, he had stayed upte to program hundreds more levels. This type of match-three game fundamentally relies on randomness, and randomly tweaking a parameter can generate countless new levels. The design is very simple. Moreover, plenty of yers have already attracted a good number of new users overnight, so he expected that from today onwards, people would start to cash out. That would mean another wave of advertising. It has to be said, though people constantly mock Pinduoduo''s red packet model, its grasp on the user''s pain points is incredibly sharp. One hundred bucks to directly pull in a hundred new users, and indirectly reach thousands more. Where else are you going to find such a cost-effective advertisement? This kind of dimension-dropping marketing strategy is basically ughtering the game in the current market! Musen Xu was gleefully awaiting the first influx of funds. But before the funds came in, he needed to figure out how to raise some money, to pay out those who managed to attract enough users for the red packets. Those first users who received the hundred bucks were the best kind of banner ads. Musen Xu would rather go without food and drink than dy their payments even a little bit. Man, where else are you going to find a boss as good as himself? Musen Xu left the house. On a normal day, he would go to Ming Yue Yao''s house to call her, and they would ride to school together in the car. It must be said, going to school in a BMW during the heat of summer or winter was quite enjoyable. But now, Musen Xu was avoiding it like the gue, promptly leaving the residential area on foot. After all, there was a bus stop not far from the gate. No sooner had he left The curtains of a second-floor room in a vi were drawn open. Ming Yue clenched her teeth; she had specifically woken up early today just to wait for him to take the initiative and knock on her door. Watching his receding figure from the window, Ming Yue snorted coldly and immediately went downstairs. "Ming Yue, aren''t you waiting for Musen today?" The housekeeper asked as she saw Ming Yue heading straight to the car. "Who cares about him! If he wants to squeeze into the bus, just let him!" Ming Yue''s voice sounded cold, but her clenched jaw betrayed the indignation in her heart. You''d better not set foot in my car for the rest of your life! ... At this moment, Musen Xu had already boarded the bus after paying the fare. Though riding in a private car was safe andfortable, a bus has its merits too: it''s cheap and there''s no maintenance hassle. Of course, if Musen Xu had to choose, he would directly opt for his own private fleet! Ride whichever the hell car he wanted! Many students from the same school were on the bus, and they couldn''t help whispering upon seeing Musen Xu taking public transport. "Isn''t that Musen Xu? He''s taking the bus now, must have fallen out of favor with Ming Yue Yao." "Haha, he publicly humiliated Ming Yue Yaost week; she must have banned him from her car." "Exactly, what''s he got to be so arrogant about? I think letting him even smell the scent of bitter tea would be granting him a New Year''s gift..." Musen Xu turned a deaf ear to the whispers around him. Adolescent boys are like that, their minds half filled with lust, and the other half plotting toward it. Of course, there were also girls who sneakily watched Musen Xu. Although Musen Xu was considered Ming Yue Yao''spdog, his own "hardware" was pretty decent. At a height of 1.82 meters, a well-defined face, and the previously non-mainstream bowl haircut now trimmed into a refreshing short style, his originally clear eyes appeared somewhat deeper. Even as apdog, he was a fiercely handsome ''King of Dogs''! Ever since Musen Xu dered he was no longer pursuing Ming Yue Yao, quite a few girls had started paying attention to him again. Just then, a red BMW drove past the bus from behind. The car window was lowered a crack. Ming Yue Yao''s phoenix eyes, filled with intensity, instantly located Musen Xu in the crowded, sardine-can-like bus. There were also a few girls who were close to him. In the midst of the hot summer, these girls nevertheless felt somewhat guilty and chilly, subconsciously distancing themselves further from Xu Musen. Finally, she gave Xu Musen another re and rolled up the car window, overtaking the bus. Xu Musen was a bit helpless, this little tsundere clearly was not willing to give up on her own. She might find it difficult to lower her face and do something to Xu Musen in public, but with those deathly stares every day, what other girl would dare toe close to him? Having been reborn, Xu Musen did not n on living a lonely life. Yao Mingyue, you better not be hoarding the pit...no, I mean not letting go of the hottie! Moreover, finding a girl who could withstand Yao Mingyue''s aura was really not an easy task... However, what gave Xu Musen some constion was that he found someone on the bus ying "Sheep in Sheep''s Clothing". It seemed that the game was spreading quickly among the student crowd. They arrived at the school. The lively campus seemed to be wafting with the scents of gardenia and hormones. Hmm, Mock-orange, this kind of tree should be extinct! "Xu Musen!" He Qiang had just reached the school gates too and came over to bump Xu Musen''s shoulder directly. "Your game is awesome, my dad yed it too and shared it in his angling group; he actually got a hundred yuan red packet!" He Qiang was somewhat excited, and Xu Musen smiled: "Of course he got it, I won''t owe that money." He Qiang looked at him and said softly, "But the money you have on you must be running low, right? These past few days, people must be cashing out one after another." "We''ll take it step by step. If it really doesn''t work out, I''ll ask for some from home. Tighten the belt a bit, and within ten or fifteen days, the first batch of funding will be there." Xu Musen estimated that with the game''s current data, it would be good if three or four dozen managed to cash out before the first batch of funds arrived; he could hold on until then. He Qiang nodded slightly, wanting to say something, but the bell for ss preparation had already rung. The two of them entered the school. At this moment, at the school gate, a girl in a light pink long dress, pushing a wheelchair, also slowly entered the campus... The moment Xu Musen stepped into the ssroom, the once noisy atmosphere instantly quieted down a bit. In the front row of the ssroom, Yao Mingyue, with her long hair tied in a ponytail, had skin on her slender neck that seemed to be reflective. Mondays were for wearing school uniforms, and what seemed loose and casual on others appeared as a fashion piece on her. Her figure, far superior to her peers, incited envy, and she would asionally exchange a few words with her besties. A pair of phoenix eyes that, when not in tsundere mode, actually looked quite attractive when they smiled with a slight squint. After all, Yao Mingyue''s beauty was genuine, bing the unattainable love of so many boys'' youth. If it had been before, the moment Xu Musen entered the ss, he would definitely be met with various teasing and banter. Xu Musen would also help Yao Mingyue wipe her desk or fetch her a cup of hot water. But today, Xu Musen just nced over her figure lightly and sat down with He Qiang in the back rows. The people in the ss were all exchanging puzzled looks. Yao Mingyue still chatted with her besties with a smile. Xu Musen was whispering with He Qiang. Everything seemed exceptionally harmonious. It felt like overnight these two had be the most familiar strangers. "Damn, Xu Musen, don''t you think the atmosphere is weird?" He Qiang was almost overwhelmed by all these nces, saying softly. "It''s pretty good. The students are all so lively, all future pirs of the country." Xu Musenughed heartily,pared to his previous life when he was locked in a room tortured by Yao Mingyue, shaking on the edge of breaking down. This slight awkwardness was truly refreshing! He Qiang, however, rolled his eyes, thinking you''re bullshitting me, right? ss began. Xu Musen picked up the textbook and practice exam, suddenly noticing another amazing thing. Looking at the questions on the paper, Xu Musen''s mind seemed to automatically integrate, as if the optimal solution appeared spontaneously. He had heard that some people''s brains could automatically build a "pce of knowledge" with what they had seen, ready to be used at any time when needed. Xu Musen felt that after rebirth, his body and spirit were much better than before. Perhaps this was because the loyal dog had started to give up, and his clever intelligence had retaken the high ground? Ding~ Your cheat has been delivered~ Chapter 13: Chapter 13 Studying so as not to be kept by a rich woman! I still have fond memories of campus life. In thest two months or so, we basically had a mock exam every week. Musen''s grades were always quite good, but during that time, they slipped a bit because he was busy trying to win over Yao Mingyue. But he still had a solid foundation. In his previous life, he feared that his marks wouldn''t be enough to get into the same university as Yao Mingyue. But heter guessed that even if he really did fail the college entrance exam, Yao Mingyue would still apply to the same university as him, give him a surprise by secretly joining him, and take the opportunity to tease him mercilessly! To Yao Mingyue, who was already financially independent, what''s more important than clinging onto a good husband rather than applying to a good school? In a way, she was quite sweet to Musen. It''s just that Musen was really unable to enjoy his luck; to get rid of her, the only way was to get epted into one of the top universities and change his preference to a different institution. Musen took a deep breath. To study not to be kept by a rich woman! A man should strive to strengthen himself! During ss, Yao Mingyue would always pretend to turn around nonchntly. Before, Musen loved to gaze at her back during ss, sometimes even drooling over her. Remembering these moments, Yao Mingyue felt especially triumphant inside, but she had no idea how many times she had turned around that morning. However, Musen had been focusing on his book all morning, which nearly made Yao Mingyue crush her pen in frustration. Am I not prettier than a couple of chemical equations? At noon, it was time for lunch. "Moriko, you really were something this morning, studying the whole time, not even going to the bathroom when called." He Qiang stretched his neck. "Good kidney function, no frequent urination," Musen closed his book as well. "Go to hell!" He Qiang spit out, "After lunch, meet me in the garden behind the sports field." Musen raised an eyebrow, warily looking at his best friend, "Isn''t that ce for couples to date? What do you want?" "Get lost! I have something serious to tell you." Musenughed, closed his book, and stood up. But his gaze met with Yao Mingyue''s. During lunchtime in the past, Musen always clung to Yao Mingyue, having lunch with her. But now, Musen just patted He Qiang on the shoulder, "Come on, Qiang Zi, I''ll treat you to a chicken drumstick today." He Qiang also saw Yao Mingyue''s expressionless face; the pressure was too much. His bro had it hard sometimes. The brotherly loyalty in He Qiang! Suddenly he clutched his stomach, "I can''t, I have a frequent need to urinate! I''ll go to the restroom first; you go ahead and eat." With that, He Qiang slipped away like a ck catfish. Musen: ... He saw the fleeting smugness in Yao Mingyue''s eyes. She deliberately slowed down, waiting for Musen to strike up a conversation. Musen kept a normal expression, went straight out the back door, and ran towards the canteen. Yao Mingyue watched his retreating figure, clenched her fist. "Ming Yue, I''m sure he''s just too shy to speak to you. Boys always want to save face; maybe he''s rushing to save a seat for you in the canteen," her short-haired best friend Liu Ruonan said with a smile, "Wasn''t he always securing a spot in advance and waiting to eat with you before?" Yao Mingyue''splexion improved somewhat, but her pride made her snort lightly, "Who needs him to save a seat?" But even though she said that, her pace quickened a bit, and she started walking toward the canteen. High school canteens, lining up for food could be as intense as the Normandyndings. There''s an old saying: a young man at his prime can eat his father into bankruptcy. This age group is in the final sprint of growth and development, and their appetites are frighteninglyrge. Musen went to get a barbecue rice bowl with an extra chicken leg, then carried his te to a corner spot and began devouring his meal with gusto. Ming Yue and her best friend also entered the restaurant; Ming Yue''s naturally aloof aura always made people keep a subconscious distance from her. Especially the boys, who always liked to mention Ming Yue in their conversations, but turned red-faced andcked the courage to even stand with her upon meeting her in person. Her short-haired best friend also benefitted from this, seldom having to wait in long lines at the restaurant. Both of them ordered a bowl of tonkotsu ramen and a te of fruit sd. Ming Yue could always spot Musen in a crowd at a nce. And, there were indeed empty seats next to Musen. "Hehe, see, I told you he''s just too embarrassed." The short-haired best friend said with a chuckle. Ming Yue also curved her lips slightly and the two walked over to take the seats. Of course, her best friend was considerate enough to leave a seat between herself and Musen. Musen was gnawing on a chicken leg; the familiar scent reached his nose, and he knew who had arrived without even looking up. An inescapable presence... "Musen, for a guy, you really shouldn''t be so coy. If you want to make up with Ming Yue, just apologize, isn''t it that simple? Why be so awkward?" The short-haired best friend initiated the conversation on behalf of Ming Yue. Musen was still chewing on his chicken leg, ncing at Ming Yue in front of him, who still maintained her cool expression. "Why should I apologize?" Musen''s gazended on the girl again. Liu Ruonan was taken aback, "You, you said such harsh words to Ming Yuest week..." "What was harsh about them? I''ve already admitted I''m nothing but a toad and respected her wishes not to foolishly pursue her anymore. Isn''t that enough?" Musen spoke calmly, even with a hint of a smile. The onlookers ready for a show were all startled. Ming Yue bit her lip tightly, her phoenix eyes squinting at Musen; she really couldn''t understand the person in front of her anymore. Her best friend, Liu Ruonan, choked up without response for a while, then became somewhat indignant. "I mean, you''re a grown man, is it necessary to say such nasty things just because your confession wasn''t sessful? Clearly, if you just bowed your head and apologized, you and Ming Yue could still be friends. Besides, aren''t you deliberately keeping a seat for Ming Yue right now?" She emphasized particrly. "Who said I''m saving seats for you? You two chose to sit there yourselves; don''t be so self-absorbed, okay?" Musen found it amusing, but also slightly helpless. In the past, when he and Ming Yue came to the restaurant, they were a given pair, and over time, everyone knew Musen would always be apanied by Ming Yue within three steps. So even if Musen came to eat alone, there would always be one or two seats next to him left unupied, with no one daring to take them. With his remark, Liu Ruonan and Ming Yue were turned into clowns right on the spot... more like Harley Quinn! Ming Yue clenched her chopsticks so hard they were on the verge of snapping, her gaze fixed intently on Musen''s retreating back. Liu Ruonan, publicly humiliated like this, flushed so red her freckles stood out: "Musen! Are you even a man? Just because you didn''t seed in confessing your feelings, there''s no need to insult others like this!" Musen found it noisy; half the cafeteria was looking their way, making it impossible to enjoy his meal in peace. He quickly shoveled the rest of his meal into his mouth, stood up, and walked away with his tray. "He, how could he act like that, Ming Yue, you..." Liu Ruonan was so angry her freckled face turned red. "Crack!" The chopsticks in Ming Yue''s hand snapped, she looked at Musen''s departing figure, barely controlling the emotions welling inside her. "Musen..." she enunciated the name word by word to herself. The people around, witnessing the current state of Ming Yue, gradually averted their eyes, not knowing what to make of the scene. The scorching summer heat. They all felt a chill, sensing that... Musen may be in for a rough time ahead. Chapter 14: Chapter 14 Actually, Im Not Simple at All! The schoolyard''s back garden has always been a coveted spot for couples to date. Xu Musen arrived as scheduled, found a quiet corner, and sat on the bench to wait. Before long, He Qiang came running over, panting, and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Despite the sweltering summer heat, he had even thrown on a jacket. "Are you okay? Why are you wearing a jacket in this hot weather?" Xu Musen asked, looking at him. "Keep your voice down." He Qiang caught his breath, his gaze flitting around like a thief, checking to make sure no one was around before continuing, "Hehe, I have a great treasure to show you!" As he spoke, He Qiang began taking off his jacket. "Damn! That''s not my thing, man!" Xu Musen got goosebumps watching his friend''s lewd movements. "Get lost!" He Qiang cursed and, after taking off his jacket, handed over a well-wrapped envelope. "What''s this?" Xu Musen took it instinctively. The feel of it: "Money?" He Qiang wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "I know you need money for the upfront red packets. This is all the New Year''s money and pocket money I''ve saved. Use it for your emergency." Xu Musen''s hand paused for a moment. Judging by the weight of the envelope, there could be about seven or eight thousand yuan. Although He Qiang''s family was fairly well-off, they didn''t let him spend money carelessly. For a student these days, having one hundred yuan a week for pocket money was quite good. Seven to eight thousand was definitely a substantial amount. It seemed that He Qiang had indeed pulled out all his savings, even the money meant for buying underwear. Looking at his pal in front of him, Xu Musen didn''t quite know what to say for a moment. "Where did you get so much money?" "Don''t worry, I didn''t borrow it from my family. I sold a few fishing rods I didn''t need. Just use it." He Qiang spoke nonchntly. But Xu Musen knew his buddy loved fishing rods more than he loved beautiful women. Selling the rods for money... was almost like selling off a wife to He Qiang. "We don''t need that much, I''ll be able to sort things out in a few days." Xu Musen was touched, but he didn''t want his good buddy to scrimp by for the next few days. "Since it''s already sold, just pay me backter for what you don''t use," He Qiang waved his hand dismissively, "Stop fussing like a woman!" Holding the envelope, Xu Musen came back to his senses and smiled slightly, "What if I end up losing it all?" "If you lose it, you lose it. Worstes to worst, I''ll nab a kidney from you to pay off the debt!" He Qiang clicked his tongue. Xu Musen burst intoughter, stretched out his hand, and patted his buddy on the shoulder, "Don''t worry, if I don''t make you rich in this lifetime, I''d be letting myself down! And I''vee to believe in one thing." "What''s that?" "In tough times, it''s not just the wife who can give you a hand. Sometimes a brother can too." "???" ... He Qiang had run out to get money at noon and hadn''t had lunch yet, so he went off to get ready to eat. Xu Musen looked at the envelope; indeed, there was about seven to eight thousand yuan inside. Xu Musen would need quite a bit of money in the near future, as the game''s sound effects and art style needed improvement, which was beyond a programmer''s capabilities. Xu Musen took a card out of his pocket, on it was a cute cat avatar. When he got back, he took a closer look and noticed a signature "an" in the cat''s pupils. But this clue was practically useless. Why couldn''t it include something like a QQ number or a mobile phone number? Xu Musen sighed. He didn''t feel like returning to ss during lunch break. The moment he would appear, gossips would surround him, which was annoying. Hey on a bench in the garden courtyard, holding the cat illustration in his hands, admiring it. The drawing style was genuinely cute, and just looking at it made him feel at ease. "It''s a shame, I don''t know if I''ll be able to find that girl again..." The shadow of the trees was mottled. Xu Musen used the cat illustration to block the sunlight, nning to take a quick nap. The ground rustled with the crunching of leaves. The leaves danced with the movement of a white dress and a faint fragrance drifted into his nose with the afternoon breeze. "Who are you looking for?" A voice without much emotion, but very pleasant and crisp, flowed into Xu Musen''s ears like a clear spring. "Looking for a pretty girl who seems a bit naive, sitting in a wheelchair..." Xu Musen replied subconsciously, but his body suddenly froze. He slowly lowered the cat illustration that was blocking his view. In front of him were a pair of bright, stupid-looking peach blossom eyes, just asrge, cute, and slightly naive as those on the cat illustration. She blinked, still with her long hair cascading, and her eyes lit up when she saw it was Xu Musen''s face: "Oh, it''s you." "It''s you!" Xu Musen was so excited that he immediately sat up, and their heads almost bumped together, having just been thinking about her; he couldn''t believe she appeared before his eyes in the blink of an eye. Xu Musen subconsciously grabbed her sleeve, "You can''t think of running away so fast this time!" The girl blinked, looking at Xu Musen, then down at her wheelchair, "I can''t run anyway..." "...Sorry, sorry, I got a bit excited." Xu Musen hurriedly let go, and he took another careful look at the girl in front of him. He noticed that the dress she wore today was of a simr style to the one he had seen her in before, which looked in but seemed to be made of good fabric. Of course, what hadn''t changed was her dazed and cute appearance. "Are you a student here too?" "Yeah." The girl nodded, then fell silent, just staring at Xu Musen. "How... did you end up at this ce?" Xu Musen asked again. The girl was still holding a pink lunchbox; she lifted it and said, "I came here for lunch." "Why don''t you eat in the cafeteria?" "Grandma said, I should try not to eat with everyone else, to avoid being talked about." The girl seemed to answer any question she was asked. Xu Musen affirmed in his heart once more. in clothes, sitting in a wheelchair, selling flowers by herself at night, and bringing her lunch to school, it was clear that her family was not in good condition, saving wherever possible. And she had to worry about her ssmates finding out about her simple home-cooked meals and mocking her... Xu Musen felt a wave of sympathy; they were all trapped by money. Thinking this, Xu Musen picked up the cat drawing and asked, "Did you draw this yourself?" "Mmhmm..." Seeing the drawing, a trace of embarrassment finally appeared in the girl''s eyes, which had remainedrgely unchanged until then. "You draw very well; in fact, I have a job that I want to coborate with you on. You''ll just need to draw some cartoon images of cats and dogs for me. For each draft, I will give you..." Xu Musen pondered for a moment, then held up five fingers, "How about I give you fifty yuan?" Because he needed many cartoon images, like QQ emoji packs; a single image needed to have different expressions, each considered one draft. It might not sound like much, but aplete set would add up to a substantial amount. And for a student, fifty yuan a day wasn''t a small sum either, and more work meant more money. "Fifty huh..." The girl counted on her fingers, as if not very aware of the concept of money, only murmuring, "It''s about the same as selling roses for a whole night." "Exactly, and it''s also less tiring. The more you work, the more you earn. With this, you can be self-reliant, and eventually go to the cafeteria to eat with your ssmates." Xu Musen looked at her dazed expression and smiled, thinking of quickly securing this money-making opportunity. "Self-reliant..." The girl seemed particrly interested in this phrase, lifting her head with bright, shining eyes she looked at Xu Musen, "Don''t deceive me..." "Liars are little dogs." Xu Musen said with a smile. The girl thought for a moment, then stretched out her dainty pinky finger toward Xu Musen. "Pinky promise!" In the sunlight, the girl raised her pale cheek, the light falling on her hair, tinting it sacred and pure. Naive... If I really wanted to deceive you, what good would a pinky promise do? Yet, Xu Musen''s heart, somewhat numb to emotions, felt touched, and he chuckled as he extended his hand to hook his finger with hers. "Then it''s settled, we meet here again tomorrow, and I look forward to our first coboration," Xu Musen nodded with a smile. Seeing the girl''s lunchbox, he didn''t want to dy her meal any longer. Xu Musen turned around and was about to walk past the corner when he suddenly looked back and asked, "By the way, what''s your name?" The girl in the wheelchair, holding her lunchbox as a breeze brushed her hair tips, her exquisite face partially visible, said, "My name is An Nuannuan, a very affectionate and warm Nuannuan." Xu Musen repeated the name silently; indeed, just like her drawing style, it was a very warm name. He turned around ready to leave, but the girl suddenly spoke up again. "Oh, and I''m not clumsy at all; most of the time I''m very smart!" Xu Musen looked back at her serious yet dazed expression and couldn''t helpughing out loud. Waving his hand, he turned and left. The girl in the wheelchair watched his retreating figure disappear before opening her lunchbox. In the sunlight, even the contents of her lunchbox seemed to glisten... Chapter 15: Chapter 15 The “Ex” Mother-in-Law Who Loves to Wear Cheongsam After school. Throughout the whole day, Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue had been embroiled in a cold war of sorts. Ever since the incident at the restaurant, both of them had started treating each other as if they were air. Xu Musen certainly preferred it that way. After school. As soon as Yao Mingyue stepped out of the school gate, she got into the car. This time, she didn''t even have the chance to apologize to Xu Musen before the nanny drove off. "Moriko, I heard about the incident at the cafeteria at lunchtime. That was pretty harsh, what you said. Seems like it won''t be easy for you two to make up." He Qiang clicked his tongue as he spoke. With a cheerfulugh, Xu Musen said, "Right now, I''m only thinking about making money. After all, I still owe you a huge sum." "Take your time, I''m not rushing you." While the two were chatting, a girl in a wheelchair just happened to exit the school gate. "Whoa! Isn''t that the girl who was selling flowers that day?" He Qiang said with a tap on his shoulder after spotting her. "I know, we''ve already met." Xu Musen smiled and walked over to greet the girl, "An Nuannuan." The girl looked up and nodded at him. It was a bit of a struggle for the wheelchair to get through the card slot of the school gate''s automatic door, and An Nuannuan was trying hard to push herself through. Xu Musen walked over and gently held the handle of the wheelchair to help push her through. "Thank you." "We are partners now; it''s only right," Xu Musen responded with a smile. "Partners?" Mumbling the word, An Nuannuan looked up at Xu Musen, "Does that mean we are friends now?" "Of course." Xu Musen nodded and looked at the road outside, then back to An Nuannuan, "Are you going home alone?" An Nuannuan''s clear eyes shifted, and finally, she nodded, "Mhm." "Is it far from school? It''s better to take the bus this season." "It''s okay, I''ll be home soon..." An Nuannuan pressed her lips together and slightly gripped the edge of her clothes, seeming a bit embarrassed. Xu Musen sighed inwardly, suspecting that even the one yuan for the bus fare was too much for the girl to bear. Without saying much more, Xu Musen thought for a moment, reached into his pocket, and while nobody was looking their way, slipped a hundred yuan into the girl''s hand. "Why are you giving me money?" An Nuannuan blinked her eyes. Xu Musen shushed her, leaning in a bit closer, "Haven''t we agreed to coborate? Consider this an advance payment. I''m looking forward to seeing your work tomorrow." The two were quite close now, close enough to smell each other''s scent. An Nuannuan looked down at therge hand covering her own small one, the one he used to hand her the money, and suddenly felt her face getting warmer. "Oh..." She nodded slightly. Xu Musen also quickly put some distance between them and waved, "I''ll be off then, see you tomorrow." "Mhm, see you tomorrow." As An Nuannuan watched his waving hand, a glint of light appeared in her adorably nk eyes. Pushing her wheelchair past a corner of the school, An Nuannuan found herself on a quiet path. A low-profile ck business car had been waiting there for some time. Seeing An Nuannuan, a woman akin to a housekeeper descended from the vehicle. "Nuannuan." With a smile, the woman pressed a button on the business car, and the side seat extended automatically out of the car and gently lowered. The woman then helped An Nuannuan sit on it, and she was automatically brought inside the car. Once in the car, the woman nced at An Nuannuan through the rearview mirror and said with a smile, "You seem to be in a good mood today, Nuannuan. Did something nice happen?" An Nuannuan nodded and replied, "I found another job today." "You didn''t pick up flowers again, did you? Grandpa and grandma worry about you going out every night," said the woman with a resigned smile. "No, someone wants to pay for the paintings I draw!" "Oh?" Now the woman seemed a bit more curious, "How much are they offering?" "He said fifty for a draft copy." "Five hundred thousand... not bad. Who is the person?" asked the woman, a little more cautiously. "Not five hundred thousand, just fifty. It''s the boy who keeps getting rejected when he confesses." An Nuannuan took out the hundred-yuan advance Xu Musen had given her, "He even gave me an advance payment." The woman nced back at the red bills in her hand, her mind momentarily crashing. Without the ten thousand, was it just a single buck then? Fifty yuan for a painting... Indeed, not too shabby for an average junior high school student. But for An Nuannuan, who had been drawing since childhood and had gained some fame in the industry a few years ago... fifty yuan, is that even enough for the cost of paints? However, seeing the joy on An Nuannuan''s face, the woman couldn''t bring herself to say anything. The family had sent her here to study, so she could integrate into society sooner. Including An Nuannuan''s own whimsical ideas of self-reliance and earning money, the family supported her. And the boy who got rejected every time he confessed... The woman, picking up Nuannuan from school every day, naturally saw him a few times. The flowers An Nuannuan sold were picked up from those others had tossed away. Thinking of this little boy, the woman let her guard down a bit. After all, what harm could a lovesick puppy do? As long as Nuannuan is happy, that''s what matters. In the end, the woman shook her head with a smile and drove away. ... On this trip, Xu Musen noticed that many students had started ying "Sheep into the Fold." The game was one thing, but the hundred yuan referral red envelope was simply too tempting for students. Xu Musen''s phone kept notifying him of withdrawals from time to time. Xu Musen, pocketing the cash given by He Qiang, went to the bank and deposited it all first. But as soon as he deposited it, five or six hundred were withdrawn. Xu Musen felt the pinch. Back at home, neither mom nor dad were there. On the tabley a note and twenty yuan. "Your dad and I are working overtime today. Here''s some money, buy whatever you want if you''re hungry." Xu Musen went to his room and continued optimizing the game''s code on hisputer. User logins had reached two or three thousand, virtually ensuring the first ce in this coborator event. A few more days of grinding, and he would smoothly secure his first pot of gold. As night fell, Xu Musen stretchedzily, shut down theputer, and prepared to go out for ate-night snack, buying a chicken leg and a serving of stir-fried rice noodles. Just when he returned to the entrance of themunity, a red Bentley drove in through the gate. "Eh, Xiaosen?" The window of the Bentley rolled down, and a voice of intellectual elegance floated out. While biting into his chicken leg, Xu Musen turned back, meeting a pair of phoenix eyes identical to Yao Mingyue''s. However, these eyescked some of the sharpness and instead possessed an added dose of graceful regality. Her face also featured the standard melon seed shape, a facial structure that does not betray signs of aging even with years added on. Besides, her skin was well-maintained, showing no wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, with a high nose bridge and lips as red as blooming roses. "Mom... Aunt Liu?" Xu Musen almost called her by the wrong title, and quickly corrected himself. Liu Rushuang merely pursed her lips slightly, with a sparkle of curiosity in her phoenix eyes. "I just spoke with your mom on the phone. Come over to eat at your aunt''s ce today; we haven''t dined together in so long." "I... I''ve already bought this." Although Xu Musen had a favorable impression of his former mother-inw, her household... had caused him too many psychological scars. "You haven''t eaten it yet, have you? It''s been a long time since I''ve seen you all. Please keep mepany, won''t you?" Liu Rushuang''s every frown and smile radiated a supremely mature allure. She leaned on the car window, genuinely looking a bit pitiable. Xu Musen: ... Could you mother and daughter switch personalities, please? In the end, Xu Musen still got into the car with her. At the entrance to the vi. Liu Rushuang got out of the car to fetch things from the trunk, while Xu Musen actively helped to carry them. "Oh, Xiaosen has grown up, you even know how to show concern for others," Liu Rushuang said with a warm smile, reaching out to ruffle his hair. Liu Rushuang liked wearing cheongsams, and today she donned a light cyan one. Despite being a mother, you couldn''t spot a hint of excess flesh on her, and her arms and neck were as fair and delicate as a young girl''s. Moreover, her gracefully mature figure was something beyond what a young girl could match. At that moment, the vi''s door swung open, and Yao Mingyue stood behind it, her phoenix eyes emitting a faintly dangerous gleam. They fixed intently on her mother caressing Xu Musen''s head with a close intimacy. Xu Musen: ... This tsundere... is hopeless. Chapter 16: Chapter 16 Aloof Tsundere? Bus Pervert! After his rebirth, this was the first time he hade to Yao Mingyue''s home. At the dinner table, Liu Rushuang deliberately arranged for the two of them to sit together. Yao Mingyue still seemed to be in a cold war, holding her cheek and turning to one side intentionally not looking at him. But underneath the table, her bare feet in sandals were already excitedly moving around. Xu Musen felt like he was sitting on pins and needles, both of them looking as if they were ignoring each other, yet Yao Mingyue was unconsciously moving her chair closer to him. So close that he could smell a faint scent on her, simr to some kind of floral fragrance. Liu Rushuang, on the other hand, was holding her cheek, watching the silent pair with evident interest. "I''ve been on business tripstely, have you two been doing okay recently?" Upon hearing this, Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue finally nced at each other. Yao Mingyue turned her head away and said nothing. Xu Musen cleared his throat, "Pretty good, just like before." Yao Mingyue''s fist clenched, Just like before? How could it be just like before? "Just like before won''t do, oh, I thought since you two go to school ande back together every day, there might have been some progress," Liu Rushuang said smilingly, feigning a bit of disappointment. Yao Mingyue''s body stiffened, her cheeks bing slightly red unconsciously. Xu Musen was choked, feeling a bit like he needed to avoid the topic, "Auntie, you''re joking, there''s nothing else between Ming Yue and me..." Yao Mingyue bit her teeth, restraining herself from joining the conversation. Liu Rushuang saw the reaction of both and kept it in mind. A glint of thought shed through her phoenix eyes, then she smiled and asked back, "What I meant was, since you two go to school together, there should be some improvements in your grades by now, right? What are you both thinking?" Xu Musen, with strained courage, "My thoughts were indeed about the grades." Liu Rushuang chuckled, lightly patting her chest, "That''s good to hear. Actually, you''ve reached the age of having interest in the opposite gender. It''s normal to fall in love; college is approaching, and there will be plenty of opportunitiester on." Liu Rushuang''s words seemed pointed but were not explicitly stated. In some ways, the mother and daughter''s fishing skills were even more impressive than He Qiang''s. Poor Xu Musen, in his previous life, had been yed by this mother-daughter duo. The maid brought in the dishes, a table full of seafood delicacies. Since Xu Musen hade, he was not going to put on airs; his family and Yao Mingyue''s had been neighbors before and often dined together. If Yao Mingyue was a normal girl, they might really have been able to live happily ever after. But every now and then, Xu Musen nced over to see Yao Mingyue elegantly cutting a Russian sausage. She cast him a brief look, the corner of her mouth hooking up, knife up, knife down, snap, cut in two! Xu Musen swallowed hard, shadows of his past life looming, lowering his head to continue eating. "Heehee, this is more like a family meal." Liu Rushuang said smilingly, adding food to both their tes. Yet, when Yao Mingyue saw Liu Rushuang used her own chopsticks, which had been in her mouth, to add food to Xu Musen''s te, she couldn''t help but feel a subconscious twinge of resentment. Xu Musen sighed in his heart. You''re being your daughter''s wingwoman, but your daughter sees you as a romantic rival. So filially respectful. Liu Rushuang was a chatterbox, and the meal was spent in a slightly strange but lively atmosphere. "By the way, summer is upon us and I''ve bought some clothes for both of you to try on, have a look." Liu Rushuang handed each of them a shopping bag, each containing several outfits. But Xu Musen just nced at it. Isn''t this couple clothing? Although it wasn''t too obvious, the colors and brands were the same. "Auntie, I don''t think that''s necessary." "How could that be? I''ve already removed the tags, so they can''t be returned." Xu Musen grimaced inwardly; if the two of them were to go out wearing couple outfits, the gossips at school could probably drown him in spit alone. "What''s the matter, don''t you like it? Or do you think Auntie''s taste is too old-fashioned?" Liu Rushuang put on a very hurt expression, pitifully batting her eyes towards Xu Musen. "Of course not, it''s just..." "Heehee, then let''s drop the ''just''. Why be so polite with Auntie?" Liu Rushuang cut off Xu Musen''s words and continued with her chin propped up: "Actually, Auntie has a small favor to ask Xiaosen." Starting tomorrow, Xiao Song will also be apanying me on a business trip out of town, so there won''t be anyone to look after Ming Yue at home." Xu Musen''s expression remained the same, but he felt disaster looming, while Yao Mingyue''s eyes sparkled with barely contained excitement. "So, for the next while, Ming Yue will have to eat at Xiaosen''s home, and you''ll also continue to go to school together each day, Xiaosen, you don''t mind, do you?" Liu Rushuang smiled intelligently and gracefully, but she had dug a huge pit for Xu Musen. This wasn''t really asking for a favor. Considering the rtionship between their families and an incident from many years ago, such a request to take care of a child was undoubtedly going to be epted by his family. The excitement in Yao Mingyue''s shining eyes was bing increasingly hard to contain. Xu Musen sighed internally, a woman is determined to have my head, and now it''s useless whether I have any objections or not. After dinner, Xu Musen hurried back home. In the vi. The mother and daughter then looked at each other for a moment. Liu Rushuang took the initiative to speak, "Ming Yue, are you and Xiaosen having a misunderstanding?" "Who''s having a misunderstanding with him." Yao Mingyue''s voice was indifferent. But Liu Rushuang started tough, "Can''t a mother understand her daughter? Your emotions are written all over your face. What exactly do you think of Xiaosen?" Yao Mingyue''s eyes flickered, but just thinking about Xu Musen''s various behaviors over the past few days made her so angry that she didn''t want to speak. Liu Rushuang saw everything and continued with a smile, "As someone who has been through it, I just want to tell you that a girl can''t press a boy too hard. Otherwise, he will be overwhelmed by the pressure. Of course, you can''t be too reserved either. If you always let your little temper get the best of you, waiting for the other party to apologize, you might really miss out on a lot. Sometimes you also need to be proactive. After all, my Ming Yue is so beautiful, which boy wouldn''t like her?" Liu Rushuang looked at her daughter, who had also received all the love outside of work. Yao Mingyue listened quietly for quite a while, emotions starting to stir in her eyes. "Hmm." She nodded slightly, her eyes shimmering. Liu Rushuang also felt reassured and gently ruffled her daughter''s hair. Ever since her husband had passed away unexpectedly, she had given all her remaining warmth to her daughter. She worried not about her daughter''s academic performance, but hoped that her daughter would have someone to apany her for the rest of her life. However, Liu Rushuang still underestimated the depth of her own daughter''s emotions. Her words did reach Yao Mingyue, but she only took in half of them and greatly amplified that half... The next day. Xu Musen had just gotten out of bed when he heard lively conversation in the living room. Liu Rushuang hade over and was chatting with Xu''s father and mother, probably talking about helping Yao Mingyue. To Xu Musen''s surprise, Yao Mingyue had alsoe. She was wearing the "couple outfit" from yesterday, a refreshing short sleeve with a knee-length skirt. Her chopstick-like slender and straight legs showed no trace of hair, white and smooth as if they were carved from warm jade. The short-sleeve top was perfectly contoured by her gorgeous figure, her long hair tied back in a ponytail. Her delicate cheeks needed no makeup to be considered peerless beauty. It''s undeniable that such a quiet Yao Mingyue truly is the unattainable moonlight in countless young men''s youth. Xu Musen had also been blinded by her appearance in the past. "Xiaosen, you''re up. Hurry and put on the clothes Auntie brought you and get ready for school," Liu Rushuang said with a beaming smile. "...The clothes haven''t been washed." "I had already washed them when I brought them over." Well, faced with the nces of the whole family, Xu Musen knew he couldn''t leave the house without wearing that outfit today. Although his father and mother had never directly epted Liu Rushuang''s help, Liu Rushuang had quietly paid someone to invest in his father''spany, which had slowly improved their situation at home. Xu Musen learned about these thingster on and felt grateful towards his prospective mother-inw in his heart. Xu Musen put on the matching short-sleeved shorts. Liu Rushuang''s generosity was evident, with the clothes featuring good design and material. Standing together, Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue, one stunningly beautiful and the other tall and handsome, did indeed make a matching pair. Xu''s father and mother couldn''t help but nod inwardly; if their son really ended up with Yao Mingyue, they would worry less about his future. Liu Rushuang, meanwhile, squinted her eyes and smiled, "Xiaosen really is getting more and more handsome. Alright, let''s talkter. You two better hurry to school so you won''t bete." The two of them were pushed out the door. Silent the whole way. Xu Musen thought about quickly catching the bus to school. But he noticed that Yao Mingyue also kept following him out of the residential area. Eventually, Xu Musen couldn''t resist, "Aren''t you taking a car?" Although his words carried a hint of distaste, it was he who took the initiative to speak. Yao Mingyue''s lips curved slightly. "Aunt Song is going on a business trip with my mom, so I have to take the bus too." Xu Musen felt she was definitely doing this on purpose. Yao Mingyue was a bit germophobic and would rather take a taxi than the bus, because of the crowded conditions on public transportation. The bus arrived. Xu Musen got on first, standing in the corner, his hand gripping the logo on his clothes, afraid that others would mistake them for wearing couple outfits. But Yao Mingyue boarded with a smile that suggested she had everything under control and then emotionlessly stood next to Xu Musen. The vehicle started... Xu Musen tried hard to maintain his distance, but every time he moved away a bit, Yao Mingyue edged closer to his side. Even though there was plenty of space next to her. Xu Musen was already pressed against the window when Yao Mingyue finally gave him a little space. This made Xu Musen sigh with relief. Let it be for now; in the future, he definitely had to get up earlier to avoid this bus! But as the bus started moving, Xu Musen suddenly felt a soft body brush against his own and, more specifically... against his strong and toned buttocks. Had he just been groped? Xu Musen looked incredulous. He turned his head to see Yao Mingyue, her expressionless face only revealing a hint of a smile at the corners of her lips, as she pretended to stabilize herself once more. "Sorry, I lost my bnce, my hand slipped." Chapter 17: Chapter 17 Are Girls These Days All So Proactive? Everyone with a girlfriend knows Actually, after starting a rtionship, boys, due to their naturally well-developed thigh muscles, have more "perky butts." Boys actually look tighter and more substantial, so they often fall prey to their girlfriends'' mischievous hands. In his previous life, whenever Yao Mingyue patted him, Xu Musen knew it was time to change his pose. Sigh, the more one talks, the more tears are shed. It''s just turning the world upside down. Ever since getting on the bus, many eyes began to focus on them, especially on Yao Mingyue. There were quite a few students from the same school on the bus. "Isn''t that Yao Mingyue? She''s actually taking the bus, she usually gets picked up and dropped off in a BMW, doesn''t she?" "Maybe she wants to experience life." "I don''t think so. Look, isn''t that Xu Musen next to her?" "Eh? Their clothes seem to be from the same brand, and they match pretty well. Could it be that they''ve gotten back together?" "Haha, definitely Xu Musen, this bootlicker, couldn''t stand it anymore and actively bought clothes to apologize. Look, he keeps trying to stand next to Yao Mingyue..." Whispers echoed inside the bus. Xu Musen wanted to curse. Just how deeply ingrained was this bootlicker image in people''s hearts? Can''t you see clearly who exactly is the one trying to rub up against someone else? At this moment, the corners of Yao Mingyue''s mouth couldn''t help but curl up, a sly and proud gleam in her phoenix eyes. She suddenly felt that taking the initiative felt surprisingly good. Xu Musen ignored her. But during the morning rush hour, the buses were packed with people. Yao Mingyue''s strong presence made the boys around her not dare toe close. Only the girls could squeeze over to that side. Seeing a girl getting close to Xu Musen, she would frown and silently take up space. This led to Ming Yue bumping into him every time the bus started or stopped. Xu Musen couldn''tin, firstly because it was too embarrassing for a grown man to admit he was being taken advantage of. Secondly, no one would believe him anyway! A bootlicker like you and a cold girl would take advantage of you? Even if caught red-handed, there would be a bunch of guys saying he didn''t know how good he had it and toe touch them instead... It''s just too sad. It was only three stops, but Xu Musen found it incredibly torturous. Finally, they arrived. Turning around, Xu Musen met Yao Mingyue''s lips still lingering with a pleased smile. "What exactly are you trying to do?" Yao Mingyue, looking at his expression, seemed especially satisfied and, without a word, turned and walked away. The onlookers clicked their tongues in interest. "Just as expected, Xu Musen couldn''t help but speak to her, but Yao Mingyuepletely ignored him, hahaha..." "?" Xu Musen burst into wryughter. Alright, alright, if you want to y it like that. If I can''t deal with it, can''t I still avoid it? In the ssroom. As the two entered the ssroom, many students noticed that their clothes looked very simr in style and brand, just like a couple''s outfit. He Qiang couldn''t help but ask, "Moriko, have you and Yao Mingyue made up? Why are your clothes..." "Bought by the family, just a coincidence." Xu Musen remained calm. Everyone knew they were childhood friends, so it was normal for them to shop for clothes together. However, obviously, for these students who were keen on gossip, it only made things look worse. And today, Yao Mingyue did not exin anything, just let the gossip spread. Xu Musen endured until lunchtime and went to the cafeteria to eat. Then Yao Mingyue and her bestie came over with their trays and sat opposite him. Both of them were silent, but the clothes that looked very much like a couple''s outfit on them, as well as Yao Mingyue''s asionalughter, was enough to make everyone start to imagine scenarios. Even so, Yao Mingyue seemed quite skilled as she clipped a sausage from her own te to Xu Musen''s. Before Xu Musen could react, she walked off with her best friend, te in hand. "..." Feeling the fiery gaze of envy from the surrounding boys. Xu Musen knew that this was the little tsundere''s customary tactic. She still wouldn''t express any stance, yet would asionally make some intimate gestures, leading others to subconsciously think that the two had reconciled. It might even lead others to fantasize even more Xu Musen felt a bit of a headache, but he didn''t care about these things anymore, as such tactics would naturally fall apart on their own once college started. After finishing his meal, Xu Musen went straight to the back garden of the sports field. Walking onto the secluded path, Xu Musen spotted the familiar wheelchair and the light-colored long dress beneath the dappled tree shadows. The girl was still eating, her cheeks bulging as she chewed slowly and methodically, her gaze slightly vacant but earnest as she focused on her food. Xu Musen didn''t go over to disturb her. As a modern person, one seldom leaves their phone behind. Most people needed to watch TV, look at their phone, or have a conversation while eating as if unable to enjoy their meal otherwise. But to see someone eating with such dedication, as if fighting with the meal, was truly rare. Xu Musen sat down on a bench more than ten meters away from her, looking at her puffed-up, adorable cheeks and her dazed expression; she truly resembled a squirrel with its mouth stuffed with peanuts. Extremely cute. Xu Musen couldn''t help but smile, and just as An Nuannuan swallowed herst bite, she saw Xu Musen smiling at her. "You''re smiling..." She seemed oblivious to what adylike image should be, talking with her mouth still full. Xu Musen walked over, "I didn''t want to disturb you just now, seeing you enjoying your meal." "Oh, what about you?" "I just finished eating at the cafeteria as well." "The cafeteria... Is the food there really that good?" An Nuannuan seemed very curious about the student cafeteria''s food. Xu Musen looked at her. In fact, the cafeteria food could only be considered average, but it was cheaper with subsidies. But the girl in front of him, she probably wouldn''t even consider eating in the cafeteria... Feeling pity, Xu Musen smiled and said, "Actually, it''s not good at all. I still prefer the food made at home. It''s just that everyone is busy at home, and it''s not convenient for me to bring food." "Oh..." An Nuannuan nodded her head and took a sip of water from her cup. "By the way, have you prepared the drawing we talked about yesterday?" Xu Musen asked. "Yes, I''ve finished it." Brightening at the mention of this new job, An Nuannuan took a hard paper bag out of the pocket of her wheelchair. Opening it, inside were already three drafts a cat, a dog, and a squirrel. All of them in an adorable style with big eyes, very suitable for icons in a match-three type of casual game. "How are they?" An Nuannuan pulled out a bunch of grapes from somewhere, eating while looking expectantly for an answer. "Yes, they''re good." Xu Musen smiled and nodded. Turning to look at her, the two of them were very close, and Nuannuan seemed a bit myopic. Leaning forward, her delicate little face appeared as if resting on Xu Musen''s shoulder due to their difference in height. When Xu Musen turned back, he met her beautiful peach-blossom eyes and her cheeks bulged with grapes. An Nuannuan always had her hair down, usually covering her features, but at such close range, he realized she was really beautiful on par with Yao Mingyue. Moreover, she seemed to genuinely possess a sense of innocence about the world. Looking at her fair face so close, her pink lips glistening with grape juice seemed particrly tempting. Xu Musen unconsciously swallowed. With clear eyes, An Nuannuan heard Xu Musen''s act of swallowing. Instead of showing shyness, she moved her pink lips and even leaned in a little closer to him. "Would you like a taste too?" Xu Musen was taken aback, looking at her lips so close to his Are girls nowadays this direct? Then, should he take a taste? Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Theres Always a Cunning Woman Who Wants Me! Xu Musen was still daydreaming when An Nuannuan picked up a grape and stuffed it directly into his mouth. The sweet juice of the grape burst in his mouth, the flesh was also very tender and sweet, and the grape vor was strong. It tasted countless times better than any grape bought from the market. But Xu Musen thought to himself. That''s it? Shouldn''t it have been a kiss? "Doesn''t it taste good?" An Nuannuan could sense a hint of disappointment in him and asked with a blink of her eyes. "It''s quite tasty, where did you buy it?" Xu Musen cleared his throat, trying to change the subject. "I grew them at home, and we also have pomegranates, persimmons, and other stuff." "I see, no wonder they''re so sweet." Xu Musen nodded, thinking that An Nuannuan''s family might live in a suburban area with a garden of their own. "If you like them, I''ll bring you some tomorrow." An Nuannuan said a bit happily. "Wouldn''t that be too much trouble?" "Not at all, my grandma has always said that you can''t be stingy with friends." An Nuannuan looked so earnest that it was hard for anyone to refuse. "Then thank you in advance." Xu Musen said with a smile, thinking it was quite nice to have such a naive and guileless friend. "Since you consider me a friend, I won''t keep secrets from you. Actually, I want your drawings as game animation images, and they might make big money in the future. But I don''t have much money right now, so I can only pay you this much. How about after I start making money, I''ll give you a share of the profits?" Xu Musen may have been money-loving, but he knew well that a wolf-like culture meant that you needed to feed your staff meat. Expecting them to work their hardest on just grass, or even demanding "trainingpensation" when an employee leavesthat would be nothing but pure and simple capitalist exploitation, fit only for themppost. If someone else had heard their boss say this, they''d be popping champagne on the spot. However, An Nuannuan''s grape-chewing paused momentarily, and her eyes instantly became a tad wary. "Are you just feeding me pie in the sky? I''ve seen on TV, those unscrupulous bosses use that kind of excuse when they don''t want to pay sries." An Nuannuan hummed, and it seemed as soon as she got excited, a bit of Sichuan ent slipped out: "Don''t you trick me, I''m savvy! I won''t miss a single cent of my wages!" Xu Musen watched her, nearly spraying the grape seeds in his mouth everywhere. He smiled and pulled out three more red banknotes to give to her. "Okay, this is your final payment, plus a deposit for tomorrow. Are you reassured now?" An Nuannuan stretched out her hand to take them, then singled out one and spoke up, "You''ve given me too much." "If it''s too much, consider it a deposit, especially since you''re also going to bring me grapes to eat, right?" "The grapes are because we''re friends, they can''t be sold for money" An Nuannuan was very clear about moneywhat was hers was hers, and she wanted no part of what wasn''t. Although naive, she was a girl with clear principles. Xu Musen found himself increasingly intrigued by her. ... After school. Xu Musen stepped out of the school gate to wait for the bus, with Yao Mingyue faithfully trailing behind him like a shadow. Xu Musen constantly had the uneasy feeling that his butt wasn''t safe. Turning to look at her, he asked in a low voice, "You''re stilling?" Yao Mingyue''s lips curled slightly as she retorted, "It''s not like your family owns the bus, can''t I take it too?" The nces of those around them were all turned their way. Xu Musen didn''t bother with her anymore. Those tsundere types, the more you engage with them, the more energetic they be. But this time, Yao Mingyue was unusually well-behaved and made it to the neighborhood without incident. Still, Yao Mingyue followed him. "From today on, I''ll be eating at your house." Yao Mingyue carried a yful tone, with an expression that said she had everything under control. Xu Musen also remembered Liu Rushuang''s arrangements, knowing full well it was a trap she had set, but there was nothing he could do about it. "Do as you please." When Xu Musen returned home, he found his mother alone at home with several dishes already prepared on the table, including one or two seafood dishes. "Auntie Jie!" Xu Musen hadn''t managed to call out "Mom" yet when Yao Ming Yue warmly greeted her with "Auntie." Mom peeked out from the kitchen, her face breaking into a smile when she saw the two of them. "Xiaoyue is here,e in and sit down, Auntie will have dinner ready in just a moment." "Mhm, Auntie, let me help you." Yao Ming Yue presented herself as both well-behaved and enthusiastic, showing no trace of the entitled youngdy. But it was all an act, Xu Musen knew that in a past life, in order to win him over, she performed the full script of a y in front of his family. "Xiaoyue is a guest, how can you help with the cooking? Auntie can manage on her own." "I''ve always loved the food Auntie makes since I was little, it feels just like family." "Yes, yes, we''re all family here, Xiaoyue has grown up to be more and more beautiful, and more sensible too, much better than my silly son..." Mother Xuughed heartily, the kitchen bustling with activity. Dinner started. "Where''s Dad?" Xu Musen noticed that his father had not yet returned home. "Your dad, he has some potential investor at thepany today, went out to entertain them. We''ll start eating without him." Mother Xu was also very pleased to mention this. Xu Musen simply nodded, the investment was most likely Liu Rushuang sending money over through someone. This former mother-inw was certainly generous to his family. "Come Xiaoyue, you like shrimp, I made this specially for you." Mother Xu called over to Yao Ming Yue. Yao Ming Yue, however, peeled the shrimp and then ced it into Mother Xu''s bowl first: "Auntie, you''ve worked hard, you eat first." Then, she peeled the second serving of shrimp for Xu Musen, not saying a word, just her face slightly flushed. Xu Musen silently watched her performance, continue pretending! You can actually blush? But clearly, Mother Xu thoroughly enjoyed this act, her face gleaming with joy. Seeing her son indifferent, she felt a mix of frustration and disappointment. "Xiaosen, look at how polite Xiaoyue is; you can''t even say thanks." A twitch formed at the corner of Xu Musen''s mouth. Yao Ming Yue chuckled lightly, her gaze carrying a timid quality: "It''s okay, Auntie. I''m grateful that you allow me to eat with you. Usually, I''m all alone at home" This pitiful act instantly made Mother Xu reach out her hand and gently stroke her head, "You poor child, Auntie has watched you grow up, if there''s no one at home you can alwayse here to eat, Auntie will always have a bowl of rice for you." Xu Musen''s hand shaking rice trembled momentarily. Mom, aren''t you setting your son up? Yet in Yao Ming Yue''s eyes, the look of triumph grew more intense, as if she had once again found her rhythm. Xu Musen finished his meal, took a shower, and slipped into his room to check the backend data. "This kid, howe he''s getting shyer as he grows older..." Mother Xu felt that her son''s attitude toward Yao Ming Yue was a bit different today; if it were the past, he would have stuck by her side throughout, but today, why did it seem like he was avoiding her? Yao Ming Yue helped clear the table and went to the restroom to wash her hands. Compared to the shower room in the vi, this one felt a bit crampedthe family''s toothbrushes and towels all hung together. Yao Ming Yue''s gaze stayed on the towels briefly before settling on a blue towel that had just been used to wipe water off. Xu Musen had just taken a shower And it''s said that guys use just one towel for drying their head, face, and body Her hand slowly reached out, ultimately unable to resist holding it in her grasp, her phoenix-like eyes shimmering, a pale flush creeping onto her fair cheeks. Her breath wavered slightly as she held the towel, ensuring there was no one outside the door. Burying her face deep into the towel, she took a deep breath. "Hehe... Musen''s scent, hehe, mine, you''ll be mine eventually... " Separated by just a wall, Xu Musen suddenly felt goosebumps. Damn it, there''s always a sly girl out to get me! Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Earning My Money and Flirting with My Man? Zheng City, a luxury vimunity with an excellent environment, where the vis are basically worth tens of millions. After a soaring development period in the property market between 2017 and 2018, the average price had risen to nearly fifty or sixty million. Early morning. An Nuannuan, d in white pajamas, got up from the soft,rge bed. The floor was scattered with many sketches. Her long hair was a disheveled mess, like a tumbleweed, and her dopey eyes still held a hint of sleep-talking as she propped her body up to sit. The loose pajamas revealed a sliver of her creamy, white shoulders and a glimpse of a pink strap. In her wheelchair, An Nuannuan usually seemed rather petite. But some parts of her had developed quite nicely. She pulled up her pajama pants, revealing slender, pale legs that were particrly dazzling in the morning sunlight. To be honest, these were a very attractive pair of legs, pure and white as jade, as if they had never been tarnished by the dust of the outside world. Just a bit too thin, though, despite the daily massages for rehabilitation; they just weren''t as well-proportioned as those of someone who walked every day. She exerted control over her legs, feeling that she could only move them slightly, realizing that it would probably take some more time before she could walk properly again. At this time, the housekeeper came with the wheelchair, ncing at the sketches all over the floor, she began cleaning up and said, "Nuannuan, did you stay upte working on drafts again?" "Mmh." The housekeeper sighed. To be honest, fifty yuan for a painting really wasn''t even enough to cover the cost of the paint. But as long as it made her happy, that''s all that mattered. The housekeeper brought her clothes to change into, removing the pajamas to reveal Nuannuan''s pale skin in the open air, looking down she could barely see her toes. "Nuannuan, you have such a nice figure, and your skin, too, is so fair, like milk," the housekeeper couldn''t help but praise. An Nuannuan tilted her head, seemingly unaware of her own physique. The housekeeper shook her head with a smile, helped her into her dress, and then massaged her legs, asking, "Do your legs feel anything this morning?" "Yeah, a bit itchy." "That''s good, it means they''re starting to recover. Make sure you keep massaging them at school too, it''ll help you recover faster," said the housekeeper reassuringly. After breakfast. The housekeeper prepared to drive her to school. But she found that An Nuannuan had taken her wheelchair and removed several bunches of grapes from the fridge, even wrapping them in a fruit basket. "Nuannuan, I''ve already packed some fruit for you, why are you taking so many grapes?" "I want to give them to a friend, he said he likes grapes," Nuannuan replied. "A friend?" The housekeeper was stunned for a moment, then remembered something, "Nuannuan, the friend you''re talking about, isn''t it that boy?" "Yes," An Nuannuan nodded her head, after all, Xu Musen was the only boy she knew. The housekeeper didn''t quite know what to say for a moment. These grapes were grown from expensive imported vines, manually cared for without pesticides; if sold in the market, they would be priced per grape. Just a few of them would cost more than those fifty yuan. "Even if you''re giving them away, you don''t need to take so many," the housekeeper remarked. "But grandma said we shouldn''t be stingy with friends," Nuannuan responded earnestly. The housekeeper was somewhat helpless, but let her have her way. She drove An Nuannuan to school. Afterward, the secretary made a phone call. "Mr. Liang, Nuannuan has arrived at school, but there''s something I want to report to you..." The housekeeper recounted An Nuannuan''s recent actions. An amiable and kind voice came from the other end of the phone, "Alright, I''m aware. Since the child isn''t causing trouble, let matters take their course. It''s good that Nuannuan has finally made a friend; her happiness is what''s important." After hanging up, the housekeeper looked at An Nuannuan, who was entering the school gates pushing her wheelchair and holding the fruit basket, gave a resigned smile, and drove away. ... At this moment. Outside the door of ss Three, Year 12. A figure in a wheelchair appeared, poking her head inside to look around the ssroom. "Are you looking for someone?" asked a female ssmate curiously. "Is Xu Musen in this ss?" An Nuannuan asked, holding the fruit basket in her arms. "You''re looking for Xu Musen?" The female student eximed in surprise; after all, Xu Musen was somewhat of a celebrity in the school. Moreover, almost everyone thought that Xu Musen was Yao Mingyue''s possession, with no other girl daring to approach him. Many eyes in the ss turned to look over, and He Qiang, who had just arrived at school, was also surprised when he recognized her and walked over. "It''s you?" An Nuannuan squinted her eyes at He Qiang, her eyes suddenly brightening: "I remember you! You''re the little ck that was following Xu Musen that day!" The girl''s voice was sincere and serious, her peach-blossom eyes clear yet foolish. He Qiang: ??? "Pfft! Hahaha!" "Damn, that nickname is so apt!" Laughter erupted from the surrounding students; He Qiang was well-known for his dark skin and he was also a bit muscr. Compared to Xu Musen''s clean and fair appearance, when they walked together, He Qiang did indeed resemble arge ck dog. He Qiang felt like he wanted to vomit blood. "I have a name, I am called He..." "Here, these are grapes for him, tell him to eat them soon, don''t you sneak eat them all by yourself." An Nuannuan waspletely oblivious to the problem in her words as she handed over the fruit basket to He Qiang, making sure to remind him. This made He Qiang feel like a dog unable to hide his leftover bread. The people around almost died ofughter. He Qiang stood there, thinking damn, who had he offended early in the morning? But by the time he snapped out of it, An Nuannuan had already left with her wheelchair. ... At this moment, Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue were finally getting off the bus. "You''re really something," Xu Musen said to her as soon as he got off. Today, he had thought of getting up early to avoid her, but as soon as he left the house, Yao Mingyue somehow timed it perfectly to leave as well. He made up an excuse about having a stomachache to go back, yet Yao Mingyue ended up waiting for him downstairs all this while. After back-and-forth tugging, Xu Musen had epted the reality and endured her pretending to slip and pinch his butt all the way. Such humiliation! "Please take good care of me during this time," Yao Mingyue said, with the corners of her mouth lifted, striding toward the school entrance with her long legs. Xu Musen gritted his teeth, thinking that the first thing he would do with money was to buy a car as soon as possible to see how she would continue to hitch rides. The two arrived at the ssroom. They found the people in the ss staring at them. Although they were used to such stares, someone suddenly started teasing: "Xu Musen, a pretty girl just delivered some love-filled fruits for you!" Xu Musen was startled for a moment, following their gazes to see a fruit basket on his desk, filled with packaged grapes. Xu Musen''s mind instantly thought of who it could be. He had just mentioned it in passing yesterday, he hadn''t expected she would really bring him some. But at this moment, Yao Mingyue, who had entered the ss with him, suddenly had a cold look in her eyes. Fruit for him? From another girl? The possessiveness and sense of crisis in Yao Mingyue''s heart surged forth! "Ming Yue." Her best friend tugged at her sleeve. Yao Mingyue managed to hold back from exploding on the spot, knowing that many eyes around her were waiting for a show. She silently pursed her lips and took her seat. Liu Ruonan took conscious action in her role as a best friend and spy, whispering, "Just now, a girl entered the ss looking for Xu Musen, saying he likes grapes..." "Who was it?" Yao Mingyue restrained her emotions, her voice indifferent. "I haven''t seen her much, her hair covered her face so I didn''t catch her looks, but she had nice skin... Oh right, she came in a wheelchair." A wheelchair? The image of a silly figure shed across Yao Mingyue''s mind. Even a voice echoed in her head. "Thank you for taking care of my business, you are a good person too..." Yao Mingyue instantly felt like grinding her teeth, a gleam of darkness flitting across her eyes. Taking my man''s flower, earning my money! And now even trying to hit on my man? Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Can I give you a massage? (Please follow the story!) Xu Musen held the fruit basket, feeling that he couldn''t even fit it under the desk anymore. He felt a bit helpless yet somewhat amused. From the beginning, he thought An Nuannuan''s way of thinking was different from most people, but he didn''t expect her to be adorably silly like this. "Did she say anything?" Xu Musen asked He Qiang, whose face seemed even darker than the day before. "You''d better ask her yourself," He Qiang replied with an eye roll, having been teased to the point of almost wanting to cry first thing in the morning. Xu Musen smiled, picked a grape to taste, and sure enough, it was as fragrant and sweet as could be. He shared some with He Qiang. Initially, He Qiang stubbornly refused to eat them, but seduced by the smell, he soon popped them into his mouth. "Holy moly, what variety of grape is this? It''s so sweet!" Suddenly, He Qiang felt that today''s bad mood was somewhat justified. In the front row, Yao Mingyue''s gaze turned to Xu Musen, continuously pondering the nature of his rtionship with that girl. And to top it all, he even dared to eat another girl''s food! Wasn''t he afraid of other bad women drugging him? The cheeky little wolf thinking he''s so sly! There was a physical education ss in the morning. Having a PE ss amidst the tense atmosphere of senior year was already quite a feat. Moreover, the school considered the physically weak and sickly PE teacher. Each PE ss typically involved two or three sses together. In senior year''s PE ss, the teacher would symbolically have everyone run a warm-upp before letting them engage in free activities. The boys headed to the basketball court to break a sweat. Of course, the main reason was to enjoy the feeling of being watched and praised by the girls. The girls, meanwhile, gathered to y badminton or volleyball. There were also many boys surrounding them with hormones raging, quietly gossiping and giving their assessments. Yao Mingyue particrly enjoyed ying volleyball. With her standard height of one meter seventy, a tall and well-proportioned figure, those long, snow-white legs became like enticing popsicles in the summer sun when she wore shorts. Her long hair fastened into a neat high ponytail, and the delicate sweat on her beautiful cheeks made her look even more radiant and tempting. Every leap and strike at the ball hit right at the heart of countless young men. When the boys came to watch, they were not just interested in volleyball. Xu Musen used to love watching Yao Mingyue y volleyball, often promptly bringing her a towel and warm water. But now, he was rather listless, having spent every night staying upte coding. PE ss? Wasn''t it just for catching up on sleep? As for watching the girls'' legs and the like, Xu Musen could only say, a person ustomed to exotic delicacies would hardly get excited over such trivial benefits anymore. Xu Musen headed to a secluded area under the trees on the sports field to lie down and nap. A gust of the familiar scent wafted over with the breeze, and there, under a tree, sat the figure in a wheelchair, her white dress fluttering slightly. She held a drawing board in her arms, quietly observing the bustling crowd on the field. An Nuannuan? A light shone in Xu Musen''s eyes as he walked over. "It''s you." An Nuannuan also looked up, her peach blossom eyes glittering at the sight of a smiling Xu Musen. Xu Musen sat beside her, and seeing her silly expression, he said with augh, "Thanks for the grapes, they were sweet." "I''m d you liked them," An Nuannuan nodded her head, and though her tone didn''t change much, he could still see a slight upward curve at the corners of her mouth. "But you don''t have to do this again, and it was also way too much." "Didn''t you say you liked them?" An Nuannuan''s cheerful smile faltered a bit. "Liking them is one thing, but it''s a bit too conspicuous," Xu Musen exined, and Nuannuan seemed a bit confused, but she still nodded in agreement. "Are you drawing?" Xu Musen looked at the drawing board that depicted the girls ying volleyball, a few simple strokes outlining their slender legs. "Yeah, it looks fun the way they hit the ball," An Nuannuan''s gaze stayed on the volleyball-ying girls, a hint of envy in her eyes. Xu Musen nced at her wheelchair, momentarily unsure how to offerfort. An Nuannuan lowered her head to look at her own legs, "My family says that if I keep up with the training and massages every day, I''ll eventually be able to stand up again." Hearing this, Xu Musen felt somewhat relieved, "That''s great if you can recover." "But I can only massage as far as my knees, I can''t even reach my calves" An Nuannuan bent down, desperately trying to grab her calves, but a mysterious and soft resistance kept her from bending over. Xu Musen''s gaze couldn''t help but follow. This howe he hadn''t noticed before, that this girl had developed so nicely? "Do I have short arms or what?" An Nuannuan''s voice carried a hint of frustration, and she even felt a bit tight-chested. Xu Musen silently withdrew his gaze. You''re not short on hands; you''ve got great ambitions. Seeing her aggrieved expression, Xu Musen couldn''t help but joke, "What should we do then? How about I give you a little massage?" However, An Nuannuan''s eyes lit up slightly, and she blinked herrge eyes, "Okay." "?" "I mean, I want to touch your leg..." "Come on then." Seemingly unaware of the problem, An Nuannuan actively lifted the hem of her skirt slightly. She was wearing a pair of sandals, her cute toes soft and white. The pale white ankles, slim calves, were just like wless beautiful jade. Although skinny, one could tell that the proportions of these legs were good; if she ever could stand again, she could definitelypete with Yao Mingyue. Xu Musen''s hands were indeed a bit itchy, but he was still polite. "I think, you can ask your girl friends to do it..." "But you''re my only friend," she said. Her voice carried a bit of resentment, "Is that not okay?" Xu Musen was taken aback. Indeed, it''s difficult for a girl with her personality and physical condition to make friends. Not being ostracized was already quite good. And seeing her pitiful gaze, Xu Musen thought to himself, if not me, then who else would help her? I''m just helping a young girl recover sooner, that''s all. What sin have Imitted? "So I''m really doing this?" Xu Musen reached out and gently stroked her smooth calf. It was a bit cool to the touch; despite the summer heat, it felt surprisingly pleasant, like holding an ice pop. And her skin was really nice, so smooth that not a single w could be felt, soft as if it could squeeze out water. Xu Musen felt her legs tremble slightly. "Does that feel ufortable?" Xu Musen also felt a bit embarrassed, thankfully it was just the two of them there. Otherwise, he''d look like he was seducing an innocent girl. "Your hands are so warm." An Nuannuan''s gaze wasn''t shy; instead, she kept looking at him. "Of course, I''m somewhat of a professional after all," he said with a smile. Xu Musen smiled. In his past life, as a son-inw living off his wife, aiding his CEO spouse with massages was a skill he possessed. He gently pinched An Nuannuan''s calf, skillfully locating acupoints that helped the blood flow, and soon, An Nuannuan felt her entire leg warming up. "You''ve made me so warm, that''s impressive," she suddenlyplimented, nearly choking Xu Musen. What kind of scandalous words were those? But looking into her pure eyes, free of any impurity, Xu Musen''s long-quiet heart suddenly quickened. "Has anyone ever given you a massage like this before?" "No, it was always my family who massaged me," she replied. "Nuannuan, don''t you find it odd for me to massage you?" "Not at all, we are friends after all," she said. Xu Musen thought about it, and while gently massaging her calf, he seriously said, "Nuannuan, if you make other friends in the future, you must not let just anyone touch your legs." "Of course not." "Then why do you let me..." Xu Musen paused, wondering if he was someone special to her. An Nuannuan blinked and said seriously, "Aunt Xiang told me that people like you actually have the desire but not the courage, harboring no ill intentions and are easily deceived by girls." "???" Xu Musen''s face darkened. What was that supposed to mean? He felt as though his deepest secrets had beenid bare. Moreover, he was unable to refute it because he had indeed been yed like a fiddle by Yao Mingyue in his previous life. He coughed to regain some dignity. "Anyway... there are a lot of bad people nowadays, some just want to take advantage of you, liking to deceive girls like you. I''m looking out for you, you know?" Xu Musen held her fair calf as he spoke earnestly. "Oh..." As if contemting, An Nuannuan nodded thoughtfully. She looked at Xu Musen, who was intently massaging her, and suddenly spoke up. "Then, when I make friends in the future, should Ie and ask you first?" "Mhm, good idea!" Xu Musen agreed instantly, perhaps without even realizing it himself. Having shared a bed with Yao Mingyue for so long, their personalities had subconsciously influenced each other. In his heart, a sneaky sense of possessiveness had begun to surface. As for friends, one was enough for him~ Chapter 21: Chapter 21 The Bootlicker Boy and Problematic Girls. (Please follow!) ss was nearly over. Xu Musen had reluctantly let go of An Nuannuan''s calf and looked up. He discovered that the girl had fallen asleep against the wheelchair, serene and quiet. Her long hair cascaded down, at first nce, she looked like Sadako. But if Sadako was this cute, "The Ring" would probably turn into a risqu movie about getting Sadako pregnant. She really has no defenses against him Xu Musen slowly adjusted her to a morefortable position. But the sleeping girl seemed to find something to rely on, resting her small head directly on Xu Musen''s shoulder. An Nuannuan carried a faint scent of milk, refreshing and addictive. Looking at her messy hair, Xu Musen couldn''t resist gently brushing it aside. Under the dappled tree shade, the girl''s delicate doll-like face was fully exposed. Her skin was as fair as white jade, her delicate features perfectly arranged, her nose was pert and exquisite, and her pink lips seemed to glisten temptingly. One could say that, except for her brain, everything was top-notch. But she wasn''t stupid; she just thought differently from most people. It was hard to imagine what kind of family could raise such a girl, out of touch with worldly affairs. The summer breeze and the dappled shadows were ideal for a nap, so Xu Musen, leaning against the tree, decided to doze off as well. Meanwhile, on the volleyball court. Yao Mingyue wasn''t focused on the game today; she kept looking for Xu Musen among the boys who were watching. In the past, he would always be right in the front row, and as soon as she came off the court, he would immediatelye over with water and a towel. But this time, she hadn''t seen him at all. She bit her teeth, her pretty face seeming to redden with anger. As she turned around, suddenly a bottle of water and a clean towel appeared in front of her. Deep down, Yao Mingyue still felt a surge of joy. So that guy had gone to buy water for her. "Ming Yue, here''s your water and towel." But the voice made Yao Mingyue pause as she was about to reach out. Before her stood a handsome boy in a basketball jersey, deliberately showing off the muscles on his shoulders. Lv Hong, the ss president from the ss next door. Also the main yer on the school basketball team, over 1.8 meters tall, sunny and handsome with lots of poprity at school. Of course, he was also one of Yao Mingyue''s admirers. "Hey, look, Lv Hong is giving Yao Mingyue water." "It was always Xu Musen who did that before. Now that there''s a cold war between them, someone''s eager to show off, aren''t they?" "With a physique like Lv Hong''s, and he''s handsome too. I heard his family is in the business, too. They look quite well-matched." "That''s what you think, but Xu Musen isn''t bad either. It''s just that he usually acts like a clingy bug" The ssmates whispered among themselves. And Lv Hong, watching Yao Mingyue who''d just finished ying volleyball, her short sleeves soaked with sweat, which made them cling even more to her body. Her excellent figure was simply a knockout for boys in their teens, and her stunning, cool beauty bewitched many. Lv Hong had confessed to her before but was utterly ignored by Yao Mingyue. The water he brought to her during sports sses was never epted either. But this time, he saw a sh of surprise in Yao Mingyue''s eyes, and the movement of her extending her hand. Could it be that she was finally starting to ept his feelings? However, at that moment, when Yao Mingyue saw his face clearly, all the smuggness and expectation in her eyes turned to ice in an instant. "No need." She said coldly, her irritation growing as her gaze searched the entire field. Her eyes, as if equipped with a tracking radar, immediately spotted the napping figure under a distant tree more than a hundred meters away. The one lying on the wheelchair the girl... resting on his shoulder Yao Mingyue felt her heart uncontrobly tremble! She started to walk forward. But Lv Hong, still holding the water and towel, stepped in front of her again, "Ming Yue, have some water after your exercise." Lv Hong tried to reveal a warm and handsome smile on his sunny face. Honestly, during high school, not many girls could resist such qualities. Unfortunately, he encountered Yao Mingyue, and not just any Yao Mingyue, but one on the edge of catching a cheater and filled with rage. "I said, I don''t need it!" Yao Mingyue furrowed her eyebrows, sidestepped, and at that moment, all she wanted was to confront Xu Musen. "Mingyue, I opened it for you" With a bottle of water in hand, Lv Hong followed her, a bit unwilling to give up, fueling the anger in Yao Mingyue''s heart. She shoved the water aside, and with her phoenix eyes conveying a hint of intimidation, she said to him, "Please, just call me Yao from now on. We''re not close!" After speaking, she left the crowd without looking back. Lv Hong felt the scalding gazes of the crowd as he clutched the towel in his hand. His gaze followed Yao Mingyue''s path andnded on Xu Musen, who was just stretching and standing up, and the girl beside him. He gritted his teeth and left the crowd. Yao Mingyue intended to directly confront him, but holding back after seeing the girl''s wheelchair, she pressed her lips together and turned away. She had her pride and didn''t want others to witness her losingposure. After all, she had plenty of ways to handle this. The whistle sounded, signaling the end of ss and time to gather. Xu Musen had no idea he was being watched; he gently woke An Nuannuan. "ss is over." "Oh" An Nuannuan packed her belongings, ready to push her wheelchair away. But Xu Musen went behind her, saying, "Let me do it." With that, he gently pushed the wheelchair, slowly strolling across the field with her. Lying back in her wheelchair and stretching, An Nuannuan tilted her head back, giving her an upside-down view of Xu Musen. From this angle, the girl looked even more adorably clueless, making Xu Musen feel his face grow hot. This was truly too much talent. "From this angle, your nostrils look huge." An Nuannuan blinked and said. "Yours are quite big as well" Xu Musen said reflexively. "No way, my nose is very small." An Nuannuan touched her own petite and fair nose while following her finger with her eyes, which gave a slight cross-eyed impression. Silly, so silly. Xu Musen couldn''t help butugh, feeling as if he was taking care of a child. The gathering dispersed. Many in the ss turned their attention to Xu Musen and the girl in the wheelchair. Even in her own ss, few people interacted with An Nuannuan. Many sensed that her thought patterns were a bit different, and it seemed that the school''s teachers gave her special consideration, usually arranging a separate seat for her in ss. "Hey, isn''t that the girl from our ss, what''s her name?" "Who knows, she hasn''t spoken a word to anyone since she arrived. I thought she was mute." "Howe she''s with Xu Musen? Isn''t he Yao Mingyue''spdog? Could it be that they" "Haha, a problematic girl and a puppy-love boy, are they ying at mutual redemption?" "Was Yao Mingyue angry just now because of Xu Musen?" "If you have a dog at home, even if you don''t like it much, you''d feel unhappy if it suddenly started licking someone else one day, it''s about losing face, hahaha." ssmates whispered among themselves. Of course, some looked on with ill intent. As Lv Hong eavesdropped, he nced at Xu Musen and the icy-faced Yao Mingyue, narrowing his eyes. In that moment, Yao Mingyue appeared calm, as if deaf to any sound, yet when her gaze fell on Xu Musen, it was as though she wanted to devour him. Xu Musen: Had he only dozed off for a momenthow did this be such a big scandal? Meanwhile, An Nuannuan, looking at the cold-eyed Yao Mingyue in front of her, tilted her head with a spark of recognition in her eyes, "I remember you, you''re that nice sister!" Everyone around: ??? Chapter 22: Chapter 22 Xu Musen, You Bastard! There are many ways to insult someone. The most thrilling one is to hit on their loved one right in front of them, and then pat them on the shoulder, saying, "Your darling is amazing, you are such a good person!" Right now, Yao Mingyue felt as if she were publicly humiliated, on top of being issued a "good person" card. She appeared calm on the surface, but her fingernails almost dug into the tender flesh of her palms. She ignored An Nuannuan''s words, lifted her head to give Xu Musen a deep look, and then turned and walked away. The onlookers had yet to react when Xu Musen, too, hurriedly left with An Nuannuan. "Was she a bit unhappy just now?" On their way, An Nuannuan still asked, somewhat puzzled. "No, she just naturally likes to keep a straight face," Xu Musen replied. "Oh... actually, she''s pretty nice." An Nuannuan muttered to herself, in her mind, anyone who had helped her was a good person. Xu Musen didn''t quite know how to continue the conversation. Indeed, Yao Mingyue wasn''t a bad person, but her personality was really too much for anyone to handle. After school. Ever since the incident during PE, Yao Mingyue hadn''t spoken to him, and she was very well-behaved on the bus ride home. But the icy gaze she cast on Xu Musen never left for a moment, and an invisible waft of gunpowder lingered around him. Xu Musen naturally didn''t bother to say anything to her. Once they arrived at their neighborhood, he intended to go back to his room first. But just as he reached the stairwell, suddenly, a fragrant breeze hit him, and a small hand pushed him against the wall, Yao Mingyue looked at him with a wall-mming posture, her eyes slightly reddish. "What''s your rtionship with that girl?" she asked, her voice cold, a whole day''s anger suppressed within. Xu Musen was all too familiar with that look and tone of voice. In his past life, if he so much as spoke a word to another girl, she would tie him to the bed when they got home and demand to know what they had discussed. But in this life, he didn''t owe her anything and didn''t want to have anything more to do with her. "My rtionship with her is none of your business," Xu Musen said evenly. "You! Xu Musen, what do you mean by that? Didn''t you say you liked me? Why can you turn around and be with another girl..." Yao Mingyue shouted. "Didn''t you reject me already?" Xu Musen asked,ughing lightly in the face of her questioning. Yao Mingyue''s expression froze for a moment. Xu Musen continued, "Since you''ve rejected me, it shouldn''t matter to you who I associate with anymore, right?" Every word struck Yao Mingyue, making it hard for her to maintain herposure. Who I''m with has nothing to do with you anymore... It was like countless needles stabbing into her chest. She clenched Xu Musen''s cor tightly. "You said it before, you''ve said it! You would only like me!" she eximed, her emotions getting the better of her, her eyes almost brimming with tears. Xu Musen looked at her like that, silent for a moment before slowly saying, looking straight into her eyes, "What about you? Do you like me, or do you just enjoy the feeling of me revolving around you every day?" Yao Mingyue shuddered, as if many broken memories shed through her mind. Indeed, what did she really like about Xu Musen? Or did she merely like the feeling of him always being by her side? Looking at Yao Mingyue''s dazed eyes, Xu Musen gave a self-deprecating smile. "See, even you don''t know whether you like me or not, so you shouldn''t interfere with my life anymore. It''s better that way for both of us." Xu Musen gently lifted her hand, but Yao Mingyue grabbed his arm in reflex. "It''s not like that, I... I just haven''t decided yet, the college entrance exams are soon, I was thinking after we get to university..." Yao Mingyue tried to exin. But Xu Musen shook his head, "Saying all this is pointless now. Even if I used to like you, there''s now saying that I must always like you. Can''t I just live a quiet life?" Xu Musen spoke in an indifferent tone, but the more indifferent he was, the more it agitated Yao Mingyue''s heart. "Do you have to be so ruthless?" Yao Mingyue bit her lip tightly. "It''s not me being ruthless; these are just my true feelings now. In fact, you are great, it''s not hard for you to find a guy who will be devoted to you..." Xu Musen didn''t finish his sentence when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his arm. Yao Mingyue''s eyes were red as she bit his arm. "Hiss... are you sick?" Xu Musen withdrew his arm, a clear bite mark on it. "The sick one is you!" she retorted. Yao Mingyue gnashed her teeth, pointing at Xu Musen, "Xu Musen, don''t regret what you said today!" With that, she turned around and left in a huff. Xu Musen watched her retreating figure, choosing not to chase after her. Regret? He did feel a bit of regret, regretting why he hadn''t spoken more harshly sooner. If he had, he could have been in peace much earlier. As he watched her disappear around the corner, Xu Musen was silent for a moment. If he wanted topletely get rid of this ''yandere,'' there were only two ways. Go to a different university or earn more money and move away from this ce! Back at home. Xu Musen went straight into his room and started furiously coding at hisputer. The game''s user base had already surpassed ten thousand, and in these few days, fifty users had cashed out. Five thousand bucks gone just like that. Now that he had a foundational user base, Xu Musen immediately upped the difficulty to get a red packet. Aside from inviting a hundred people, there would have to be points for drawing cash withdrawal coupons. This way, to cash out, users would have to pull in at least two or three hundred new users. Chives, after all, need to be harvested continuously, crop after crop. Dinnertime. Xu Musen was still wondering if Yao Mingyue woulde over for dinner. But the moment he entered the living room, he saw his mother packing a meal box. "Son, Ming Yue just sent me a message saying she''s feeling a bit unwell and won''te for dinner, so I made some porridge. Take it to her and see if she''s sick," his mother said. His mother handed him the meal box. "What could happen to her? Missing one meal won''t starve her." "How can you talk like that, you rascal? Ming Yue is a girl who usually stays at home alone. We definitely need to take extra care of her. Hurry up and go!" His mother pushed Xu Musen out the door. Xu Musen was a bit helpless, but he had his orders, so he had to go. At the vi, Xu Musen pressed the doorbell. With the camera at the door, she would definitely see him. Sure enough, it wasn''t long before Yao Mingyue opened the door. She had changed into a pink pajama set and stood at the entrance, looking at him, silent. Xu Musen couldn''t be bothered with her, so he simply held up the meal box, "It''s porridge my mom made for you." Yao Mingyue crossed her arms and began to re at him, teeth clenched, without saying a word. Xu Musen directly ced the meal box on the wall of the vi and turned to leave. I''m not putting up with this! "Bastard!" In the end, Yao Mingyue couldn''t hold back. "It''s not a bastard; it''s century egg congee." "Xu Musen, you''re a bastard!" Yao Mingyue was so angry her face turned red. Xu Musen shook his head. Coming to deliver food and getting scolded for it, what a world. "Eat up. Bring the meal box back yourself tomorrow." After saying that, Xu Musen turned and left. ... In the middle of the night, the vast and empty vi room echoed with silence, and in Yao Mingyue''s room, although she had already fallen asleep, her brows were still tightly furrowed. Ever since that year, she had been gued by nightmares. A thunderous, lightning-filled rainy night, a truck crashed head-on, shattering the car, blood spilled all over the ground... "Xiaoyue, daddy promises you, when Ie back tonight, I will definitely celebrate your birthday with you, okay? You must wait for daddy." "Bang!..." "Daddy! Daddy, wake up, you promised to celebrate my birthday, I don''t want my birthday anymore, I want daddy..." "Xiaoyue, daddy is gone" "No, don''t leave!" In her dream, Yao Mingyue was not her usual aloof self. Her stunning face was filled with panic and even showed traces of tears at the corners of her eyes. As if an endless nightmare was about to drown her, suddenly another voice appeared. "Ming Yue, I will always be with you, from now on, I will protect you forever in ce of Uncle Yao." "Ming Yue, don''t be afraid... I''m here, I will always be by your side. I''ll write you a guarantee!" "Musen, you''re with me every day, no other girl will like you." "It doesn''t matter. After all, I only need you." "Musen, you''re always busy with my matters, your studies will suffer, what if you don''t get a good jobter?" "It''s okay. Ming Yue, you''re so smart. When you be a big boss, I''ll just work for you..." "Musen..." Words murmured from Yao Mingyue''s lips in her sleep, and a night breeze caused the window to make a noise. "Yao Mingyue, we have nothing to do with each other anymore..." "No, don''t!" Yao Mingyue woke up with a start from the dream! In the empty bedroom, Yao Mingyue touched the tear trails at the corner of her eyes. This dream, she hadn''t had it in a long time. Was it because she was scared again? Yao Mingyue silently turned on the bedsidemp. She picked up a thick photo album from the nightstand. From her earliest childhood, the album contained group photos of two families. In the pictures, the two tiny figures were always holding hands, smiling and making peace signs at the camera. From childhood, to kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, high school... Only, after middle school, the group photos became fewer, and they alwayscked one person. She looked at all the photos of Xu Musen in the album, from childhood to adulthood. His gaze was always so tender, always so doting and loving. But why... it all changed in just one day. In the depths of her eyes, there was a rare sight of confusion and depth of feeling. What exactly were her feelings for him? At that moment, Yao Mingyue truly didn''t know. But looking at Xu Musen in the photo album, all she knew was that she couldn''t afford to lose him in this lifetime. In the spacious room. Yao Mingyue slowly embraced the photo album filled with Xu Musen''s pictures. Anyway, I can''t let you go. Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Do You Want to Touch My Leg? (Please follow!) The next day, Xu Musen was still wondering if Yao Mingyue would be furious and ignore him or show a sickly side. But to his surprise, early in the morning, Yao Mingyue brought over the cleaned lunch box. She was evenughing and chatting with his mother in the living room as if unaffected by yesterday''s incident. They boarded the bus. The two of them were silent the entire way, and even Yao Mingyue didn''t bother him anymore. But she still kept ncing at his figure. Xu Musen, of course, didn''t initiate conversation either, constantly checking the data on his phone. Yao Mingyue''s eyes narrowed slightly as she watched quietly. Arriving at the ssroom. The ssmates once again all looked at him. Xu Musen discovered that there was a watermelon on his desk. He Qiang spoke up, "It was from her again, I wonder if her family owns a fruit farm or something?" Xu Musen was somewhat bemused. Yao Mingyue nced over and merely looked away indifferently. "Hey, Moriko, didn''t you and Yao Mingyue fight yesterday?" "What''s there to fight about?" "A lot of people were waiting to see the drama unfold yesterday. What''s the actual deal with you and that girl? Don''t secretly date and keep your brothers in the dark, okay?" "We''re just ordinary friends, don''t overthink it," he replied. "Tsk, who''d believe that..." Noon. Xu Musen carried the watermelon to the canteen, got two spoons, and had the cook slice it into two halves. Before he left, he nced around the canteen, which often made little cakes or fried chicken and such, thought for a moment, and then walked over. Behind the yground in the garden. When Xu Musen arrived, the girl must have already eaten her meal, as she was leisurely eating grapes and amusing herself by spitting out the seeds. Being good-looking has its perks, as her spitting out seeds was like the elegant Xiaolongnu. If she were ugly, it''d be like Qiu Qianchi spitting out date pits. "Did you also send this watermelon?" Xu Musen asked. "Yeah, we grow them ourselves," An Nuannuan nodded, her bright eyes inadvertently revealing joy as she saw him approaching. "Your family''snd is impressive, able to grow anything." Sometimes Xu Musen questioned what kind of family the girl came from. To say they were poor, the fruit she brought seemed like premium goods. To say they were wealthy, she always appeared so pitiful. "Also, didn''t I tell you not to send things anymore?" "You said not to send too much, I only sent one this time," she said. But this one was bigger than a whole fruit basket, wasn''t it? Xu Musen couldn''t help but smile helplessly and handed her half of the watermelon, "Let''s each take a half and dig in." An Nuannuan seemed unfamiliar with this method, watching as Xu Musen dug into the center of the watermelon first. "Why start with the middle?" "Because the middle is the sweetest." "Oh... it really is!" The two ate the watermelon, spoonful by spoonful. "By the way, I bought some stuff in the cafeteria earlier and couldn''t finish it. Do you want to try?" Xu Musen took out a bag from behind him, and the aroma of fried food wafted through the air. An Nuannuan''s little nose twitched, "What is it?" "Fried chicken tenders, and a fried sausage," said Xu Musen, looking at her curious expression and adding, "Have you never had them before?" An Nuannuan shook her head; at home, she usually ate seafood with shells or beef as delicate as snowkes. It was her first time seeing something so greasy. Curious. To Xu Musen, her shake of the head and eager gaze seemed like those of a poor girl from an impoverished family who couldn''t afford even the one or two-dor fried snacks from street vendors. Feeling sympathy, he handed them to her. An Nuannuan sniffed; her grandparents were health-conscious, valuing the natural taste of ingredients. Such greasy, heavily seasoned snacks relied on seasoning. Even cooking shoe leather would taste good with it. It was like medicine. The better the medicine, the slower it worked, but a doctor in a small clinic would just prescribe antibiotics willy-nilly. Right now, this snack was like those antibiotics, instantly catching An Nuannuan''s eye. "It''s good!" "Take your time, I''m not going to snatch it from you." Seeing her like this, Xu Musen felt even more pity and couldn''t resist reaching out to stroke her head. Her hair was soft, like the finest silk. Although his family had be bankrupt, they could still afford such small treats, which made it clear how tough life was for the girl before him. An Nuannuan quickly finished eating and turned her hopeful eyes towards Xu Musen. "No more eating today, we still have half a melon left." "Oh" An Nuannuan was a bit disappointed and still seemed to crave more as she licked the seasoning off the stick. Her tender little tongue was yfully moving about. Xu Musen swallowed hard, cursing the damn weather for being so hot, expanding and contracting with the heat. He hastily ced the watermelon against his thigh to cool it down. "You are really nice, treating me to such delicious food; it must have been expensive, right?" An Nuannuan asked with eager eyes. "Not that expensive, if you like it I can bring you more tomorrow." "Then I should give you money" "Didn''t you also treat me to watermelon? It''s a fair exchange." After eating. The two of them proceeded to look at the draft drawings as usual, with Xu Musen offering some ideas and suggestions. An Nuannuan had a natural talent for drawing, resembling a printer. Whatever was said, she could draw it out. As Xu Musen gazed at the drawing, his eyes eventuallynded on a small part of her white legs peeking out from under her skirt. "Nuannuan." "Hmm?" "Sitting all morning, don''t you feel a bit sore in your back or legs?" "You just want to touch my legs, right?" While Xu Musen was still pondering the right words, An Nuannuan took him by surprise with her directness. Xu Musen coughed, what? Had she seen through his little ploy already? "It''s a massage! A proper one." An Nuannuan blinked her innocent peach blossom eyes, quite seriously, "Is there a difference?" "So, is it okay?" "Mhm." An Nuannuan nodded her head, and Xu Musen, seeing that no one else was around and considering it wasn''t the first time, felt encouraged. Gently, he lifted the hem of her skirt, and the blindingly white, slender leg appeared before him. Moreover, An Nuannuan seemed to like wearing sandals, her tiny toes looking like crystal-clear grapes, so fair that he could even see the veins. Xu Musen''s hand, almost involuntarily, started to move downwards. "Are you a leg man?" An Nuannuan suddenly spoke. Xu Musen''s body stiffened. Had his slightly peculiar fetish been discovered? And how had shee to know the term "leg man"? "Nuannuan, where did you learn that word" "My sister told me. She said some people like butts, some like chests To be honest, what you have is quite normal. I heard from my sister there are even perverts who like women''s feet, called ''foot fetishists''." Xu Musen subtly moved his hand back up, nodding his head as if in sudden realization, "I see, so there are such people, that''s pretty twisted." Seeing the girl''s harmless expression, Xu Musen couldn''t help but wonder if she was doing it on purpose? Was she actually as shrewd as theye in most situations? "By the way, it''s almost Sunday. Do you still go out to sell flowers every evening?" "If you don''t confess, then I don''t get to collect any flowers." An Nuannuan voiced her regret. "" Xu Musen: "Confessions need to be made to someone you truly like." "So you don''t like her anymore?" An Nuannuan tilted her head, curious. Xu Musen fell silent for a moment, then shook his head with a smile, "Actually, she''s quite nice, but before, I viewed liking someone too naively; we both had issues." An Nuannuan didn''t know much about the affairs between men and women. She tilted her head, looking at Xu Musen: "What kind of person do you like now then?" "Now" Xu Musen pondered, a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth, "It''s quite simple, really. A decent figure and face, so as not to shortchange the kids and affect the next generation. Being rich or not isn''t important, but she mustn''t be too clever or scheming; someone who can listen to me more often" As he spoke, Xu Musen suddenly paused, locking eyes with those clear yet foolish eyes. Hmm, probably about one meter sixty-eight in height, the pale face behind her hair carried a natural beauty. And the figure... was truly impressive. Most importantly, she seemed very easy to fool! What should he do? Maybe he should just fool her "Xu Musen." "Hmm?" "Your eyes are kind of creepy" "" Okay, maybe think it over some more. Chapter 24: Chapter 24: You Better Never Forgive Me in Your Lifetime! In the blink of an eye, a week had passed. During these days, Xu Musen''s life had been rather uneventful, and Yao Mingyue seemed to have truly given up on the idea of reconciling with him. The two of them acted like strangers in school every day. The other students had tacitly epted the reality that the two hadpletely fallen out. Several boys, eager to act, nned to pursue Yao Mingyue before graduation. Among them, Lv Hong from the next ss over was the most diligent, buying snacks and drinks for Yao Mingyue every day and even started bringing her fruit. Of course, they all ended up directly in the trash can courtesy of Yao Mingyue. As for Xu Musen, he had been very focused during ss recently. In high school, being good at studies really could win a girl''s affection, and Musen''s own conditions were not bad either. He stood over one meter eighty tall, and his once non-mainstream bowl haircut had been trimmed into a short buzz cut that was a litmus test for facial attractiveness. Most importantly, Xu Musen now exuded a sense of maturity beyond his peers, coupled with his deep-set eyes, which started to stir some spring feelings in quite a few girls. It''s just that, whenever they wanted to strike up a conversation with Xu Musen after ss, they''d always feel as if a pair of cold eyes were watching them. They couldn''t help feeling a bit uneasy. Of course, Xu Musen didn''t care about these things; he continued to attend sses as usual and went to the back garden at noon to feel... help An Nuannuan with her leg massages. Life was indeed quite pleasant. Moreover, in another two days, the first phase of the little game partnership program would end. He was finally about to cash out. The six to seven thousand He Qiang had given him were all spent, and now the game''s background system showed that the total number of registered users had surpassed fifty thousand. The daily active users were also around five to six thousand. For a small game, these numbers were quite impressive. "Moriko! You''ve beenying your groundwork for quite some time; it''s about time you started reeling them in, right?" He Qiang would discuss strategies with Xu Musen when he was free, using metaphors that hit the nail on the head. "Just follow the example of KartRider, start with a first-time charge gift pack, then a charge rebate, andbine rare car fragments..." He Qiang spoke excitedly. The ways to make money from games were actually quite fixed. It was all about promoting various charges, which was the consistent practice of many games nowadays. However, Xu Musen smiled and said, "The groundwork isn''t enough yet; I''m not nning to let others spend money on this game." "How will you make money if others don''t spend?" He Qiang didn''t understand. Xu Musen had thought it over. His game was simple,cking in technological content, and could easily be copied. He reckoned that before long, the market would be flooded with games like "Bullish Bull" or "Doggy Dog" and the like. Everyone used the same money-making tricks. Luring yers to charge money. But in an era where the average wage was three thousand yuan, how many people were willing to spend on a small game? Even boasting about having a VIP Yellow Diamond among friends was a way to unt one''s exclusivity. If he didn''t offer something different, he would be reced within a month. So, Xu Musen thought of another method. That was to watch video ads for rewards! Chinese people loved getting things for free. Asking them directly for money could make them swear at you. But having them spend time and data to watch ads for some measly benefits always seemed like they were getting the better end of the deal. This method was essentially from the same ybook as Pinduoduo''s red packet strategy. Besides, Xu Musen had grand ambitions; the small game was just a stepping stone for him, something that could be reced at any time. What he wanted was the big data collected through the ads. In theing twenty or thirty years of the inte era, whosoever had big data, controlled wealth. Xu Musenughed, "Most people who y games are students and idlers; there''s no fun in making money from them." "If not from them, whose money are you after?" "Whoever has money, that''s whose money I''m after." Xu Musen smiled slightly, "This weekend, join me on another trip out." "Aren''t you just nning to use me as freebor again?" "Well deserved! You truly are my good brother, reading people so well!" ... During dinner time, Yao Mingyue still came to eat every day, and her rtionship with Xu''s mother had grown even better these days, chatting andughing together, more like mother and daughter. "Mom, I want to shoot a promotional video in your flower shop tomorrow; do you have a camera there?" "What kind of promotional video? Our family certainly can''t afford to pay for a celebrity endorsement." Xu''s mother nced at her son and said, "Besides, the cameras in the shop are too old; they can only take pictures." "No need to spend money, you''ll see when the timees. If we don''t have a camera, we can make do with a cell phone for now..." Xu Musen uttered. Yao Mingyue, who was quietly eating next to them, had a slight flicker in her eyes. The next day. Xu Musen woke up naturally and called He Qiang to go to his mother''s flower shop. With the familypany closed down, the little flower shop his mother used to run for fun had be their economic support. The flower shop was located on an old street, surrounded by various other shops. Xu Musen looked at each store, thinking that in the future, they might all be his clients. Upon arriving at the flower shop. His mother was busy packaging flowers, but Xu Musen saw a familiar and tall figure. Yao Mingyue? He saw Yao Mingyue also wearing an apron, helping Xu''s mother tie bunches of fresh flowers. The morning sunlight scattered, casting reflections of flowers everywhere. Yao Mingyue''s face wore a smile as she held a bouquet of roses, looking even more beautiful than the flowers. "Youzy boy, sleeping in sote, Xiaoyue knew toe help me out." The Old Lady called out. But Xu Musen looked at Yao Mingyue in surprise. This privileged young heiress, the future billionaire CEO of a publicly-listedpany, was actually working in a flower shop? Yao Mingyue, seeing the astonishment in his eyes, allowed a hint of pride to sh through the depth of her eyes before putting on a smile and saying to Xu''s mother, "Auntie has been taking care of me these days, it''s only right that I help out." Xu''s mother was full of praise for her sensibility. Xu Musen seriously wondered if the delicate heiress had changed her strategy. However, he was here today on serious business. Xu Musen took out the camera from the shop, an old model that truly wasn''t good for shooting videos. He was a bit headache, as the era of smart devices with good cameras hadn''t started yet; everyone had mosaic-like video quality. Just as he was about to make do, Yao Mingyue appeared in front of him, taking out thetest model Sony camera from her bag and unting it in front of him. Her little expression seemed to say, Beg me, just beg me and I''ll let you use it. "I''ll just use my cell phone." Xu Musen decisively took out his own phone. Living off a woman was out of the question. Yao Mingyue''s smug expression instantly froze; she clutched the camera in her hand tightly. Was it that hard for the guy to lower his head just once? She blocked Xu Musen again and said in a low voice, "Xu Musen, aren''t you trying to promote Auntie''s shop?" Xu Musen looked over at his mother, who was busily working with her back bent, and sighed inwardly. You have to admit, for an ordinary person, without the help of nobility, the chance of starting from scratch is just too slim. Letting his family suffer for the sake of pride was not the act of a man. But what he feared the most right now was owing Yao Mingyue another favor. He had gradually sumbed in his previous life because of this. Yao Mingyue, observing his hesitant expression, bit her teeth even harder and said, "I''m just concerned about Auntie, who works so hard every day. That doesn''t mean I have forgiven you, unless you..." Before she could finish her sentence, she saw Xu Musen exhale with relief as if he had been granted a huge favor. That was exactly what he had been waiting for! "Then I can rx." Xu Musen''s face showed joy. "I''ll rent it from you then, and I''ll pay you the market rate when I return it." Yao Mingyue paused for a moment, the brightness in her eyes turning somewhat angry as she looked at Xu Musen. Did this guy really have to make things so clear-cut with her? It was as if he was terrified of any connection with her! The ungrateful jerk!! Yao Mingyue gritted her teeth: "Suit yourself!" With that, she tossed the valuable camera carelessly into his arms, turned, and stormed off in a huff. Xu Musen examined the camera, appreciating the different quality that a five-figure camera had in hand. Yao Mingyue watched his silhouette from a distance, and huffed coldly to herself. My good deed isn''t something you can just repay whenever you want! Chapter 25: Chapter 25 An Nuannuan: Its so lonely being home alone. Musen began analyzing the shooting locations. Qiang Zi also returned with the items he had apanied Musen to purchase, such as some shading boards and lights for the shoot. The mother didn''t understand what her son was up to, but she was still happy at the thought of her son being willing to help lighten the family''s burden. Having this intention in their child was enough for her. Musen was busy until noon, continuously filming; under the lens, the flowers in the shop looked incredibly vibrant. There was a certain petit bourgeois sentiment to it. And moreover, Yao Mingyue appeared in the frame. As she held various flowers, her stunning beauty made the flowers even more enchanting. Sitting amidst the blossoms, every frown and smile, even the slight furrowing of her brow, exuded a charm beyond that of her peers. A pretty good girl, it''s just a shame she has a "sickly cute" brain. By noon, many of the neighboring shops had seen Musen carrying his camera and shooting all morning, and they were all a bit curious. The mother took the three of them to a small eatery across the street for lunch. Yao Mingyue probably hadn''t eaten at a streetside stall in a long time; the small table seemed a bit greasy to her. Yao Mingyue, in her form-fitting jeans and a printed shirt, with her tall figure and distinguished temperament and looks, waspletely out of ce in this environment. "Xiaoyue, just bear with it for now, and I''ll make you something delicious when we get back tonight," said Musen''s mother, afraid that she might have slighted Yao Mingyue. Yao Mingyue smiled and shook her head, even helping Mom wipe down the chopsticks: "It''s okay, Auntie, anything tastes delicious when I''m with you." "You sweet talker," Mom was blooming with joy from her words. Musen rolled his eyes without strength. Qiang Zi also felt an indescribable atmosphere at the table; why did it feel like a scene of a daughter-inw trying to make her mother-inw happy? On the way back after lunch, Qiang Zi couldn''t help but approach Musen and start talking: "Are you and Yao Mingyue keeping something from your buddy?" "Keeping what from you?" "Still pretending? I''ve seen everything. Yao Mingyue knew you needed a camera, so she specifically prepared one for you. She didn''t go shopping on Sunday but came to help out at your family''s flower shop. And just now, that scene, it felt just like a daughter-inw trying to please her mother-inw..." "Don''t talk nonsense." Musen gave him a look; this was something that could not be misunderstood. "That''s enough, I think there''s still hope for you two. Yao Mingyue is a bona fide rich girl; if you cling to her, do you still need to start a business and struggle on your own?" Qiang Zi had a ''you-don''t-know-how-lucky-you-are'' expression. Musen, on the other hand, felt resigned; in the eyes of others, he did seem to be unaware of the good before him. A rich woman with top-notch looks and body, and willing to spend money on you. Others might break their ribs to make her soup if they could. But there''s a saying that goes well. The fed don''t know the hunger of the starving, and the starving don''t know the emptiness of the fed. Musen stretched out his hand and patted his shoulder: "Qiang Zi, I''ll give you a piece of advice, don''t always look for shortcuts, young man. Do you know thenguage of steel wool and happiness beads?" "?" Qiang Zi looked confused, feeling that his buddy had been acting a bit oddtely. Musen did not exin further; he would understand eventually. At that moment, his phone suddenly buzzed with a new message. Upon opening it, he saw that someone had added his QQ. A cute hand-drawn rabbit avatar. Remark: Your friend. Musen was momentarily stunned, but soon guessed who it was. After passing the friend verification, Musen sent a message. "Nuannuan?" Musen had given her his QQ number on Friday so the two couldmunicate in a timely manner. Looking at her ount, which didn''t even have a space activated, it might have been newly registered. "It''s me. (Smiley face.)" After a good while, the chat box finally received a message. This smiley face made Musen feel a bit odd. This smiley face expression is often used among young people to indicate a speechless mood, carrying a sense of being looked down upon. "Musen, you''re the first person I''ve chatted with on the phone, and the first time I''ve given it to you, I''m so happy. (Smiley face x3)" What outrageous words! Musen''s phone almost dropped to the floor. "Are you possessed?" Qiang Zimented. Musen quickly secured his phone. This little girl was really pushing the envelope, spouting all sorts of nonsense. "Nuannuan, some words shouldn''t be used casually, they can easily be misunderstood." "Oh. (Smiley face.)" "Also... don''t use this smiley face expression anymore either." "Why?" "Because it feels a bit ufortable to look at, it''s cuter for a girl to use more animal or nt emojis." "Oh..." A message popped up on the screen a second or twoter. "Xu Musen, I''m home alone, without you, I feel so lonely (rose x3)" Xu Musen: ... For a moment, he doubted whether the person on the other end was An Nuannuan or an online card dealer. This line of thinking though. Xu Musen couldn''t help butugh and cry, "Where''s your family?" "My grandparents are out busy, and Xiang Ayi went to pick up my sister. I''m eating alone." "I see, make sure you eat well, nutritious food will help you get better fast." Xu Musen, remembering her body, felt even the speed of his typing be more gentle. It took a while before the reply came from the other side of the phone. "Xu Musen." "Hmm?" "I want you to touch my leg. (rose)" "... " Xu Musen was at a loss for words. "Why aren''t you responding to me?" "... It''s a massage, from now on don''t ever leave out details when you speak." "But none of them are asfortable as when you do it..." Xu Musen, caught betweenughter and tears, always felt like he was coaxing a little girl into naughtiness. Thinking that tomorrow was Sunday and his first round of reward funds would finally be avable, it was the perfect opportunity to invite her to a celebratory dinner. "Okay, so are you free tomorrow? I''ll treat you to dinner." "Sure!" An Nuannuan finally included some emotive punctuation in her message. Xu Musen smiled, his gaze unconsciously drifting towards Yao Mingyue. Girls who are too smart are hard to manage. The overly naive ones need to be coaxed and taught. If you could just blend the two... that would be perfect! Yao Mingyue always keenly sensed Xu Musen''s gaze and, turning her eyes quietly, she saw his gaze stayed on her. She felt a bit triumphant in her heart. Humph, this was no waste of the jeans she wore on purpose. I''ll bewitch you, just you watch! ... After returning, Xu Musen began editing videos on hisputer. He Qiang was sifting through materials and asked, "Moriko, you''ve been busy all day, what exactly are you nning with all this hustle?" Xu Musen just smiled. "Actually, my idea is quite simple. The game is free, but you get rewards for watching ads. So naturally, the moneyes from these advertisers..." The reason Xu Musen initially chose to hawk his goods was mainly to precisely control the local traffic. Even now, ny percent of the game users were local to Zheng City. The user base and target customers were extremely precise; the traffic was bound to be high as long as someone was willing to advertise. But as the inte was just emerging, most people''s perception of advertising was still stuck with TV or banners, or hiring celebrities for endorsements. Bigpanies can burn through cash. But small shops can''t afford that much, so they usually hire people to distribute flyers or attract customers at their storefronts. Time-consuming and inefficient. Which is why video walk-throughs promoting shops exploded in poprity in the past life, they hit right at this pain point. "A few thousand yuan for a bespoke advertising campaign, many shop owners are willing to give it a try..." Xu Musen exined with a smile, to which He Qiang, though a bit confused, couldn''t help but interject. "People these days want to see results before they pay, especially for untried methods like this. They won''t easily give up their money..." "That''s why I start with my own ce first." Xu Musen nodded, "If we were to actively approach each shop, it would arouse suspicion. The key to business negotiations is initiative. Whoever has the initiative, has the bargaining power. Speaking with genuine customer traffic, wait for the neighboring shops toe and inquire of their own ord. At that point, once you reveal the reasons, credibility soars instantly. By then, they will naturallye to us, eager to coborate." Xu Musen said leisurely, smiling at him, "Remember why I made sure the surrounding shops saw me filming today? I''ve already begun reeling in potential customers." He Qiang felt a bit dizzy, but after listening, he couldn''t help but raise a thumbs up. "Damn, Xu Musen! These psychological tactics of yours, one day there will surely be a monument of you on the avenues of capitalism!" "Get lost!" Chapter 26: Chapter 26 I Confess, Actually Im a Ten-Thousandaire! Evening. After dinner, Mrs. Xu asked Musen to walk Mingyue home. It was only a distance of one or two hundred meters. Musen carried the now used camera, and the two of them walked without talking to each other. Mingyue was naturally still holding back her anger, and it only took a minute or two to reach the vi''s entrance. "Here''s your camera, and here''s two hundred yuan as camera rental fee. We''re even now." Musen, though it hurt, took out two hundred yuan and handed it to her along with the camera. In the night, Mingyue''s eyes reflected the glimmer of the street lights; the neighborhood was quiet, and the dim lights somewhat eased the atmosphere between them. But, as Mingyue looked at the two hundred yuan he handed her, a new irritability rose within her. Even now? He wanted to clear the te this easily? Her phoenix eyes stared tightly at Musen, as if seeing right through him. "Musen, are you going to keep this up?" "Isn''t it quite good this way?" Musen smiled, "It was you who said that it''s best for us to remain in a brother and sister rtionship. If romance doesn''t work out, we can still be friends." Musen didn''t actually feel disgust or hate towards Mingyue. The ending from his past life had been his own choice. He only hated that powerless version of himself from hisst life and didn''t want to look back on those days. "Friends... " Mingyue bit her lip, let out a coldugh, and reached out to take the camera and the two hundred yuan from his hands. "Then good night, and goodbye." Seeing her ept it, Musen also turned to leave with a sense of relief. But just as he took a step away, he was suddenly tugged at the hem of his shirt, and he turned back instinctively. "Click!" A shutter sound, and a sh of intense white light before his eyes, so bright he almost thought he''d seen God. "Mingyue, are you sick?" Musen rubbed his eyes, still not ustomed to the light, and then a hand reached out to him. Mingyue holding the two hundred yuan, stuffed it into his cor: "The photo was good, consider it a tip from me." With that said, Mingyue, carrying the camera, turned and entered the vi behind her. Musen''s vision cleared, and he looked at the two hundred yuan in his hand. What did she think of him? Well, if it''s free, why not! Musen pocketed the two hundred yuan, which woulde in handy for tomorrow''s celebration feast. Evening, just past midnight. Musen immediately logged onto hisputer backend, and the first cycle of reward funds was in ce. With data from over sixty thousand new users, Musenfortably secured first ce. A cash reward of sixty-six thousand! There were also bonuses for new users, nearly a hundred thousand, but for now, he could only withdraw thirty or forty thousand. It wouldn''t be fully settled until the end of the month. Nearly a hundred thousand yuan seemed like a lot, but in his past life, he lived off Mingyue''s wealth, with tens of thousands in pocket money each day. However, there wasn''t much to spend it on. If you think about it, it''s not muchin this era, an average person couldn''t save that much in a whole year. To an ordinary family, this sum of money wasn''t small. Musen withdrew all the money into his bank card, watching the transaction confirmation messages arrive. The first pot of gold earned after reincarnation was not easy toe by. Although it was nothing to Mingyue''s family, at least it was a first step made by himself! Morning. Musen woke up early, still happily humming a tune while brushing his teeth. "Why are you so happy today? Found money?" Mrs. Xu was tying her apron, ready to cook, surprised to see her son not sleeping in on a Sunday. Musen chuckled, "You wouldn''t believe it, but I actually did find some money." "Look at you prancing around, how much did you find?" Mrs. Xu spoke cynically as Mr. Xu had also gotten up early and brewed a cup of tea. Recently, as thepany''s investment had paid off, he had finally let out a sigh of relief and looked visibly more spirited. Musenbed his hair to look mature and cleared his throat with a showy gesture, lifting the bank card in his hand. "Originally, I wanted to interact with you as a student, but now I won''t pretend anymore. I''m actually a hundred-thousandaire! I''ming clean!" Xu''s mother and Xu''s father exchanged nces. Has this kid gone crazy? "A hundred thousand? Why not just say ten billion? With a card from Cosmos Bank, right?" Xu''s mother said with annoyance. "I''m not lying to you. If you don''t believe me, bring over your POS machine and swipe it to see for yourself." Musenughed as he pulled out the POS machine from the cab. He swiped it, and the bnce was disyed. Staring at the string of zeros on the screen. Xu''s father and mother rubbed their eyes in disbelief, making sure they were seeing correctly. Suddenly, Xu''s mother reached out and started lifting her son''s shirt. "Mom, what are you doing?" "Where did you get the money, you little rascal? Did you sell your kidney or something?" Musen couldn''t help butugh and cry: "What kidney can sell for a hundred thousand? I told you before, I developed a game, and this is the reward I got for it." The two of them still couldn''t believe it for a moment; a hundred thousand yuan was equivalent to the sry of a working-ss family saving for two or three years without spending a dime. How had he managed to get his hands on a hundred thousand in such a short time? Musen exined it to them, and clearly, they were enormously shocked. Musen could understand their feelings. A lifetime of hard industry work, where you earn more only through more effort, and the idea of building steadily step by step was deeply rooted. Just like when short-video tforms became popr, many people couldn''t ept that those online celebrities could earn tens or hundreds of millions, or even more than a billion, just by going live. One person, sometimes worth an entire publicly tradedpany. Forget about ten years of hard study; even three generations of your family doing business might notpare to what someone can earn from one live broadcast. This is the magic of the inte era. In the past few days, Xu''s father and mother also yed the little game their son had made, but they never imagined it would be so profitable. "Ah... we really are getting old..." They gradually epted the reality. It wasn''t easy for them to calm down, but what they felt the most was relief. Xu''s mother was stunned for a while, then suddenly her eyes welled up with tears, and she couldn''t stop wiping them away. It was as if a long-umted pressure had finally been released. "Mom, don''t worry, from now on, our family''s situation will only get better..." Musen walked over and gently took his mother''s calloused hand, recalling how she held him when he was a child. Those hands that were once youthful when she was a girl, now bore countless scratches and wrinkles from wrapping flowers every day. At that moment, Dad also became quite emotional. Ever since they went bankrupt, the person they felt most sorry for was their son. "My boy, it''s great that you can earn money, but don''t be arrogant, and don''t spend it carelessly. There will be many more asions in the future where you''ll need money..." Xu''s father patted his son''s shoulder with satisfaction, feeling as if a heavy stone in his heart had been somewhat lifted. Looking at his parents'' excited expressions, Musen''s own heart wasn''t at peace either. Parents are always towering figures in front of their children. When parents can "lose theirposure" in front of you, it also means that they have truly aged. It also signifies that you''ve grown up and can gradually take on the responsibilities they''ve shouldered. This feeling, it''s truly wonderful. ... For breakfast, Ming Yue came over too. Today, she seemed to be in high spirits. In fact, Ming Yue really had a good night''s sleep. She took Musen''s photo and slept with it on her chest all night. "By the way, Mom, I''ll go find He Qiangter. He''s helped me a lot, and I want to treat him to a meal." "Good, He Qiang is a reliable kid. Take him out for something nice to eat." Xu''s mother answered with a smiling face. Ming Yue also spoke up: "Auntie, I''m going out with a friend today too, so I won''t be back for lunch either." "Alright, when you twoe back in the evening, I''ll make you some delicious food." Xu''s mother nodded, suddenly feeling like she had both son and daughter around. However, Musen and Ming Yue exchanged nces and turned their heads away with a slight huff. The two of them left the house. Xu''s father and mother looked at each other, sighing. "In the blink of an eye, they''re all grown up. Do you remember the agreement you had with Old Yao?" Xu''s mother started speaking. Xu''s father thought for a moment, then shook his head with a wry smile: "But now the gap between our two families is so great. How could we still have the face to mention such things? Let''s leave it to their own fate." "Yes, that''s all we can do now..." Chapter 27: Chapter 27 Of course the celebration banquet is KFC. Downtown. Musen Xu arrived first, having reserved a spot at Erqi Square, which was where they had set up a stallst time. Soon after, He Qiang joined him. "Moriko!" He Qiang''s face had gotten even darker from the summer sun, but he looked extremely excited, "Did you really make a hundred thousand, kid?" Last night, He Qiang had received the news. Somewhat a witness himself, when he found out that Xu Musen had made over a hundred thousand in just half a month, he was even more excited than Xu Musen and had trouble sleeping. "Would I lie to you?" Xu Musenughed heartily and took an envelope out from his chest, pushing it directly into his hands. "What''s this?" "Paying back your money." "This... doesn''t seem right though." He Qiang weighed it in his hand, it was just a small bundle, and he saw that it was a standard bundle of ten thousand yuan. "Ten thousand?! You didn''t count it wrong, did you?" "I didn''t count wrong, I told you I wouldn''t leave you at a loss when I made money." Xu Musen spoke with a smile. He Qiang swallowed, "That''s not right, I just want my eight thousand back, the rest you should keep..." Xu Musen patted his shoulder, "Keep it, I owe a lot of my startup capital to you. This is just a dividend, be a man and don''t act like a fussy woman." He Qiang was moved inside and also truly admired Xu Musen. They were all high school students, usually spending only about ten or so yuan a day, and even hesitated a while when deciding whether to add an egg to their instant noodles at an inte cafe. Yet here was someone who simply typed on a keyboard, wrote some code, and in half a month''s time, he had made a hundred thousand yuan! That was enough to buy a small car! The disparity was just too huge. "Moriko, you''re so awesome. From now on, I''m following you, and you better remember to pull your good brother up too!" "Forget it, you can keep that ''thing'' to yourself." "?" Tucking the money away, He Qiang felt like a man with ten thousand yuan to his name, and pped Xu Musen on the shoulder generously. "How about we don''t go home tonight? My treat, let''s go to Dahe Fengqing for a foot bath. They have these intense Thai massages there, done by sisters around twenty who bare their feet to walk on your back..." He Qiang excitedly wrapped his arm around Xu Musen''s shoulder. Unexpectedly to Xu Musen, this guy turned out to be such a dark horse, "I never would have guessed, you''re into that sort of thing?" "Actually, I just see my cousin doing it..." He Qiang snickered with a grin and turned his head, but suddenly froze, the somewhat sleazy expression on his face instantly stuck. Xu Musen also turned around, only to meet a pair of bright and clear eyes that were seriously listening to their conversation. "Nuannuan... when did you get here?" Xu Musen cleared his throat and, facing those pure eyes, he and He Qiang both felt a bit sleazy about their previous conversation. An Nuannuan tilted her head and said, "Since you guys mentioned ''ck silk beautiful legs, and sisters baring their feet''." "..." "Forget about all that." Xu Musen spoke seriously. An Nuannuan looked at him blinking indeed. Today, An Nuannuan was wearing a little dress with some scattered floral patterns, her fair arms and the bit of leg that was exposed shone in the sunlight as if they could reflect it. Moreover, she was wearing a pair of semi-transparent sandals today, her delicate insteps and each little crystal bodhi-like toe were visible. The whole person looked just like a ''three noes'' girl who walked out of a 2D world. However, Xu Musen felt she was more like Origami from Date A Live, looking monotonous and reticent, but once she opened her mouth, it was all risqu talk. "Ahem, it''s almost noon now,e with me first to get some documents done." Xu Musen walked over to help An Nuannuan with her wheelchair, while He Qiang followed on the side, getting a closer look at An Nuannuan''s visage. He was also surprised, and whispered to Xu Musen, "Moriko, you gotta tell your brother, are you having impure thoughts about her?" Xu Musen looked at An Nuannuan''s stunning but slightly dazed appearance, shaking his head. "Don''t talk nonsense, we''re just innocent friends." "Tsk..." Xu Musen had business today too; he was nning to register apany of his own. Although relying on argepany is beneficial, one always has to n for their own future. Now the country is also encouraging individual entrepreneurship, and for just ten yuan they can handle your license, so today he went to submit the paperwork. At the same time, he took the opportunity to send in legal documents like previously registered domain names for authentication. The three had just left. In the corner of the square, the window of a ck business car slowly lowered, and the woman watched An Nuannuan being wheeled away. She had a resigned smile on her face: "The first time hanging out with friends, hope she has fun..." ... By the time they finished their business, it was already noon. The three walked on the bustling street in the city center. On the weekend, the streets were filled with young people walking in pairs, and the Erqi Business Street was also a check-in spot in this city that hardly had any scenic spots. Xu Musen remembered that there were a few nice restaurants around. "It''s lunchtime, what would you like to eat? Today''s my treat!" "Hehe, this time I''m going to make you pay dearly." He Qiang rubbed his hands eagerly, his eyes dazzled by the numerous shops around, his choice paralysis kicking in. An Nuannuan looked around as well; since she had taken to the wheelchair, she seldom went out. She was drawn to a few kids bouncing around with toys. She turned her head and tugged at Xu Musen''s sleeve. "Have you decided what you want to eat?" Xu Musen asked her with a smile. "Here." An Nuannuan followed the direction the kids had gone. Three shiny red letters. KFC! "Come on, I''m offering to treat you to a big meal and you want to eat at KFC?" It''s not like it''s Crazy Thursday with discounts. "Actually, KFC''s fried chicken is not bad." He Qiang chimed in. "Don''t you have a fried chicken shop right in front of your house?" "Don''t even mention it, eating at that chicken shop could ruin you for three days;st time I nearly ended up stuck in the toilet." He Qiang shook his head, visibly shaken by the memory, and then he lowered his voice to tease: "Besides, I''m just creating an opportunity for you, bro." Xu Musen gave him a speechless look. But when he looked down at An Nuannuan, who was looking at him eagerly with puppy-dog eyes, he nodded anyway. He could understand that for many children from rural viges or poor families, being able to eat a meal at a Western fast food ce like KFC or McDonald''s was already a treat. Xu Musen recalled how, when KFC first opened in Zheng City, he had saved up a full thousand yuan before he dared to spend it there. He then discovered it was really just so-so, after all KFC''s standing abroad was not much different from that of local snack shop chains back home. "Alright, just don''t regret itter." Xu Musen pushed An Nuannuan inside to find a seat first and handed her the menu to choose. An Nuannuan curiously held the menu, her eyes sparkling at the sight of items like fried chicken. "What are Popcorn Chicken?" "They''re little fried balls made of chicken." "Oh... then what does ''Finger Lickin'' Good'' mean?" "It means it''s so tasty that it makes you want to suck on your fingers." "And the Colonel''s Chicken? Was this chicken a soldier?" "Of course not, a chicken less than two and a half years old can''t enlist..." Xu Musen was already fond of having such conversations with An Nuannuan. There was nothing shameful about it, just like some people never drink coffee and would also be puzzled the first time they hear terms like ''iced Americano'' or ''cubes of sugar''. He Qiang couldn''t help but ask: "So, you''ve never been to KFC before?" An Nuannuan looked up at him, nodding her head, "Yes, my grandma wouldn''t let me eat these things." He Qiang silently nodded and didn''t continue the conversation. He felt a tinge of pity. Meanwhile, right next to the KFC store, in a luxury cosmetics shop, the tall and elegant Yao Mingyue was browsing back and forth with her best friend... Chapter 28: Chapter 28 Who Goes to Jail If Not Me? (Please follow!) "Give me a super-size invincible doubleyer beef secret recipe mini burger!" He Qiang nced at the menu, spontaneously blurting out with a hearty voice. But the next moment he realized An Nuannuan was still nearby and suddenly coughed, "Ahem, you two order first." "What would you like to eat?" Xu Musen asked An Nuannuan. Ever since he brought her fried chicken and kebabs that time, she had been particrly craving for fried foods. Right then, a waiter was delivering a meal to the next table, which also held a cute toy doll on the tray. "They sell toys here too?" An Nuannuan caught sight of the adorable rabbit doll, her eyes sparkling. The waiter smiled and replied, "This is a gift thates with the children''s meal for kids." "So, can we order that too?" "This... I''m afraid not, it''s only avable for children under twelve." The waiter, facing An Nuannuan''s dazed and adorable gaze, felt slightly guilty. "Oh..." An Nuannuan nodded in disappointment, her look of forlornness instilling a sense of guilt in the waiter. They ordered two family buckets and other items like drinks and ice cream first. Although parents call fried chicken and drinks junk food, indulging in them along with soda is truly blissful! An Nuannuan extended her hand impatiently. Ever since she started using a wheelchair, her family had been careful about her diet, sticking to carefully bnced meals from a nutritionist. High-fat, greasy foods had nearly vanished from her life. That''s also why she had been able to maintain her figure despite being in a wheelchair every day. Those who have dieted know that after days of fat-reduction meals, asionally splurging on carbs and fried chicken feels even better than getting a foot massage! "Don''t rush, put on the gloves first." Xu Musen handed her disposable gloves. "What''s this?" "Disposable gloves, so you won''t get your hands all messy." An Nuannuan seemed to have never used them; she fiddled with the transparent gloves, struggling to open them due to her shortsightedness. "Let me help you." Xu Musen, unable to resist smiling at her clumsy efforts, said. "Stretch out your hands." "Here~" An Nuannuan obediently extended her hands, her pale fingers like little white scallions but with a hint of plumpness. How tempting it was to suck on those fingers... Xu Musen pushed that thought aside and helped her put the gloves on, feeling the warmth and softness of her fingers through the transparent disposable gloves. He Qiang, watching from the side, suddenly wondered why the fries in his mouth tasted so sour? "All set." An Nuannuan, looking at her hands sheathed in the gloves, found it rather novel and finally got to reach for the fries, eager to pop them into her mouth. But her flowing long hair was in the way, always entering her mouth before the fries. "Xu Musen..." An Nuannuan looked at him with pleading eyes again. Xu Musen, feeling as if he were taking care of a daughter, could only smile helplessly and asked a passing female waitress for a hair tie. He then gently gathered An Nuannuan''s hair behind her head and expertly tied it up for her. Having served that sickly delicate girl in his past life for so long, this skill was now second nature to him. "Sss..." He Qiang bit into his chicken leg, but when he looked up, his eyes widened in surprise. Xu Musen also came back to his senses, now observing An Nuannuan with her hair tied back, her full beauty on disy. Even though he had already seen her true face, he couldn''t help but feel dazzled. An Nuannuan''s features were sweet and gentle, radiating a kind of warmth. She had a spirited charm, which contrasted with her somewhat bewildered gaze, leaving asting impression. Suddenly, He Qiang understood why his good buddy had stopped pursuing Yao Mingyue. An Nuannuan''s beauty was on par with Yao Mingyue, not the slightest bit inferior! And she looked like someone easy to sway, maybe by the time Musen tried to woo Yao Mingyue, he could have already coaxed An Nuannuan into having a baby... As An Nuannuan watched Xu Musen keep looking at her, she was about to put a fry into her mouth, but after thinking it over, she reached out and offered it to Xu Musen instead. "You eat first." An Nuannuan believed in repaying kindness. However, she was a bit nearsighted, and Xu Musen didn''t react in time, so the fry brushed against his cheek, smudging ketchup on his face. Xu Musen didn''t mind; seeing her earnestly feed him fries, he suddenly felt that being fed by a beautiful girl wasn''t too bad. He bit into the crispy, tender fry -- pretty good. It''s just that He Qiang''s gossipy little eyes made Musen feel a bit embarrassed. "You eat too." Xu Musen prepared to grab a tissue to wipe his face. But An Nuannuan suddenly leaned in closer, reached out, and wiped the ketchup off Xu Musen''s cheek with her finger. Then, without a second thought, she sucked the ketchup off her finger. What the fuck? He Qiang was dumbfounded. Xu Musen was stunned as well. What''s going on? Why did he feel like he''d been heavily flirted with by a clueless beauty? Shouldn''t this be a move the male lead makes in CEO TV dramas? "Why are you guys staring at me?" An Nuannuan cocked her head. "You just..." "When I used to get rice on my face during meals, my grandma would do the same thing, is there something wrong with that?" An Nuannuan asked seriously. He Qiang felt her thinking was quite peculiar as he pointed to his dark face, "What if it were me?" An Nuannuan looked at him for a second and firmly shook her head, "Nope." He Qiang: ... Even though he was just joking, that really hurt! "Because you''re not my friend." An Nuannuan added insult to injury with her casual remark. He Qiang felt even more injured: "You..." "Nuannuan, actually we..." Xu Musen was ready to smooth things over. But An Nuannuan looked up at him, "Didn''t we agree, we could only be friends with your consent?" Xu Musen saw her pure eyes, and in that moment, he felt his heart skip a beat. Looking at his good buddy, Xu Musen cleared his throat, "Well, a friend''s friend is just as much a friend, so you both should just be friends with me, I''ll maintain the rtionship alone!" Xu Musen''s words were as good as saying nothing. A stream of curses ran through He Qiang''s mind, damn it! What a fair-weather friend you are! You owe me a fishing rod! He Qiang channeled his indignation into power and began to eat voraciously. "Ouch..." An Nuannuan had just taken a few bites when she went for a chicken wing. A kid running nearby bumped into her arm, and suddenly a ss of coconut milk spilled. "Ah... I''m so sorry, sister!" The kid quickly apologized. The drink had spilled at her feet, luckily not on her clothes, but it did ssh onto her lower legs and onto her feet in sandals. "It''s okay," An Nuannuan shook her head at the kid. Her gaze turned to Xu Musen as she wiggled her foot slightly, "Xu Musen, my feet feel all sticky, and it''s notfortable..." Xu Musen looked down to see the young girl''s fair and delicate feet, now smothered in thick white coconut milk. Her adorable toes were wiggling, stretching threads of coconut milk... This, this was just too much. Seeing An Nuannuan''s slightly pouting expression, Xu Musen knew that his opportunity... his time to do a good deed hade! If not me, who else would go to jail? "Alright, I''ll help you wipe it off." Xu Musen bent down with a look of reluctance on his face. Chapter 29: Chapter 29 Yao Mingyues Wife Previous Offense! Chinese people are generally more reserved. While foreigners chase after the sense of difference created by curves and contours, Chinese people have long begun to pay attention to inner beauty and delicate aesthetics, such as a young girl''s tender wrists, slender jade-like feet... Even Su Shi once wrote a poem titled "Ode to the Foot" to praise women''s small feet. Musen simply loved traditional culture, what was wrong with that? He took a paper towel, bent down, and gently lifted the hem of the girl''s dress, first wiping away the coconut milk on her calf. Then there were those little feet in sandals, seeming so petite they could fit in the palm of the hand. Barely touched by coconut milk, they resembled a soft, milky jelly. Musen gently held her ankle, the dainty heel resting in his palm, and began wiping her delicate toes with the tissue. Soft and warm, this was the mutual feeling between Musen and Nuannuan at that moment. After all, a young girl''s feet are sensitive, and as Nuannuan watched him crouch down to earnestly clean her feet, she felt a ticklish sensationnot from her feet, but a tingling in her heart... Meanwhile, He Qiang was utterly dumbfounded, observing Musen crouched under the table. Although but No, guys, is this the kind of weird thing you''re into these days? Now, what exactly would his behavior be considered, a simp or a perv? He Qiang felt he was somewhat falling behind the times. Musen, with a sense of responsibility, helped Nuannuan wipe for a good five or six minutes before he slowly stood up. "There, it''s all clean now." Musen spoke up. Nuannuan looked down and thought, indeed, it''s even cleaner than if she had washed it. "Thank you." "Being helpful is one of my good qualities." Musen shook his head modestly. "I''ll go wash my hands now," Musen said as he stood up and walked out. Nuannuan continued eating her fried chicken and fries, while He Qiang couldn''t help but ask, "That... Nuannuan, you and Musen are..." "We''re friends." Nuannuan answered earnestly. He Qiang truly didn''t believe her, friends? Is there such a thing as pure friendship between men and women, unless both sides are unattractive to each other? And besides, which pair of friends of the opposite sex would be that hands-on? "You two wouldn''t be..." He Qiang wanted to inquire further, but looking at Nuannuan''s innocent expression, he ultimately decided to let it be. Rtionships were tooplicated, fishing was more fun. On the other side, Musen, who had said he was going to the restroom, had actually approached the child who had identally bumped into Nuannuan earlier. "Little one." "Big brother... I really didn''t mean it, I''ve apologized to the big sister..." The little girl, seeing that Musen hade looking for her, was a bit afraid and lowered her head. "I''m not here to seek retribution, I actually came to invite you to eat something," Musen said with a smiling face, giving a few instructions to the little girl and handing her a banknote. ... When Musen returned to continue eating, Nuannuan, to thank him for wiping her feet earlier, saved all the tastiest chicken legs from the family bucket just for him. Musen smiled, saying there was plenty, and she finally picked one up to eat. At that moment, in the shop next door, Yao Mingyue had selected some skincare products, intended for Musen''s mother, who had to wrap flowers every day and inevitably suffered cuts and the like. She also purposely bought a belt for Musen''s father. That guy always wanted to avoid her, so she decided to start from his family; once she won over the potential mother-inw and father-inw, could she still not capture him? Yao Mingyue thought about it and couldn''t help but feel a bit smug. "Ming Yue, this week Xu Musen unexpectedly didn''te out with you, are you two really not talking to each other anymore?" Her best friend, Liu Ruonan, was holding bags of all sizes; she had been shopping with Yao Mingyue just before. Xu Musen would eagerly help Yao Mingyue with her things, and then Yao Mingyue would also help carry some of hers. It wouldn''t be so exhausting like it is now. "Who cares about him." Yao Mingyue maintained her usual pride in front of her best friend. After all, can a monk escape his temple? "But he and that girl from the ss next door..." Liu Ruonan said, shaking her head, "Though considering her conditions and personality, most people probably wouldn''t want to provoke her." As she spoke, sheughed and added, "Speaking of which, Lv Hong from the ss next door has been courting you these past few days. Don''t you have any thoughts about it?" "Not interested." Yao Mingyue casually tossed out the phrase. Liu Ruonan shook her head: "I''m getting more and more confused, what exactly do you feel for Xu Musen?" Yao Mingyue''s steps faltered; that question had been asked by Xu Musen more than once, too. A myriad of emotions suddenly surfaced in Yao Mingyue''s heart. Liking, dependence, possessiveness, and even a bond like family that had formed as they grew up together... Of course, only she knew the exact proportions of those feelings. "These days, girls from other sses seem to be watching Xu Musen outside the ssroom after school. They''re probably trying to seize thest chance before graduation..." Yao Mingyue naturally knew about these changes, and her expression remained unchanged. The truth was that Xu Musen''s personal qualities were outstanding; his only disadvantage was that his family circumstances were holding him back. The two had been attending school together since kindergarten. Yao Mingyue had been beautiful since childhood. Xu Musen was also fair and handsome, having had many little girls like him since he was a child, while Yao Mingyue was naturally a bit aloof. She would willingly follow Xu Musen every day. Xu Musen was like central air conditioning, alwaysughing and smiling with everyoneif it hadn''t been for Yao Mingyue''s watchful eyes on those little girls from his side. Who knows, he might have been stolen away by some wild girl long ago. Many past events shed through Yao Mingyue''s mind. Her stunningly beautiful face unconsciously revealed a slight smile. Liu Ruonanughed as well: "But those girls are just onlookers. After all, if they want to confess, they have to weigh themselves first. They''re up against you, Yao Mingyue!" Yao Mingyue felt a slight sense of pride in her heart, but then she suddenly realizedif she was their rival, didn''t that mean she was actively pursuing Xu Musen? "Who arepetitors with them." The pride of Yao Mingyue''s adolescent years made her snort. Her best friend was a perfectedic foil,ughing and saying, "Of course, Ming Yue, you''re the undisputed school beauty of our school. Xu Musen is just holding on by a thread..." As the two of them talked, they happened to pass by the entrance of KFC. "Hey, that dark-skinned guy, isn''t that He Qiang from our ss?" Under the midday sunlight, He Qiang''s dark skin almost shone, attracting people''s attention. Yao Mingyue also instantly turned her head to look. She remembered Xu Musen saying that morning that he woulde out to eat with He Qiang. Indeed, sitting across from He Qiang was Xu Musen. Yao Mingyue''s phoenix eyes lit up, but as her gaze followed, her body momentarily froze. Wheelchair... The girl was sitting right next to Xu Musen. Furthermore, she held fries in both hands, eating one herself and offering the other to Xu Musen''s mouth. Xu Musen also held popcorn chicken, feeding her as if she were a little kitten, with a smile on his face... that was clearly a smile he used to reserve only for her! Liu Ruonan felt the temperature suddenly drop beside her! Yao Mingyue stood several meters away on the roadside, watching the intimate pair inside. This was what you''d call a ''crime in the presence of the wife''! Chapter 30: Chapter 30: The Darkening Girl, Ripples in Her Heart. In KFC, Xu Musen also suddenly felt a chill. But at this moment, the little girl who had just bumped into An Nuannuan ran over. She held a cute toy in her hand, a little shy, but when she saw Xu Musen''s smiling face, she then looked at An Nuannuan and said, "Big sister, I''m sorry for bumping into you just now. Can I give you this little toy as an apology?" The toy was the one An Nuannuan had just been eyeing eagerly, the one from the kids'' meal. "It''s alright" An Nuannuan felt like she shouldn''t ept a child''s gift but she really wanted it, her little face twisted in conflict. Then the little girl looked at Xu Musen, and just directly stuffed the toy into An Nuannuan''s hands. "Big sister, big brother, I''m going now!" The little girl waved at them both and bounced away. An Nuannuan didn''t even have time to call out to her. "Keep it, the child''s thoughtfulness should be appreciated, otherwise she might feel guilty and unable to sleep." Xu Musen said, smiling, and gently stroked her head. "Oh~" An Nuannuan nodded, her tone noticeably cheerier, hugging the toy and admiring it, clearly very fond of cute things. Having almost finished their meal, they prepared to leave. However, across the street several meters away, Yao Mingyue''s gaze was fixed on Xu Musen''s hand resting on An Nuannuan''s head. If looks could kill, Xu Musen would have been decapitated no, it would have been An Nuannuan''s hair that got chopped. "Ming Yue..." Liu Ruonan also felt Yao Mingyue emanating a dark aura. Yao Mingyue clenched the bag in her hand tightly. If their arguments and cold wars from the past days were just between them, her pride and conceit led her to always believe Xu Musen would eventuallye back on his own. After all, over the years they had their share of quarrels, but in the end, it was always Xu Musen who made amends first. But this time There was another girl next to him. This time, Yao Mingyue finally got a clear look at the girl''s face. That naturally dazed and exceptionally pure wlessness made even Yao Mingyue''s pride falter and admit that the girl was indeed beautiful. Hence, an unprecedented sense of crisis suddenly engulfed her heart. "Xu Musen" Yao Mingyue couldn''t contain the emotions within her, her eyes fixed only on Xu Musen''s retreating figure. She unexpectedly started to cross the street, paying no attention to the oing traffic as the light turned green. "Beep beep beep!!" A car horn red frantically. "Ming Yue!" Liu Ruonan was startled and quickly grabbed her best friend as the vehicle nearly swiped past them. Yao Mingyue, caught off guard, twisted her ankle. "Ming Yue, are you okay?" Her best friend was also terrified, having not expected such an extreme reaction from Yao Mingyue. Yao Mingyue clenched her teeth. She tried to stand up, but the pain in her ankle prevented her from walking. "Miss, why did you suddenlye out like that? Let me take you to the hospital!" The driver quickly got out and offered his help. "No need." Yao Mingyue''s gaze was filled with the disappearing back of Xu Musen. "Ming Yue, maybe it''s just a misunderstanding. Anyway, since you live so close, it won''t bete to ask him tonight," Liu Ruonan urgently supported her. Yao Mingyue''s ankle was visibly swelling, and the driver kept urging them. Yao Mingyue looked up again, but Xu Musen had vanished from sight. She bit down on her teeth hard, her eyes swimming with rapid shifts of light. "Xu Musen mine" ... Over here, An Nuannuan wanted to go to the restroom, so Xu Musen waited outside for her. KFC had an essible restroom, so she didn''t need his help. As An Nuannuan went to wash her hands, she suddenly saw the little girl who had given her the toy earlier. "Eh, it''s big sister." The little girl was also there to wash her hands, and she greeted An Nuannuan with a slight bashfulness. An Nuannuan looked at her and touched the stuffed toy in her arms, "Thank you for giving me the toy." The little girl blushed, twisted the corner of her shirt, and finally, with embarrassment, fiddled with her little braid, "Big sister, actually... the toy isn''t mine. It was the big brother who was with you just now; he gave me money to order a kids'' meal on the condition that I give the toy to you." An Nuannuan listened, her absent-minded peach blossom eyes now clear as if they were a spring of water, at this moment stirred with ripples. "That big brother is very tall and handsome, and he speaks so gently, hehe, what''s the rtionship between big sister and big brother?" Gossip seemed to be in her nature as the little girl asked with a curious expression. An Nuannuan also blinked, pausing for a moment before slowly saying, "He''s a friend, my only good friend." ... Leaving KFC, Xu Musen couldn''t help but feel that An Nuannuan was more spaced out than usual, always hugging the stuffed toy and looking up at him. Could it be that he had be more handsome? Xu Musen thought to himself. He Qiang always felt like today''s air was filled with the scent of dog food. "Qiang Zi, there''s one more ce, apany me on one more trip." Xu Musen patted He Qiang''s shoulder. They arrived at amercial street. He Qiang couldn''t help saying, "What are you bringing me here for, acting all mysterious?" "You''ll know soon." Xu Musen smiled and walked on, finally stopping in front of a fishing gear shop. He Qiang was taken aback. "Let''s go, bro, I said I wouldn''t let you down." Xu Musenughed and pushed An Nuannuan into the shop with him. "Handsome guy, you''re here." The shop owner seemed to know Xu Musen well and greeted him with a smile. "Did the fishing rod I orderedst night arrive?" "It did, let me get it for you." The owner went to the back cab and took out a long box, and Xu Musen pulled He Qiang over. "Moriko, what''s this..." He Qiang had a hunch about what it was, his tone tinged with excitement. "Open it up and see, it''s prepared for you." Xu Musen smiled. He Qiang opened the box, and at first nce, he blurted out an exmation! "Holy shit! A carbon fiber fishing rod?!" He Qiang''s hands were trembling. As he opened the box and looked inside, there indeedy an exquisitely made fishing rod that was very light to hold and both flexible and strong. "Am I dreaming..." He Qiang stroked the fishing rod back and forth, his gaze passionate, causing Xu Musen to get goosebumps all over. "Damn it, why do I feel like you''re more into touching the fishing rod than touching a girl''s silky thighs?" "You don''t understand, carbon fiber is the man''s steel silk; it''s so damn sexy. This wasn''t cheap, right?" "It''s alright, more than three thousand. You supported me by even selling your cherished fishing rod; I can''t let your harem go empty, can I?" "Moriko, you''ve got loyalty!" He Qiang was touched in his heart. It was as if he had divorced his own two fifty-to-sixty-year-old worn-out wives and immediately embraced an eighteen-year-old fair and beautiful maid. What a deal! He Qiang was so moved he was nearly in tears; this day''s dog food hadn''t been eaten in vain. "Moriko, from now on, you''re my real brother! Take this card; those big sisters give excellent back massages." He Qiang, in his excitement, pulled out a VIP card from his pocket. Xu Musen coughed dryly, mindful of An Nuannuan''s gaze. "Qiang Zi, you''ve misunderstood me; I really don''t enjoy that kind of thing." Xu Musen painfully pushed the card back. An Nuannuan blinked her eyes and looked down at her own fair and tender little feet, lost in thought. Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Without being a sycophant, you wont have weaknesses. Afternoon. It was time to head back. He Qiang held his fishing rod, feeling it was even better than grabbing a wealthydy''s thigh. He couldn''t wait to go home and cast a few times. "People forget friends at the sight of beauty, you forget friends at the sight of a rod, Musen teased with a smile. He Qiang let out a chuckle, winking at him, "Isn''t this also creating an opportunity for you two? I won''t get in the way, I''ll go first!" He Qiang chose to hop on the bus and leave. Xu Musen and An Nuannuan exchanged nces. "Are you in a hurry to get home?" "Aunt Xiang said I can''t stay out overnight." "..." Xu Musen was speechless for a moment, did he really look like someone who would invite a girl to stay over night upon just meeting her? At most it would be just a bit of touching. "The food stalls are about to open, do you want me to treat you?" "Sure!" Xu Musen''s mouth curved into a smile as he strolled with An Nuannuan through the bustling food stalls. "Musen, I want to eat that meatball." "That''s called takoyaki." "How is that person eating chicks?" "Those are balut eggs, want a taste?" Xu Musen felt as if she had never eaten anything before, An Nuannuan craved the scent of the balut eggs, but after seeing the embryos, she shook her head in the end. Xu Musenughed and bought a bowl of ck stinky tofu from the stall. "Musen, why are you eating shit?" The scent made An Nuannuan subconsciously tug on his sleeve. Those around them waiting to buy stinky tofu were taken aback, and the stall owner''s face turned dark. Good gracious, who leaked my secret recipe? "...This is called stinky tofu, it smells bad but tastes delicious, want to try?" Xu Musen couldn''t help butugh and pushed her to the side. Despite the smell, An Nuannuan pursed her lips, quite suspicious about the dark stuff. "It''s really tofu, I''ll try one first." Xu Musen put it in his mouth and chewed, the fragrance of the tofu inside, once he broke the skin, still made An Nuannuan''s nose twitch. "Want a taste?" Xu Musen offered it to her again. An Nuannuan''s small face twisted in conflict, but watching Musen savor it so much, she held her breath and slowly opened her tender little mouth. Xu Musen gently brought the ck morsel to her lips, An Nuannuan cautiously took a small bite, and then her eyes brightened. "Tasty!" "Told you." Xu Musen and she each had a piece, eating delightfully. At this moment, at the square, Aunt Xiang, whom Nuannuan mentioned, was secretly watching from a corner. Following An Nuannuan devouring so many street foods, she couldn''t resist taking out her phone to make a call. "Dr. Liang, Nuannuan is still with that boy." "Is there a situation?" "Nothing of the sort, it''s just that the boy is taking Nuannuan to eat a lot... street foods, and it''s not healthy." There was silence on the other end for a second or two, then a kind smile, "It''s rare for Nuannuan to have contact with the outside world, an asional treat is fine." "Alright, I understand." The woman nodded, put away her phone, the greasy smells and various spices of the street food making her a bit ufortable. Actually, many of these things, she had hardly ever touched herself. Passing by the stinky tofu stall, she noticed the pot of oil that she couldn''t tell how often was changed, and the ck tofu emitting a strange smell. Could this stuff really be eaten? She thought for a moment. "Boss, give me a serving..." Having eaten their way through, both of them felt full-bellied. They arrived at a spot in the square, where the setting sun fell on the girl, casting a golden gleam even on her long eyshes. She was really beautiful, possessing a na?ve yet lively charm that was uniquely hers. "Musen, I had a lot of fun today." An Nuannuan turned to look at Xu Musen, the sunlight making his tall figure endearingly reliable. "I had fun too." Xu Musen smiled back, as they slowly watched the afterglow of the sunset. An Nuannuan, holding the stuffed toy in her arms, "Musen, can we still go out like this in the future?" Xu Musen looked at her, seeing the purity and longing in the girl''s eyes. "Of course." An Nuannuan happily stretched out her finger, "Then, pinky promise..." "Okay." ... It was time to go back. Xu Musen originally wanted to escort An Nuannuan home, but An Nuannuan said someone was alreadying to pick her up. In the corner of the square, Xu Musen pushed An Nuannuan there in the wheelchair. A woman, dressed modestly but very neat and proper, waved at An Nuannuan. "Aunt Xiang." An Nuannuan greeted, and Xu Musen also looked over. So this was the Aunt Xiang who had said behind his back that he was a "lick dog" with no bad intentions? "This must be the good friend Nuannuan always talks about, hello." Aunt Xiang greeted with a standard smile, and Xu Musen nodded, "Hello, Auntie." "Thank you for taking care of Nuannuan." "It''s nothing, we''re friends after all." Xu Musen smiled at An Nuannuan. This girl, who rarely showed much expression, now hugged the stuffed animal in her arms slightly. Really, how can the setting sun still burn one''s face so... Xu Musen watched Aunt Xiang''s proper demeanor and felt that his previous assumptions about An Nuannuan''s background might have been wrong. But it didn''t matter anymore, such things were meaningless between good friends. They waved goodbye. Xu Musen took the bus to go home. Meanwhile, by the roadside, An Nuannuan sat in the business car, watching the bus disappear into the distance. "Aunt Xiang." "What is it, Nuannuan?" "I want to, well, take the bus to school from now on, is that okay?" "This..." Aunt Xiang didn''t quite know how to answer, but looking at Nuannuan''s hopeful expression, she still smiled helplessly, "Let''s go talk to your grandparents about it and then decide." "Oh." ... When he got home, after a day out, Xu Musen felt unusually rxed. This was the life that belonged to him. At the fork in the road at the entrance of the housing estate, Xu Musen looked up at Yao Mingyue''s vi. Being rich may be good, but the taste of freedom is even sweeter. "Beep beep..." At that moment, the sound of a car came from behind. "Xu Musen?" A female voice called out, tinged with irritation, "It really is you!" Xu Musen turned around, and there before him were Yao Mingyue and her best friend, Liu Ruonan. Only, Yao Mingyue now had bandages wrapped around her foot, and she needed support to walk. It seemed to be a serious injury. But there wasn''t a trace of pain on Yao Mingyue''s face, just a cold, hard stare fixed on him. That look, it brought Xu Musen some unpleasant memories. "You! Didn''t you see Mingyue got hurt, it''s all your fault, and you still aren''t hurrying over to help her?" Liu Ruonan looked at Xu Musen as if he were a scumbag. Xu Musen waspletely baffled. How was it any of his business? "You''re still standing there when, because of you going out with some other..." Liu Ruonan was about to stand up for her best friend, but Yao Mingyue cut her off coldly, "It''s fine, I don''t need his help!" Yao Mingyue''s rage was no less than anyone else''s, or rather, she was beyond angry at this point. It was herst bit of pride and persistence that made her not want outsiders to meddle in her issues with Xu Musen. She would settle the score with him properly. Xu Musen looked at the two of them, especially Yao Mingyue''s eyes that seemed to be turning dark. He nodded his head. "Alright, if you don''t need help, then I''ll be going." With that, Xu Musen turned and walked away. Huh, a man who refuses to be a sycophant, is indeed this carefree. Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Yao Mingyue, You Finally Have This Day! Xu Musen''s abrupt departure caught Yao Mingyue and Liu Ruonan by surprise. But to Xu Musen, he really did not want to get too involved with Yao Mingyue anymore; all the debts from his past life were written off in that final car ident. He owed her nothing. He had just been working at theputer for a while when his phone chimed with a message alert. It wasn''t Yao Mingyue but her best friend Liu Ruonan. "Xu Musen, you were too much today. Ming Yue is hurt and you don''t care at all?" Xu Musen looked at the message and thought that probably only in their student days would best friends stand up for each other in matters of the heart. Liu Ruonan: "Ming Yue even bought gifts for your family today, and what about you? You were with another girl!" Xu Musen frowned immediately; the girl she mentioned had to be An Nuannuan. He almost subconsciously wondered if this little ''sickly coquette'' hade out to track him. Liu Ruonan continued firing off messages like a machine gun: "Xu Musen, I never thought you were this kind of person. Although Ming Yue did not ept your confession, haven''t you noticed that she has only ever had you by her side? Do you know how shocked and upset she was when we suddenly saw you with another girl, to the point she was nearly hit by a car because she wasn''t paying attention? And you, you don''t care at all!" A flurry of messages had turned Xu Musen into the equivalent of the ungrateful Chen Shimei. Xu Musen slightly furrowed his brow and ultimately did not reply to the messages. It wasn''t worth wasting his breath on her. He looked up at the ceiling. Today''s incident might indeed have been a coincidence; he remembered the shopping bag in Yao Mingyue''s hands, which did contain a brand name belt. Yao Mingyue''s father had passed away, and she bought it as a gift for Xu''s father, and some cosmetics that must have been for Xu''s mother. Whether or not it was the little scheming of the ''sickly coquette'', it was indeed a heartwarming gesture for the parents. Xu Musen fell silent for a moment; there was no animosity between him and Yao Mingyue. It was like Li Yunlong and Chu Yunfei, who could have been close friends had their circumstances not been so different. Xu Musen was just worried that further entanglement with Yao Mingyue would lead to repeating the mistakes of his past life. He had thought that at this stage, Yao Mingyue''s possessive and overbearing mindset might not be as severe; if he kept his distance, they would naturally drift apart over time. But he had a feeling that things wouldn''t end so easily. Just then, his mother returned, looking a bit anxious. She had called Yao Mingyue earlier to ask what she wanted for dinner but found out about Yao Mingyue''s twisted ankle. "I''ll make some soup. Ming Yue has sprained her ankle and shouldn''t be walking too much, soter, you can deliver it to her," she said before heading into the kitchen. It was as if whatever he feared hade to pass. Xu''s mother could tell from her son''s reluctant expression that something was not right. In the past, if Yao Mingyue had even a minor issue, her son would have rushed to her house to offerfort and concern; why was he acting so indifferent today, and even somewhat reluctant? She had sensed this a few days ago. "Son, have you and Ming Yue had a falling-out recently?" she couldn''t help asking. Xu Musen shook his head; this wasn''t really a conflict, he simply did not want to get involved anymore. "You little rascal, Ming Yue is a girl, and now she''s all alone at home. You must take care of her if you can," she advised. "But I also have my own life to live," Xu Musen said earnestly. "We have many things to take care of at home." Xu''s mother paused, exhaled helplessly, and knew about some of Ming Yue''s temperament, but that incident from many years ago... "Mother understands, but if not for Uncle Yao stepping in front of your father that time, things might be different now... Anyway, regardless of everything else, our families have always been close. Ming Yue''s mother is often away on business trips, leaving Ming Yue alone at home, and her personality is indeed different from that of most girls," his mother said with a heavy heart. "Mom isn''t asking you to do something specific, but Ming Yuecks the love and care most people receive. Even if you two can''t continue together, you should at least treat her as a friend. You''re a man, and there are some matters that you should take the initiative to solve," she concluded. Thest sentence left Xu Musen quiet for a moment and also gave him a sense of clearing the clouds to see the sky. The shadows of his past life were too immense, leaving him with an instinctive urge to flee or to consciously create distance whenever he saw Yao Mingyue. But the rtionship between their families meant a clean break was impossible. Rather than torment each other, it was better to face her and speak clearly. As a reborn individual, his vision should be set on how to be the world''s wealthiest, or to make a name in history. If he couldn''t handle a minor sickness like this, there was no point in discussing anything further. Face the enemy head on! "Mom, I got it. I''ll go over," Xu Musen said as he stood, taking the thermal lunch box from his mother''s hands. Watching her son''s departing figure, mother let out a slight sigh. In their hearts, they still hoped the two children could end up together, whether for the sake of affection or real-world considerations, it would be a fine ending for both. But as parents, they could only watch; the lifetime affair of their children depended on their own fate Inside the vi, Yao Mingyuey alone in her room, her whole being colorless, her eyes seemingly hollow, holding an album and gently stroking Xu Musen''s image in the photos. Remembering Xu Musen''s intimate actions with that girl, and his attitude towards her in the afternoon, it felt as if a de was slicing through her heartyer byyer, rendering the pain emanating from her foot insignificant. She didn''t understand why he had suddenly changed like this. "Ding dong..." The sound of the doorbell rang out, and Yao Mingyue thought it might be Xu Musen''s mothering to see her; she slowly got out of bed, seeing through the inte at the door who was standing outside. "Open the door." Xu Musen knew she was watching him through the surveince. Yao Mingyue''s previously dull eyes suddenly lit up; she seemed to forget the pain in her feet, supporting herself against the wall, inching her way downstairs. Despite the pain with every step, she walked faster and faster, as if afraid he might turn around and leave. When she reached the door, she paused to regte her breathing, regaining her usual aloofposure before slowly opening the door. The two looked at each other in silence, neither speaking. Xu Musen''s eyes moved to her skirt-covered ankles, swollen and red. It did seem quite serious. "Mom made you chicken soup," Xu Musen finally spoke. Yao Mingyue bit her lip, her eyes still red, seemingly waiting for what he would say next. "Let me in, there are some things I''d like to talk to you about," Xu Musen''s gaze became steady as he looked at the girl before him, once a frail soul, now decided to resolve this matter properly. Despite trying to hide it, Yao Mingyue''s pupils couldn''t conceal a flicker of joy; after all, he was finally not avoiding her as deliberately as he had been in the past few days. Yao Mingyue just snorted and stepped aside. Xu Musen entered the vi, cing the chicken soup on the table. Yao Mingyue also limped over, and seeing the swelling on her feet, Xu Musen could imagine how hard it was for her toe down from the second floor in less than a minute. In fact, Yao Mingyue must like him, it''s just that her possessiveness and affection were disproportionally imbnced. Your honey is my poison; this was the root of regret. "What do you want to talk about?" Yao Mingyue sat on the sofa, her foot swollen yet attempting to maintain a haughty expression, full of arrogance. It seemed she was saying, you''ve finally bowed your head to me, I''m waiting for your apology! For the first time, Xu Musen felt that this little girl, sometimes appearing silly, could be even more formidable than An Nuannuan. "Let''s eat first." Xu Musen had wanted to speak directly, but seeing Yao Mingyue''s reddened eyes and her feignedposure, he suddenly felt an odd sensation. It was like being oppressed by a harsh boss and then one day bing his superior. Little frail one, so you have days like this too, huh? Chapter 33: Chapter 33: If That Day Comes, Can You Confess Your Love Again? In the living room. Yao Mingyue sipped her chicken soup, her gaze fixed on Xu Musen, who looked around restlessly. He probably hadn''t eaten dinner yet. Heh, sneaking out to have a rendezvous with that little vixen, of course you''re not hungry. Yao Mingyue remembered the way Xu Musen and that girl fed each other, even though they had only known each other for a few days... to think they would act so intimately. Xu Musen also quietly observed every move of Yao Mingyue. In his heart, he spected about the extent of her "little illness" at this point. It seemed, at least, that it was nowhere near as severe as her previous life. If it had been herst life, she probably would have driven straight into KFC to catch him cheating. Moreover, with the experience of being drugged in a previous life, Xu Musen was absolutely not going to eat anything she handed to him out of sight. "Yao Mingyue, there are some things I need to talk to you about," Xu Musen said, after noting that she had nearly finished eating. Being directly addressed by her full name, Yao Mingyue looked at him with a bit of indignation. "It''s me who should be asking you!" Yao Mingyue wiped her lips, her phoenix eyes shining with the radiance of an empress sizing things up. "The girl who was with you today, what exactly is your rtionship with her?" "My rtionship with her is none of your concern," Xu Musen shook his head. She was always like this, wanting to control everything that appeared around her. "It doesn''t concern me... Xu Musen, don''t tell me you''re thinking of dating her!" Yao Mingyue, looking at his nonchnt expression, felt her suppressed anger surge again. Xu Musen silently watched her. They had had this type of conversation countless times in his previous life. If Xu Musen nced a bit longer at any other woman while walking on the street, she would get so angry, pestering him with questions about whether he liked other women or not. "What happens between us doesn''t involve others. I just simply don''t want to date anymore; it''s quite nice for everyone to just be friends." Xu Musen truly felt that since he was reborn, he must aplish something significantat the very least, change his own and his family''s destiny. However, his expression, as seen in Yao Mingyue''s eyes, became an act of spite. If he didn''t like that girl, then it must be because she had publicly confessed and rejected himst time that he was angry. Yao Mingyue bit her teeth, her face reddening slightly, before she finally said, "Are you just resentful that I rejected your confessionst time? I was just... not ready yet. Why don''t you confess again? I will ept it this time..." Xu Musen suddenlyughed, looking at Yao Mingyue. She, ah, was just too confident, always had been, since she was young. "Yao Mingyue, why must I confess my feelings to you?" Yao Mingyue also looked him straight in the eye, "Xu Musen, do you dare to say you don''t like me?" She even leaned forward, her thin nightgown revealing a glimpse of scenery, and the two were close enough to smell the familiar scent of each other''s bodies. Xu Musen looked at her. Honestly, a couple for a day should hold a hundred days of grace. Having shared a bed for so many years, it was impossible not to have feelings. Xu Musen gazed at her; this time he did not avoid her but drew closer instead, their distance almost nothing at all. The teasing warmth now made Yao Mingyue feel her face heating up. "You" "Yao Mingyue, tell me, do you really like me? Or is it that you just simply want to possess this person called Xu Musen as your private property?" Xu Musen countered. Yao Mingyue trembled, her phoenix eyes involuntarily showing a flicker of avoidance, and a mixture ofplication and anxiety. Xu Musen gave a self-deprecatingugh, "See, even you don''t know." "No, that''s not it..." Yao Mingyue bit her lower lip, trying to exin, but facing Xu Musen''s eyes, she hesitated. "If that girl hadn''t appeared, you would have continued dragging things out. Now that you feel threatened, you''re thinking of epting my confession. I''m very curious, what exactly am I to you?" Xu Musen''s tone was even, but each word weighed heavily on Yao Mingyue''s heart. Yao Mingyue''s body trembled as scenes from the past shed through her mind Did she purely like him, or was she more afraid of losing him? Xu Musen looked at her in this state and sighed, "Actually, I''m not one to talk. The reasons I like you aren''t that pure either." Xu Musen remembered in his past life, he had so decisively agreed to marry Yao Mingyue. Apart from truly liking her, he also considered practical factors. The road was one he chose himself; he didn''t me her. But it was clear that such a marriage and life were failures. Xu Musen looked at Yao Mingyue and slowly began, "Have you thought about it? Even if we were toe together, would our life truly be the happily ever after we both want?" "One bows to reality, the other alwayscks a sense of security; we are like two spies with ulterior motives ying house." Xu Musen''s self-deprecating words only made Yao Mingyue more panicked. "No, it''s not like that..." But then, she thought about it, and if they really were together, she might indeed act that way. Herplexion grew even paler. Seeing her like this, Xu Musen''s voice softened a bit: "Some paths, once taken the wrong way, the harder you try, the farther you are from your destination." "But... I just don''t want you to leave me, Xu Musen. I will definitely not go back on my word; I will always..." Yao Mingyue''s eyes reddened; she felt as if arge chunk of her heart was hollowed out. "Maybe you can have me, but can you fill the insecurity within yourself?" Xu Musen slowly said, "Because we both confuse possessiveness with liking, if two people truly love each other, they must be filled with trust in one another, even if separated by mountains and seas, they would still feelpletely secure. It is precisely because we do not know what liking really means that we aggressively invade each other''s lives, only in this way do we obtain a slightfort for our souls." In saying this, Xu Musen seemed to be summing up his past life, with a touch of regret. "How sad, to be together for a lifetime, yet the heart is always empty, even ending up as enemies. Is this really the life you want?" In the end, Xu Musen''s gaze fell on Yao Mingyue. At that moment, Yao Mingyue was entirely stunned, with a faint mist in her eyes, as she nkly gazed at Xu Musen. "But, but I..." Yao Mingyue''s eyes were hollow, seemingly wrapped in a tremendous sense of powerlessness, much like that thunderous, lightning-filled rainy night many years ago when she had received devastating news "Xu Musen, are you are you leaving me..." She was a bit panicked, reaching out to grab the corner of Xu Musen''s clothes. Xu Musen looked at her and after a moment said, "I''ve said it before, I won''t deliberately avoid you, but I hope we can both find out what it is we truly like." "We could be childhood sweethearts, friends, or even strangers, which is better than two people tormenting each other for a lifetime." Yao Mingyue bit her lip, her mind in turmoil, wanting to say something but everything was stuck in her throat. "Think about it yourself, get some rest early since your ankle is sprained. I''ll be heading back now." Xu Musen breathed a sigh of relief. No matter what, the current Yao Mingyue had not reached such an extreme level of morbid co-dependency. In fact, in their past lives, they were both victims. Yao Mingyue wanted to fully have him, but she never truly had Xu Musen''s whole heart for her lifetime. This misguided and tragic bond would be better severed sooner for both their sakes. As Xu Musen''s footsteps were about to cross the threshold, Yao Mingyue''s voice suddenly came from behind. "Xu Musen! If one day in the future, I can tell you why I like you, I will find the reason why it has to be you..." Yao Mingyue propped up her body, grimacing with pain from her ankle, but she stubbornly stood up, her reddening eyes fixed on Xu Musen. "When that timees, will you confess to me again?" Xu Musen turned his head, their eyes met for a moment, he said nothing and turned away to leave. The night sky twinkled with stars. Yao Mingyue watched his figure slowly disappear around the corner. Deep in her eyes, half shadow, half starlight. She quietly looked in the direction of Xu Musen''s home, holding a photo of him from her chest, the gleam in her eyes seemingly in constant struggle. "I will eventually have you..." Chapter 34: Chapter 34: So Youre Just a Pawn Fetishist, Right? After having a clear talk with Yao Mingyue, it seemed that Yao Mingyue really did start to behave. The next day on the way to school, Xu Musen arrived at the bus stop, only to find a struggling Yao Mingyue, who had also just reached the bus stop in spite of stumbling several times. Xu Musen had not expected that she would still choose to take the bus with a sprained ankle. ording to her previous character, she wouldn''t have found a private driver, but she definitely would have opted for a taxi to and from school. The two exchanged nces. That morning, his mother had specifically told Xu Musen to take good care of her. But since everything had been said the day before, even though the two hadn''t fallen out, things were still inevitably a bit awkward. "What a coincidence, you''re also going to school?" Xu Musen really didn''t know what else to say. Yao Mingyue also stared at him for a couple of seconds. Otherwise? The bus arrived. Xu Musen got on first, but when he looked back from the bus door, he saw Yao Mingyue trying to board with difficulty, due to the height difference between the tform and the bus step. She hadn''t managed to get on. "Come on, can someone give this youngdy a hand?" The bus driver called out. Many boys on the bus had actually noticed her already, but seeing the state Yao Mingyue was in, all of them were too nervous and shy to approach. There were some who were bold enough toe over and tried to offer a hand, but they all became embarrassed by Yao Mingyue''s subtly furrowed brow. At this moment, Yao Mingyue''s gaze was intentionally or unintentionally fixed on Xu Musen inside the bus. The two had taken this bus together every day; naturally, many people were aware that their rtionship was not ordinary. Yao Mingyue didn''t say a word, slowly boarding on her own. "Hurry up," Xu Musen stood by the side, stretched out his arm. Yao Mingyue looked up at him and, without hesitation, grabbed his arm; Xu Musen pulled slightly, hoisting her directly onto the bus. However, after boarding the bus, Yao Mingyue seemed to forget to let go, and she snugly hooked onto his arm. The perfect curves that set the young girl apart from her peers were at this moment seemingly poised to envelop Xu Musen''s arm from both sides. Leaving him stuck between a rock and a hard ce. Xu Musen looked at her. "I can''t stand steady," Yao Mingyue said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Xu Musen thought to himself, do you really think I don''t see through your little tricks? I even know how many moles you have on your lower back! The boys on the bus watched with envy, jealousy, and hatred. Here was the goddess taking the initiative, and you, boy, still seem half-hearted? "Beauty,e and have a seat," A boy stood up to offer his seat, thinking to himself, damn right, that''ll show you! However, Yao Mingyue did indeed slightly frown, and Xu Musen, with an impassive face, helped her sit on the seat and then moved to stand by the window. Yao Mingyue bit her lip softly, ncing at the boy who had just offered his seat and actually feeling a bit upset. ... They arrived at school. When getting off the bus, Yao Mingyue took advantage of his passing by to quickly stand up and grab his sleeve, making him support her as she alighted. Xu Musen looked at her, wondering just what she was trying to y at this time. Yao Mingyue then said, "You said yesterday that we at least have a childhood friendship, that we are friends. If your friend is hurt, would you really just stand idly by?" Her argument was sound. Xu Musen was momentarily lost for words, but since she had put it this way, if she ever tried to cross the line in the future, he could use her own words to rebuff her. Xu Musen turned and entered the school, as he had already seen Yao Mingyue''s close friend approaching. "Ming Yue, how''s your foot?" Liu Ruonan came over to ask. She saw Xu Musen''s retreating figure and snorted coldly, "At least he has a bit of conscience. But Ming Yue, don''t forgive him too easily. Guys like him are despicable. Yesterday, when I messaged him to challenge him, he..." "You messaged him?" Yao Mingyue''s expression suddenly changed. Liu Ruonan felt nervous for some reason, "I just told him you were hurt." "Let me see." Faced with her gaze, Liu Ruonan subconsciously took out her phone. Yao Mingyue looked at the chat history; Liu Ruonan had only talked about yesterday''s events, and Xu Musen hadn''t replied with a single word. This brought an indescribable sense of joy to Yao Mingyue''s heart... ... Upon entering the ssroom, there was a cantaloupe on the desk. "Another gift from her?" "Who else could it be?" He Qiangined, "I''m really curious now, does her family have money or not? These fruits aren''t cheap either." Xu Musen was also reminded of the fragrant Auntie he saw yesterday. But in the end, heughed and shook his head, "It''s not important, talking about these things between friends is meaningless." "True, you''re a tycoon now, and let me tell you, that fishing rod from yesterday was really something. I even slept hugging it." "Then be careful with the hook, don''t let it snag your ''worm''." "Get lost!" He Qiang spat disdainfully, and then mysteriously pulled him aside to sit down, "Take this." Looking down. "Red Romance Foot Massage Club VIP" Xu Musen was serious, "I''ve already said, I''m not that kind of person." "Ohe on, it''s a perfectly legit ce. You were too shy because she was there yesterday, now take it. Going there asionally for a foot massage is really quitefortable." "As a young person of the new era, I resolutely say no to temptation!" Xu Musen said with great righteousness, though the jailer had already experienced top-quality treatment himself. Those ces, really so boring. He Qiang, however, chuckled meaningfully. It was the age for wild youthful fantasies, and it would be weird if his mind wasn''t filled with a little color. He quietly slipped the card into Xu Musen''s pocket while he wasn''t paying attention. Noon came, and Xu Musen went to the backyard. The game was bing more legit, and a lot of girls were being drawn in by the cute graphics. A game, as long as there are plenty of female yers, won''t be short on male yers either. The "sycophant economy" is an eternal truth. So An Nuannuan was truly his little money tree that he needed to tend to well. Every visit, Xu Musen would especially bring a fried chicken leg or grilled sausage, like feeding a stray kitten. When alone, An Nuannuan either stared nkly or was engrossed in nning her sketches with her drawing board. "Nuannuan." Xu Musen approached, and the scent of fried chicken instantly lured out An Nuannuan''s hunger. Watching her happily gnawing at the chicken leg, Xu Musen nced at her t little belly. An Nuannuan might look petit, but she had quite the appetite. "If you keep eating these high-calorie foods every day, maybe you would end up with a big belly." Xu Musen joked. An Nuannuan blinked, looked down at her t little stomach and the fried chicken leg in her hand, and then back at Xu Musen. "That would also be your fault if my belly got big." "" Xu Musen knew he had said too much. "Need a massage?" "Mhm." Xu Musen expertly bent down to massage her calves, noticing she was wearing a pair of light blue slippers today. Her cute little feet were like fluffy white clouds drifting through a blue sky, as soft as cotton candy. Thinking back to that day at KFC, how can a girl''s feet be made like this? Why do they feel so amazing in hand? "Xu Musen." "Huh?" "You''re actually a foot fetishist, aren''t you?" "" How could she say something like that? Xu Musen was thinking he hadn''t done anything inappropriate yet. But when he looked up, he saw An Nuannuan picking up a corner of a card peeking out from his pocket. "Red Romance Foot Massage Club VIP" He Qiang!!! He Qiang, eating at the next table, sneezed, thinking surely his good buddy had found the little surprise he left him and was chuckling to himself! It''s what brothers should do for each other! Now Xu Musen was caught with mud on his crotch, guilty even if innocent. Looking into An Nuannuan''s clear and lustrous eyes. "Nuannuan, listen to my excuse!" Chapter 35: Chapter 35 The Broken Wheelchair (Seeking to catch up on reading, 3k words!) Time flew by. In recent days, Yao Mingyue had been behaving very properly. The most she would do was use her prideful assets to inadvertently take advantage of Xu Musen during the bus ride every day. It made Xu Musen feel quite tormented. And these few days, his mom noticed that there were noticeably more people buying flowers in the shop. They all said they saw the ad for this shop in the little game they were ying. Most of Xu Musen''s game users were from Zheng City, and local traffic was the most direct. Especially since many said the model in the video was very pretty, many actually came to see if the shop had such a good-looking employee. Of course, this "model" was none other than Yao Mingyue, who had identally entered the frame that day. It must be said that Yao Mingyue''s face was really beautiful, and with her holding the flowers, she made the eighty-point flowers bloom with a hundred points of beauty. These past few days, the ie of the shop had increased manyfold, with mom beaming every day. The neighboring shops couldn''t help bute over to ask. Usually, they all had simr customer traffic, but your shop suddenly became so popr, there must be a reason. Then, mom would use the script prepared by Xu Musen to tell them that the advertising was done in the little game. Several shops are already nning to give it a try. Everything was within Xu Musen''s expectations. He reckoned he''d be busy during the holiday after the college entrance exams were over. In school, Xu Musen would spend every lunchtime chatting with An Nuannuan and sometimes massaging her legs. But every time his hand moved a little lower, An Nuannuan would tilt her little head and look at him. It seemed that if Xu Musen touched her little foot, he would immediately confirm his identity as a foot fetish pervert. Xu Musen thought of it as nder! She''s ndering me! Moreover, thest mock exam before the college entrance exams had also been released. Xu Musen and He Qiang went to have a look. "Holy shit! Xu Musen, did you cheat? Top five in the grade!?" He Qiang couldn''t believe it as he saw Xu Musen''s name appear in the first column on the score list. Although Xu Musen had always had a good foundation, he was at best usually around the top thirty in his grade. "You wouldn''t understand the world of the strong, Qiang Zi. Remember the bet we made before? If I got into the top ten of our grade, you''d do a handstand deer..." He Qiang quickly interrupted him, his face turning red, "I was just kidding, hey... look, this time Yao Mingyue isn''t the eternal second ce, second ce is... An Nuannuan?!" Xu Musen was also stunned for a moment, as he hadn''t paid attention to this name before and only remembered that Yao Mingyue was always second in their grade. But this time, Yao Mingyue was first, and the second ce was the silly An Nuannuan. "I didn''t expect it. She''s actually a top student. You''ve really lucked out this time," He Qiang said to Xu Musen with a wink and a nudge. Xu Musen was also surprised, that normally silly and adorable girl was actually so good at studying. Could it really be that she looks silly but is actually as smart as theye? "Hey, by the way, An Nuannuan isn''t bad either. She can match Yao Mingyue in terms of looks. If she can stand in the future, she''ll definitely be in high demand. Are you sure you don''t want to take this opportunity to coax her into being your girlfriend?" "We are just ordinary friends." "Cut it out, ordinary friends let you get handsy every single day? Or is it that you can''t let go of Yao Mingyue?" As he spoke, He Qiang said, "These days people are rumoring that Yao Mingyue''s foot injury is rted to you. I heard that many boys are considering you as a rival again." Xu Musen found it all absurd, but high school boys were indeed like that. Every year, quite a few boys would fight over girls. Silly and immature. Xu Musen couldn''t be bothered to listen to these rumors; wasn''t it nicer to earn some extra money? There was less than a month left till the college entrance exams. Thest few days before the exams were generally spent at home adjusting one''s state of mind and checking out the examination venues. In school, it was the final two or three weeks. Thest physical education ss. Yao Mingyue''s foot was almost healed, but she definitely couldn''t y sports like volleyball. On the sports field, many students were sitting together, already discussing the impending college entrance exams and the wonderful life in university toe. "I heard that in university the teachers won''t care if you date or not. I''m definitely going to find someone!" "Come on, is it the teacher''s fault that you can''t find someone? Take a look in the mirror when you have time." "But university is so free, you cane and go as you please and skip sses if you don''t want to attend..." "Since we''re about to have college entrance exams, isn''t there anything you''ve always wanted to do but haven''t done yet?" "I confessed to Zhang Qing from ss Three yesterday, only to find out she''s had a boyfriend for a long time. Boohoo." "Actually, I''ve always wanted to beat up the dean of discipline..." The students sat togethermenting the fast-approaching end of their high school days. Xu Musen and An Nuannuan were basking in the sun. Nuannuan watched them sitting on the grass of the school field, feeling a desire to experience it for herself. Since starting school, Nuannuan had never left her wheelchair; she envied the ease with which others could sit and move about on thewn. Musen looked at her wheelchair but to help her down meant he had to lift her out. "So, I''ll carry you down?" "Mhm." Nuannuan always trusted him, even proactively reaching out her arms. Without being pretentious, Musen slowly bent down, sliding one hand under her soft thighs to hold her, while his other arm encircled her waist. Their cheeks were almost touching, Nuannuan carrying a subtle scent of milk, fresh and incrediblyforting. And perhaps due to ack of exercise, her body felt exceptionally soft, almost as if itcked bones. Musen''s heart, long sealed away in concrete, started to beat a bit faster. Turning his head, he saw Nuannuan''s pink lips close by, glinting in the sunlight. Musen took a deep breath. Nuannuan treated him as a good friend, so unguarded; how could he let his mind wander? He gently ced her on the grass and quickly let go once she was steady. He didn''t notice Nuannuan''s glossy, dazed gaze and the blush spreading across her pale cheeks. "How does it feel?" Musen asked her with a smile. "My legs feel kind of itchy," Nuannuan said, rubbing the artificial turf which was a little prickly to the touch, but that was exactly the kind of stimtion her legs needed. It gave her the feeling that she could also run across the ground. "By the way, I saw your test scores, why did youe in second ce?" "I lost points on my essay." "What did you write?" Musen was curious. Nuannuan blinked, "It was an English essay, asking me to write a letter to my friend Li Hua in America." "And then?" "Well... I identally wrote your name instead of Li Hua''s." "..." Musen was stunned for a moment before he burst intoughter, rolling on the ground several times. How could this silly girl be so adorably naive? Nuannuan pouted, feeling a little wronged, as she watched him... Meanwhile, on the other side of the field, Mingyue couldn''t y volleyball, so she was gently massaging her ankle. At that moment, Lv Hong came over with water and something like a heat pack, attentively saying, "Mingyue... ssmate, I heard you hurt your foot, so I brought you something to warm it." Mingyue ignored him; she had grown tired of his constant presence over the past few days. Feeling awkward, Lv Hong had to ask another girl to pass it to her. Mingyue took a drink from her water and her irritated gaze suddenly fell on the other side of the field. Musen and Nuannuan were there, chatting andughing together. Despite telling herself repeatedly to stay calm, Mingyue couldn''t suppress the annoyance welling up inside. While she could restrain herself in front of Musen, right now her irritation made her toss away the water in her hand, nearly spilling it on Lv Hong. Without a second nce back, she left. Lv Hong also looked where Musen was and seemed to me him for the humiliation he felt. ... Before noon, during thest ss, the headteacher announced a trip to the broadcasting studio for an assembly to sum up the test results, as college entrance exams were approaching. The seats in the studio were stepped, definitely not wheelchair essible. Nuannuan''s homeroom teacher, a middle-aged woman, personally helped her to a seat and left the wheelchair at the corner near the backstage door. Musen, from the other side, was relieved to see the teachers cared for Nuannuan. He felt a piercing gaze upon him. Indeed, Mingyue was in the row opposite, silently watching him. Musen turned away, waiting for the meeting to start. Mingyue bit her lip; the rage in her heart grew, but she kept pushing it down. The assembly actually wasn''t very interesting, just praising good students and motivating the rest. Many students quietly slipped out to get food in the dining hall. As the meeting ended and the students stood to leave, amotion arose among the first to exit. "Whose wheelchair is that, thrown downstairs?" Upon hearing ''wheelchair,'' Musen immediately pushed through the crowd. Sure enough, the wheelchair that had been behind the door was now tossed downstairs, one of its wheel supports broken. Musen''s brows furrowed, and for a moment his eyes met Mingyue''s in the crowd. Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Stop it! There are wealthy women everywhere outside! The wheelchair was sabotaged, and Xu Musen''s mind actually first thought of Yao Mingyue. After all, this little "sickly sweetheart" was also capable of more extreme measures. Even some of their ssmates who were familiar with them would secretly specte, especially since just during the previous PE ss, Yao Mingyue had lost her temper because Xu Musen wasughing and chatting with another girl. Many people''s gazes were focused on them. He Qiang and Yao Mingyue''s close friend Liu Ruonan both worried whether the two would start fighting over this. Yao Mingyue, however, remained calm. She raised her phoenix eyes and looked at the wheelchair that fell downstairs, pursed her lips, and then nced into Xu Musen''s eyes. Xu Musen silently met her gaze for a moment, "Does this have anything to do with you?" His voice was very calm. Yao Mingyue also quietly looked back at him, her eyes held a bit ofplexity, but her tone was equally calm, "It wasn''t me." In fact, Yao Mingyue knew that it was normal for him to suspect her at this time because the conflict between her and Xu Musen had already been spun into various versions by others. Moreover, the incident of Xu Musen and the girl in the wheelchair was also seen as a catalyst. Moreover, after she went on stage to receive her award, she hade back from backstage, just in time to have the opportunity for the act. Plus, there were no cameras in this corner, so it was no wonder many people would make such associations. She didn''t exin further, simply stating this one sentence. Xu Musen looked at her and after a moment surprisingly nodded, "Okay." With that, he turned around and went to look for An Nuannuan. Everyone present was stunned for a moment, not expecting the scene they thought would erupt to just pass by so lightly. Yao Mingyue was taken aback for a moment as well. She didn''t understand why Xu Musen suddenly trusted her so much, but the feeling... was very nice. She watched Xu Musen''s retreating figure, her eyes flickering, and then she too turned and left. Xu Musen approached An Nuannuan. He told her that the wheelchair might have not been properly secured and was identally blown by the wind, causing it to fall downstairs and break. Xu Musen didn''t want An Nuannuan to know that she might have been a victim of school bullying, there was no need to add to her worries during thest month of school life. When An Nuannuan learned that her wheelchair was broken, she didn''t seem to show much emotion, simply nodding and acknowledging the information. "You, ah." Xu Musen truly didn''t know whether her naturally dazed character was good or bad. "ssmate, you''re friends with An Nuannuan, right?" At this point, An Nuannuan''s homeroom teacher, having received the news, came over in a bit of a panic. "Please take care of Nuannuan for me for a moment; I''ll contact her parents right away." After delegating this task, the teacher hurried off towards the office. Xu Musen thought for a moment that it was already noon, lunchtime. He couldn''t just leave her sitting in the broadcasting room. "Nuannuan, how about I give you a piggyback ride downstairs?" Xu Musen asked. An Nuannuan looked into his concerned eyes and slowly nodded her head. Xu Musen adjusted his position, squatting in front of her, presenting his broad back to her. An Nuannuan slowly reached out her hand, first resting it on Xu Musen''s shoulder, and then gradually, her entire soft body leaned against Xu Musen''s back. An Nuannuan was very light and very soft, her whole being was like a clump of cotton candy. She slowly hugged Xu Musen''s neck, the fragrance of a young girl filling his nostrils, and the softness behind him made Xu Musen''s spine stiffen instantly. "Am I very heavy?" An Nuannuan felt his body tremble slightly and asked in her soft, mushy voice. "No, I think it''s just right," Xu Musen breathed out slowly. In hisst life, although Yao Mingyue had already drained him to the point of tranquility, this life''s body had never tasted such a thing, still being a pure and young boy. Youthful impulses sometimes really aren''t controlled by the brain; they have their own judgment. Xu Musen stopped his wild thoughts and gently lifted her legs, picking her up. "He Qiang, grab me a meal, meet at the usual spot," Xu Musen called out, and as An Nuannuan passed by the fallen wheelchair on the road, she spoke softly, "My lunch box..." Xu Musen bent down and took the intact stainless steel lunch box out of the wheelchair bag, but the food inside was probably already jumbled into soup. Xu Musen squatted down, An Nuannuan took it out along with a few sketches, and held them in her arms. Xu Musen looked on and sighed softly to himself, remembering the time his family had just filed for bankruptcy, when he truly went from one meal without knowing when the next woulde. Only those who have truly experienced hunger can understand the value of food. Carrying An Nuannuan on his back, he arrived at the back garden of the yground. Along the way, many people looked their way, but Xu Musen didn''t care at all, only feeling that the girl''s breathing behind him was a bit erratic. The arms around his neck also kept unconsciously tightening; it was so hot, and he felt his cheeks were getting warmer. When they reached their familiar spot in the back garden of the yground, Xu Musen wanted An Nuannuan to sit on the bench, but she seemed to forget to let go. "Nuannuan?" Xu Musen called out. This time, An Nuannuan finally uttered a sound and, with a bit of panic, let go. But she misjudged the distance to the bench andnded with a little thud, and Xu Musen turned his head to look and could not help but chuckle. At that moment, He Qiang brought back two servings of food. "I brought you grilled meat rice." Sometimes He Qiang would join for meals, but looking over, Xu Musen said, "Just two servings?" "Uh, doesn''t ssmate Nuannuan always bring her own food?" Xu Musen looked at the dented lunch box in An Nuannuan''s hand but didn''t say anything. He picked up one serving and directly handed it to An Nuannuan, smoothly taking her lunch box from her. An Nuannuan hadn''t yet reacted, instinctively saying, "Mine..." "I just want to try something different today, and it''s normal for friends to share food, isn''t it?" Xu Musen said with a smile. He thought that inside An Nuannuan''s lunch box there might be something like noodles or soupy buns, which, after being jostled, were surely mixed into a messy heap. A girl would certainly be embarrassed to eat such a thing in front of others. "There, you''re not losing out on anything. The school''s grilled meat rice is quite good, and you like fried chicken cutlets, right? There''s some in there too." Xu Musen said,ughing as he opened the lunch box for her. The rice was covered with ayer of grilled meat and some fried chicken cutlets, immediately awakening An Nuannuan''s cravings. "Oh" An Nuannuan nodded, but then looked at Xu Musen, "You''re giving me such delicious food; will you have enough to eat?" "Actually, I just like the food from home, and I can''t even get it at school." Xu Musen thought An Nuannuan was worried her own food was too simple, afraid he wouldn''t be satisfied. Xu Musen immediately spoke up with a smile. He Qiang stood by, stunned, thinking that although his buddy was no longer acting like a lovesick follower, his ttery had returned to its natural form. Truly making the girl bewildered. At that point, Xu Musen also opened An Nuannuan''s lunch box. Under the midday sun, it seemed to reflect a golden-red light. Xu Musen''s pupils dted instantly. "Damn it!" Xu Musen couldn''t help but exim, causing He Qiang, who was in the middle of eating, to nearly stuff the grilled meat up his nose in surprise. "Did you hit andmine!? What startled you..." He Qiangmented sarcastically, but his eyes, when he looked over, also froze. Inside An Nuannuan''s lunch box, the golden-red turned out to be tuna sashimi, along with golden-yellow shelled shrimp, and a small mound of pasta topped with ayer of creamy crab roe. Next to it was a small bowl of broth... if not mistaken, that should be bird''s nest soup. "Damn it!" He Qiang mumbled with his mouth open, looking down at his own greasy, ten yuan worth of grilled meat rice. Could itpare to just one of her shrimp? And they were fussing over whether she was eating enough? Xu Musen was also dumbfounded, wasn''t it supposed to be buns and noodles? The only budget-friendly thing, the pasta, was just a little bit. They exchanged nces, and their initial assumptions about this "poor girl" instantly shattered. "What''s wrong, is my food not good?" asked An Nuannuan, cheerful as she ate, her little mouth glossy with oil and still chewing on the grilled meat, noticing both of them staring and asking subconsciously. "Nuannuan, do you... eat this every day?" Xu Musen asked, struggling a bit with the words. An Nuannuan blinked her eyes and seriously replied, "Yes, my grandma said to eat less staple food and that eating meat and shrimp can fill you up just as well." Xu Musen and He Qiang exchanged nces. So, are we the only real paupers in the world? Chapter 37: Chapter 37: You are born to be a kept man! Xu Musen cradled the box, which contained a meal so exquisite it could be sold for a four-digit price at a high-end restaurant. He always felt that since his rebirth, this was the first time he had been so outrageously wrong about something. He looked into An Nuannuan''s pure eyes and couldn''t help asking, "Nuannuan, isn''t your family... in desperate need of money?" "I never said my family was short on money?" An Nuannuan earnestly replied. Xu Musen was stunned for a moment, and realized that was indeed the case! All along, it was he who had assumed that An Nuannuan''s family faced financial difficulties, yet she never mentioned anything about her family''s financial condition. "Then why were you out selling flowers ale at night..." "That''s because I wanted to experience what it feels like to earn my own money, plus I was contemting new themes for my paintings," An Nuannuan tilted her head and said matter-of-factly. Xu Musen fell silent for a moment. It turns out he was the one truly poor enough to set up a stall! In that instant, many of An Nuannuan''s little habits were also exined. The so-called not eating in the canteen wasn''t because of an inferiorityplex, but concern that her ssmates would feel inferior, huh! Everyone else is happily munching away on a few bucks'' worth of food, and you show up with a table full of seafood and bird''s nest - how do you expect them to eat? And the fruits she gave him every day... After all the twists and turns, Xu Musen still ended up eating the wealthydy''s food. Why did it always feel so awkward? He Qiang also stared in bafflement for a good while, struggling to ept the reality. He looked at his good brother, patted his shoulder, and said with a hint of envy, "Moriko, you''re destined to live off women in this life!" Xu Musen: ... Xu Musen also felt a sense of dj vu, but seeing An Nuannuan''s dazed look, he suddenly felt somewhat relieved. It was good this way, at least she wouldn''t get bullied. As they were about done eating, a voice came from the school''s PA system. "An Nuannuan from ss Four, Grade Three, pleasee to the office." Xu Musen watched as An Nuannuan gobbled up thest piece of roast. Indeed, that''s how people are - surrounded by a table full of dishes, they look for meat to eat, and when it''s a table full of meat, they prefer something vegetarian. "It must be someone from your family, let me carry you over there." Xu Musen packed up the things and crouched in front of An Nuannuan again. By now, An Nuannuan had grown somewhat adept at lying on his back, clinging tightly to his neck. Xu Musen could even feel her soft cheek against his, the full fragrance of a young girl, as well as the softness pressing on his back, all of which made him somewhat reluctant to let her go. "Nuannuan, let''s go." "Mm." He Qiang watched the two of them leave and muttered with a sour expression, "Isn''t it hot being so clingy in the summer? Pah, pah, pah! Not as cool as my fishing rod!" ... When they reached the office, Auntie Xiang had already arrived. Upon seeing Nuannuan, she immediately came up with concern, ensuring that An Nuannuan was okay before she could breathe a sigh of relief. Xu Musen put An Nuannuan down. "Thank you." Auntie Xiang expressed her heartfelt gratitude to Xu Musen. "It''s only right, Nuannuan and I are friends," Xu Musen said with a smile, nodding his head. He looked at An Nuannuan who seemed still confused about what was happening: "Then, I''ll be going back." "Oh," An Nuannuan nodded toward him, her little face still a bit flushed. Xu Musen left the office. The ss teacher began discussing the incident with Auntie Xiang, feeling it might have been an ident. After all, An Nuannuan usually kept to herself and didn''t have a grudge with anyone, plus there was no surveince at the spot where the wheelchair had been tampered with. However, Auntie Xiang looked at the wheelchair in the office and asked, "Has anyone other than you touched this wheelchair?" "No, I just moved it here." "Then that proves that there can only be your and Nuannuan''s fingerprints on the wheelchair. If there is a third person''s, they must have touched the wheelchair." Auntie Xiang''s demeanor suddenly changed, causing the ss teacher to sweat a bit. "That''s true, but there were more than a dozen students in that time period..." "Then we''ll check one by one, you help by getting those students'' fingerprints, and leave the rest to me." Aunty Xiang''s voice carried an undeniable firmness. The homeroom teacher nodded in agreement. It would be a huge loss to the school if this matter were exposed, so naturally, they would handle it properly. In the office, Aunty Xiang walked back to An Nuannuan, immediately putting on a smile, and crouched down to gently touch her little head. She also didn''t want Nuannuan to know she might have been a victim of campus violence. Smiling, she said, "Nuannuan, I''ll have someone customize a new wheelchair for you this afternoon. Aunty Xiang has some errands to run and mighte back a bitte, so wait for me to pick you up at school, okay?" An Nuannuan obediently nodded her head. ... Xu Musen was heading back to his ss along the corridor when at the corner, Yao Mingyue seemed to have been waiting for him already. "I have something to tell you." Yao Mingyue walked over and said, then headed to an unupied corner under the stairs. Xu Musen followed her. The two exchanged a silent gaze, and Yao Mingyue was the first to speak, "Just now, did you suspect me?" "Yes." Xu Musen nodded, admitting it directly. After all, this little sickly beauty had once fired a female employee just for talking to him a few extra words in his past life. It wouldn''t be surprising whatever she did. As expected, Yao Mingyue frowned slightly with displeasure. She patiently continued to ask, "Then why did you suddenly stop questioning me? What if it really was me?" Yao Mingyue seemed to say this on purpose, observing Xu Musen''s expression as if to test whether he would turn against her over that girl. Xu Musen looked into her proud and luxurious phoenix eyes. His expression was calm and inscrutable, but then he suddenly smiled. "I still know you to some extent. You might indeed do such a thing, but if it really were you, you would never deny it." Yao Mingyue was momentarily stunned by Xu Musen''s words. In her past life, she had done many irrational things because of him. But Yao Mingyue had her pride; she always owned up to her actions. She was just like that: cunning and conceited. A mad beauty but also a proud CEO for real. After Xu Musen spoke, he left immediately. Yao Mingyue watched his retreating figure, his voice echoing in her mind. "I still know you a bit..." To be understood by him made Yao Mingyue happier than receiving his trust. What does a yandere love the most? It''s when the person they like goes out of their way to understand them. A smile uncontrobly curved up the corners of Yao Mingyue''s mouth. Watching Xu Musen''s back, she murmured to herself, "Since you understand me, then you should know... I won''t let you go..." Her smile carried a hint of morbidity. Despite the summer heat, it sent a chill down the spine. After school, Xu Musen specially checked in on ss 4. As expected, he saw An Nuannuan sitting alone. There were hardly any people left in the ss. When Xu Musen entered, the few people there all nced at him. One of the boys seemed intent on saying something to An Nuannuan, but upon seeing Xu Musen enter, he scoffed and walked away immediately. Xu Musen looked at him, recognizing the boy who liked to show off while ying basketball. However, Xu Musen couldn''t bother with him and went over to An Nuannuan''s side. "Haven''t your family members arrived yet?" "Mhm, Aunty Xiang said she had some errands and might take a while to return." "What about the others at home?" "Today my sister also has a day off, so she went to pick up my sister." "So how long will you have to wait? It''s going to get dark soon." "I don''t know..." An Nuannuan shook her head, resting it on the desk. Her delicate little face was bathed in the glow of the setting sun, looking like a soft, pink steamed bun. Xu Musen looked outside at the darkening sky, then at An Nuannuan with her bored yet obedient demeanor. He slowly squatted down in front of her, each propping an elbow on a corner of the desk, eyes meeting. Xu Musen shed his white teeth, "How about... I just carry you home first?" Chapter 38: Chapter 38 Nuannuan Brought a Man Home! (Please follow!) "How about...I carry you home on my back?" These words tumbled across the table and into the soft ears of An Nuannuan, causing the girl''s peach blossom eyes to light up. "But... Aunt Xiang told me to wait here for her." "Then why don''t you give her a call?" An Nuannuan thought about it and decided to make a call to Aunt Xiang, who at first was against the idea. But in the end, for some reason, she suddenly agreed, and An Nuannuan handed the phone to Xu Musen. "Uh, Xu Musen, please take good care of An Nuannuan, and when you get to her house, please be sure toe in for a cup of tea," Aunt Xiang said on the phone. "Rest assured, I''ll call you as soon as An Nuannuan gets home," Xu Musen replied with a smile. Aunt Xiang gave An Nuannuan a couple of instructions, and she hung up the phone with an unusually expectant look on her normally expressionless face. Xu Musen skillfully squatted in front of her: "Let''s go then." An Nuannuan was also adept at lying on his back, her snow-white arms lightly circling his neck, their warm cheeks almost touching. This little girl was so light, yet her strength was no small matter. It seemed that her usual nutrition had been sensibly allocated to the right ces. But really, this girl had no guard against him, leaning so openly against him. Upon inspection, definitely not a trust fraud! "Xu Musen..." "Hmm?" "Stop swaying; I''m feeling a bit chesty." An Nuannuan looked a bit flushed from behind, for some reason she always felt her heart pounding. "Ahem, shall we head out then?" "Mhm~" ... Meanwhile, Aunt Xiang, who was monitoring the fingerprint identification results, had already dialed another phone call. "Liang Lao, are you really letting that boy carry Nuannuan back home?" "It''s alright, I actually want to meet this young man myself. Nuannuan only has this one friend, and I should keep an eye on him," came the kind and amiable voice over the phone. "Alright..." Aunt Xiang nodded, but she couldn''t help feeling as if there was a vibe of testing Nuannuan''s boyfriend. On the way, An Nuannuan''s eyes were curiously scanning around, especially when she saw some street snacks, she would subconsciously shake Xu Musen. "Craving a snack?" Xu Musen asked with a smile. "I want to eat that." An Nuannuan pointed at a fried sausage vendor. Xu Musen walked over and bought one from the vendor. An Nuannuan held it in her hands but didn''t rush to take the first bite. Instead, she offered it to Xu Musen''s mouth first. "You eat. I''m not hungry." Xu Musen politely declined at first, but An Nuannuan still extended it towards his mouth, and he relented by taking a bite. Only then did An Nuannuan begin eating contentedly, while Xu Musen watched her nonchntly eating where he had bitten. He couldn''t help asking, "Doesn''t it feel strange to you to eat where I''ve bitten? In a Japanese drama, this would be called an indirect kiss. An Nuannuan blinked her clear eyes and said seriously, "The biology teacher said that human lips and saliva are just ayer of cells in the body, essentially no different from a handshake." Xu Musen was left speechless for a moment. So, could I shake hands with your lips? Throughout the journey, An Nuannuan''s little mouth never stopped: takoyaki, stir-fried cold noodles, fried yogurt, ice cream... Xu Musen really didn''t know if she had an interdimensional pocket in her small stomach. In the end, she wanted a skewer of candied haw. Her agile tongue dissolved the caramel, and with a gentle push, she lifted a hawthorn berry and bit half of it into her mouth. Sweet and tasty, An Nuannuan happily squinted her eyes, but the sourness of the hawthorn almost made her lose control of her expression. "So sour..." "The quality of hawthorn in roadside booths is generally mediocre, of course it''s very sour," Xu Musenmented, watching her cute little face scrunch up as he chewed on one, unable to suppress augh. An Nuannuan was a bit conflicted. She really liked the outeryer of sugar coating but felt it was a waste to discard the hawthorn inside. In the end, she turned her gaze towards Xu Musen: "Don''t you find it sour?" "It''s alright; actually, I quite like sour things," he replied. "Then..." An Nuannuan''s eyes sparkled: "Can I eat the sweet outside part and you eat the sour hawthorn inside?" "It''s possible, but how do you n to separate them?" Xu Musen was in the middle of asking when he saw An Nuannuan about to bite down again, gently biting off the crisp sugar coating in her mouth. Then she took it out and handed it to Xu Musen. "Here." Although An Nuannuan bit very carefully, only taking off the sugar coat, after all, it had been in her mouth Looking at her delicate pink lips, now tinted with a bit of sugar, they were like ayer of sweet lip balm, exuding a faintly enchanting scent. Are you serious? I''d had my fill of living off women in myst life. Do I have to eat the sugar-coated delicacies chewed by a richdy in this life too? "An Nuannuan, there''s something I have to say to you seriously." "Hm?" "Your hand is too far away, I can''t bite it." "Oh~" Wow, this hawthorn is quite sweet after all. Xu Musen found that it was quite a distance to An Nuannuan''s house. He got a bit tired and had to take a bus. Atst, they arrived at a vimunity on the outskirts of the city. Xu Musen looked at the vimunity in front of him. Although they were all vis, the ones here were clearly more stylish. It felt like the yards of the vis here could be several hundred square meters, indeedrge enough for nting and such. Although Xu Musen had guessed that An Nuannuan was a well-concealed richdy, he hadn''t realized she was so wealthy. Looking at the current situation, her family might be even richer than Yao Mingyue''s. No wonder she could raise a girl with such a quirky personality and way of thinking. "Why aren''t you walking?" "I''m just amazed that your house is so huge." If someone else were to befriend her, they would probably feel a lot of pressure. Xu Musen chuckled, turning his head to look at An Nuannuan. The young girl''s eyes were pure and naive, and she was still clutching an unfinished candied haw stick and a grilled sausage in her hands. She didn''t look at all like a richdy. Walking into themunity, they stopped in front of a vi. In this vi area, this vi was decorated with a lot of charm. It wasn''t that European style of glittering extravagance, but a vintage Chinese style. You could see a small pavilion within the walls, a stream, corridorsden with grapevines, reminiscent of the rockeryyouts of Suzhou gardens, and even a bamboo forest. It looked antique, clearly belonging to the home of an old leader or a senior schr. "This is your house? The decor is really nice." Xu Musen remarked with some admiration. "Yeah." An Nuannuan nodded and reached out to press the doorbell. "Who is it?" The inte at the door soon emitted a voice, a sweet and crisp voice of a young girl. "Nannan, it''s me." "Sis!" The little girl shouted happily. Then the sound of running feet thudded from the other end. Soon the vi''s main door swung open, revealing a girl about twelve or thirteen years old with pigtails who resembled An Nuannuan, with the same peach-blossom eyes, although this little girl was clearly more mischievous, her big eyes sparkling, and her delicate features like a little porcin doll. "Sis, you''re back..." The little girl bounced as she opened the door, words still tumbling from her mouth when she suddenly saw the unfamiliar boy standing in front of her, with her sister lying on his back. An Nuannuan shed a smile. "Nannan" "Hello..." Xu Musen also disyed a very sunny smile. The little girl stared nkly at Xu Musen and her sister for a second, then suddenly turned around and yelled loudly. "Grandpa, Grandma! My sister brought a man home!!" The little girl ran off shouting. "Little sister, wait a minute!" Xu Musen''s face turned dark. What kind of outrageous statements are these? He retracted his previous thoughts. Neither of these sisters has a normal way of thinking! Chapter 39: Chapter 39 His massage is the most comfortable. The little girl shouted while running out from the yard with a stick in her hand, warily eyeing Xu Musen. "Let go of my sister right now!" Xu Musen was baffled, and the stick in the little girl''s hand... it seemed to be huali wood! Though not thick, that stick was worth a good sum of money; you''re using that to chase off bad guys? Isn''t that like using meat buns to beat dogs? Phew! "Nuannuan, don''t be rash." At that moment, a kind voice called out. An elderlydy with white hair, looking full of vigor, holding a huali stick as a cane, walked out. "You must be the friend Nuannuan made at school, right? I''ve heard all about today''s events, thank you for looking after Nuannuan at school." The old woman, with a kind face, looked Xu Musen up and down and nodded with a smile. "You''re too kind. Nuannuan and I are friends; it''s only right to do so," Xu Musen said modestly, feeling without a doubt that this affable olddy was definitely no ordinary person. An Nuannuan, hearing the exchange between Xu Musen and her grandmother, seemed quite pleased. This was, after all, the first time a friend hade to her home. Meanwhile, her younger sister stood by, blinking her big, sparkling eyes, watching her sister so affectionately close to this unfamiliar boy, with feelings of jealousy apparent in her nce. "You''ve had a long journey,e inside and have a cup of tea." The elderlydy invited, and Xu Musen couldn''t refuse, so he entered amidst the little girl''s somewhat scowling expression. Xu Musen pondered whether this little girl was perhaps overly protective of her sister, her jealous looks somewhat reminiscent of Yao Mingyue''s. Such a little imp. After entering the yard, Xu Musen marveled at how the vi was almost like a small manor. Turning a corner, he indeed saw vegetable greenhouses and numerous fruit trees and realized that An Nuannuan''s ims of homegrown fruit were true. The location might not be in the city center, but the property prices weren''t cheap either; such arge area was not attainable for the average person. The decorations and arrangements in the yard also seemed quite grand; if ced in an ordinary household, they would be treasured in the living room. This was truly a bona fide richdy. Once they reached the living room, the maid brewed some tea. Xu Musen gently set An Nuannuan down on the chair from his back. The olddy watched as Xu Musen instinctively also straightened An Nuannuan''s arm with a thoughtful gesture, and took another long look at him. "Sister!" As soon as An Nuannuan had settled, the little girl pounced into her arms, her small head nuzzling against her chest as if to reacquaint herself with her sister''s scent. "My granddaughter has grown up with me and her grandfather from a young age; there might be some disconnect with the younger generation nowadays. She hasn''t been causing you trouble at school, has she?" the olddy asked Xu Musen with a warm smile. "No trouble at all. Nuannuan is a great person, and I enjoy spending time with her," Xu Musen replied, looking at An Nuannuan. With no malice and easy to tease, where could you find such a good person? As An Nuannuan listened to his words and his sunny smile, she felt... her cheeks were still a bit warm. The little girl snorted, "A man''s mouth..." At that moment, the maid came over to change An Nuannuan''s clothes and try the new wheelchair. An Nuannuan first nced at Xu Musen. "Nuannuan, Grandma will have a chat with your friend for a bit; you go ahead," the grandmother said, affectionately patting An Nuannuan''s head. Xu Musen nodded in agreement, and then An Nuannuan followed the maid out of the room. Now, only the olddy and Xu Musen were left in the living room. The olddy asked with a smile, "I heard from Xiao Xiang that you met Nuannuan when you were setting up a stall in the square. Are you involved in some business now?" Xu Musen nodded, "Yes, at that time, I thought Nuannuan''s family wasn''t well-off and that she needed to take a part-time job. I just happened to need some illustrations, so we coborated. But I never expected that Nuannuan was just experiencing life..." Xu Musen said this and couldn''t help butugh at himself with a bit of self-deprecation. He had intended to help the poor, only to find out that he was the one who was truly penniless. The kind olddy smiled and said, "We''re all average families, but I still thank you. You''re a good-hearted child. Nuannuan''s body and temperament have always made it difficult for her to connect with others. I was always worried that she would be alone throughout high school." "You worry too much. Actually, Nuannuan is quite adorable; she just... has some ideas different from the average person. I think such a character is genuinely sincere and rare. Being with Nuannuan is quitefortable." Listening to his words, the olddy''s smile grew even wider, "Speaking of which, I heard you say you run a stall at night and also do some business. You''re so young; do you need a lot of money?" Xu Musen smiled, "Well, no one wouldin about having too much money. It''s always good for a man to start nning for his future early on." Hearing his words, the olddy appreciated his sincerity and thoughts even more. "That little game you made, Nuannuan also showed it to us. It''s quite good. I see you''re just starting out. If you need help, we can offer some as a way of thanking you for looking after Nuannuan." The olddy looked at Xu Musen; although her body was somewhat bent, her eyes still shone with wisdom. A favor from someone of her stature was not a simple matter. Xu Musen certainly needed money at the moment, but he didn''t want to take this sum. He shook his head, looked at the elderly woman, and spoke with a smile, "I appreciate your kindness, but my willingness to take care of Nuannuan is because she and I are friends, nothing more. I really do want to make money, but I never make money off my friends. However, making a fortune together with friends is a different story." Xu Musen''s words were delivered with neither servility nor arrogance, and were extraordinarily sincere. The olddy watched him for a long while, then smiled meaningfully, "It seems I''m the one who''s be muddled with age. I''m relieved that Nuannuan has a friend like you. Stay for dinner with us today." Xu Musen shook his head, "A meal is already prepared at home, and since Nuannuan is back, I''m relieved. I won''t impose today." As he was speaking, Xu Musen saw in the corner of the living room, An Nuannuan had already changed her clothes ande out. She was wearing a casual dress, her hair tied up, and her fair skin shone resplendent under the sunset''s glow. Her stunning face seemed to be tinged with the setting sun''s hue, and those dazed eyes were now reflecting Xu Musen''s silhouette. She must have heard a part of the conversation, pushing her new wheelchair over to Xu Musen. "Xu Musen... thank you." Her words were still devoid of much emotion, yet her voice was exceptionally soft. "We''re friends; no thanks are needed," he replied. Seeing her like this, Xu Musen couldn''t help but gently touch her head. However, he felt the gaze of jealousy from the stairs, where Xiao Xiang peeked out, watching the hand Xu Musen ced on her sister''s head. When it was time to say goodbye, An Nuannuan apanied him to the front door. "Xu Musen, are you going to the stall tomorrow?" Hope filled An Nuannuan''s eyes. Her gaze was like that of a little dog at home, eagerly waiting for you to take her out for a walk. Xu Musen thought for a moment, then his eyes brightened as he responded, "Sure, I actually do need some help with something." ... Upstairs, the olddy and Aunt Xiao Xiang, who had just returned, stood on the balcony watching the two waving goodbye to each other. "Did the resultse out?" the olddy asked. "The fingerprintparison is done. It belongs to a ssmate of Nuannuan''s named Lv Hong. The reason seems to be... the jealousy of young people. He wanted Xu Musen to misunderstand that girl named Yao Mingyue, so he could take the opportunity to step in, which inadvertently implicated Nuannuan. Look..." Aunt Xiao Xiang said this with anger yet helplessness, and also found it a bit amusing. "Inform the school to take the appropriate action," the olddy responded, then turned her focus to the departing figure of Xu Musen, "What do you think of this young man?" Aunt Xiao Xiang hesitated. "At his age, to have such a calm mind and insight ismendable, but..." "But what?" "It''s just that... when he massaged Nuannuan''s legs the past few days, Nuannuan said... I''m not asfortable as that boy..." The cane in the olddy''s hand trembled slightly. Chapter 40: Chapter 40 Brother Sen Braves Fire and Water! Another weekend. Xu Musen''s second batch of funds could be withdrawn again. Because there was no recharge system in ce, the ie was mostly from traffic and registration fees of new users. But he still pocketed around seventy to eighty thousand. Xu Musen spent over twenty thousand on a camera, cringing as he did so. There were other misceneous items that, when added up, cost him another ten thousand or more. He also nned to upgrade the familyputer; otherwise, video editing would be too inefficient. The money seemed like a lot, but it sure dwindled quickly once spent. However, the time to reap the rewards had finally arrived. Xu Musen took He Qiang along, pretending to be photographers as they headed to his mother''s flower shop to continue filming. As expected, he noticed an increased flow of customers in the shop over the weekend. Yao Mingyue was there helping out again. Lately, she hadn''t been sticking close to Xu Musen, but she got along with his parents as if she were their own daughter. Everyday, Xu''s mother would seek her out for a chat as soon as she got home, and Yao Mingyue''s visits to their house were bing ever more frequent. Xu Musen always felt that this was definitely another smart move by Yao Mingyue. If she couldn''t win over Xu Musen for now, she''d start by winning over his parents proximity was an advantage. Xu Musen had just reached the entrance of the flower shop with his camera when the proprietress of a women''s clothing store next door came over with a smile. "Musen, are you nning to do another advertisement for your family''s shop?" "It''s not really an advertisement, just messing around for fun." Xu Musen felt a surge of joy but managed not to show too much emotion on his face. The proprietress silently muttered to herself a few words of disbelief. Just messing around for fun? Your flower shop is almost a social media sensation now, and all the businesses on this street are green with envy because of your customer traffic. "Musen, your aunt has watched you grow up. As neighbors, we should help each other out, right? How about today you also take some shots for your aunt''s shop to promote it a little?" The proprietress directly expressed her own thoughts. Xu Musen looked at the eager ''big leek'' who hade to him, and his heart bloomed with joy, but he maintained a troubled expression on his face. "This... Auntie, in fact, the promotions are handled by apany run by a friend of mine." Xu Musen pointed towards He Qiang, who was standing aside. He Qiang,pletely puzzled, looked at Xu Musen winking and grimacing at him. He coughed abruptly, put his hands behind his back, and remained silent, ying it cool. "So... how much did you pay for this service?" "We are friends, and I was just trying it out, so they did not charge me." Xu Musen said this without any hint of embarrassment. "This..." The proprietress was a bit disappointed. Having her shop next door, she knew exactly how booming the flower shop''s business had been these past daysprobably making as much in a day as she would in a normal week. Watching her look of disappointment, Xu Musen smiled and continued, "However, my friend''spany has just recently started, and they should have some offers going on. How about I speak to them for you?" "Okay, that would be great, thank you, Xiaosen." The proprietress''s eyes lit up immediately. "We''re neighbors, after all. It''s only right." Xu Musen said cheerfully. He pulled He Qiang aside and pretended to discuss in depth. "Damn! You didn''t say anything about acting when you called me over," He Qiang muttered quietly. "What''s wrong with being the boss? You don''t even need to speak a word; with that face of yours, you look just like a ruthless boss." "Xu Musen! If you make anotherment about my skin color, I''m going to lose it!" "I''ll buy you another fishing rodter." "Anything for you, Brother Sen!" "..." The two of them bantering back and forth looked to the proprietress like Xu Musen was earnestly haggling on her behalf. Couldn''t help feeling touched. "So, how much do you n to charge?" He Qiang asked, rubbing his hands nervously as this was his first time negotiating a business deal. Xu Musen stroked his chin and, finally, broke into a smile, "This time, I''m going for a free promotion." Xu Musen had thought it over. This kind of model was new to the market, and if he set the price too high, no one would be willing toe. If he set it too low, it would be hard to raise the priceter. Rather, it was better to offer free promotion for a few days and let them see the benefits before setting a price. At that moment, he would have the upper hand. "You''re not charging any money, are you running a charity?" He Qiang didn''t understand at all. "You have to cast a long line to catch a big fish. I don''t need to teach you that," Xu Musen said with a smile, patting him on the shoulder, "Just you watch." Xu Musen returned to find the proprietress, a smile brimming on his face. "Xiaosen, what did you say? If they want money, we can negotiate that too..." The proprietress had in fact prepared to pay. But Xu Musen just smiled and said, "I''ve just spoken to him, we are neighbors after all, and he''s decided not to charge. He''ll help you with free promotion for a few days to see the results." "Really?" "Really, if you don''t believe it, we can start shooting for you right now." "Great, great, Xiaosen, with your way with words, you''ll definitely be a big boss one day..." The proprietress beamed, delighted at the thought of saving some money. In the flower shop, Xu''s mother, watching her son busy with his camera, chuckled to herself, "This kid, when he smiles like that, he''s surely up to no good." Yao Mingyue was also looking at Xu Musen''s figure, and for some reason, she felt like his personality had changed a lot recently. Especially the confidence he exuded and the easy charm of a mature man, sometimes made Yao Mingyue feel a bit dazzled. She always felt that this guy was somehow more charming, but also harder to grasp... Yao Mingyue bit her lip, her mind inevitably shing back to the girl in the wheelchair. It was the first time she felt such a strong sense of crisis. Even though Xu Musen said he wasn''t ready to date now, watching them together every day made Yao Mingyue''s heart ache. Her gaze shifted towards Xu''s mother, her eyes flickering. As the saying goes, love is between two people, but marriage is between two families. If I can''t win you over directly, I''ll start with your family and then, bit by bit, slowly consume you! You need to cast a long line to catch a big fish... Before you bite, I''ll let you have a couple of greedy nibbles, and once you''re hooked, I''ll consume youpletely! The corners of Yao Mingyue''s lips curled up into an unhealthy arc. At that moment, both Xu''s mother and Xu Musen felt a chill down their spinescould they really be feeling cold in the middle of summer? Xu Musen was taking photos for the women''s clothing store, but it felt like something was missing. "Auntie, do you have any... younger girls around? If they could wear the store''s clothes, the effect would be better," he said tactfully, ncing at the proprietress''s middle-aged, full-figured frame. "Where would a small shop like ours find models?" the proprietress sighed with a wry smile. "I can help." Just then, Yao Mingyue came over with a smile. As soon as she appeared, many turned their eyes to her, instantly captivated. Putting aside her morbid personality, Yao Mingyue had a perfect physique. With a height of 172 cm, her slender curves were like sculptures of art, and her phoenix eyes radiated nobility, giving her an exceptionally distinguished air. Indeed, even among professional models, she would undoubtedly be the most eye-catching. "Great, great, what a beautiful girl..." The proprietress beamed as though she had struck gold. Xu''s mother also came over with augh, "Yes, Ming Yue wanted to buy clothes, right? You might as well try them on." Xu''s mother was thinking of helping her son finish his work quickly. But at that moment, Xu Musen''s eyelid twitched. Why did it feel like he was getting tangled up with this morbid girl again? Meanwhile, on themercial street, An Nuannuan, pushing her wheelchair, was gazing brightly at the various snack shops on either side... Chapter 41: Chapter 41 The figure struggle among girls. (Please follow!) Yao Mingyue had indeed be a model. It had to be said that her figure was naturally a perfect clothes hanger, making everything she wore look good. Instantly, she elevated the ss of this small street-side shop by several levels. The clothing store''s proprietress couldn''t stop smiling, thinking that she had scored free publicity and a free model for the day. And every time Yao Mingyue changed into a new outfit, she would make a point of twirling in front of Xu Musen. "How about this set?" Yao Mingyue was dressed in a form-fittingdy''s shirt and a light trench coat, along with a ck pencil skirt, and topped off with a pair of sunsses. The clothing in the women''s store was already aimed at a mature style, and Yao Mingyue had both the figure and the temperament to carry it with ease. Her tall stature showcased the trench coat''s allure to the fullest, exuding the charm of a mature woman. A pair of snow-white slender legs could be seen asionally peeking out from beneath the coat. Xu Musen was taken aback for a moment, as her outfit today was far too simr to the one she had worn when she suddenly appeared for a blind date with him in the past lifetime. It was only missing a pair of ck tights and red high heels, unpleasant memories came flooding back... The girls in the store all looked on with envious eyes, thinking that if they had that body, even sticking on a couple of Band-Aids would look good. "It''s alright," he said, averting his gaze. He couldn''t deny that the outfit she wore was extremely impactful on men. Cuteness really stood little chance in the face of sexiness. No wonder he had fallen for it so easily in his previous life. Seeing the fleeting distracted look on his face earlier, Yao Mingyue felt a tinge of triumph in her heart. It seemed that this guy''s body wasn''t as tough as he made it out to be with his words. "Boss, I''ll buy this outfit." "Hey, no need to buy it, just consider it a gift!" The proprietress was obviously pleased, knowing as a business owner that having Yao Mingyue model for them today would definitely bring in more profit than the cost of the clothes. By noon, work was over. Yao Mingyue hadn''t changed out of her clothes because she realized that Xu Musen couldn''t help but sneak peeks at her when she wore this outfit. Xu''s mother also looked at Yao Mingyue with a growing sense of satisfaction. Given her height and good looks, if she indeed became her daughter-inw and bore a big, chubby son, he would certainly be tall and handsome. It was time for lunch. The store was too busy for Xu''s mother to leave, so she asked them to go eat first, and just to bring back a portion for her. But no sooner had Xu Musen stepped out of the shop than he saw a familiar figure in the crowd. There was An Nuannuan, standing in front of a luosifen rice noodle shop, frowning slightly at the smell but unable to resist the tempting sight of people enjoying their meals inside. She wondered if it would be like stinky tofu: stinky but delicious when you eat it. "Nuannuan!" Xu Musen waved and greeted her, jogging over to her. Yao Mingyue watched the look of surprise in Xu Musen''s eyes; she clenched her teeth and, with her long legs, followed after him. He Qiang was hanging back like an onlooking crowd member. Could it be that licking boots really could umte enough to cause a qualitative change? Xu Musen arrived by An Nuannuan''s side, observing her eager expression. "Haven''t had lunch yet?" "Hmm." An Nuannuan sniffed the aroma again, looking somewhat conflicted. Xu Musen smiled. "Luosifen is actually quite tasty. Want to try some?" Trusting Xu Musen''s rmendations, An Nuannuan decisively nodded her head. At this moment, Yao Mingyue and He Qiang walked over. An Nuannuan squinted, and upon seeing her clearly, her eyes lit up. "Ah, it''s Good Person Sister and Little ck ssmate." "..." 2 He Qiang''s face darkened further. I have a name, dammit! But how should he put it? After hearing it so often, it actually felt kind of endearing, and considering he often mooched fruit off her, he let it slide. Yao Mingyue was clenching her fists tightly, taking a deep breath. If it weren''t for the dopey look in her eyes, Yao Mingyue would really wonder if she was deliberately trying to provoke her. Observing her new wheelchair, Yao Mingyue simply nodded, her stature over one meter seventy towered half a body length above her. "Are you also going to eat this?" Xu Musen looked back at Yao Mingyue. "You asked for my help, and you can''t even treat me to a meal?" Yao Mingyue looked at him, restraining herself to maintain her aloofness. "Then let''s go." They entered the restaurant. Each ordered a serving of river snail rice noodles. Yao Mingyue squinted her eyes without speaking, but her aura was difficult to endure. Xu Musen could ignore it, but He Qiang couldn''t take it and directly took his bowl to another table. "I don''t have good table manners, don''t want to ssh you with oil." He Qiang said, internallyining that the atmosphere was too weird, better to keep his distance or else if they started fighting, he might get sttered with blood. With that, An Nuannuan sat next to Xu Musen, and Yao Mingyue sat opposite him. An Nuannuan looked at the steaming bowl of river snail rice noodles with red oil and a fried egg, which looked very appetizing. "Eat up, it''s really good." Xu Musen took the first bite with some pickled bamboo shoots, actually the source of the smell, but it was surprisingly refreshing. An Nuannuan hesitated and then took a tentative bite of the noodles, her eyes immediately sparkling, "It''s fantastic!" Her little mouth was stained a rosy red by the chili oil, appearing particrly bright and moist. Across the table, Yao Mingyue frowned slightly as she looked into her bowl and said to the owner, "I said earlier that I didn''t want any pickled bamboo shoots or scallions." "Oh dear, I forgot with all the busy work..." The owner said, but inside he thought, eating river snail rice noodles without pickled bamboo shoots? What''s the point? Xu Musen looked up and remembered that Yao Mingyue, the future CEO, really hated food with strong vors. For one, she disliked it, and secondly, she liked to get cozy with Xu Musen after meals. Kissing would be inconvenient... "Just pick them out." Xu Musen unconsciously used his chopsticks to pick out all the pickled bamboo shoots and scallions from her bowl into his own. Even he himself hadn''t noticed how practiced his movements had be. He Qiang chuckled inwardly, wondering where his lovesick brother had learned such skills? Yao Mingyue, watching Xu Musen carefully picking out scallions for her, felt her usually cold cheeks also heat up. The frustrated feelings that had long been suppressed in her heart finally dissipated a little. She even nced at An Nuannuan with a gleam of triumph in her phoenix eyes. Then Xu Musen realized what he had done, his chopsticks paused... Bloody hell, the habit of serving a wealthy woman in his past life had seeped into his soul. He looked up and saw the smile on Yao Mingyue''s lips, Xu Musen pretended to be nonchnt and began eating again. Yao Mingyue took advantage of the victory to also pass him the sausage and fried eggs in her bowl. "I don''t like this greasy food," she said softly, flipping her hair to reveal her exquisitely perfect jawline, fair neck, and delicate corbone, sending one''s blood racing. In contrast, An Nuannuan''s face looked a bit more fleshy, especially as she ate wholeheartedly, her little mouth all shiny with oil. Compared to the elegant Yao Mingyue, she did seem a bit silly. "Mmm... Good sister, you''re so tall, just like a straight bamboo." An Nuannuan nodded in praise. She found the river snail rice noodles a bit spicy, so she took a sip of milk tea and found it got in the way of her eating. So, she just ced the milk tea against her chest. Firm and steady! A bite of rice noodles followed by a sip of milk tea, utterly satisfying! At this movement, Xu Musen''s mouth twitched. Why did he suddenly feel a bit thirsty too? Yao Mingyue paused for a moment, looked at her... then at herself. "..." Although not bad, there was clearly a gap! And that phrase "like a bamboo..." A sense of unnamed defeat almost crushed her teeth! Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Yao Mingyues Broken Defense An Nuannuan always managed to make serious-faced remarks that would break people''s defenses. Especially for someone as arrogantly proud as Yao Mingyue. When it came to their figures, girls were no lesspetitive than boys in their obsession with height and build. Yao Mingyue had never been bested by anyone in her life, until she met An Nuannuan. It wasn''t until she learned An Nuannuan''s name that she realized this was the girl who always scored a few points higher than her on every test. And now, she was even getting so close to Xu Musen. Yao Mingyue''s gaze turned icy as she nced at An Nuannuan''s chest. Then, she looked at Xu Musen with a fake smile, "Being too skinny isn''t good either, maybe some people just have a bigger appetite." Xu Musen pretended he didn''t hear a thing. An Nuannuan blinked. "But, kind sister, surely you don''t feel your shoulders getting sore every day, I''m so envious of how easy it is for you." There was genuine envy in An Nuannuan''s words, and she even moved her shoulders around, making her cup of milk tea tremble, yet it was firmly wedged in ce. "..." Yao Mingyue felt like she was suffocating. She was definitely doing this on purpose! How was this statement any different from telling a boy, "I really envy you, finishing in just a few seconds and not getting tired at all."? Xu Musen held back hisughter, remembering how he too was rendered speechless by her sincerements when they first met. The more you try to be cunning, the more you end up hurting yourself. Yao Mingyue took a few deep breaths to calm herself down. Looking down at her long, slender, perfectly proportioned legs under her trench coat, it seemed she had regained some of her confidence. "It''s okay, I can teach you how to y volleyballter when you''re better. A little exercise can still help maintain your figure," she said. As Yao Mingyue spoke, she gently crossed her legs, showing off a sliver of her pale and tender thighs to Xu Musen and An Nuannuan. Even in a trench coat, her pert buttocks still curved into a perfect arc. These were advantages that the little girl didn''t have. Xu Musen took a bite of his fried egg. Well, having tasted it too many times, he had be somewhat numb to it. But his nce once again made him feel a bit hot under the cor. Right, after all, he was still an eighteen-year-old young man full of vigor. Xu Musen took a leisurely breath. He himself was a gentleman, but his body had its own thoughts. An Nuannuan looked at Yao Mingyue''s long legs, truly envious. Such long legs must feel like they''re cutting through the wind when walking. "Mhm mhm, Xu Musen massages my legs every day, I''ll recover very quickly," she nodded energetically, full of anticipation. "Smack..." As her words fell, there came a smack. The spoon slipped from Yao Mingyue''s hand, sshing up ayer of hot soup and staining her freshly changed clothes with spots of grease. Even her cheeks were dotted with a few drops of red oil, making Yao Mingyue look particrly wicked at that moment, like a morbid vampire on the brink, her phoenix eyes almost unable to restrain the emotions within. She looked up at Xu Musen. Xu Musen knew this was the precursor to her breakdown; indeed, the fire hadnded on him. He Qiang silently slurped up his noodles. Just as expected, there was going to be bloodshed. It''s good that a brother knows his ce. Women are too frightening; fishing is much more soothing. "Helping each other among ssmates... that''s right, it''s very normal," Xu Musen put down his chopsticks, speaking earnestly. But Yao Mingyue justughed a hollowugh, resembling a doll that lost its feelings. Just days ago, her ankle was sprained, and he had been reluctant even to help her up. And now, you turn right around and massage the legs of a girl you''ve only known for a few days? Let alone her chest! Are her legs as pretty as mine? Do they feel as nice as mine!! Stupid, ungrateful dog of a man! "Friends, helping out?" Yao Mingyue stared at him, her hand resting on the edge of the bowl, as if the hot broth would pour over their heads if he said one wrong word. Xu Musen was genuinely worried that the morbid girl might take such an action if pushed too far. "Of course, if you or He Qiang ran into trouble, I would definitely help too," Xu Musen said with sincerity, deliberately including He Qiang. While painting the pie in the sky, she also maintained a stretchable distance. He Qiang silently picked up his bowl and moved to a farther table. Yao Mingyue fell silent for quite a while, her gaze shifting back and forth between Xu Musen and An Nuannuan, finally revealing a smile again. "Alright, I''ll remember what you said." After speaking, she stood up and asked the owner to pack another portion for her, her voice calm, "I''m going back to find Auntie. You guys take your time." After speaking, she narrowed her eyes for a nce at Xu Musen, then turned around and left. She walked away for quite some time. It was only then that An Nuannuan blinked, "Sister Good Person''s look just now was really pitiful." "Pitiful?" Xu Musen felt that her look just before was more like she wanted to eat someone. "Yes, it just felt like Sister Good Person was... as if someone had taken her favorite food to eat." An Nuannuan looked at the sausage and fried eggs in her bowl, then lifted her head and said, "Is it because she didn''t get to eat the sausage and fried eggs?" Xu Musen shook his head. What she wanted to eat was not the sausage fried eggs, but him... "Should I invite Sister Good Person to eat these?" An Nuannuan seemed to have made a big decision, but she didn''t want people around Xu Musen to be unhappy. "No need, you eat it. I will invite her to have sausage and fried eggs another time." "Oh." As the three of them were eating, the owner suddenly came over, indeed recognizing Xu Musen, "Aren''t you from that florist''s family?" "Is there something?" Xu Musen asked with a smile, already guessing what the matter was. "Ah, it really is you..." The owner suddenly acted as if he had discovered a treasure, indeed he was there for the advertising. At that time, the Luosi rice noodle hadn''t be viral on the inte yet. As an exotic cuisine with an unusual vor, in Zheng City, many people hadn''t even heard of it, so it badly needed brand awareness. Xu Musen didn''t beat around the bush and still offered to take photos for free. And his gaze fell on An Nuannuan. Yao Mingyue was unbeatable as a clothing model. But when it came to foodies who ate earnestly, An Nuannuan was just perfect! Her earnest eating manner, unconcerned with her image, was adorable, and it made one''s appetite surge just watching her. "Nuannuan, can I discuss something with you?" "What is it?" "I''ll treat you to food in exchange for you helping me to shoot some simple action videos. How about that?" An Nuannuan didn''t understand what he meant, but at the mention of good food, her eyes immediately sparkled and she nodded energetically. Just like that, the second little model was also coaxed into agreement. That afternoon, An Nuannuan ate very happily, shooting in three or four different food shops. Her little belly was finally satisfied, and she saw the sunset appearing. An Nuannuan still held the uneaten teppanyaki squid and sugar-coated haws, happily patting her little belly. "Xu Musen." "Hmm?" "Thank you for treating me to so much delicious food, my tummy is all full, and it''s all thanks to you." "..." Xu Musen coughed twice, thankful that there was no one else nearby, otherwise he would lose facepletely. "The materials are sorted, take a look." He Qiang came over with the camera. Xu Musen took a look, one was Yao Mingyue''s and the rest were An Nuannuan''s. An Nuannuan''s way of eating was indeed very appetizing; even if one didn''t see her face, just a side profile or a back view was enough to make the food seem delicious. Moreover, looking at An Nuannuan''s dumbfounded cute face, Xu Musen suddenly had an idea. "Qiang Zi, when sorting out the materialster, just use Nuannuan''s back view or long shots, send the ones with her face directly to me." He Qiang looked up at his good buddy and stroked his chin, "You little rascal... you just want to have her to yourself, huh?" "Once it''s a sess, the fishing rod is yours." "Deal!" Oh, and He Qiang whispered again, "What about Yao Mingyue''s?" Xu Musen watched Yao Mingyue wearing that outfit, and many memories shed through his mind. Xu Musen pondered briefly. "The same." "Hehe..." Chapter 43: Chapter 43 Bad Guy, Dont Fight with Me for My Sister! Xu Musen decided to send An Nuannuan home. The business street was not far from her home, just one bus ride away. An Nuannuan seemed to especially enjoy the feeling of riding the bus; when she couldn''t reach the handrail, she would grab onto Xu Musen''s pants. As a result, when the vehicle jerked to a stop, she nearly pulled his pants down. Xu Musen, clutching his pants and seeing the suppressedughter of those around him, also felt his face redden. "Don''t grab my pants." "I''m afraid I can''t sit still." An Nuannuan pouted, and Xu Musen, looking into her pitiful eyes, extended his arm. "How about you hold onto my arm then?" "Oh." An Nuannuan nodded her head, and reaching out, she grabbed Xu Musen''s fingers directly. The girl''s little hand was as soft as if it had no bones, warm to the touch, and Xu Musen lowered his head to look at her. At this moment, An Nuannuan was leaning against the bus window, her big eyes blinking as she gazed at the scenery outside. Generally speaking, even among couples, holding handses first, followed by hugs and kisses, and then lifting each other up high. Only at a further stage would they touch legs or feet. But for the two of them, it seemed to be the other way around. The first thing Xu Musen touched was her leg, then her little foot, and now... he had actually held her hand. Well... not really, since An Nuannuan had just grabbed two of his fingers. To truly hold hands, you at least need to interlock all ten fingers. Xu Musen suddenly startled himself with these thoughts. Looking at An Nuannuan''s dazed side profile, he took a deep breath. She trusted him so much; how could he harbor such wild thoughts? He would absolutely not date before he made a fortune and could break free from Yao Mingyue! After getting off the bus, they quickly arrived in front of the vi. "Xu Musen." An Nuannuan suddenly called out, then handed over the half-eaten tanghulu and grilled sausage she was holding. "What''s up?" "My grandma doesn''t let me eat too much of these... can you keep them for me?" An Nuannuan was somewhat reluctant to give them away. "I can keep them, but these things will go bad in a day," Xu Musen answered with a smile. "Eh... then I don''t care, I gave them to you in good condition." An Nuannuan pursed her lips, and her seriousness about food made her look somewhat naively adorable. Xu Musen was amused; this was the first time An Nuannuan had shown such normal little temperaments. "Alright, I''ll keep them for you then." Xu Musen took the items from her. Only then did An Nuannuan seem at ease. She pressed the doorbell, and An Nannan, her younger sister, quickly bounced to the door. "Sister!" she called out sweetly. But the moment she saw Xu Musen, she acted as if she had seen a love rival. Immediately picking up the yellow pear wood stick by the door, she astonishingly wielded it in a flourish of moves. "It''s you again!" Xu Musen watched curiously, sensing that the little girl''s stick skills were not random swings but seemed to be systematically learned. He could even hear the whooshing sound it made through the air. "Nannan." An Nuannuan softly called out. At once, the little girl calmed down and walked over to her sister''s side. "Sister, you were gone the whole day and didn''t y with me." The little girl spoke with a sense of grievance, her gaze still resentfully ncing at Xu Musen. That look... why did it seem somewhat like Yao Mingyue? One is obsessed with her husband, the other with her sister. Xu Musen suddenly realized that the obstacles in his future seemed to be quite significant. "Alright, now that I''ve brought you home, I can rest easy. I''ll be on my way." Xu Musen, seeing the maide out of the vi door as well, turned and left. "Sister, you have to be careful with these boys; boys at this age have minds like a pile of mush, they will take advantage of you," An Nannan said, wise beyond her years. An Nuannuan was taken aback, looking at her own fair little hand, and then she remembered holding his hand on the bus. The hands of boys are really warm, and give a sense of security. And when she massaged my legs. For some reason, An Nuannuan always felt like she was the slightly naughty one. She felt her cheeks getting a bit warm. The sight made the little girl''s teeth itch; that guy must have taken advantage of her sister! The nanny came over and pushed An Nuannuan to get changed. Meanwhile, the little girl slipped out quietly. Xu Musen had just turned the corner. "Stop right there! You bad egg!" Suddenly, a small figure jumped out, brandishing a wooden stick made of yellow rosewood, twirling it like a baton. Xu Musen was taken aback for a moment, looking at the little girl who resembled An Nuannuan a lot in appearance, but whose personality was worlds apart. He couldn''t help butugh and asked, "How am I a bad egg?" "Did you, did you feed my sister some kind of love potion? Howe she trusts you so much?" The little girl''s voice was tinged with jealousy. "And did you take advantage of my sister?" The little girl stood threateningly with the stick while Xu Musen wanted tough: "I really did not take advantage of your sister." The leg massage was to help Nuannuan recover sooner. Touching her little feet, well, that was because I was wiping off her milk tea. Holding hands... she was the one who reached out to me first. I, Xu Musen, am innocent! An Nannan remained skeptical, speaking very seriously: "Then you swear, if you''re lying, you''re a little dog!" Xu Musen almost burst outughing, but seeing the little girl''s fierce expression, he raised four fingers: "I swear." As for barking like a dog, he was quite the expert at that. Only then did the little girl feel somewhat reassured: "Just so you know, I''m really tough. My sister is just too kind. If anyone dares to bully her, I will never let those bad eggs off! And don''t think about stealing my sister from me!" The little girl voiced her deepest concerns. "Alright, alright, alright." Xu Musen nodded with a smile, saying, "So can I go now?" "Wait... what''s that in your hand?" Her eyes caught sight of the bag in Xu Musen''s hand, spotting the half-exposed candied haw and smelling the aroma of cumin. This immediately made An Nannan''s mouth water. "Just some snacks." Xu Musen observed her reaction, which was exactly like An Nuannuan''s when she first saw these things. Sometimes the wealthy have it hard too. Apart from eating lobster, abalone, bird''s nest, shark fin, caviar, foie gras, and truffles every day... what else can they really enjoy? They can''t even indulge in a simple starch sausage filled with craftsmanship and effort! How pitiable! Xu Musen took it out and dangled it in front of An Nannan, who almost started drooling. "This is all for your sister. If she can''t finish it, I''m keeping it safe for now. Want to try some?" Xu Musen offered it teasingly, resembling a sly uncle tempting a little girl. These snacks definitely couldn''t be kept overnight, but it would be alright to buy new ones for An Nuannuanter. An Nannan swallowed hard; she resisted the urge but couldn''t take her eyes off: "I since it''s for my sister, I should keep it safe for her." Xu Musen handed her the snacks directly, unable to hold back augh: "Alright, then it''s up to you to look after them. See you next time." With that, Xu Musen turned and left. As An Nannan gazed at the candied haw and roasted sausage in her hands, the greasy treats seemed extra tempting. No, no, no! This was for her sister; she couldn''t sneak any! She fought against the saliva building up in her mouth but then remembered his words. "If she can''t finish it, I''ll save it for her..." If it was more than her sister could eat, then maybe trying just a little bit was okay? So, An Nannan still couldn''t resist the temptation and took a small bite, which led to another small bite, and then another tiny bite And it was gone! An Nannan came to her senses only after the roasted sausage and candied haw had already made their way into her stomach. She frantically patted her belly "This is terrible; this must be the love potion he fed my sister..." Chapter 44: Chapter 44 Its also quite nice to let him take the initiative once in a while. ``` Time flew, and the days of the college entrance exams, or gaokao, were now just around the corner. In thest mock test, Xu Musen finally reached third ce in his grade. First and second were Yao Mingyue and An Nuannuan, respectively. Both girls had connections to him. Theirplex interweaving of gratitude and resentment had been the subject of countless versions among the students. In thest week or two, it was almost a daily strategy to tackle a sea of questions, where half a month''s worth of test papers could pile up a foot high. Students from ces like Henan, Hebei, Anhui and so on would understand the pain before the gaokao. To prepare for this final sprint, the school also adjusted the daily schedule, such as only allowing one day off on Sundays, reducing the lunch break to one hour, and shrinking the interval between sses to five minutes... Most importantly, to ensure students wouldn''t hold each other back, the school chose to rearrange the seating. The good students were put together, and those who really didn''t want to study were ced at the back to do as they pleased. After all, the ultimate goal of exam-oriented education isn''t to cultivate but to select. Survival of the fittest; it''s something that seems decided at birth, and sometimes it truly isn''t anyone''s fault. He Qiang''s grades were upper-middle, but after Xu Musen''s rapid improvement, naturally, they were separated. He Qiang''s eyes brimmed with tears. Not over the loss of brotherhood, but because he could no longer freeload fruit in the mornings. But soon Xu Musen couldn''tugh either. Because the teacher arranged the seating strictly ording to academic performance. Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue naturally became desk-mates, officially sanctioned. The whole ss looked at them with an expression of keen interest. Some even whispered that perhaps Xu Musen''s recent diligence was all to sit with Yao Mingyue. Xu Musen looked at Yao Mingyue, whose lips curled with a faint, indistinct smile. He silently took his books and sat beside her. "There are only thest week or two left, no matter how hard or tiresome, it will all be over soon, and the purpose of this seat change is to encourage you all to learn from each other and make progress. Cherish thisst opportunity!" The head teacher said. At that moment, Yao Mingyue propped up her delicate chin with one hand, her stunning face glowing with a smile that had been suppressed for too long. Her phoenix eyes slightly mysterious, her lips curving into an arc, she looked at Xu Musen as if sizing up her prey. You little thing, after all these twists and turns, the harder you work, the closer you get to me, don''t you? Xu Musen felt as if ants were crawling over his skin; Yao Mingyue''s gaze gave him the feeling of being stared at by a "stalker." "We''re going to have to work hard together from now on, desk-mate." Yao Mingyue spoke in a voice that only the two of them could hear. Xu Musen looked at her semi-smiling face and kept silent. But during sses, whether he was listening or working on test papers, he could always feel Yao Mingyue''s gaze on him. It made him ufortable all over. Finally, lunchtime arrived. Xu Musen grabbed the roast sausage and candied haw he had just purchased and went to the back garden to find An Nuannuan. She was happily munching away. Xu Musen skilfully held her legs in hisp and gently massaged them. Lately, he could feel some strength returning to An Nuannuan''s legs; arguably, with some time, she might really regain some movement. "Nuannuan, the school has adjusted the nap time, so from now on, I might not be able to apany you for the entire lunch break every day." Xu Musen brought up the issue. An Nuannuan paused in her candy munching, and her usually vacant eyes showed a hint of loss. "Oh" An Nuannuan licked her candied haw again, then suddenly looked up and said, "Xu Musen, the candied haw you gave me isn''t the one I asked you to save for me." "That was days ago, if I had saved it, it would have gone bad by now," Xu Musen said with augh. He wasn''t wrong; her sister had likely gobbled it up, tempted by its sweetness. "I don''t care... you owe me an identical one," An Nuannuan pouted, a glimmer of expectation in her peach blossom eyes. Xu Musen watched her for a moment beforeughing, "You don''t just want me to spend the weekend with you, do you?" An Nuannuan hummed a reply and lowered her head to continue with her candy, but one could see her fair face blushing slightly. ``` ``` ... Days passed with orderly tranquility. Recently, Xu Musen had noticed an issue. It was that Yao Mingyue had suddenly taken a liking to wearing various skirts to school. Knee-length skirts, pleated skirts, denim shorts In short, every time he saw her, the first thing he noticed were her snowy white, slender legs. Every time she took her seat, her skirt would stretch up a bit as she sat down, revealing half of her snow-white thighs. Xu Musen always managed to secure the best view, frequently finding the sunlight too ring during ss. When he looked down, he would see Yao Mingyue''s shapely legs reflecting the sunlight. Yao Mingyue''s posture was also very elegant; she sat with a straight back, entuating the curves of her waist and hips all the more. That wasn''t a waist, that was a deadly weapon! "Does it look good?" Just as Xu Musen was dazzled and lost in thought, Yao Mingyue''s voice,ced with yful intent, quietly reached his ears. Looking up, he saw Yao Mingyue''s face, brimming with pride. "The college entrance exams areing up soon. Young people should focus on their studies and not let misceneous thoughts affect their grades." Xu Musen withdrew his gaze and spoke with all seriousness. Yao Mingyue, however, chuckled lightly and said with a half-smile, "A nce at my legs can affect your studies, but touching other girls'' legs can get you into the top three of your grade. Are my legs that bad?" Xu Musen was momentarily at a loss for words; this was not something he could casuallyment on. He flipped through his book to block his view, but the pen sandwiched in the pages fell out. It fell directly onto Yao Mingyue''s legs, eventually lodging itself in the crevice of her smooth yet fleshy thigh. "..." The corner of Yao Mingyue''s mouth twitched upward, and she moved her thigh slightly, causing the pen to wedge deeper. Xu Musen nced at it and then looked up at Yao Mingyue, reaching out his hand. "Hand it over." "Is that how you ask for a favor?" "Please hand it over to me." Xu Musen felt she was his natural nemesis. Yao Mingyue, however, propped her chin, bringing her stunning cheeks closer to him, her lips curving slightly, "Simple. Compliment my legs, and I''ll help you get it out." Xu Musen felt like he was being teased, even though in his past life he was often teased by her. This outwardly aloof female CEO, once home, turned into a vexing little goblin. Every day, as soon as he drew the curtains, Xu Musen would shiver with the urge to run away. Yao Mingyue spoke unhurriedly, "You have two choices:pliment me and I''ll help you, or try to get it yourself." As she said that, she twisted her legs again, ensnaring the ck pen further between them. She knew Xu Musen well; he was someone who always had the desire but not the courage. In the end, he would definitely lower his head to her. And Xu Musen looked at her for a moment. Seeing her face so close, Xu Musen recalled scenes from his past life where he was under her thumb. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became! After being reincarnated, could he really let her lead him by the nose again? Xu Musen reached out, his handnding on her smooth yet fleshy thigh, and he gently pushed aside some flesh to reach the pen. Yao Mingyue, the volleyball team goddess, had thighs that were soft yet stic, a different sensationpared to An Nuannuan''s. Moreover, Xu Musen was already too familiar with Yao Mingyue, having tangled with her through countless days and nights in his past life. He had developed some resistance. But in this life, this was the first time for Yao Mingyue; her previously triumphant expression now tinged with red. She looked up at Xu Musen, who had retrieved the ck pen expressionlessly. A lingering touch seemed to remain on her thigh. His hand it had a unique roughness of a young man, and it was so warm, causing her heart to unwittingly beat faster. Suddenly, she felt that asionally letting him take the initiative like this wasn''t so bad after all ``` Chapter 45: Chapter 45: High Exam Stress, Childhood Sweethearts Relief. The college entrance exam was imminent. The atmosphere of study in the school had reached its peak. Whether it was genuine or just for show, everyone had gotten into the groove of studying, fully concentrating in ss and sleeping soundly once it ended. Stacks of test papers piled high on the desk, every time a teacher walked into the room, they''d frown and call for the windows to be opened to air out... A whiff of childishness. During the noon break, everyone was terribly sleepy, but the school hadn''t yet equipped every ssroom with air conditioning, so having a few fans running was considered good enough. Especially after running back from lunch, everyone would be drenched in sweat. Yao Mingyue, although beautiful as a fairy, was after all a normal human being, and she sweated too. It was just that when a beautiful girl sweated, it gave off the impression of perfume. A slight sheen of sweat made her fair skin seem even more delicate and glowing, especially at the corbone. The short sleeve clung more tightly to her skin because of the perspiration, making Yao Mingyue''s perfect figure all the more enticing. She fanned herself with a textbook, gently tugging at her cor to let in a cool breeze, and Xu Musen, being the closest, could even see the strap marks of her underwear. Xu Musen silently took a sip from his water bottle. He surmised that after Yao Mingyue started college, she could still level up. "The color I''m wearing today is off-white," said Yao Mingyue suddenly, turning her head and smiling at him. Xu Musen turned his head away, thinking to himself, I''m still wearing flowered underpants! Lunch break time arrived. Xu Musenid his head down on the desk, ready for a nap. He always felt that since his rebirth, his physical fitness had improved a lot, but so had his consumption. He''d get hungry or sleepy very easily. This feeling was like going from a 1.0t engine directly to a 4.0t, V8 engine! Of course, it would burn more fuel. But now he felt that in terms of physical fitness, Yao Mingyue might not necessarily be his match. At noontime, everyoney their heads on the desks and napped. The fans creaked and whirred as they circted the air. Xu Musen could always smell the fragrance emanating from Yao Mingyue''s body. This sensation, it was like in his previous life when the two of them had shared a bed, sleeping nestled against each other. Xu Musen subconsciously turned to look at her. At that moment, Yao Mingyueid facing him with her cheek resting on her hand, her eyes closed with a natural curvature at the corners, her nose high and proud, her lips a girlish pink with a hint of rosy red. Today, she too wore a white short-sleeved shirt. There was a widely circted risqu joke among high schoolers: during a nap, peep at the girl you like, and then your eyes meet hers through the sleeve''s opening. But on the other side of Yao Mingyue was a ssroom wall. And Xu Musen wasn''t that lewd. He closed his eyes and began to rest as well. Half an hourter, Yao Mingyue quietly opened her eyes, not a hint of sleepiness in them. She looked at Xu Musen''s profile in silence, her eyes swirling with countless emotions. She also moved her delicate nose slightly, sensing the familiar scenting from Xu Musen. Unable to resist, she drew a little closer, intently gazing at Xu Musen''s face. She always felt that recently, Xu Musen''s spirit and energy had improved a lot, his brows carrying a sense of ease and confidence that wasn''t there before. Yao Mingyue''s heart was a whirlwind of emotion, as she watched Xu Musen, convinced in her heart. As long as she remained more outstanding than him, he would always be hers! Gazing at his sleeping face so close by, Yao Mingyue suddenly wanted to press her lips to his, but this was a ssroom, so she restrained herself. Atst, her gaze fell on Xu Musen''s hand resting on the table. Yao Mingyue nced around, then using a textbook as cover, she reached out her slender fingers, inching closer to Xu Musen''s. Their fingertips lightly touched. Yao Mingyue actually felt a little nervous, but also exceptionally thrilled... The warmth spreading from the fingertips was like the tantalizing temptation of Pandora''s box being openedshe couldn''t help but want more. But she restrained herself. Looking at Xu Musen''s profile, she ended up just gently hooking her finger with his. "But, after all, you''ll be mine eventually..." Yao Mingyue''s mouth curved into a smile, carrying the deliriousness of an infatuated girl amidst her illness. And in his sleep, Xu Musen, smelling the scent wafting off Yao Mingyue, drifted into a dream. He dreamt they were nestled together on the bed, and Xu Musen felt something soft in his hand. He subconsciously clutched it and gently caressed it in his palm. Yao Mingyue, who had her eyes closed, suddenly snapped them open upon feeling this, seeing him holding her finger. Her heart raced uncontrobly. She had intended to pull back, but, looking at his sleeping face, her eyes sparkled softly. So she pretended to close her eyes again. The bell for the end of lunch break rang. Xu Musen slowly opened his eyes, but he felt something slippery and tender in his hand, which he squeezed lightly. "Mhm..." With a soft yelp, Xu Musen finally realized that he was holding Yao Mingyue''s finger! He jumped, recalling the dream just nowhad he unconsciously acted out in his sleep? Thankfully, it was only a dream of holding handsif it had been anything else... the sin would have been much greater. Just as Xu Musen was about to release his grip, his gaze met with Yao Mingyue''s slowly opening eyes. Her phoenix eyes revealed a hint of "shock," looking at her finger held by Xu Musen. Xu Musen let go, and on seeing Yao Mingyue''s expression, he nced around first thing. Good, as expected, a few ssmates had witnessed the scene. Each one''s eyes were twinkling with the thrill of juicy gossip! "Look, what did I tell you before, he''s just biding his time." "It''s only been a few days, and he finally couldn''t stop himself from making a move." "Tsk, tsk, tsk, and to take advantage while she''s sleeping, shameless!" Xu Musen''s face darkened, he couldn''t be bothered to exin to these people. After all, they only cared about their own enjoyment of the gossip, not the truth. And Xu Musen himself didn''t know what was really going on. At this moment, Yao Mingyue heard the whispers around her. She pressed her lips together feeling a bit aggrieved, but then she seemed to let it go. "Everybody stop, it wasn''t on purpose. Maybe he''s just over-stressed from studying and didn''t sleep well." Yao Mingyue proactively defused the situation, eliciting even more admiration from the ssmates. "The school beauty''s magnanimity is just different. Just look at Xu Musen''s attitude before, this is truly forgiveness from someone of stature." "If it were me getting to pinch the school beauty''s little hand, I''d ept it even if it meant scoring first in the school and getting into Tsinghua or Peking University directly!" "Why don''t you go die?" ... The ssmates'' discussions made Xu Musen''s eyelid twitch, he was still a little confused. But watching Yao Mingyue''s performance, he was sure that this "ident" also had something to do with her! And yet, despite the cunning of the act, it left no room for objection. So, in everyone''s eyes, Xu Musen seemed to have turned from a desperate admirer into a pervert... Xu Musen looked toward Yao Mingyue. At that moment, Yao Mingyue was winking at him slightly, "No need to thank me, I understand you. At your age, with the stress of college entrance exams, you want to vent, who can me youwe''re childhood friends, after all." "..." Alright, alright, this is how you want to y, huh! Xu Musen seriously suspected this was her revenge for the time he had casually picked up a pen from her thigh! And now these scandalous words. "The pressure of college entrance exams, the relief from a childhood friend, huh?" Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Im only best with you. (Additional chapter for more follows!) Three days before the college entrance exam. School had already started the holiday. After a whole year of restraint in senior year, grades were set in stone, and studying or not in thesest few days made no difference. Better to go back a few days early to rx the taut nerves and adjust one''s attitude. On this departure day, the school held aing-of-age ceremony and a graduation event. It was for junior students to perform and showcase their talents, bidding farewell to their senior peers. Then it was time for school leaders to give some morale-boosting speeches, followed by a montage of photos from various activities attended throughout senior year, and some videos shot around the school. Quite a few girls ended up teary-eyed, while the boysughed themselves into stitches. Xu Musen was hardly interested, having experienced it all in hisst life, and apart from He Qiang, he had no friends in school, so it didn''t really touch him. Since school was about to break for vacation, mobile phones weren''t restricted today, so Xu Musen took out his phone and sent a message to An Nuannuan. "Bored by yourself?" On the other side, An Nuannuan replied quickly, "Hang out?" "The usual ce." "Okay. (Rabbit OK emoji)" Xu Musen sneaked off to the garden behind the yground, where An Nuannuan had already arrived. The ce was as quiet as ever, with Xu Musen leaning back on a bench, looking at An Nuannuan, feeling a bit sentimental now. "Nuannuan, we''re getting off for the holidays today, might not have the chance toe here again." "Yeah..." An Nuannuan also nodded somewhat dazedly, then turned her gaze to Xu Musen, "So, will you stille to see me in the future?" Xu Musen smiled and nodded, "Of course, we''re friends, aren''t we?" He always felt particrlyfortable when he was with An Nuannuan, even though sometimes she would jab him with a serious remark, he was quite happy about it. Of course, it was also because An Nuannuan really was very pretty and was willing to let Xu Musen take some liberties. Who isn''t a sucker for good looks? "By the way, Nuannuan, do you have any universities in mind that you want to apply to?" Xu Musen suddenly brought up the topic. Most people worked so hard to study just to get into a good university, to study a good major for easier job cement in the future. But in An Nuannuan''s case, she could choose any major she liked and pursue further education at university. After a moment''s thought, a glimmer of brightness flickered in An Nuannuan''s eyes, "I''m thinking of Hu Hai or Chuan City." Both cities were pretty good. One, a top international metropolis in the maind. The other, a cultural city very suitable for living. "Why do you want to go to these two ces?" "My mom is from Chuan City. She loved taking me to eat hot pot when I was little..." As An Nuannuan spoke of this, her eyes held a hint of nostalgia. She continued, "But I also really like the seaside, and my parents met at Hu Hai University too." "I see..." Xu Musen nodded, his expression growing a bitplicated. Because in his past life, he and Yao Mingyue had attended Hu Hai University. He felt, in this lifetime, there might well be a myriad of connections. Xu Musen had now decided to develop a future in emerce and short video streaming. Hu Hai, including the Hangzhou area, was the breeding ground for inte tforms, offering resource advantages. But then, he thought the Chuan City area wasn''t bad either; with ces like Taikoo Li to stir up events, turning out inte celebrities wouldn''t be difficult. "Xu Musen, if we go to the same university, does that mean we could hang out together every day?" An Nuannuan suddenly proposed to him. Xu Musen looked into her eyes and suddenly smiled, feeling like their thoughts had almost coincided without them even trying. As Xu Musen gazed at her delicate cheeks and her dazed yet earnest eyes, he felt something indescribable stirring in his heart. "Nuannuan, if you y with me every day like this, what will you do if another boy wants to date you in the future?" An Nuannuan considered seriously for a moment, looking into Xu Musen''s eyes, "What are the benefits of dating?" "Well, a boyfriend would take his girlfriend shopping, on trips, treat her to meals, and even bring her some lovingly prepared breakfasts..." As Xu Musen was speaking, An Nuannuan interjected, "That feels pretty much the same as now, doesn''t it? We''re friends, too." Friends of the opposite sex and boyfriends or girlfriends. These are not the same concept at all. Xu Musen looked at her and changed his tone slightly, "But if you had a boyfriend, I wouldn''t be able to apany you like this every day." "Why not?" "Because people have a desire to possess; when boyfriends and girlfriends enjoy the happiness of being together, they also have to pay some price. For example, maintaining a certain distance with others of the opposite sex, sharing hearts and thoughts every day, consulting with each other on many things, and taking care of each other''s feelings..." Xu Musen exined bit by bit. An Nuannuan blinked, "Oh, that sounds troublesome..." Her mind seemed unable to deal with so many social intricacies. "Of course, everythinges with its price." Xu Musen sighed. What he had said was normal, but dealing with someone like Yao Mingyue would be the real headache. An Nuannuan looked at the candied hawthorn stick in her hand, then at the half-eaten grilled sausage, and then at Xu Musen. The images of their time together over the past month floated in her mind. Her eyes brightened for a moment, and the look she gave Xu Musen softened, "Xu Musen, you''ve been so nice to me without asking for anything in return. You really are a good person. From now on, I won''t y with any other friends. Is it okay if it''s just the two of us ying together from now on?" Xu Musen didn''t know whether tough or cry for a moment. For some reason, it felt like An Nuannuan''s words echoed those of a female Casanova raising fish. Never reject, never take the initiative, never take responsibility. Xu Musen thought to himself, shouldn''t that be my line? But, looking into An Nuannuan''s pure and innocent eyes, he couldn''t help but smile softly. "What if one day, I suddenly want to ask for something excessive?" An Nuannuan blinked, "Like what?" "...It''s just that." Xu Musen''s gaze wandered over An Nuannuan''s body, from her lovely little toes peeking out from beneath her long dress, to her fair legs, to the ample "assets" that stood out confidently, to her delicate and cute face. But in the end, as Xu Musen looked into her clear eyes, he could only smile and shake his head. "Never mind, I''ll talk about it when there''s a chance in the future." "Oh..." An Nuannuan nodded thoughtfully. The noise around the ears was festive, and an event was still being held on the sports field. After today, the next time they''d meet would be to receive their graduation certificates. For many people, today could very well be thest time. An Nuannuan saw Xu Musen spacing out and slowly pushed her wheelchair closer to him. "Xu Musen." "Hmm?" "Can I just be best friends with only you from now on?" An Nuannuan tugged gently at his sleeve, offering the hawthorn stick in her hand. Xu Musen silently watched her for a while, and the sentiment of campus farewells softened at that moment. Just with you alone... Xu Musen took a bite of the candied hawthorn. "Sure." Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Graduation Photo, Hes Looking, Shes Smiling. (Extra for followers!) Most people enjoy the unique aspect a partner can bring into their love life. This was the second time An Nuannuan had made such a remark. Xu Musen''s heart couldn''t help but rise with a unique feeling, the sense that he was someone''s one and only. It was really addictive. Xu Musen suddenly got a sense of what Yao Mingyue might have felt. In his past life, he had been far more intense than An Nuannuan. There was the feeling that in this life, he wanted no one but you. Perhaps, that''s how Yao Mingyue got hooked step by step. Indeed, it takes two to make a thing go right. A person with an intense desire for control is surely because there''s someone willing to be controlled by her. Xu Musen took a deep breath. He turned his head to look at An Nuannuan, who was eating a candied haw, her cheeks puffed out adorably. But he didn''t resist this sensation. For all things, just grasping the right bnce makes it a very good experience. "Is there something on my face?" An Nuannuan, feeling Xu Musen''s gaze, felt her cheeks warm under the noonday sun. "A little." "What is it?" An Nuannuan wondered if it was some cumin from the roasted sausage. "It''s a bit attractive." "Hmm?" An Nuannuan blinked and held Xu Musen''s gaze for a moment. Xu Musen''s face reddeneddamn, having flirted habitually, why had he blurted out such words again? "Cough cough, never mind, just pretend you were hearing things." "Oh~" An Nuannuan nodded and turned her head to watch people on the sports field, quietly touching her cheek with her hand. Yep... a bit warm. ... The graduation ceremony was drawing to a close, and it was time for everyone to take the graduation photo. Xu Musen wheeled An Nuannuan to the sports field and first took her to her ss. It was just in time for roll call. "Gao Chao." "Here." "Zhen Shuang" "Present." "Lv Hong, did Lv Hong note today either?" As the ss monitor called the roll, they suddenly noticed that Lv Hong hadn''t been to school for several days. "Lv Hong went home early; leave him be." At that moment, the ss teacher walked over, seeming to frown upon hearing the name. But when he saw An Nuannuan, he immediately came over with a smile. Xu Musen thoughtfully smiled at An Nuannuan and said, "Then I''ll head back too." An Nuannuan nodded and waved goodbye to him. For the graduation photo, many had brought their school uniform jackets that day. This was thest time they would wear their school uniforms, writing their names and blessings on each other''s clothes. It was an old tradition. Many people might have silently liked a girl in their ss for a full three years, perhaps even bing friends. But they never dared to truly express their feelings. How many people handed around a graduation blessings booklet for the whole ss to sign, one by one. But the real purpose was just to get that one page with her handwriting on it. This outfit is not perfect until you, and only you, have signed it. Xu Musen also brought a jacket. Yet no one in his ss thought about signing it. A few girls quietly looked over, but after some consideration, they gave up. Because Yao Mingyue''s gaze was always fixed on Xu Musen. Xu Musen had his peace on one hand, but on the other hand, he sighed. How many romantic opportunities had this little tsundere intercepted from him? Also, Yao Mingyue''s school uniform was clean and tidy. The boys who wanted toe over were deterred by just one look from her and automatically gave up. As for the girls, Yao Mingyue had only one best friend. No help there; her aura was simply too strong most of the time. And her best friend, knowing Yao Mingyue''s temperament, began leading the teasing, suggesting they both sign for each other. There were even those who teased him using the incident from a few days ago when Xu Musen touched Yao Mingyue''s fingers. Yao Mingyue stood out from the crowd, not showing much expression, but a hint of pride had already leaked from the corners of her eyes. Xu Musen was indifferent to thements of others, but now a few mischievous people were even gently pushing him to stand before Yao Mingyue, forcing the pen into his hand. Xu Musen looked at her, realizing that avoiding too much only seemed deliberate. "So, should I sign?" "Up to you." Yao Mingyue still had a reserved look on her face. Childish. Xu Musen held the pen, flooded by memories from his past life. Actually, the first year of marriage in his previous life, during the passionate love period, had been quite pleasant, and he even liked some of Yao Mingyue''s possessiveness initially. Butter, Yao Mingyue''s pathological possessiveness became increasingly severe, until she even locked him up in a room Xu Musen was overwhelmed with emotions as he raised the pen. "Improve yourself and begin again." Of course, Xu Musen did not write that, otherwise it would have caused another explosive headline. He gently tugged her sleeve and started to write slowly. "If life were only about first impressions." Xu Musen felt that this phrase suited them too well, because if everything could remain like the moments when they first met, perhaps it would always be beautiful. Unfortunately, people always change, so that first impression might as well be thest impression. It all depends on how one interprets it. In the end, he signed his name. "Tsk tsk tsk, so sentimental, even writing poetry,"mented someone. "First Sight Bro! Why don''t you just confess again!" jested the boys. The line was repeated by many, considered very romantic, but few ever took the initiative to understand its full context. Yao Mingyue squinted slightly; she was lost in thought for a moment. If life were like first impressions Then conversely, if she returned to her former self, would he still like her a lot? Yao Mingyue''s lips curved into a small nod, and just like that, her peculiar train of thought transformed Xu Musen''s farewell poem into a kind of hint for herself. Xu Musen was unaware of her thoughts, otherwise he would surely regret not writing "Improve yourself and begin again." Yao Mingyue signed her name for them, too. "I, Yao Mingyue." Simple, yet her elegant handwriting also conveyed a sense of dominating assertiveness. The graduation photos were taken. Everyone tacitly gave the two of them space. On the back row, both of their heights were prominent; Xu Musen originally stood with He Qiang, but Yao Mingyue was always like a shadow, sticking close to him. The photographer was in ce, and Xu Musen had no room to retreat; their arms touched. From Yao Mingyue''s body wafted a familiar scent, a mix of body fragrance and roses, refreshing andpelling, always stirring something in the heart. Xu Musen nced sideways at her, following her delicate jawline to see her pristine neck and exquisite corbones. A high ponytail revealed small and dainty ears, translucent as jade. It had to be said, she was truly beautiful. Every single detail was positioned just right ording to Xu Musen''s aesthetic. If only she were a normal person... "Come on, let''s get closer to the middle, everyone, and smile!" the photographer directed. Xu Musen pulled his gaze away, and the heart he thought was sealed off felt, in this moment, some youthful stirrings. "Ready! Three, two, one, eggnt!" In the instant the sh lit up, Yao Mingyue moved half a step closer and leaned her head gently against his shoulder, her long ponytail, like the noonday sun, cascading over Xu Musen''s shoulder. Xu Musen nced back subconsciously. The young girl''s smiling face was radiant, a small canine tooth especially dazzling. At this moment, she was nothing more than an eighteen-year-old girl. Each inch of her skin and each feature became the regretful shadows of countless youths'' early years. He watched; she smiled. "Click!" And there, it was captured. Chapter 48: Chapter 48 I Want to Keep You in My Heart. (Please follow!) By three or four in the afternoon, after the activities ended, the school began to prepare for the holidays. Outside the school, many cars were parked, all there to pick up students after school. The students were in high spirits, as if they had already finished the high-pressure life of a senior in high school. Of course, there were also some young girls who were reluctant to part with friends and teachers, crying and hugging each other. In fact, most would never interact with each other after walking out of school. Xu Musen wasn''t too sentimental about it. Honestly, the high pressure of senior year could be considered one of the hardest times in life. He was more looking forward to college life anyway. "Moriko, when you''re free at home,e over and fish with me," He Qiang patted Xu Musen on the shoulder. His grades weren''t bad either, but the likelihood of getting into one of the top universities in the country like Xu Musen was probably not great. "Don''t worry, I won''t miss out on your business in the future," Xu Musen said with a smile, for this good brother who would give his all to help him, he must also bring him along to make a fortune in this lifetime. Upon returning to the ssroom to pack up his textbooks, Xu Musen wasn''t nning to sell the old books; having them at home as decoration was nice. Yao Mingyue had already packed her textbooks too, but she kept sitting on her desk when she saw Xu Musen about to leave with his backpack. She stuck out a leg to block his path and said, "No need to go." Xu Musen nced at her, "Not leaving means staying overnight at school?" Yao Mingyue smiled, "My mom''s back, she''lle to pick us up in a bit." Her mom. An elegant and mature figure surfaced in Xu Musen''s mind, and he nodded. Just then, his phone buzzed. An Nuannuan: "Meet me outside the school gate, I need to talk to you." Considering the seriousness of the message, Xu Musen thought she might have not been picked up from home. He turned and left the ssroom. Yao Mingyue watched his back, then looked down at the only signature on her school uniform. She humphed, and a smile appeared on her lips. Outside the school gates, Xu Musen saw An Nuannuan waving at him from around a corner. "What did you want to see me about?" Xu Musen walked over to ask her. Only then did he notice that An Nuannuan too was wearing the school uniform jacket. An Nuannuan was pushing a wheelchair, and they arrived at the deserted corner. "Come here," An Nuannuan gestured towards him. Xu Musen approached and, seeing the slightly shy expression of the girl, he chuckled, "What''s going on?" An Nuannuan pulled out a marker from her embrace and handed it to Xu Musen. Her big eyes held a hint of anticipation and shyness. "Xu Musen, would you... sign your name for me?" At that moment, Xu Musen finally understood as he looked at An Nuannuan''s neat school uniform. She probably didn''t have a single friend in ss, but An Nuannuan''s heart truly longed for friendship. Seeing others'' uniforms covered in signatures and blessings from friends, she too wanted to keep a trace of friendship. Xu Musen looked at her with a smile in his eyes. "Of course, I''d be d to." "Mm!" An Nuannuan nodded happily. Xu Musen was about to write on her sleeve, but An Nuannuan shook her head. "Where should I sign then?" asked Xu Musen. An Nuannuan blinked her eyes, extending her fair, delicate hand and gently pointed at her own left chest. "Here." Xu Musen''s gaze paused, and it fell on the spot where An Nuannuan was pointing. School uniforms are very loose-fitting, especially for smaller girls like An Nuannuan, who usually look baggy in them. But An Nuannuan''s assets were so substantial that even the loose school uniform seemed filled out. And she had just pointed there. Her finger even bounced a little... With difficulty, Xu Musen shifted his gaze back to her eyes, "That... wouldn''t it be the same if I sign somewhere else?" But An Nuannuan looked at him seriously, her pink lips pursing slightly, "It wouldn''t." "But why do you insist on me signing on your..." Xu Musen began but didn''t know how to continue. I always felt that such behavior of mine was too obsessive. "Because, this is the closest spot to the heart," An Nuannuan''s soft voice came through, pointing to her left chest, "Grandma said that cherished ones should be held in your heart, so I wanted to put your name..." Xu Musen''s hand trembled for a moment. An Nuannuan''s voicecked the coquettish tenderness of a young girl, but each word and sentence was filled with sincerity and purity, making Xu Musen''s heart uncontrobly flutter intensely for a few moments. Okay, he was the one who was superficial all along. Always lingering on the surface, yet forgetting that deeper within, lies a true heart. Perhaps the heart flutters at this moment had nothing to do with love, but they indeed made Xu Musen feel touched. He looked at An Nuannuan''s cheeks, and he smiled. "Alright," he said. Xu Musen gently wrote down his own name at the spot right before her heart. He suddenly remembered a phrase. "In an age rampant with desire, we ought to be each other''s purest reliance." He finished writing. "Xu Musen..." An Nuannuan looked at the three characters, silently mouthing them, her cute face bing even softer. "I want to sign for you too." She lifted her head, her usually somewhat absentminded eyes now sparkling. "Okay," Xu Musen passed her the pen. An Nuannuan took it, but her gaze fell upon the letters already on the clothing in front of Xu Musen. "I, Yao Mingyue." For some reason, her lips were slightly pursed. Xu Musen looked down and saw it. Inside, he also felt aplex intertwining of emotions. One signified a uniquemitment to him. The other, a desire to keep him close to the heart''s most treasured spot. Xu Musen couldn''t help feeling as though he had done nothing, yet suddenly had this strange feeling of being in aplicated situation. Seeing An Nuannuan''s expression, Xu Musen suddenly turned around, backing up to her and crouching down, then pointing to his left shoulder de. "Here, this is also the closest spot to the heart, and moreover, if you ever need help in the future, my back will always have a spot reserved for you." Xu Musen''s words were not the usual sweet nothings meant to woo a girl; right now, his heart was exceptionally clear and pure. An Nuannuan also remembered the scene of him carrying her home, the girl who always had an expressionless face. At this moment, however, her cheeks were flushed, and a feeling she didn''t recognize bloomed from within her heart. She left a row of graceful handwriting and her own name on Xu Musen''s back. "What did you write?" "You can look when you get back," she said with a rare touch of shyness in her voice. Xu Musen couldn''t help but smile. He turned around and saw a ck business car had stopped at the corner of the street behind him at some point. Aunt Xiang got out of the car. She smiled at Xu Musen and An Nuannuan. "Alright, go home and prepare for the college entrance exam well, and I''lle find you to hang outter," she said. Xu Musen was also relieved. An Nuannuan nodded reluctantly, watching her figure disappear before slowly turning around. Aunt Xiang walked over. She gently touched Nuannuan''s head and looked in the direction Xu Musen had left, having heard the conversation between the two of them. She realized she had underestimated the situation. This person, though sly and somewhat bold, was still trustworthy in terms of character. And as for his words, true to his past as a smooth-talker, they always felt sofortable. Looking down at Nuannuan''s reluctant eyes, she smiled. "Nuannuan, let''s go home," she said. "Mhm~" Chapter 49: Chapter 49 Boys also need to protect themselves! The crowd was bustling. The school gate was lined with cars, and everyone has a sense ofpetition. Students whose parents pick them up in fancy cars are always the envy of their ssmates. The parents are grinning from ear to ear. For example, Zhang Xingxing''s father would show up in a suit and leather shoes to pick up his kid, but really, he was there to check out Zhang Yuxi''s mother On the street, most parked cars were family vehicles priced around one hundred thousand, and those slightly over two hundred thousand were considered quite decent. As for BBA, those truly weren''t for the average family. Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue stood at the school gate. A red BMW drove down the street, immediately drawing the attention of many onlookers. The car stopped at the gate, the door opened, and out stepped a mature woman dressed in a light red printed cheongsam and draped in a red silk shawl. Liu Rushuang was like a fully bloomed, luxurious peony, with the cheongsam perfectly outlining her alluring curves. Although she was already a mother, her skin was still as fair as a young girl''s, her features more pronounced, emanating the unique intellectual charm of a mature woman. "Ming Yue, Xiaosen!" She smiled and waved at the two of them. At that moment, many students and parents couldn''t help but look over. Yao Mingyue was famously known as the campus beauty at school. They also knew that Yao Mingyue''s mother was equally gorgeous, remembering the time she came for a parent-teacher meeting. By the second parent-teacher meeting, the fathers who usually were reluctant to attend were suddenly very proactive. Even the mothers were envious and secretly studied Liu Rushuang''s fashion. Xu Musen had to admit, his ex-mother-inw possessed significant personal charm. "Long time no see, have you missed me? Ah, Xiaosen, you seem to be getting more handsome." Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue approached the car, and Liu Rushuang reached out to pat their heads one by one. Yao Mingyue saw his mother''s hand on his head and subconsciously took a step forward between them, "Mom, let''s go home first." "Sure, tonight let''s go out for dinner together." Liu Rushuang cheerfully tapped her daughter''s forehead with a smile. They got into the car. The inside was filled with a refreshing fragrance, indeed it was morefortable to blow the air conditioning in the car during the summer heat. Upon entering the car, Yao Mingyue took off her shoes. Her white cotton socks were still spotlessly clean. She wore a pleated skirt today and slowly began to take off her socks. Her fair thighs were exposed, tempting like a popsicle on a hot summer day. After removing her socks, she casually tossed them aside, revealing her plump, fair toes. Unlike An Nuannuan, her feet weren''t as small and delicate, but they had an even more beautiful flow of lines. They were exactly the type suited for wearing high heels. If one had to make aparison, An Nuannuan would be a delicate dessert, whereas Yao Mingyue would be an elegant French meal. The space in the car was only so big, making it hard for Xu Musen to look away. The corners of Yao Mingyue''s mouth curved slightly, as she stepped into the slippers provided in the car, deliberately stretching out her toes as if they were greeting Xu Musen. "Ming Yue, be a bit more aware of your image. Taking your shoes off as soon as you get in the car, look how red Xiaosen''s face has gotten from the smell." Liu Rushuang drove and peered through the rearview mirror, teasing with a smile. Xu Musen coughed awkwardly and silently diverted his gaze to the window outside. He knew his ex-mother-inw was a very talkative person. After all, now she single-handedly managed apany C it was easy for her to impress young people. Yao Mingyue huffed, her cheeks slightly reddened, but defiantly she lifted her toes, "My feet aren''t smelly. They are even more fragrant than the hands of someone who likes to squeeze legs." She lowered her voice on thest part, making sure it was heard by a particr someone. Xu Musen looked out at the sky, so blue. "Both of your uniforms have each other''s names on them. It seems like you two got along pretty well while I was away," Liu Rushuangmented, the names clearly visible on the two white school uniforms. "It was him who took the initiative to sign; I just let him do it." Yao Mingyue said, holding her arms and speaking with a hint of pride. "But you didn''t let anyone else sign your name. By the looks of it, the two of you have the best rtionship, each being someone special to the other." Liu Rushuang always seemed to be assisting them, intentionally or unintentionally. Being spoken about so directly made Yao Mingyue blush a little. She couldn''t help but turn to look at Xu Musen. But when she looked, she noticed there seemed to be some writing on the back of Xu Musen as well. Yao Mingyue''s first thought was whether it could be He Qiang. But it looked too neat and elegant, and there seemed to be two patterns; it didn''t seem like something that burly guy could write. Another silhouette emerged in her mind... She frowned, propped her body up, and couldn''t help but want to lean in closer to get a better look, but just then, the car came to a sudden stop. Yao Mingyue''s hand slipped, and she involuntarily plunged into Xu Musen''s embrace. Xu Musen instinctively stretched out his arms to wrap around her waistit was just too familiar to him from their past life. Xu Musen''s arm automatically fitted perfectly around her slim waist, and his other hand almost instinctively started to stroke it... At that moment, the scents and heat from their bodies mixed together, even though the air conditioning was on. Nevertheless, a high temperature rose instantly between them. The warmth in Xu Musen''s embrace made Yao Mingyue''s heart, which she had been restraining, beat wildly. Her first reaction was not to leave his embrace. Instead, she snuggled closer into it. Yikes... was that his abs she felt, so firm against her? His familiar scent and warmth evoked all sorts of restless thoughts that she had suppressed in her heart. Moreover, she could feel the natural grip Xu Musen had on her, the familiar ease of his hold. Right, they were meant to be together! Hehehe... She almost couldn''t suppress a smitten giggle. At this moment, Xu Musen also realized what was happeningdamn these conditioned reflexes! He hurriedly tried to extricate Yao Mingyue from his embrace, but noticed she was clinging to his clothes. She even made an excited, tremorous sound, which made Xu Musen feel his situation was quite dangerous! Holy crap! Did I just get taken advantage of?! "There was a car that made a sudden U-turn and hit the brakes. Are you two okay..." Liu Rushuang turned around, just in time to see the two embracing. She narrowed her eyes as she observed them. Xu Musen finally managed to pull her out of his arms. But by then, Yao Mingyue had regained herposure, elegantly straightening her hair. "It''s fine, just an ident, no need to apologize to me." Xu Musen: ??? So this is her ''ying the victim'' passive skill, right? "Aww, you two are childhood sweethearts; you even used to sleep in each other''s arms every day as kids. It''s good that you''re not hurt." Liu Rushuang spoke cheerfully. Xu Musen was speechless. He turned to look at Yao Mingyue, whose cheeks were still flushed. Then he looked down at his own shirt that was slightly lifted, revealing some of his abs. Xu Musen took a deep breath. Boys need to protect themselves too! Chapter 50: The 50th mother-daughter bathroom conversation. (Please follow and read!) The college entrance examination was imminent, and both Xu''s father and mother rushed back home today despite being busy. The two families gathered at Xu Musen''s house to have a meal together. Liu Rushuang and Xu''s mother chatted andughed as they busied themselves in the kitchen. Their conversation always revolved around Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue, asionally mentioning the changes in the two of them. Xu''s mother was all smiles. Because during this period, her son indeed had changed dramatically. His academic improvement had been rapid; he was no longer so dull-witted. He visited the store every Sunday, and he showed more concern for them as parents. Especially the little game Xu Musen developed himself, and the promotion of his short videos. Ever since he shotmercials for several nearby shops, customer flow had surged dramatically, and almost every day, small business owners woulde to the store wanting Xu Musen to shoot one for them too. Although he had not charged any money yet, his mother knew her son wellhe was quite crafty now and she was certain he wouldn''t suffer any losses. Liu Rushuang was also aware of this matter. She was very surprised by the changes in Xu Musen during this time; in many ways, he seemed like a different person. Moreover, she had an intuition that the rtionship between her daughter and Xu Musen had quietly changed. Emotions can quickly change a boy. But ording to what she currently felt, it seemed her daughter was a bit at a disadvantage... Her eyes shifted, observing her daughter who was behaving very obediently and helping with serving the dishes, her gaze lingering. At this moment, Xu Musen had also taken off his jacket under the light. He finally saw the message An Nuannuan had left for him. "An Nuannuan, the best friend." The handwriting exuded a kind of cuteness; Xu Musen couldn''t help but smile. How could it feel so much like "humanity''s bestpanion"? Above the handwriting, there was a small dog and cat icon, both sketched simply. A dog and a cat snuggled up together, both looking very happy. Very childish, but Xu Musen felt warmth in his heart. Indeed, Nuannuan was very thoughtful. His soft murmur was just heard by Yao Mingyue, who was passing by with a te. Yao Mingyue nced over and through the crack of the room''s door, she also saw the school uniform Xu Musen was holding in his hands. The cat and dog huddled together, and that phrase, the best... You and he are the best??!! What about me? It was me who was with him first! Yao Mingyue bit her teeth together in an instant; she had already guessed who the other person was. She clenched the steaming sweet and sour ribs so tightly that her fingers turned white, and it seemed as if ayer of dark mist rose in her eyes. Her gaze shifted to the colorful sweet and sour ribs in her hand, then back to the school uniform in his hands. The only crazy thought in her mind right now was to ssh the ribs over and smear all those words away! But at that moment, Xu Musen lifted the school uniform, gazing at the signature Yao Mingyue had left. "I, Yao Mingyue." Simple, domineering. Initially, Xu Musen pretty much liked her bossinessthe big-sister vibe. After all, what man hasn''t fantasized about being swept off his feet by a dominant older woman? But everything in moderation. A little indulgence boosts mood, too much brings ruin. If only she had been normal, maybe their ending would have been different... Xu Musen looked at her handwriting, sighing for a long time. It was also the hint of regret andplexity that flitted across his face that caused Yao Mingyue to stop in her tracks. That''s how a sickly sweetheart ishard to fully satisfy, yet easy to appease. She clenched her teeth tightly, the sweet and sour ribs still radiating warmth in her hand, and she slowly turned around. Xu Musen''s body would be hers in the future, and she would not allow him to be burned... It was just an article of clothing. Yao Mingyue narrowed her eyes, for she would gain much more! ... Dinner time. Xu Musen kept feeling that Yao Mingyue was looking at him with a cold gaze, wondering how he had offended her again. "We haven''t eaten together in so long; Yunxia''s cooking is still the best. I see Xiaoyue has put on weight staying at your ce over the past month," Liu Rushuang chatted amiably, praising. Xu''s mother was also smiling happily, "Hardly, they''re just some home-cooked dishes. As long as Ming Yue likes to eat them, that''s good. Now, Ming Yuees over to help me every Sunday; the child is bing more and more endearing." "Xiaosen is also really good. Look, he''s be more handsome recently, and his studies have improved too. It seems they should spend more time together for mutual learning and quicker progress." "Haha, after all, they''ve grown up together, they naturally understand each other well." "Yes, in the future, they should always help each other out..." The parents'' conversation kept hinting at something. Listened to this, Yao Mingyue''s face grew increasingly red. Xu Musen quietly focused on eating his meal. It is only with financial independence that one can talk about personal freedom. The road to escape from the easy life of a kept man is long and arduous... After finishing the meal. The two families chatted for a while, encouraging the kids before heading off to rest. Yao Mingyue and her mother returned to their vi. Yao Mingyue headed to the bathroom for a showerthe vi''s bathroom naturally had a soaking tub and a steam room, and it was exceptionally spacious. Yao Mingyue now changed out of her clothes, looking at herself in the mirror. Her body proportions were almost perfect. Where there should be curves, she didn''t skimp, and where she should be slim, there wasn''t an ounce of extra fat. She stepped into the tub, letting the warm water envelop her. Suddenly, she remembered the scene in the car when she fell into Xu Musen''s arms, that feeling of being tightly embraced... it was truly addictive. And his instinctive action of holding her tight as if he had hugged her countless times before. She could feel, at the very least on a physical level, that he definitely liked her. But why did it always seem like he was avoiding something... As she was lost in her thoughts, the bathroom door opened. "Ming Yue, Mommy''sing in." Liu Rushuang was now wrapped in a bath towel and slowly walked into the bathroom. Her equally tall figure appeared just as supple as a young girl''s under the bathroom steam. Moreover, she was like a blossoming flower of wealth, fully exuding the charm and elegance of a woman. "Mom, I''m about to take a bath..." "So am I. We haven''t bathed together in so long, you wouldn''t scorn your mother, would you?" Liu Rushuang feigned an injured expression, but her steps towards the tub were light and brisk. Yao Mingyue looked at her mother''s unfairly good figure, then down at herself... Was this the difference between excellence and perfection? Liu Rushuang also slowly entered the water, letting out a pleased sound. "Home is still the best ce, huh~ Xiaoyue, how have things been with Xiaosentely?" "What do you mean how? It''s still the same." Yao Mingyue turned her head away, but her gaze remained fixed on her mother. It''s floating... "Heehee, you can''t fool your mother. You did it on purpose, staying in his arms in the car, didn''t you?" Liu Rushuang propped her chin, her mature and elegant voice paired with her frank words causing Yao Mingyue''s face to redden significantly. "I did not..." "Is that so? You were as red-faced then as you are now, yet still so stubborn." Liu Rushuangughed heartily, poking her daughter''s cheek. Yao Mingyue snorted and turned her head away. Then Liu Rushuang spoke again, "You''ve always been too cautious since you were little, especially after that incident, and your personality became too twisted. You want to obtain, yet fear losing. But you have to understand, if you don''t express yourself clearly, no one will wait for you forever." Yao Mingyue listened, clenching her small fists, "Why should he not wait for me, when he was the one who promised me before!" Liu Rushuang shook her head with a smile, "But you also need to know that people are like flowers. Too little water and they''ll wilt, too much and they''ll drown. Moderation is best." As she spoke, she watched her daughter''s furrowed brow andughed softly. "Actually, I feel Xiaosen still has you in his heart. The first step to getting someone is to leave a deep impression on them, whether good or bad. It''s like nting a seedling. But if you don''t tend to it by watering and fertilizing, it might just get eaten up by some other little bug." Yao Mingyue pondered this, imagining a plump little worm in her mind... Liu Rushuang stretched her waist, leaningfortably against the edge of the tub, her long legs causing ripples in the warm water. "In short, while being mindful of the right measure, you also need to learn to take some initiative. Musen grew up in front of me too. You''re both about to go to college, and it''s normal to want to date. I''m not worried." Liu Rushuang looked at her daughternowadays, the family wasn''t short on money, what theycked was someone who could provide her daughter with a sense of security. Many thoughts flickered through Yao Mingyue''s eyes. However, Liu Rushuang couldn''t imagine just how stubborn her own daughter''s heart had be. She truly wanted her daughter to be with the person she liked. A little scheming in love is normalwho doesn''t use some tricks when courting someone? But the healthy advice Liu Rushuang served up, Yao Mingyue always managed to turn it into a weird line of thought. Her eyes gradually became determined. She nodded silently and then suddenly nced at her mother''s bath towel floating on the water''s surface... "Mom." "Hmm?" "I wanted to ask if it''s always been like this for you..." Liu Rushuang was momentarily startled. Silly girl, I advised you to win his heart, not his body! Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Come Out and Have Fun! There Are Girls! (Please follow!) Only two days left until the National College Entrance Examination. All over the country, people are making way for the students taking the exam. Many taxis and some private cars by the roadside have started tying red ribbons, waiting to provide free rides for students on the day of the exam. Education is the foundation of a country, and every nation ces immense importance on its studentsthese are also the days when students receive the highest treatment. Many students havee to check out the examination venues in advance. More than ten years of hard study, all for this moment. All hotels and guesthouses within five kilometers of the school have been fully booked. Musen and Ming Yue are at the same examination venue, but it''s in another district. Going back and forth would be more than ten kilometers, and on the day of the exam, traffic is sure to be heavy; shuttling back and forth would be out of the question. Both families were eating breakfast together, still discussing the preparations for the two children''s exams. "I see that the hotels in these areas are all booked; how about we book something a bit further away or find a small guesthouse to stay in?" Musen''s parents didn''t expect that as soon as the exam venue was announced, all the hotels would already be full. "That won''t do; small guesthouses can''t guarantee sanitary conditions. What if the child catches a cold, or the noise means they don''t rest well? It could affect the exam." As they were discussing, Ru Shuang smiled and spoke up. "Don''t worry; I''ve already booked in advance, right across from the examination venue." "Didn''t they sayst night that everything was already full?" Musen''s mother asked. Ru Shuang smiled and took many room cards out of her bag: "I booked rooms in hotels near several examination points half a month ago." Looking at the stack of room cards. Musen couldn''t help but inwardlyment the damn power of money and the sense of security it brought. His ex-mother-inw was always thorough and full of a sense of security in her actions; Ming Yue''s dominant CEO styleter on wasrgely learned from her mother. It''s just that she learned it a bit askew. "How much did all this cost..." Musen''s mother said a bit embarrassedly. Ru Shuangughed, "Don''t worry about it, the hotels would be d for me to cancel a room, and I might even make some extra." Of course, she didn''t care about this bit of money. Musen''s gaze turned to Ming Yue. As a daughter, she was still green; if she had some of Ru Shuang''s tactics, in his past life, he might have been even more firmly in her grasp... Meanwhile, Ming Yue was also looking at those two room cards, seemingly pondering something. After eating, Ru Shuang took them to see the hotel and the examination venue. When they arrived, many parents had already brought their children over. Actually, there''s not much to see; after all, they can''t enter the school, they can only check out the location map posted outside. It was rare for Ru Shuang toe back for two days, so she took Musen''s mother and Ming Yue out for some shopping and beauty SPA treatments. Musen stayed home analyzing backend data, as these days many people were seeking to coborate with him. Several shops that had already tasted sess were thinking of renewing their contracts. And the offers were one higher than the other. If Musen could seize the opportunity this summer, he could really earn his first big bucket of gold. "Ding~" A message popped up on his phone. He Qiang: "The examination locations were announced today; I''m at No. 9 Middle School. Do you want toe and have a look with me?" Musen: "There''s not much to see; just make sure you have a room booked. The venue is only sorge; you can''t get lost." In the heat of summer, it''s better to lie down at home than to wander around. Just then, another message popped up. Nuannuan: "Musen, the teacher said the examination venues were announced today; do you think I should go check it out?" Musen nced at the message he had just politely declined his buddy and immediately replied, "Of course, you can check it out; it''s important to familiarize yourself with the examination venue. How will you get there, do you need me to pick you up?" "Yeah, sure!" Nuannuan also replied cheerfully, adding a bunny emoji hugging a carrot and nodding its head. As Musen changed clothes, he thought to himself. His buddy is fast on his feet and could find his examination spot without going to the school. But Nuannuan is in a wheelchair; how could she not familiarize herself with the examination venue a bit earlier? It was all for the sake of what''s right in his heart! Xu Musen sauntered out of his house, and it didn''t take long before he arrived at An Nuannuan''s doorstep. An Nuannuan had been waiting for a while, waving at him from inside the yard. To his surprise, the one who opened the door was her younger sister. This little girl liked to clutch her pear blossom wooden stick, and though she had opened the door, she still eyed him warily. But this time, her big eyes nced down at Xu Musen''s hand, seemingly expectant. However, seeing that his hands were empty, she immediately let out a disappointed humph. "You''re here." Aunt Xiang walked out from the room and greeted Xu Musen. "Hello, Auntie. The examination locations were announced today, and I wanted to go with Nuannuan to familiarize ourselves with the site." "Nuannuan told me about it. Please, take good care of her and pay attention to safety on the way." Aunt Xiang nodded with a smile. Xu Musen turned to An Nuannuan, "Which examination room are you in?" An Nuannuan took out her admission ticket and checked, "The Ninth Middle School." Why does that sound so familiar? Eh, isn''t He Qiang''s examination site also the Ninth Middle School? "Alright, it''s not far from here. We can just take the bus and be there quickly." Xu Musen was about to apany An Nuannuan to leave, but the little girl suddenly stood in their way. Her fair little face was raised, cheeks flushed, "I want to go too!" She walked over and clung to one of An Nuannuan''s arms, pleading cutely, "Sister, you promised to y with me during your holiday..." As she spoke, her bright eyes asionally nced at Xu Musen, "And I need to protect my sister from the bad guys." Xu Musen looked up at the sky with a helpless smile. The mind of a child is indeed very simple. When they were younger, they would cry if their mother didn''t hold them. Anyone who takes away the person they like is a bad guy. An Nuannuan patted her head, "No, he''s a good guy, actually." "Sister, let me go out with you, please? I promise I''ll behave." Hope shone in An Nannan''s eyes. An Nuannuan was very fond of her younger sister and looked at Xu Musen. "I don''t mind," said Xu Musen with a smile, his gaze turning to Aunt Xiang. "Then I''m leaving her in your care." Even Aunt Xiang nodded in agreement. It was rare for the two kids to be so eager to go out, they would probably have more fun with someone their own age. Xu Musen looked at this mischievous little girl and somehow felt like he was taking care of a child... which was a bit of a headache. Suddenly, a thought crossed Xu Musen''s mind. He grabbed his phone and sent a message to one of his good buddies. "Qiang Zi, I''ve thought it over, and I can''t bear to let you go alone. Come on, I''ll apany you to check out your examination site." He Qiang replied promptly, "Cut the crap! I''ve seen the examination site list the teacher sent out An Nuannuan and I are at the same site. Are you over there trying to meet up with her and just making excuses to me?" Xu Musen, "Would I do that?" He Qiang, "Wouldn''t you?" Xu Musen, "Alright then, forget it. I actually have a youngdy here and was thinking of inviting her over for a stroll." A few secondster. He Qiang, "Bro! Wait for me, I''ll be there in a bit." Xu Musen chuckled. After all, they were teenage boys, and it seemed their eternal fortitude to resist temptations wasn''t quite there yet. So, twenty minutester. The four of them met up at a milk tea shop near the Ninth Middle School. He Qiang looked at An Nannan, who was happily sipping her milk tea. Are we sure she''s not a primary school student? His already dark face grew darker. He turned to look at his smiling buddy. "This... This is the ''youngdy'' you were talking about?!" Chapter 52: Chapter 52 Another Little Rich Lady? (Please follow!) "Xu Musen! Are you hitting on girls and making me babysit for you?" He Qiang looked at the little girl, who was about the same age as his cousin. Where''s the girl he was promised? How did it turn into a little sister? Xu Musenughed, "Just say, isn''t she young?" "I''m done, not ying anymore." He Qiang turned around, ready to leave. "Two realistic fishing lures." Xu Musen spoke calmly with a smile. In a fraction of a second, He Qiang ran back with a full smile on his face. "Bro! It''s nothing else, just ying with a kid, right? That''s my specialty, go ahead with your business!" He Qiang patted his chest, even more excited than when he was told there would be girls. This guy could adapt to any situation, surely he would achieve something great! "Hello little sister, what''s your name?" He Qiang greeted An Nannan warmly. But An Nannan shrank back next to her sister, her face full of wariness, "Sister, howe you know an African too?" He Qiang: ... Really, when will you sisters be done? "No, his name is He Qiang, just call him Little ck Brother," An Nuannuan exined earnestly. The color on He Qiang''s face darkened even more, so you knew my name all along but deliberately called me by a nickname, right? Xu Musenughed and patted He Qiang''s shoulder, "Nicknames are so much more endearing." He Qiang rolled his eyes and couldn''t be bothered to retort. The four of them strolled around Jiuzhong school, looking at theyout of the examination rooms inside and the walls adorned with many past graduates who made it into prestigious universities. He Qiang clicked his tongue twice and said, "I heard Jiuzhong had a love-struck puppy who made a public confession over the broadcast, even louder than your fuss, seems like hisst name was Xu too. Does your Xu family all have a bit of a puppy love gene?" "Beat it." Xu Musen was uncertain. Those were people who loved deeply, how could they be called love-struck puppies? It''s only puppy love if you can''t get the love you seek, but if you seed, you''re a wolf of war! After looking at the school, Xu Musen didn''t ask An Nuannuan if she stayed at a hotel; given her family''s wealth, to think they couldn''t book a hotel would anger them enough to buy a house right there on the spot. Moreover, An Nuannuan wasn''t really here for checking out the examination site. Both being top students, their grades were already set in stone. By noon, Xu Musen looked down and asked An Nuannuan, "Are you hungry? What would you like to eat?" "I want to eat that stinky noodle fromst time." An Nuannuan said expectantly. "That''s called ''luosifen,''" Xu Musen smiled and nodded. It was also a good chance to see how their promotion was doing at the shop. The four of them took the bus, with An Nannan looking like she was riding it for the first time; the rocking bus seemed amusing to her as she wobbled along. She was like a little tiger, darting protectively towards strangers who came close to her sister. But with her small frame, any bump made her unsteady, almost falling into Xu Musen''s arms, then she would re at Xu Musen, her face flushed, shing her teeth. Her tiny sharp white teeth, along with her childish stubbornness, were unexpectedly cute. They arrived at themercial street. All sorts of snacks along the way enticed An Nannan to the point she could hardly move on. Fried skewers, grilled sausages, candied hawthorns, takoyaki, roasted cold noodles, fried rice cakes... Is this heaven? An Nannan''s mouth watered at the thought, she''d seen ssmates with them at school, but her grandmother always said these were junk foods, and she still needed to grow, so she couldn''t eat them. But they smelled so good. Xu Musen watched the excited little girl shaking her ponytail vigorously, looking just like An Nuannuan when she first started going out. They arrived at the front of the luosifen shop. The shop''s sign and mouthwatering red-oil photos lit up An Nannan''s eyes. But then, a gust of wind carrying the luosifen''s aroma made the little girl''s face twist in distaste. She covered her nose, and seeing them about to walk in, she hurried over and tugged at Xu Musen''s sleeve. "You jerk! Are you going to make my sister eat poop?!" The little girl''s voice carried through the restaurant, nearly causing the patrons deeply enjoying their food to spray their noodles out. The owner''s brows jumped, wondering who hade to cause a scene. But upon lifting his head and seeing it was Xu Musen, his face immediately brightened with joy. Xu Musen couldn''t help butugh. An Nuannuan patted her sister''s head, showing off with a serious face, "This is called snail rice noodles, they smell stinky but taste really delicious." "Hey, isn''t that young Xu? Come in, have a seat." The enthusiastic owner greeted them and had them sit down, quickly serving four bowls of snail rice noodles. He even generously added extra pickled bamboo shoots as a topping. "Sister, with so many delicious options outside, why do we have to eat this..." The little girl''s face was filled with conflict as she mustered the courage to sniff the noodles; the smell was indeed hard to ept. An Nuannuan picked up a strand of noodles. "Sis..." The little girl wore a look that pleaded with her sister not to do this. But An Nuannuan went ahead with her chopsticks, feeding the noodles to her little sister. "Mmm! ... Huh?" The little girl''s expression went from rejection to shock, and from shock to her eyes lighting up! So good! An Nuannuan''s disy of rare affection made her smile as she watched her sister gobble down the meal. Xu Musen couldn''t help but smile at this scene, especially at An Nuannuan''s smile. In this moment, she lost her usual cluelessness and even gave off a vibe of a gentle big sister. The little girl''s appetite was just like An Nuannuan''s; despite her small frame, she managed to wolf down arge bowl of snail rice noodles. "I''ll go pay the bill," Xu Musen said, standing up. "Wait a minute!" An Nannan, with chili oil still on her lips, suddenly spoke up, "My grandma said, you can''t take advantage of others when you''re out! I''ll pay." "What can a primary school student have in terms of money?" He Qiang remarked from the side. In his memory, having ten bucks on him during his elementary school days was considered a huge amount. But the next moment, his eyes bulged in surprise. An Nannan opened her little crossbody bag, revealing a thick stack of red banknotes inside, not a single green one to be seen! That gotta be at least five figures, right? She took out a few notes, "Is this enough?" He Qiang: ... Feeling the meager change in his pocket, his spirit took a ten-thousand-point hit! Damn! Another little rich girl?! "Enough, it''s enough..." He Qiang was on the verge of tears, feeling utterly outdone byparison. At this point, the owner, hearing themotion, also came over and said, "Don''t worry about paying, this meal is on me. I haven''t had a chance to thank you yet." Xu Musen exchanged a few courteous words with the owner, and as they were leaving, he still quietly left the money behind. When ites to favors, it''s best not to owe even the slightest bit. "Did the owner really not take the money?" An Nannan walked out of the restaurant, still looking at Xu Musen with a bit of skepticism. "Of course. A handsome guy like me can pay with a smile," Xu Musen joked, pinching his chin. "Psh... you''re not even as good-looking as my sister," An Nannan huffed, not convinced. An Nuannuan herself felt her face grow warm. Xu Musen lowered his head to look at An Nuannuan''s delicately flushed cheeks, and their eyes met for a moment. "Well, of course, if I''m a handsome eighty out of a hundred, then ssmate Nuannuan is a stunning ny-nine, deducting one point so you won''t be too arrogant," he said with augh. Hispliment made An Nuannuan''s simple and cute face turn an unusual shade of red. An Nannan and He Qiang were taken aback. In this rather reserved era, they had never heard someonepliment a girl in such a way. An Nannan couldn''t help but give this guy another look. Actually... he was indeed kind of handsome. Indeed, grandma was right; boys are deceivers, especially the better-looking they are, the more they lie! She clenched her little fists, determined to keep a close eye on her sister so this guy wouldn''t trick her away! Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Im a bit dizzy. Many snack shops on Snack Street had shotmercials. As soon as they saw Xu Musen and his group, they were immediately greeted with enthusiasm, and were offered snacks to eat as they pleased. The two sisters hadn''t stopped eating along the way, and An Nannan''s originally wary little eyes also started to clear up, happily shaking her ponytails as she ate. At the same time, she would asionally sneak nces at Xu Musen. Everyone on the street was very enthusiastic towards him, even offering them all sorts of delicious snacks for free. In the little girl''s mind, this was something incredibly impressive... Her small head even shed with some thoughts for a moment. If he could take her and her sister out every day, does that mean she could eat so many delicious snacks every day? But the next moment, she shook her little head vigorously. No, no! How could she betray her own sister for just a little bit of food? Her little face wore an expression of lingering fear, and when she looked at Xu Musen, she wrinkled her little nose. This enchanting demon! "Want to eat, huh? Here, you have it." Realizing he was the focus of her gaze, Xu Musen thought she was craving the roasted sweet potato he was holding and handed it to her with a smile. An Nannan''s grin instantly brightened; she twitched her little nose, nced at his sunny smile, and pursed her chubby little lips... To protect her sister from this guy''s temptation, from now on, the "temptation" of this demon could only be borne by her! She took the roasted sweet potato, took a big bite, and immediately her eyes squinted in bliss. Afterward, the three of them passed by a mall, where the entrance to the electronic entertainment arcade caught their attention. The four walked over and approached the counter to exchange for game tokens. An Nannan opened her little purse, imitating the person in front of her, she took out a hundred-yuan bill, and spread it out on the counter. She was on her tiptoes due to her short height, her bright big eyes making her look endearing. In a crisp voice, she said, "Some game tokens, and two tubs of popcorn!" This scene made onlookers reminisce about a character from a work of fiction. The counterdy was also beaming, exchanging the tokens and two tubs of popcorn, filling them to the brim for her. Then, holding the game tokens in her small hand, she put some in her pocket and gave the other half to Xu Musen. "Here you go." It was as if she was settling her debt for the snacks she just had. The arcade wasrge, its dazzling array of equipment catching one''s eye. Every time An Nuannuan wanted to join Xu Musen in a game, the little girl would squeeze in. Xu Musen had no choice but to give up his ce, resignedly. After ying for a while, An Nuannuan saw the basketball game machine and her eyes lit up; she tugged at Xu Musen''s sleeve, "I want to y this." Xu Musen looked and understood; during PE ss, she would always watch others y sports. Always sitting in a wheelchair, she truly envied the feeling of being able to hop and jump around ying basketball. "Okay." Just as Xu Musen was about to insert coins, An Nannan rushed over, "Sister, I want to y this with you!" Saying so, An Nannan started tossing basketballs into the hoop, but out of ten throws, only two went in. "Ah, I''m so clumsy" An Nannan turned back, looking for constion from her sister. An Nuannuan just smiled and stroked her head. Xu Musen looked contemtive, then winked at He Qiang. Initially, He Qiang was unwilling, but after seeing the two fingers Xu Musen held up, he cleared his throat and approached the little lightbulb, An Nannan. "Hey little sister, want topete against big brother for a bit of fun?" An Nannan was reluctant to leave her sister, but when she heard about thepetition, herpetitive spirit was ignited. With kids, a little provocation always did the trick. "Just you?" she said, tilting up her chin. "Well, well!" He Qiang rolled up his sleeves, ready to show his gaming prowess. He might not be richer than her, but when it came to games, the ace shot in the transport industry wasn''t afraid of anyone! "If I lose, I''ll call you ''sister''!" "Deal!" The little girl hummed and beganpeting with He Qiang on the surrounding gaming equipment. Xu Musen sighed to himself, realizing his buddy was truly reliable when needed. "Nuannuan, let me teach you how to y this," he said. "Okay!" An Nuannuan held the basketball, aiming at the hoop which was only a meter or two away. But she aimed for a long time and, summoning her strength, she threw. Thud, it didn''t even touch the. An Nuannuan puffed her cheeks, and Xu Musen couldn''t help but chuckle, "Let me teach you. Actually, if you''re not shooting urately, you can try the motion of holding a chamber pot and throwing it out..." As Xu Musen spoke, he gently stretched out his hand and gave An Nuannuan a demonstration. She tried several times but still couldn''t make the shot and looked at Xu Musen with a bit of grievance, holding the ball. "Let me help you." Xu Musen bent down behind her and gently lifted her arms, which were as soft as if they had no bones at all. Xu Musen leaned in close to her ear, gently adjusting the direction of her arms, while exining the technique of shooting. However, An Nuannuan felt a warmth at her ear at that moment, his voice lingering, and she always felt a kind of... strange sensation. She turned to look at Xu Musen''s profile, clean and bright, with not a hint of greasiness, veryforting to look at. "Come." At that moment, Xu Musen spoke, controlling her arms to throw the ball. "Ding~" Score! Watching the basketball drop urately into the. An Nuannuan''s dazed, peach blossom eyes blinked happily, her cheeks slightly pink, "I want to y again." "Then try it yourself like I taught you just now." But An Nuannuan seemed a bit disappointed and said oh with the ball in her hands for a second or two, then looked towards Xu Musen, "Could you teach me one more time?" "Of course, no problem." Xu Musen bent down again, and An Nuannuan''s unique baby-soft scent entered Xu Musen''s nostrils, making him feel especially at ease as well. An Nuannuan aimed at the hoop; this time she took the initiative, putting force into her throw. "Ding~" Another ball in! "Xu Musen, you were really urate," said An Nuannuan happily, looking up at him. Xu Musen coughed, whatever vulgar words he had in mind. And as she looked up like that, a bit of her corbone showed through the gap in her clothing. Hmm... She definitely has a natural talent for ball games. Xu Musen quickly turned his head, "Then you go ahead and y by yourself." "And you?" "I''m getting a bit dizzy from the ball." As he said this, Xu Musen deliberately missed two shots, taking a drink of water to shift his attention. Meanwhile, He Qiang was breaking into a sweat on the other side, as he and An Nannan also yed the basketball game. Though An Nannan had been quite weak before, she managed to get nine out of ten balls in this time! He Qiang, however, only made three or four shots, his dark face turning red with frustration. "Haha, you lost!" "This... I just don''t like ying basketball. Dare to try something else?" "Hmph, who''s afraid of whom!" Both of them acted like children, starting to y other things. Xu Musen watched the spirited little girl and shook his head with a smile, but his sleeve was tugged again. An Nuannuan started to speak somewhat hesitantly. "Xu Musen, actually, my sister is very well-behaved. Just now she only..." "She was just trying to spare your feelings as her older sister, so she rushed to shoot the ball and even intentionally missed, right?" Xu Musen said with an understanding smile. An Nuannuan was also holding the basketball, nodding at his smile. "Don''t worry, I''m not that petty. Plus, for her to think that way is really sensible and cute. She''s worthy of being Nuannuan''s sister." Xu Musen''s voice was warm, and he took the opportunity topliment An Nuannuan as well. An Nuannuan''s eyes sparkled softly, and hearing such words, her little heart seemed to skip a beat. Clutching the basketball, she looked at him again, "What about you? Were you also going easy on me just now?" Xu Musen coughed, as he was really feeling a bit parched, and one more nce would have made him explode. This young body of his was still too sensitive. "Of course not, I''m actually really bad at shooting hoops." Having finished a bottle of water, Xu Musen tossed it casually into a small trash bin three or four meters away in the corner. ng... Right in the basket! "Let''s y something else," he said, turning to point at a gaming machine nearby. An Nuannuan looked at the distance to the trash bin and then at his figure, her usually dazed peach blossom eyes now shimmering. "Liar..." Chapter 54: Chapter 54 When I want to fall in love, I will let you know. In the arcade, Xu Musen and An Nuannuan yed many games, but An Nuannuan''s schrly brain didn''t seem to have a great talent for gaming. However, Xu Musen always let her win, and they ended up having a lot of fun. On the other hand, He Qiang was sweating bullets. Because he realized that this little girl might just be a gaming prodigy! ying shooting games, An Nannan could hit eight or nine out of ten shots. On the motorcycle racing game, she left He Qiang ap and a half behind. In the whack-a-mole, her uracy rate was near perfect! Even in the fishing game, which He Qiang was most proud of, An Nannan caught a golden koi on her first try. "Sis, take me to y games!" He Qiang admitted defeat, yed fair and square, and started calling a little girl ''sister'' when asking for help. The little girl stood with hands on hips, her clean little face raised, a row of small white teeth showing as her proud and crispughter echoed amongst them. Xu Musen and An Nuannuan exchanged nces and couldn''t help but smile, finding the situation quite amusing. By the time they left the arcade, it was already afternoon. After all, An Nannan was just a child, so it was better to send them home early. So, Xu Musen took the sisters on the bus, and He Qiang caught another bus, bidding farewell before setting off on their separate ways. The outside sun was also gradually setting, and the entire sky reflected a golden glow. The summer evening breeze and the gently rocking public bus gave the feeling of dozing off in a rocking chair. Xu Musen suddenly felt a small body pressing close to his own. An Nannan, who was originally holding onto her sister''s wheelchair, was after all just a child. She had run around so much today, had her fill of indulgent food, and yed for so long that now, lulled by the bus, she felt sleepy. A pair of little hands subconsciously sought something to lean on, and ended up hugging Xu Musen''s thigh. The usually clever and quirky little girl looked as innocent and dazed as An Nuannuan when asleep. "Nannan had a lot of fun today," said An Nuannuan softly. "What about you?" Xu Musen asked her with a smile. An Nuannuan lifted her eyes to his, her tender lips curving slightly upwards: "I also had a lot of fun. Thank you for apanying me out." "No need to thank me, we''re friends after all," Xu Musen replied, feeling particrly at ease that day. However, An Nuannuan''s heart suddenly echoed with the words Xu Musen had said before. "If you start dating in the future, we can''t y together every day like this..." An Nuannuan didn''t understand much about dating, but she truly enjoyed the feeling of ying with him. A thought suddenly rose in her head, what if he was the one to start dating first? Would they also not be able to y together anymore? "Xu Musen..." "Hmm?" But An Nuannuan suddenly didn''t know how to ask, hesitating as she pursed her lips, and finally, she slowly began to speak. "If you... start dating in the future, does that mean we can''t y together anymore?" Xu Musen was taken aback: "Why would you ask that?" "You said it yesterday at school," she replied. Xu Musen remembered indeed asking that question. It was just that at that time, Xu Musen felt that he also had some special emotions beyond friendship involved. What was An Nuannuan thinking at this moment? Xu Musen looked into her eyes, the innocent peach-blossom eyes clear but now containing an umon shyness. Forget it, let''s not trouble this simple girl. Xu Musen smiled, and instead of directly answering, he said, "How about this, if I ever want to start dating, I''ll give you a heads-up in advance, how does that sound?" After he finished speaking, he suddenly felt that his words might have an ambiguous undertone. But An Nuannuan seemed particrly satisfied with his answer, nodding her head earnestly and cheerfully. She held up her pinky: "Pinky promise." Xu Musen looked at her for a second or two, smiled, and agreed: "Okay." They made a pinky promise. An Nuannuan, however, did not let go but held onto his pinky, while An Nannan hugged his thigh in a drowsy embrace. These sisters... After getting out of the car, An Nannan was still a bit sleepy, as it''s hard to rouse children once they fall asleep. "Let her sleep a little longer." Xu Musen bent down and the little girl naturally flopped onto his back. He easily hoisted her up, supporting her small behind. With one hand, he pushed the wheelchair, beginning the walk to their home. This scene oddly resembled that of a family of three. As Xu Musen reached the front door of the vi, Aunty Xiang greeted them as if she knew they wereing, already waiting at the entrance. "They must have had a st today." Aunty Xiang looked at the sleeping An Nannan, unable to contain her smile as she gently took An Nannan into her arms. "Thank you for taking care of them. Stay for dinner with us today?" Aunty Xiang invited him. Xu Musen shook his head, "I have to prepare for the college entrance exam tomorrow, and I still need to take care of some things at home tonight." "Alright, then I''ll drive you home." "No need, no need. I''ll just take the bus and I''ll be home in no time. It''s no trouble." Xu Musen declined the offer, waving at An Nuannuan, "Good luck on the college entrance exam." "You too." ... After putting the sisters to bed, Aunty Xiang took out a camera; in fact, she had also been quietly following them around all day. Inside the camera were photos of them ying and eating together. "It''s been so long since I''ve seen them this happy..." Aunty Xiang, looking at the pictures, was smiling tenderly. She picked up thest photoit was of Xu Musen carrying An Nannan and pushing An Nuannuan in the wheelchair, an especially heartwarming sight under the setting sun. She picked up the phone and dialed. "Mr. Liang, Nuannan and Nannan are back. They had a great time, and Nannan even fell asleep from exhaustion. Plus, that boy was quite well-behaved." The voice on the phone was kind, "That''s good, it seems this young man has decent character. After the college entrance exam, let''s fund his project. I''d like to see how far this interesting young man can go." "Understood." ... At this moment, Yao Mingyue was also back home. Upon hearing that Xu Musen had gone out again, she instinctively suspected that he was meeting that girl again. These past days, the thought alone agitated her heart. She opened her wardrobe and took out a shirt with only Xu Musen''s signature. "Life would be perfect if it were like the first encounter..." Yao Mingyue silently recited in her heart, her lips suddenly curving into a smile. At the very least, she had definitely left a deep, unique impression in his heart! With that little seed nted, Yao Mingyue did not believe it wouldn''t sprout! Then, she took out an album. The pictures inside depicted various stages of Xu Musen''s life, from childhood to the present, even including some when he was a bare-bottomed toddler. There were many others, obviously cut from group photos and pasted here by themselves. Yao Mingyue''s face flushed with excitement as she looked at them. She wondered if that guy had improved... And after all, he could only be hers, should he dare to mess around! Suddenly, she grabbed the scissors beside her pillow. Snip, snip! Of course, she picked up the graduation photo she had taken the day before and looked at her ssmates without any emotion. Instead, she cut out the portion with just herself and Xu Musen. Looking at Xu Musen''s expression as he turned to look at her, Yao Mingyue''s cheeks reddened. She pasted the photo of the two of them on a separate page of the album. At the same time, she looked at the two hotel cards on her bedside table, a glint of light shing in her eyes... Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Xu Musen, Can I Spend the Night with You? The night before the national college entrance exam, Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue were sent to the hotel. Their rooms were naturally next to each other. "You two get some good rest, and try your best in the exam tomorrow; we''re going back now," "There are restaurants next door, so remember to eat after your exam, take care of each other, and don''t set the air conditioning too low at night as it''s easy to catch a cold" Xu Musen''s parents and Liu Rushuang had no ns to stay with them for the entire time. The kids were already grown up; they didn''t need constant supervision and would take things seriously on their own. Secondly, having parents around all the time could actually add psychological pressure to the children; it''s better to let them face the exams with a rxed mindset. After giving them a few instructions, they let the two enter the hotel directly. As Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue went upstairs, they found that there were quite a few students from their school in the hotel as well. Seeing the two of them appear together, the others seemed to sense the scent of gossip in the air. Some even guessed if they were staying in the same room or something of the sort. Of course, many boys also looked at Xu Musen with a mix of envy, jealousy, and resentment; after all, being seen with such a beautiful girl at a hotel made them somewhat fanciful. Xu Musen ignored these gazes, as their rooms were indeed separated by only one wall. "Room key." Xu Musen held out his hand, and Yao Mingyue turned to look at him for a few seconds before taking two room keys out of her bag and handing one to him. "Have a good rest tonight." Yao Mingyue said with a smile. Xu Musen took it, even slightly surprised that Yao Mingyue had no other moves. F*ck Got so used to being teased, suddenly acting so serious felt a bit strange. "You too." Since she was polite, Xu Musen responded in kind and went into his room after swiping the card. Yao Mingyue, however, stood in the doorway watching his straightforward action of closing the door, a smile curling at the corner of her mouth. She too opened her door; the hotel booked by Liu Rushuang was naturally high-end, and the room was fully equipped. Yao Mingyue looked around and finally rested her gaze on the smoke detector on the ceiling Xu Musen set down his things and went to take a shower first. As his mobile phone yed music, he sang in the bathroom - even Jacky Cheung would have to step aside. "Ding~" A message tone came from the mobile, Xu Musen touched the foam in front of his eyes, and nced, it was from An Nuannuan. Xu Musen wiped his hands and picked up the phone. An Nuannuan: "Xu Musen, did you go out to stay somewhere today?" Xu Musen: "Yeah, at a hotel near the exam venue. How about you?" "I''m at home. I see many ssmates in the group chat are staying together outside, I''m so envious." "Actually, it''s quite nice to be at home alone." "But they seem to be having such a good time living together Xu Musen, if I were at the same exam site as you, could I have spent the night out with you?" Xu Musen almost didn''t hold his phone steady; what kind of weird wording was this? "Nuannuan, that''s called a friend sleepover, and it has to be with someone of the same sex." "Oh so what are you doing right now?" "Taking a shower." "Oh, then you go ahead and shower. Grandma says you can''t y with your phone while showering, chatting naked will give you a cold." "..." Indeed, fruit chat is even illegal! ... The next morning. The Chinese exam would start at nine, and they were allowed to enter the exam hall at eight thirty. Xu Musen nned to sleep until eight. He had already taken the exam in his past life, so there was nothing to be nervous about. But an early round of knocking on the door woke him up. Groggily getting out of bed to answer the door, Xu Musen found a neatly dressed Yao Mingyue standing outside. "What are you doing here?" Xu Musen asked. In reply, Yao Mingyue''s phoenix eyes seemed to shine a light, scanning over Xu Musen as if she had found her prey. The breeze in the corridor hit him, and Xu Musen finally realized he hadn''t put on a shirt. He hurriedly covered himself, but then he thought, what does a big guy like him have to hide? Yao Mingyue pursed her lips and said with a smile, "I brought you breakfast." She was holding soy milk and steamed buns in her hands. Xu Musen was stunned for a moment. She brought him breakfast on her own initiative? Had the sun risen from the west? Yet Yao Mingyue walked right in and closed the door behind her. Her man couldn''t be gawked at by other wild women. Xu Musen also got dressed, brushed his teeth, and watched Yao Mingyue who was looking around the room. What trick was this little sickly sweetheart up to now? "Auntie was worried you''d oversleep, so she asked me to wake you. The breakfast is provided by the hotel; I just brought it up for you." Yao Mingyue''s voice came as she sat down on Xu Musen''s bed. A fair little hand quietly slipped into the still-warm covers. Boys really are warm, it gets warmer towards the center... hehehe... If she weren''t worried about getting caught, she might even want to crawl in and lie down for a while. Xu Musen finished washing up and came out, only to see Yao Mingyue sitting gracefully on the edge of the bed, the morning light illuminating her fair skin, making it look even more lustrous. Today she was wearing a beige long dress with just a few decorative prints, simple yet youthful. Xu Musen took a bite of the steamed bun and sipped the soy milk. At this critical point, even if this little sickly sweetheart was crazy, she wouldn''t drug him now. Yao Mingyue crossed her legs, revealing a small section of her fair, tender leg from beneath her skirt. One had to admit, Yao Mingyue had a height advantage and liked ying volleyball, so her legs were truly slender withoutcking fleshiness, close to perfection. But her watching him eat like this made Xu Musen feel a bit odd. "What about you?" "I''ve eaten already." Yao Mingyue spoke, resting her chin in her hand as she continued to watch him. Her being so normal made Xu Musen feel rather abnormal. Prepared for the test, entered the examination site. After the security check, stepping back into the battlefield of the college entrance examination, many were nervously rubbing their hands while quite a few stealthily exchanged nces, hoping toter slide their answer sheets towards the edge of the desk. Although they couldn''t see the numbers clearly, they could guess the answers from the pattern of shading on the answer card. They had also figured out a pattern: the quiet girls usually had the best grades, followed by the boys who wore honest-looking ck frame sses. Copying from them was a sure bet. As for the pudgy ones, with a bit of a mustache, crew cuts, and wearing long white socks... those were more likely to be from Nantong. Of course, anything you could think of was just leftover tricks from the test creators. No matter how much you analyzed, the score you''d usually get wouldn''t differ much. But for those who were clueless in math and English, it was the only time during the exam they had to use their brains extensively and match wits with the invigtors. After a session of the test, their eyes were skewed as if they''d been caught in the wind. Xu Musen, who was tall, handsome, and had an aura about him, would by default be considered a student ruffian. After all, if he were this good-looking, he''d definitely be busy dating every day. Aren''t watching girls'' beautiful legs better than looking at test papers? The test papers were handed out, and Xu Musen saw that the questions were indeed the same as the previous year''s first mock exam. Although he couldn''t remember most of the questions, there was not much difficulty for Xu Musen. When the reading time was up, he picked up his pen and began writing swiftly. After just twenty minutes, while others were still frowning at the poetry fill-in section, Xu Musen flipped the page over. In the quiet exam room, even the sound of flipping a page could put pressure on others. They looked at Xu Musen''s back and sneered inwardly. What was he pretending for? Surely, he was just writing nonsense. Forty-something minutester, Xu Musen reached the essay page. Looking at the title "During the early years of the nation when the economy was strained, why did China refuse the olive branch temptations offered by the US and the Soviet Union and persist on an independent sovereignty path? What have you learned from this..." he felt an unusually strong resonance. He picked up his pen with a contemtive face. "To govern a country is like living a life; clinging to powerful thighs will only gradually lead to the loss of sovereignty, bing a vassal without dignity. Be wary of sugar-coated bullets from wealthy (stricken) countries, tempting facades, and maintain your self-worth. Build up the economic wallet, enhance the firepower; only when you are strong can you truly be strong!" Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Accepting breakfast ≠ Accepting you. (Please follow!) The first day of the exams was over. The afternoon subject was mathematics, which was interesting. Students either racked their brains for over two hours, leaving the venue mentally exhausted, or didn''t bother at all, since they wouldn''t know how to do it anyway, and could take an hour''s nap instead. Xu Musen left the examination room, and there stood the graceful figure at the school gate. With a high ponytail and wearing an elegant long dress, she sported a pair of pink canvas shoes on her feet, her fair skin showing a jade-like haze under the afternoon sunlight. Her good figure and extraordinary temperament set her apart in high school. She stood quietly, as if oblivious to the envious nces around her, always with a cold face that kept people at bay. When her gazended on Xu Musen, the iciness on her face melted away instantly, though she was not overly effusive. But the look in someone''s eyes when they care is something that can''t be faked. "How did it go?" Yao Mingyue asked with the tone of a regr friend. "Not bad, I guess." Xu Musen answered casually, as they walked side by side back to the hotel. It was not that Xu Musen wanted to walk together with her. But Yao Mingyue always matched his pace, speeding up when he did and slowing down when hegged. It made them look inseparable. Entering the hotel, Xu Musen went to his room to stow away the exam materials, and hardly had hein down when his phone rang. It was his mom. "Finished with today''s exams, how do you feel?" "It was okay, not too hard." "You, young man, just maintain a good state. Remember to go out and eat something nice with Yao Mingyueter. The more ites to crunch time, the more important it is to eat well and rest well. Plus, Ming Yue, a young girl all by herself out there, you must take good care of her" Mother Xu prattled on with instructions. Xu Musen responded with a knowing "Got it," theny down again. As evening fell, he indeed started to feel hungry. Stepping out of his room, he considered whether to call out to Yao Mingyue as he nced at her door. Just then, her door opened. Yao Mingyue stood behind the door, her long hair let down, adding a touch of mature finesse to her appearance. She looked at Xu Musen, as if waiting for him to speak up. "Dinner?" "Are you inviting me?" Yao Mingyue smiled as she asked, her lips curving into a smile. "Goodbye." Xu Musen didn''t fall for that, turning to leave. "Xu Musen!" Yao Mingyue couldn''t hold back and called after him, looking woefully at his retreating figure. "I even brought you breakfast this morning, and this is how you treat me?" Yao Mingyue went straight for the guilt trip. But Xu Musen was devoid of guilt. Me epting your breakfast me epting your kindness. Rejected in a heartbeat! "Do you really not want to go out with me?" Yao Mingyue obviously wouldn''t let him off easily and asked through gritted teeth. "Yes." Xu Musen nodded earnestly, "Just tell me what you want to eat, and I can bring it back for you. Better not to go out and catch a cold from the breeze, I''d have a hard time exining to Aunt Liu." Yao Mingyue''s cheeks flushed with anger, and her stubbornness surfaced. "I insist on going out to eat!" With that, she followed behind Xu Musen, likely intending to stick to him. Xu Musen didn''t bother saying anything more. They walked out of the hotel. There were many snack bars nearby, and in the heat of summer, the night market culture thrived. Barbecue stalls lined the streets, with the scent of cuminmb skewers wafting through the air. Xu Musen felt a craving, thinking that on a hot summer night, a couple of skewers were a must to truly savor the moment. "Xu Musen, you can''t eat all this greasy food." Yao Mingyue, this girl who was spoiled from childhood, although not as ignorant of worldly affairs as An Nuannuan. Usually paid great attention to health and maintenance in her diet. Yao Mingyue was quite concerned about maintaining her figure. Her gaze turned to the delicate restaurant next door. "I, a coarse fellow, love this kind of stuff. Don''t feel obliged to eat with me if you prefer something else." Xu Musen would be more than happy to have her stay away. He strode over to the barbecue stall and ordered a pound of roastmb. Yao Mingyue stood still, her fair little hands clenched together, watching his back as she huffed in annoyance. However, she also nced at the barbecue stall and a glint of light shed in her eyes. Xu Musen had just sat down, only to find that Yao Mingyue had actually followed him over. "Can''t I asionally try something different?" Yao Mingyue held her fair chin up high. Xu Musen didn''t mind. But Yao Mingyue''s presence, a beauty with such a refined air, immediately drew the attention of many at the barbecue stall. The kidneys andmb sticks in their mouths tasted even better. Yao Mingyue looked at the plump menu, wiped it down with a wet wipe, and then spoke directly to the owner: "Boss, bring me some kidneys, a te of chives, a serving of oysters..." With each dish Yao Mingyue ordered, the looks directed at Xu Musen carried an allusive meaning that every man understood. Xu Musen couldn''t help but speak: "You eat this sort of stuff?" "It''s for you. Auntie said that you need to fortify your nutrition to be able to handle life''s big events." Yao Mingyue delivered an utterly ridiculous line with a smile of triumph at the corners of her mouth. Immediately, many people''s nces toward Xu Musen grew even more suggestive. There were also murmurs of "If you can''t handle it, let me take over." Xu Musen exchanged a nce with her, as if recalling their past life. Under Yao Mingyue''s inhumane pressuring tactics. She often made him drink all kinds of animal ''essence'' soups to strengthen his body. An arsenal of ''herbal weaponry'' could have been assembled from all the various animal parts. But in this life, Xu Musen was not afraid of her, and in fact, he quite liked eating these foods. As Xu Musen heartily crunched away, Yao Mingyue elegantly bit into a piece ofmb skewer, watching him almost finish everything. "Boss, a bottle of beer." Yao Mingyue suddenly called out. "You drink beer too?" Xu Musen looked up at her. "Beer''s fine. It''ll help cut the greasiness." Yao Mingyue took the beer, poured two sses, and handed one to Xu Musen. Xu Musen watched her movements closely, fearing she might drop some miraculous little pill into the alcohol. Yao Mingyue, however, raised her ss with a very clear smile: "Let''s consider this an early celebration for our smooth sailing through the college entrance exam." By now, Xu Musen felt quite greasy from the food. Though the people of Zheng City might not be able to hold their liquor as well as the burly men of Shandong. They still drank their beer ss-to-ss, or even case-by-case. If a young guy couldn''t handle a bottle or two of beer, he would be like a child... rather, he would be drinking at the same table as a dog. Xu Musen picked up the ss and drank it down. A bite of skewer with a sip of beer was truly refreshing! After they finished eating, the pair headed back to the hotel. "Have a good rest." Before entering her room, Yao Mingyue said that to him. Xu Musen nodded and went straight into his room. After taking a shower, Xu Musen chatted with He Qiang for a while. Xu Musen remembered that in thest life, this guy carelessly failed to properly fill in his answer sheet during the college entrance exam, resulting in low science scores, otherwise he would have been able to get into a pretty decent university. So Xu Musen made a special point of reminding him. After that, he chatted online with An Nuannuan for a while. After all, they were both top students, feeling no pressure whatsoever. The sky hadpletely darkened, and everyone went to bed early for the exam. Xu Musenyfortably in bed, ready to sleep. But not long after falling asleep, Xu Musen suddenly heard a dripping sounding from the other side of the wall. Then the sound of water rushing followed. Was Yao Mingyue taking a shower at this time? As Xu Musen pondered, there came a sudden knock at the door... Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Yao Mingyue, the Drenched Chicken, Forced to Share a Room At the stroke of midnight, Xu Musen nced at his phone; it was almost eleven o''clock. At this time of night, whoever knocks on the door is either Sadako,ing to im lives, or a highly skilled dy of the night." Xu Musen first peered through the peephole. The first nce truly gave him a shock! Standing at the door was a woman in pajamas, her long ck hair still dripping with water, wetting her ghastly pale cheeks, as a pair ofrge eyes stared back at the peephole''s location. Xu Musen shivered. Was this really Sadako causing trouble in the dead of night? However, this Sadako seemed to have quite a figure, her wet pajamas clinging to her fair skin, making the curves even more tempting. Day ghosts don''t break thew, right? As some pervertedizens'' outrageousments crossed Xu Musen''s mind, the "female ghost" outside knocked on the door again. "Xu Musen!" That familiar voiceYao Mingyue? Xu Musen opened the door, and under the faint light of the hotel hallway, he finally saw that it was indeed Yao Mingyue. Even though summer nights aren''t cold, with her being soaking wet, she could easily catch a cold. "What happened to you?" Xu Musen asked with a frown, and at that moment, it seemed someone else had also arrived in the elevator down the hall. Xu Musen noticed her thin pajamas had be transparent from the water, and one could faintly see the fair skin beneath her nightwear. "Come inside first." Xu Musen opened the door wider, pulling her into the room before fetching a bathrobe from the bathroom for her to wear. Yao Mingyue wrapped herself in the bathrobe, which Xu Musen had just worn after his shower, still carrying his scent. Yao Mingyue felt as if she was being embraced by Xu Musen and tightly grasped the bathrobe. At this moment. Two hotel staff hurried over, knowing that Yao Mingyue and Xu Musen were registered for the same room, so they came to Xu Musen''s door. Seeing the two. "Hello, the smoke rm in room 201 appears to have short-circuited, triggering the automatic sprinkler system. Are you both alright..." The staff exined the situation. Xu Musen nodded, looking at Yao Mingyue''s drenched appearance, and then he understood what had happened. Still, it all seemed a bit too coincidental, didn''t it? "We''re fine, please handle it immediately." "The room is flooded; cleaning it up might take some time." "Then we''ll change rooms." "About that... all the rooms are fully booked for the next two days; we really don''t have any vacancies left." The staff exined, mentioning the college entrance exams, which likely meant that all nearby hotels within a five or six-kilometer radius were filled to the brim. They nced at Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue and suggested, "Seeing as both of your emergency contacts are Ms. Liu, how about you two rest in one room for tonight, and we''ll get in touch with Ms. Liu?" Both of their rooms were booked by Liu Rushuang, so the hotel staff naturally assumed their rtionship was akin to siblings. Xu Musen immediately wanted to object. But Yao Mingyue directly said, "No need, we can handle it ourselves." She looked at Xu Musen and whispered, "It''s almost eleven now, telling them would just cause unnecessary worry." Seeing Yao Mingyue''s considerate appearance, Xu Musen raised an eyebrow, but she was right. Informing family at this hour would only lead to fussing. But why did he feel so endangered sharing a room with this sickly sweet girl? He turned to the staff and said, "Make sure someone cleans it up quickly, and, another thing, prepare an extra nket for me." "Of course, of course, thank you for your understanding." The staff hurried off to call for help. Xu Musen closed the door. Turning to look at Yao Mingyue, she stood there with her hair disheveled,pletely drenched. Xu Musen couldn''t help but wonder if she had done it on purpose, but seeing her in such a sorry state, he could only sigh. "You take a shower first; you don''t want to catch a cold." Xu Musen said, then turned to pour a cup of hot water. Watching his back, Yao Mingyue couldn''t help but curve her lips into a smile. She entered the bathroom, turned on the hot water, and the shower area was made of frosted ss, transparent at the bottom and top, slightly hazy. It was one of those wickedly clever designs meant for couples staying in the hotel. In truth, you couldn''t really see anything, but the shapes were vaguely discernible, enticing just because they were half-concealed The designer might not have understood privacy, but he certainly knew what men liked. The sound of hot water on the body, falling to the floorthe room was only so big, and the sound carried a hint of intimacy to one''s ears. Xu Musen took a deep breath, thinking that he shouldn''t have eaten such nourishing food in the evening. Why did he feel somewhat overheated? At that moment, the staff knocked on the door to deliver a new set of bedding. Xu Musen took it, knowing that it wasn''t likely for Yao Mingyue to leave today. Given the rtionship between their families and the importance of this time, it was just one night; they might as well get through it. He began to spread the nket over the sofa. By now, Yao Mingyue had also finished her bath and came out. She wore one of Xu Musen''s robes, her long hair naturally falling to one side, her skin fair and flushed from the bath. Even without makeup, Yao Mingyue''s beauty was impable, her slender calves peeking from beneath the robe as she walked barefoot on the carpet. Her feet, just fresh from the bath, were delicate and smooth at the ankles, without any swelling or protruding veins from being too thin. Her whole body looked like a polished piece of jade, with just a hint of veins showing through, emphasizing the fairness and tenderness of her skin. Each toe seemed like a marshmallow sinking into the carpet, and the air carried a thin mist from the bath, with the enchanting scent lingering between them. Yao Mingyue looked at him and even saw a brief daze in his eyes. This made her feel a bit proud inside. The atmosphere at that moment was filled with unmistakable intimacy. "The hot water is on the table, I''ll have the bed ready in a moment," Xu Musen silently averted his gaze. Ha, don''t mention the robe; I have seen you in a bikini countless times already. Yao Mingyue noticed the way he turned his head and felt that he was too shy to look at her. Who asked him to eat all that random stuff at night? Serve him right! And it seemed that he did care about her, after all. Yao Mingyue took a sip of the hot water, watching Xu Museny the nket on the sofa, and the corner of her mouth lifted: "Will you sleep here? What if you don''t get a good rest?" "Don''t worry, I''m not sleeping here," Xu Musen replied. A blush instantly rose to Yao Mingyue''s cheeks; she knew full well that Xu Musen had abs now, and his body was warm... She quickly took another sip of water, swallowing down her saliva, even though she wasn''t quite ready to take that step yet. But if he would just humble himself, act sweetly towards herwell, she might let him taste a bit of sweetness herself. Yes, like having a heart-to-heart, or massaging his shoulders or something... After all, with the high school exams being stressful, as his childhood sweetheart, she had to provide timely psychological support, right? "Anyway, the bed is big enough, we can each have our own nket, I trust you won''t mess around," Yao Mingyue suppressed her thoughts, showing a mix of coyness that turned into apparent calm eptance on the surface. That fleeting disy of various expressions was quite the performance for Xu Musen. "I think you misunderstand, what I mean is, I''ll sleep on the bed, you sleep here," Xu Musen pointed to the sofa, then tossed her a small pillow. Yao Mingyue: ??? "It''s gettingte, we should sleep. Oh, and remember to turn off the light," With that said, Xu Musenfortably crawled into bed. Completely ignoring Yao Mingyue, who was frozen in ce with a nk expression on her face. You trust me not to mess around? But that requires me to trust you not to make any moves! Xu Musen certainly hadn''t forgotten that she was like this in their past life. "Honey, it''s ufortable watching TV on the sofa, let''s go watch it on the bed""Honey, your belt is hurting me, take it off.""What kind of underwear are you wearing today, honey..." And then he was bullied all over again. Really, once a woman starts looking good, men be irrelevant. Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Have you entered puberty early? ``` The night was silent. Yet, in Yao Mingyue''s heart, it seemed like countless curses were floating by. She stared nkly at Xu Musen, who had slipped into the covers. She couldn''t quite believe it, that she, a freshly washed and beautiful woman, was in the same room with him. And she had even suggested they could share a bed, yet he actually told her to sleep on the sofa?! Yao Mingyue clenched her teeth tightly, even starting to doubt her own charm. Lowering her head, she was extremely pleased with the snowy white curves beneath her thin bathrobe. The slender, snow-white legs under the bathrobe shone with a crystal-clear luster under the light. Am I not good-looking? Are my curves not enticing? Is it so difficult to sleep with me! The more Yao Mingyue thought about it, the angrier she got. She walked over to the bed and looked at Xu Musen, who had closed his eyes to sleep. She reached out and tugged at his quilt, "Xu Musen! You let a girl sleep on the sofa, do you have no conscience?" Xu Musen opened his eyes, knowing she wouldn''t let it go so easily, tugged at the quilt, "Get it straight, I''m the one taking you in right now, having a sofa to sleep on isn''t bad." "This room was also opened together with my mom!" "That''s between me and Auntie Liu, it has nothing to do with you." "You!" Yao Mingyue''s indignation carried a hint of jealousy, "Can''t you just give in to me?" "Fine, fine, fine, I''ll go sleep on the sofa. Happy now?" "No, let''s not say I''m mistreating you, we''ll split it half and half." Yao Mingyue''s face was flushed, but her tone sounded as though she was considering his feelings. Xu Musen didn''t expect her to be so stubborn. In their previous life, Yao Mingyue had only gradually shown her eagerness for his body after they got married. Before that, she was quite reserved, or at least she pretended to be. But why does it feel in this life as if she''s been stimted to be even more radical? "Yao Mingyue, have you entered your mating season early?" Xu Musen couldn''t help asking. Yao Mingyue''s pretty face visibly reddened, her two rows of small white teeth looked like they could crush anything. She was so angry that she stretched out her fair little foot to stomp on him, "You''re the one in heat, you''re the one in heat! Maybe you''re even impo..." Mid sentence, her teeth itched with frustration, what a waste that he ate so many nourishing things. Xu Musen helplessly lifted the quilt, facing her oing foot, Xu Musen directly grabbed her ankle. Then, he directly dragged her onto the bed. On the bed, still retaining the warmth of Xu Musen''s body and the touch on her ankle, Yao Mingyue was momentarily dazed. Xu Musen then effortlessly propped himself up on one arm, pinning her beneath him. This extremely intimate position made Yao Mingyue''s heart race. Could it be that the things she ate that night were really that effective? At the same time, Yao Mingyue''s thin bathrobe was slightly agape. Xu Musen''s gaze shifted away; tonight''s moon was indeed big and round. "Xu Musen, us right now..." Yao Mingyue imagined that if the two of them were to do such things, it would also have to be under her control. But then Xu Musen suddenly got up, took the quilt, and rolled her up into a twist. He threw her onto the bed. Xu Musen got off the bed, turned off the light, andy on the sofa to start sleeping. The hotel amodations were good; even the sofa was morefortable than some small inn''s bed. In the darkness, it took Yao Mingyue a while to recover. The roller-coaster of emotions left her not knowing whether to be angry or what. Although she didn''t get her way, the sudden way Xu Musen had pinned her down just now, that unreasonable dominance... was unexpectedly thrilling. Yao Mingyue''s face grew hot; her heartbeat had been very fast just moments ago, feeling as satisfied as if she had gotten what she wanted, she looked towards Xu Musen lying on the sofa in the dark. Feeling the residual warmth and scent in the bed, it was as if she was merged with him. For now, this is pretty good... heh heh... Yao Mingyue hugged the quilt, took a deep breath, and contentedly closed her eyes. ... Morning. Yao Mingyue felt unusually at peace when she woke up. When she did, she saw Xu Musen was still lying on the sofa asleep. She couldn''t remember thest time she woke up in the same room. Yao Mingyue sat at the edge of the bed, watching Xu Musen, who was still sleeping, suddenly feeling an unusual sense of security. She slowly walked over, her little feet on the soft carpet, and gently crouched in front of Xu Musen. ``` Morning light fell on his cheeks, casting ayer of shadow over his distinctly chiseled features. Yao Mingyue cradled her chin and watched him, her expression a bit infatuated. Especially as she looked at his shapely lips, Yao Mingyue suddenly had the urge to kiss them. She slowly bent down, their lips drawing nearer, and her hair fell upon his nose. Xu Musen scratched it subconsciously, perhaps dreaming of a scene from a past life, murmuring, "Wife, stop messing around" At this, Yao Mingyue''s eyes widened in an instant. She hadn''t misheard, had she? Wife... Wife? Yao Mingyue brushed aside her hair, her hand over her chest where her heart was racing. Her face flushed, she had an intuition that the person Xu Musen was calling for was her. Suddenly, there was a soft knock at the door. Yao Mingyue didn''t have time to think, she stood up, wrapped herself in a bathrobe, and walked over. A female attendant was standing at the door. "Your room has been cleaned, but... we found that it appears to be a short circuit caused by someone. May I ask if you..." The female attendant was trying to inquire in a gentle tone. But Yao Mingyue turned around, took her purse, and pulled out a bank card. "I identally broke the wire, just tell me how much I need to pay." Yao Mingyue admitted it directly. The female attendant was taken aback but nodded, "Alright, pleasee with me to the lobby." Yao Mingyue returned to her room, changed into her clothes, and then went to the lobby. When Xu Musen awoke, his eyes met Yao Mingyue''s, who was staring at him unblinkingly. Xu Musen sat up, noticing that breakfast had already been ced on the table. "I got breakfast for you." Yao Mingyue seemed a bit upset about the previous night, but whenever she gazed at Xu Musen, her eyes carried a deeper meaning. Xu Musen just felt relieved that the night was finally over. Brush teeth, eat, go for the exam. Still, there was hardly any pressure. Until the afternoon of the English exam when the bell signaling the end rang out. All the endeavors of their high school era had finallye to a definite end. At that moment, inside and outside the school, the spectrum of human life unfolded. Someughed heartily, some covered their faces in tears, venting long-suppressed emotions. Some embraced their parents excitedly, while others had a calm demeanor as if their fate had already been sealed. There were also those who started discussing the answers to the multiple-choice questions and how they tackled the essay questions, already specting about their scores. Actually, all this was unnecessary, since the moment you hand in your paper, all you can do is wait for the results. Thinking too much is futile; you might as well rx and lighten up. "Xiaoyue, Xiaosen!" Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue had just reached the school gate. When they saw Liu Rushuang in a cheongsam, along with Xu''s father and mother, her hands holding fresh flowers, waving at them. Actually, there were quite a few women in cheongsams today. It''s unknown when it started bing trendy for parents to dress in cheongsams and suits to inspire their children during their exams. Little did they know, the child might not have felt much pressure, but could end up being teased by ssmates for a lifetime... After all, wearing a cheongsam is really about having the right figure and temperament, wearing it poorly can easily lead to disastrous results. Of course, for Liu Rushuang, wearing a cheongsam suited her perfectly! "My dears, congrattions on finishing the college entrance exams!" Liu Rushuang walked swiftly and hugged her daughter tightly with relief and joy. Finally, her daughter had alsopleted one of life''s milestones. "Thank you, Mom." Yao Mingyue also hugged her mother back; aside from the asional jealousy, their rtionship was quite good. "Xiaosen, thank you for taking care of Mingyue these past days, let Auntie give you a hug as well!" Liu Rushuang looked at Xu Musen, no different than if she were looking at her own son, and walked over to give him aforting hug. But at that moment, Yao Mingyue subtly positioned herself between her mother and the flowers. "Mom, we''re hungry, I want to eat Auntie''s cooking, let''s go back now." Yao Mingyue took the opportunity to grab hold of Xu''s mother as well. Xu''s motherughed heartily, "I''ve already prepared everything, I''ll make a feast for you tonight!" Xu Musen clicked his tongue silently; this little tsundere... But the college entrance exams were finally over, and he was free atst to earn money wholeheartedly. Chapter 59: Chapter 59 Yao Mingyue: Need money? Ill give you some. The college entrance examination was over. And Xu Musen now had two things to do. The first was to take advantage of this summer vacation to try and secure all the advertising on the entire food street. Although they could now rely on the big tree of Tengxun to enjoy the shade, that was because many people and thews and regtions were not yet fully developed, especially concerning the inte and short videos. The Advertising Law did not apply, so there were loopholes to exploit. The current money-making methods might be illegal in a few years. He had already submitted the documents to set up his own mediapany, and once he paid the taxes, he basically didn''t have to worry anymore. The second thing was to get a driver''s license before college, figuring that he would at least need to get a car of his own, otherwise, he wouldn''t be able to enjoy being a co-pilot. No sooner said than done. Xu Musen nned to drag He Qiang with him to sign up for the driving test in the next couple of days. You didn''t need to attend a set number of sses for the driving test now, and by paying an extra "VIP" fee, as long as you didn''t make a mistake, you could get your license within a month. Xu Musen used to be a personal driver for a female CEO in his previous life, so naturally, his driving skills were not a problem. Scrolling through the traffic regtions test questions. Xu Musen also started to shoot and edit for the food street merchants one by one. But this was ultimately abor-intensive job, lugging a camera around in the summer heat and filming for half a day, with even longer post-production editing time. Even if he worked himself to death, Xu Musen could not secure many merchants in a month. After school started, he didn''t know which city he would be in, and this first golden opportunity to make a fortune would be wasted. Therefore, Xu Musen thought he could look for some helpers. Plus, he didn''t need professionals, just people who could use a camera and shoot ording to a sample. What he needed now was a conveyor belt of human miners, cheap, hassle-free, and ones who would pay for their own medical treatment if they got sick... Huh? Why did Xu Musen always feel like there''s a streetmp waving at him? Of course, before solving the personnel issue, he had to first solve the camera problem. Electronics were still expensive nowadays; a camera easily cost five figures, and if he really recruited dozens of people, he would need at least five or six cameras. Editing also requiredputersand all of that needed money. Not to mention thatter on, he wanted to set up his own studio and build servers, all of which required significant funds. He still had money in hand, but he couldn''t go all in, so he still had to take the field himself for the past few days. Xu Musen sighed. He felt a bit like a skillful woman who couldn''t cook without rice. Still poor... Indeed, there''s no perfect solution in the world; refusing to live off others meant decades more of struggle. Xu Musen sat in his room looking at the backend data. Imitators had already appeared on the market, but Xu Musen, relying on the first-mover advantage and a uniqueic style, still remained the big brother among its kind. But Xu Musen could already feel that Tengxun was beginning to support its own imitators and probably wouldn''t be long before they tried to somehow "co-opt" Xu Musen. If you can''t make it, then copy itold Penguin traditions. Xu Musen had to make the most of the current poprity to rake in his first pot of gold and then strike out on his own! So these days, Xu Musen and He Qiang were engaged in intensive shooting every day. Under the summer heat, his skin had even started to turn red, while He Qiang thought this temperature was nothingpared to the heat and humidity at the fish pond. "You two as well, don''t overexert yourselves, and you''re even dragging poor He Qiang out to get sunburned with you." The main battlefield was on business street, and after filming, they would return to the flower shop to rest. Xu''s mother was pained to see the two of them sweat-soaked. What parent doesn''t wish for their child to travel and have fun during the vacations? But the family''s financial situation didn''t allow it, and seeing her son return red-skinned from the sun every day made her heart ache. She quickly let them cool off with air conditioning and drink some water. Yao Mingyue also came to the flower shop to help out when she could, frowning at the sight of Xu Musen''s sunburned skin. Xu Musen went to wash his face, and suddenly he caught a familiar scent. When he looked up, there was Yao Mingyue right in front of him, looking at him. "What''s up?" "Xu Musen, are you really short of money right now?" Yao Mingyue asked directly. "I''ve always been short of money." Nonsense! If I weren''t short of money, I would''ve taken to my heelsst lifetime. Yao Mingyue took another look at him for a few seconds, her red lips slightly parted, "How much money do you need? I can lend it to you..." "Stop!" Xu Musen felt as if he had heard the gunshot of judgment, and in the heat of a great summer''s day, he felt a sudden chill down his spine. He didn''t want to touch Yao Mingyue''s money, not even a single cent! Seeing him so agitated, Yao Mingyue also bit her lip, "What do you mean? Aren''t you short of money? I can give it to you, then you can buy whatever you want..." "What I want can''t be bought with money." Xu Musen steadied his breathing and looked at Yao Mingyue, "You should also understand that not everything in this world can be bought with money." Yao Mingyue did not understand what he was talking about, but his sense of alienation made her feel really annoyed. "So you just sunbathe like this every day?" "I sunbathe because it makes me happy. Earning money throughbor is the most glorious!" Xu Musen was full of slogans. But honestly, despite being tired, this sense of freedom was truly exhrating. After washing his face, he wiped it with a towel and left immediately. Yao Mingyue squinted her eyes, taking the towel Xu Musen had used to wipe his face and held it in her hands. She rubbed it gently, her eyes shimmering with light. At night. Xu Musen had just finished dinner when Liu Rushuang suddenly called him over. In the vi, Liu Rushuang touched Xu Musen''s sunburnt red skin with pity, patting his head, "You really must take better care of your body, even while making money." As she spoke, her gaze shifted to Yao Mingyue, "Ming Yue, bring your body lotion and apply some on Xiaosen." "Auntie, that won''t be necessary..." Xu Musen saw the fleeting excitement in Yao Mingyue''s eyes. "Be a good boy, otherwise your skin will crack from the sunburn tomorrow." Liu Rushuang spoke authoritatively, making him sit on the couch. Yao Mingyue came over with the body lotion, sitting naturally beside Xu Musen. On his left and right, Xu Musen suddenly felt a great pressure. "How about I do it myself?" "No, you won''t be able to apply it evenly by yourself; let Ming Yue do it." Liu Rushuang said, observing Xu Musen''s somewhat awkward expression, she chuckled meaningfully, "Xiaosen, you aren''t getting shy, are you? Or should I apply it for you instead?" In that instant, Yao Mingyue''s gaze became a tad jealous, her lips pursed as she looked at Xu Musen. "...let''s not trouble you." Xu Musen couldn''t do anything about being mothered by his potential mother-inw. Yao Mingyue''s lips curved up in an instant; she first squeezed some body lotion into her hands and rubbed them together. Although there was a hint of excitement in her eyes, she was still very careful when she began to apply it. She really applied it with great care. "Xiaosen, I heard these past few days that you''ve started doing business?" Liu Rushuang asked him with a smile. "It''s just me earning a little pocket money, not really a business." "That''s also good; a boy with this kind of initiative is bound to be sessful in the future." Liu Rushuang looked at Xu Musen, feeling increasingly satisfied with him. "Right, there''s something I need to give you." As she spoke, she took out a modest, unadorned box from beside her and handed it to Xu Musen. "This is?" "Open it, and you''ll see," said Liu Rushuang with a slightly wistful tone. Xu Musen, afraid that upon opening it he might find another bank card or something simrly weighty. He opened the box, and insidey a Rolex watch. Xu Musen''s face froze for a moment. No way, have you mother and daughter nned to stuff my mouth with food? Chapter 60: Chapter 60: If It Were Me, I Would Have Taken Him Down by Now! ``` This Rolex looks like it''s a design from ten years ago. But the design of the watch, actually, the more ssic, the more enduring it is. Just like some people will still want to buy an A6 after twenty or thirty years. There''s an enigmatic allure to it, after all, you never know when they bought their car. The main idea is to spend the least money for the biggest show-off. But this watch was clearly bought a long time ago and saved up until now. The value of tens of thousands from seven or eight years ago is imaginable. "Auntie, I can''t ept this." Xu Musen had a very good impression of Liu Rushuang, and since she was an elder and had cared for him from a young age, he couldn''t keep epting these expensive things from them. "This isn''t from me." Liu Rushuang''s tone carried a tinge of regret as she looked at the watch and slowly began to speak, "It was prepared by your Uncle Yao for you." Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue both paused in surprise. Liu Rushuang, looking at the watch in the box, now had a bit of wistfulness on her usually cheerful face. "He bought this when you graduated from elementary school, saying it was to be a gift for your eighteenth birthday when you graduated high school. He said that a young man stepping into maturity should have a presentable watch, it''s just that he didn''t get the chance to give it to you in person." A bitterness lingered in Liu Rushuang''s eyes. Yao Mingyue too stared at the watch, biting her lip. Xu Musen listened silently, he had always held profound respect for that gentle and elegant uncle. Liu Rushuang smiled softly again, "But Xiaosen, you''ve finally reached this day. A car and a watch are a man''s second face. Since you want to do business on your own, you should always have your own watch, it''s also a part of your Uncle Yao''s expectations for you." Liu Rushuang said, and then picked up a bag beside her, "This is a suit I had custom-made for you, try pairing them up and see." Xu Musen found it hard to voice his refusal and just nodded. "Thank you, Auntie." A man should distinguish his gratitude and grievances clearly; he wouldn''t me Liu Rushuang because of Yao Mingyue. "Oh, you child, still being polite with me. I watched you grow up; I''ve long considered you like a son of my own." Liu Rushuang ruffled Xu Musen''s hair, smiling, "Alright, try this on now and see if it fits." Xu Musen nodded, took the suit, and went to the guest room to change. He walked out of the room. Liu Rushuang and Yao Mingyue looked over, both with a gleam in their eyes. With a height of 1.82 meters, Xu Musen was well-built, his arm and chest muscles ample, making the suit look all the more sharp. His legs were long, and the suit pants hung perfectly without a hint of draggingas the saying goes, clothes make the man. Xu Musen was already quite handsome, and now in formal wear, he looked even more charming with a mature man''s allure. Yao Mingyue''s eyes sparkled intensely as she stared at Xu Musen''s tall figure, the defined muscle lines on his arms, and the slightly pronounced curves beneath his suit pants... It turned out a man''s backside could also be so attractive. "Xiaosen, you look really handsome in this!" Liu Rushuang was also beaming with excitement, finding it hard to associate Xu Musen in front of her with the little kid who once wore split pants. "It''s Auntie''s good eye; the size is very fitting." Xu Musen, having beenplimented, felt a bit warm in the face. "Hehe, although I ordered the clothes, the size was given to me by Ming Yue, and it seems spot-on, even more urate than being measured in person." Liu Rushuang smiled knowingly. Yao Mingyue''s face immediately flushed, it was like a boy knowing a girl''s measurementsit made her feel a bit... perverted. "Ming Yue, help Xiaosen put on the watch." Liu Rushuang handed the watch to her daughter. Yao Ming Yue took the watch over, and Xu Musen, while looking at the watch, also reluctantly cooperated with her. ``` She extended her hand and took the watch, a gift from seven or eight years ago, which she finally managed to give away today. Gently, Yao Mingyue helped Xu Musen put it on. A man''s watch is like a woman''s handbag; it truly reflects one''s temperament and taste. With the watch on his wrist, Xu Musen instantly looked not only more handsome but also more mature and substantive. Yao Mingyue gazed at him with a somewhat infatuated look in her eyes and took the opportunity to straighten his shirt cor. It was as if they had gone through this gesture countless times before. "Click..." Suddenly, the sh went off as Liu Rushuang captured the moment with her camera. Both of them were momentarily distracted and looked away. "Xiaosen is wearing a suit for the first time, so I want to take a photo tomemorate it," Liu Rushuang said with a smile. She came over to them, cing her hands on each of their shoulders, "You''ve both grown up, and perhaps in the future, you''ll each have your own things to do. But my hope is that both of you live your lives well." Her tone carried the sincere blessing of an elder to the younger generation. Looking at each other, Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue nodded. ... Xu Musen left. Yao Mingyue remained standing there, somewhat silent. "Ming Yue, do you want to ask me why I didn''t just give Xiaosen a sum of money directly?" Liu Rushuang said with a seemingly prearranged smile. Yao Mingyue nodded slightly. Sighing, Liu Rushuang said slowly, "Your father also started from scratch back in the day. My family was quite well-off when we got together, and we faced a lot of opposition, but we got through it all. But the only time we ever fought was over my wanting to ask my family for money to help him start a business, which he absolutely refused. That led to a big argument." Liu Rushuang revealed a nostalgic smile as she continued, "I never understood why men have to be so stubborn. Eventually, I realized that not being able to provide the life one wants to give to their loved one, and even needing their help, is something that men find humiliating." "But everyone needs help sometimes, and as long as the oue is good, isn''t that all that matters?" Yao Mingyue still didn''t quite understand. "But that''s how men are, always caring about face," Liu Rushuang said with a gentle smile,ing closer to her daughter. "Moreover, just giving money directly is actually the least helpful solution. Let''s say you suddenly really want to eat cake. One option is that someone sends you a hundred dors for you to buy it yourself. The other is that they spend fifty dors, but buy the cake themselves and bring it to you. Which do you prefer?" Immediately, Yao Mingyue thought of an answer. Any girl would certainly prefer the second option. The first option seemed to make oneself look more materialistic. "Right? Men are the same. Giving money directly would make them overthink, but if you change the approach, the result could bepletely different, and even have a surprisingly positive effect." Liu Rushuang spoke with profound meaning, her heart breaking for her daughter''s future happiness. At the same time, she was slightly frustrated C her daughter excelled in so many ways. Yet when it came to love, she was too dominant. If it had been her in her younger days, she would have easily won over someone like Musen. Yao Mingyue''s eyes shone with a hint of thoughtfulness; at the same time, she looked at her mother. She always felt... that her mom understood him too well, almost as if she had him at her fingertips. "Mom." "Hmm?" "You won''t try to find me a stepdad in the future, will you?" Facing this sudden question, Liu Rushuang''s cheeks turned slightly red as she said with a smile, "Silly child, what nonsense are you talking about? I''m at this age now, what''s the point in finding someone else? I just want to spend time with you guys." "Oh..." Chapter 61: Chapter 61 What is a Conscientious Entrepreneur? (Tactical fallback.) The next day. Xu Musen was awoken by the text message notification sound on his phone, which he fumbled out to check. Xu Musen almost cursed aloud. "Anxin Group has transferred 200,000 yuan to your bank ount ending in" Two hundred thousand? Even now, that was no small sum, almost the ie of an average family for two or three years. Moreover, Xu Musen had never heard of thispany. His first thought was whether Liu Rushuang had found anotherpany to secretly support him. "Ring, ring, ring..." The phone rang, and Xu Musen answered, to hear a woman''s voice: "Hello, is this Mr. Xu Musen?" "Speaking." "Hello, I am from the public rtions department of Anxin Group. We have transferred a deposit to yourpany''s ount. Have you received it?" Xu Musen stared at the text message disying two hundred thousand: "A deposit?" "Yes, ourpany would like to coborate with yours on a series of promotions for our brand products, and this is an advance deposit. We''ll notify you of the relevant information by email shortly." Xu Musen roughly understood; it was probably the traffic he had directed to his ownpany through the game. But he hadn''t expected such a silent catch to suddenlynd a big fish. And the other party had transferred the funds first before even making the phone callhow was that any different from giving it away? "Don''t we need to sign a contract first?" "No need, we trust in your capabilities and are looking forward to a long-term partnership. In the next few days, we''ll mail you some samples..." The tone of the person on the other end did not seem to be joking. After hanging up, Xu Musen was stunned for a good while. But he understood what the other party wanted, which was essentially promotional videos for product endorsements. This was Xu Musen''s strong suit. Countless proposals popped into his mind, such as "Family, who understands?" "Exquisite piggy girls must know this." "All the beauties, charge..." Damn, that''s too much vor, but one can''t deny that these titles could go viral due to their huge audience appeal. Anxin Group... Xu Musen stroked his chin and went online to do some research, only to be blown away by what he found. Thepany turned out to be arge, diversified enterprise involved in food, pharmaceuticals, the inte, and more. Furthermore, it had gone public a few years ago. Understanding this, Xu Musen felt relieved; such argepany probably had a promotional budget in the tens of millions each year. To them, two hundred thousand was just a drop in the bucket, a minor experiment. However, this two hundred thousand was like timely rain for Xu Musen! Xu Musen dragged He Qiang along to order five cameras from a camera store, then went to theputer market in the city center to assemble aputer. Watching Xu Musen swipe his card decisively, He Qiang swallowed hard: "Did you sell a kidney or what? Howe you''re suddenly flush with cash?" Today''s spending, which amounted to seventy or eighty thousand, was no small figure. "Some riches simply can''t be held back." Xu Musen said with a smile. He Qiang clicked his tongue twice before noticing the watch on his wrist. That symbol... damn! A Rolex?! One could say the cameras andputer were for work, but what about that Rolex watch? "Moriko, that watch on your hand?" "A gift." Xu Musen looked at his wrist, admiring the watch. Indeed, wearing it today while meeting with the camera store owner had led to very polite treatment. He Qiang gave him a peculiar look and finally managed to say, "Moriko, you''re not living off Yao Mingyue again, are you?" "Cut it out, it''s not hers... Anyway, it''s not from her." "Tsk tsk tsk, you wake up with a Rolex on your wrist and suddenlye into a windfall. I don''t even want to try anymore." He Qiang shook his head,menting howparison could be the thief of joy, and continued speaking. "Now that you''ve got the equipment, it''s time to hire people, right? Employee sries are the most expensive. Even the old security guard at my family''s fishpond, with only five teeth left, gets paid over three thousand a month." Xu Musen had also considered this, that hiring genuine photography students would cost tens of thousands just for one month''s sry. The cost was too high. Besides, shooting this kind of short video didn''t require any technical skills. One could simply follow a sample and shoot it, as long as they knew how to use a camera, they could work. So, he had already thought it through. He patted He Qiang''s shoulder and revealed apassionate entrepreneur''s smile, "Qiang Zi, have you ever heard a saying, ''Three thousand yuan can''t hire a security guard, but it can attract a horde of college students''?" "You''re thinking of hiring college students to work for you?" He Qiang thought about it and realized it was true; nowadays, an old security guard could make over three thousand a month. But if college students came out to intern, even for two thousand a month, there would be takers. "No, college students still don''t offer me the best value for money. Do you know there''s another type of job where people can be paid half yet work twice as hard withoutint, who can press down a ten-yuan-per-hour wage to five and still be secretly pleased about it?" Xu Musen smiled broadly, but He Qiang''s lips twitched. "Exactly, these are our so-called ''freshman summer workers''!" Xu Musen''s smile was resplendent; these students, fresh out of high school, had no concept of money. After all, they were used to getting just tens of yuan for pocket money, so earning a thousand or two from a summer job seemed like a fortune to them. Moreover, the high-pressure environment of high school had instilled in them a strong sense of obedience; they were truly hardworking and listened well. Perfect for exploitation... spit! An unparalleled choice for nurturing! He Qiang himself took a deep breath, feeling that his good brother was perhaps a bit psychologically twisted? It''s like being oppressed for so long, then suddenly standing up, you be harsher than the average person. But he had to admit, everything his brother said was true. "But you n to look for summer workers?" Xu Musen took out his phone from his pocket, pulled up the ss group chat, and showed everyone together in a graduation photo. "Take a look at our dear ssmates, don''t they look like hardworking little bees beckoning to me?" "..." He Qiang stared at his good brother and, after a moment of stunned silence, patted his shoulder, "Musen, you''re damn ruthless. If this were the old days, you would have been hung from a streemp!" "Look at what you''re saying, all I''m doing is giving these good students an opportunity to experience work; where else would you find someone as nice as me?" Xu Musen chuckled. He Qiang inwardly marveled, certain that his brother was destined for great things. His words carried a hint of cunning, but that''s just the way it issomeone''s willing to be hit, and another''s willing to punch. I don''t demand your professionalism, and you don''tin about my low wages. As long as the paycheck is delivered on time and in full, that alone qualifies for a good boss. ... Vi Community. Aunt Xiang approached the olddy basking in the sun and whispered, "Madam Liang, thepany has already invested the funds." "Hmm, any reaction from him?" "Looking at the flow of funds, he went straight to order a few cameras andputers this morning; seems like he''s nning to scale up." Aunt Xiang said with a smile. The olddy nodded, "At this age, having money all of a sudden, he''s not going after pleasure but nning for future work instead; very good, it seems we haven''t misjudged him. Let thepany continue to follow up on him. If the results are good, we may consider further investment." "Understood." "By the way, how are the arrangements going with the doctor?" "All is ready, we can take Nuannuan there in a few days." "Good..." The olddy sighed softly, "Poor child, she has lived such a hard life, never really free to enjoy her best years. I hope this treatment will finally make her well." Aunt Xiang also nodded slowly, "She definitely will get better." "By the way, Ru Shuang has been trying to sneak out these past few days, or she''s been pestering Nuannuan, asking when they can go out and y with that boy again." Aunt Xiangughed somewhat helplessly. The olddy also smiled warmly, "This little girl, we probably managed them a bit too much before; I don''t know whether it was a good or bad thing..." Chapter 63: Chapter 63 An Nuannuan: I Want to Meet You in Person. (Please follow!) Fifteen days after the college entrance exam, the results were released. At midnight, countless families stayed up all night waiting for the results. Students were huddled in front ofputers, and some who didn''t have one at home even ran to Inte cafes, just so they could see their results as soon as possible. Mr. and Mrs. Xu were also in Xu Musen''s room, excitedly waiting for the results toe out. As soon as it was twelve o''clock, Xu Musen immediately entered his exam ID and password. "Sorry, the website data has crashed. Please check backter" Xu Musen had guessed it; every year when college entrance exam scores were released, this website would get swamped by millions of students. "No rush, take it easy. Just try a few more times," Mrs. Xu said patiently by his side. After proficiently entering the information, the webpage finally loaded on the fifth attempt. "Look, look, it''s up!" Mrs. Xu suddenly got excited. "Keep it down, don''t startle the kid. Son, scroll down and have a look," Mr. Xu said, but his face showed excitement and tension no less than anyone else''s. Xu Musen wasn''t nervous at all; in the mock exams, his scores had been around 680, so even with fluctuations, it wouldn''t be much lower. Sure enough, the scores began to appear. Candidate: Xu Musen. Chinese: 135 Mathematics: 141 Total Score: 688! At the sight of this score, Mr. and Mrs. Xu rubbed their eyes in disbelief! With this score, they could choose almost any top university in the country without hesitation! Even Tsinghua and Peking University might be within reach! "Good, good, good!" Mr. Xu lost all pretense of calm, his face radiant, the wrinkles smoothing out in his joy. Picking up the phone, he started to spread the good news to rtives and friends. "Hello, Old Wang, my son''s results are out. Just average, just under 700." "Old Li, hahaha, how did you know my son scored more than 680 in the college entrance exam?" Mrs. Xu also stared at the score for a long time, unable to snap back to reality, eventually bing teary-eyed with emotion. "Great, great, now we can rest assured" Mrs. Xu patted her son''s head. In their view, one had to attend a prestigious university to secure a stable future. She then took out her mobile phone to call Liu Rushuang. "Musen''s results are out, have you checked Ming Yue''s as well?" "Just came out, exactly 700 points. Xiaosen must have done well too, right?" "Aiyoh, even more unbelievable, 700 points! Musen only scored 688. From childhood to now, Ming Yue always had better grades, hahaha." "Where, Xiaosen has improved greatly; with this score, he can choose any school in the country!" "Yes, the two kids might even end up attending the same top university!" "Right, they are childhood sweethearts; they have been together since kindergarten" Xu Musen listened to his mother''s conversation with Liu Rushuang, and his heart skipped a beat for a moment. Now that the results were out, it was time to apply for universities. Actually, Xu Musen was rather keen on going to Hu Hai city. In his past life, he and Yao Mingyue had attended the same university. In fact, during their time at university, they got along better and better, almost confirming their rtionship. Back then, Yao Mingyue''s ''yandere'' traits weren''t so extreme, just a bit strong on the control side, but still within eptable limits. After all, a bit of possessiveness during a rtionship can actually be a sign of affection for each other. It wasn''t until her senior year that she suddenly disappeared for three years When she came back, they met again at a matchmaking dinner. Moreover, Yao Mingyue''s grades would make her a strong candidate for Tsinghua or Peking University. In his past life, she had specifically chosen to attend Hu Hai University with Xu Musen. Honestly, if Yao Mingyue were a normal person, her behavior could be considered the epitome of true love. Unfortunately, she was a ''yandere''. Her constant, unscrupulous possessiveness was truly unbearable. And that''s why Xu Musen still wanted to choose Hu Hai. Being one of the most inte-sensitive and highly developed areas in the maind, Hu Hai was perfectly suited for the path Xu Musen intended to take. He gazed at the graduation photo on the table. In the moment he turned his head, Yao Mingyue also gently tilted her head; her high ponytail resting on his shoulder. Her stunningly beautiful face glowed in the sunlight. She was really attractivein a way that was etched into Xu Musen''s consistent aesthetic appreciation. Too bad, she''s a tsundere. Xu Musen shook his head, pondering in his heart that this little tsundere would almost surely nail a spot at Tsinghua or Peking University. If he could trick her into applying for Tsinghua or Peking University while he blissfully went to Hu Hai University on his own. She would gain a degree from the top academic institutions in the country while he would enjoy his freedom and happiness. Wouldn''t that be delightful? After a long silence, the ss group chat had also be bustling. Those who did well began to show off their scores, and those who didn''t do well quietly lurked, while some had already started inquiring about factory lines that paid more. As the saying goes, after graduation, some went to Tsinghua, others to Peking University, and as for me, I did quite well tooI baked sweet potatoes. "Moriko, I freaking outperformed myself! Over 560 points! How about you?" He Qiang also sent him a message. Xu Musen chuckled: "I did so-so, just over 600, 688 points." "Damn! Can''t you go one day without showing off? But that number''s auspicious, I''ll reward you with the 688 set meal at Red Romance tonight!" He Qiang ribbed him but was genuinely happy for his good buddy, "So you can go to pretty much any school now, where are you nning to apply?" "Hu Hai, I guess. Still got time to see what happens." "That''s a nice ce, with rivers and seas, gives you a chance to cast a few lines on the Bund." Xu Musen''s lips twitched; this buddy was hopeless. Everyone else liked Hu Hai for its economic development or maybe the abundance of pretty girls, and foreign beauties were amon sight. But all he could think about was fishing. "Ding~" Yao Mingyue: "The results are out, congrattions." Xu Musen paused, their conversation hadn''t progressed in over half a month. "You too, congrattions." Xu Musen politely replied. After a moment, she sent another message: "Have you thought of any schools to apply to?" "Not really, I''ll leave it to fate. Do you have any ns?" Xu Musen nned to probe for some information. Yao Mingyue paused for a bit and replied with just three words: "Up to you." Leave it to fate, follow you. Xu Musen: ... F*ck! It feels like I''ve been hit by a buzzer-beater! For a moment, Xu Musen somewhat fondly recalled Yao Mingyue''s dominance from their past life, which could sometimes be quite addictive. Although that sentence could also be interpreted as "Whatever you say." But that''s where Yao Mingyue excelled: giving you an answer that could send your imagination running wildblending sincerity and tactics so well that truth or falsehood no longer mattered. Xu Musen inwardly clicked his tongue in admiration, Damn, that''s brilliant! Forget it, better y the "cold and indifferent yer" for a bit. It wasn''t long before another new message came. From An Nuannuan. This girl usually had a very regr routine. It looked like she stayed up tonight to see her results as well. "Xu Musen, Auntie helped me check my college entrance exam scores. There was a slight mishap this time, didn''t do too great, only got 701 points." Xu Musen''s mouth twitched as he looked at the ring text on the screen. "A slight mishap" "Didn''t do too great" "Only 701 points..." To be honest, if it had been anyone else, Xu Musen would have already spat out a mouthful of disdain. He kind of understood how He Qiang felt just now. "Nuannuan, that''s already very good, no need to humblebrag. (Worship)" "What''s humblebrag?" "It''s like being very pretentious... Never mind, have you decided on a school to apply to?" An Nuannuan seemed to hesitate for a moment, "I haven''t decided either, but..." She trailed off, as if weighing each word carefully. "Xu Musen, I don''t want us to be in a long-distance rtionship. Can we be together for university as well? (Rose x3)" Xu Musen looked at the words she yfully twisted, and while he wanted tough, something stirred in the depths of his heart. "I''ll follow you." "Want to be together in reality." Suddenly, Xu Musen was faced with a conundrum. That was whether he was a bit too popr? Chapter 63: Chapter 63 An Nuannuan: I Want to Meet You in Person. (Please follow!) Fifteen days after the college entrance exam, the results were released. At midnight, countless families stayed up all night waiting for the results. Students were huddled in front ofputers, and some who didn''t have one at home even ran to Inte cafes, just so they could see their results as soon as possible. Mr. and Mrs. Xu were also in Xu Musen''s room, excitedly waiting for the results toe out. As soon as it was twelve o''clock, Xu Musen immediately entered his exam ID and password. "Sorry, the website data has crashed. Please check backter" Xu Musen had guessed it; every year when college entrance exam scores were released, this website would get swamped by millions of students. "No rush, take it easy. Just try a few more times," Mrs. Xu said patiently by his side. After proficiently entering the information, the webpage finally loaded on the fifth attempt. "Look, look, it''s up!" Mrs. Xu suddenly got excited. "Keep it down, don''t startle the kid. Son, scroll down and have a look," Mr. Xu said, but his face showed excitement and tension no less than anyone else''s. Xu Musen wasn''t nervous at all; in the mock exams, his scores had been around 680, so even with fluctuations, it wouldn''t be much lower. Sure enough, the scores began to appear. Candidate: Xu Musen. Chinese: 135 Mathematics: 141 Total Score: 688! At the sight of this score, Mr. and Mrs. Xu rubbed their eyes in disbelief! With this score, they could choose almost any top university in the country without hesitation! Even Tsinghua and Peking University might be within reach! "Good, good, good!" Mr. Xu lost all pretense of calm, his face radiant, the wrinkles smoothing out in his joy. Picking up the phone, he started to spread the good news to rtives and friends. "Hello, Old Wang, my son''s results are out. Just average, just under 700." "Old Li, hahaha, how did you know my son scored more than 680 in the college entrance exam?" Mrs. Xu also stared at the score for a long time, unable to snap back to reality, eventually bing teary-eyed with emotion. "Great, great, now we can rest assured" Mrs. Xu patted her son''s head. In their view, one had to attend a prestigious university to secure a stable future. She then took out her mobile phone to call Liu Rushuang. "Musen''s results are out, have you checked Ming Yue''s as well?" "Just came out, exactly 700 points. Xiaosen must have done well too, right?" "Aiyoh, even more unbelievable, 700 points! Musen only scored 688. From childhood to now, Ming Yue always had better grades, hahaha." "Where, Xiaosen has improved greatly; with this score, he can choose any school in the country!" "Yes, the two kids might even end up attending the same top university!" "Right, they are childhood sweethearts; they have been together since kindergarten" Xu Musen listened to his mother''s conversation with Liu Rushuang, and his heart skipped a beat for a moment. Now that the results were out, it was time to apply for universities. Actually, Xu Musen was rather keen on going to Hu Hai city. In his past life, he and Yao Mingyue had attended the same university. In fact, during their time at university, they got along better and better, almost confirming their rtionship. Back then, Yao Mingyue''s ''yandere'' traits weren''t so extreme, just a bit strong on the control side, but still within eptable limits. After all, a bit of possessiveness during a rtionship can actually be a sign of affection for each other. It wasn''t until her senior year that she suddenly disappeared for three years When she came back, they met again at a matchmaking dinner. Moreover, Yao Mingyue''s grades would make her a strong candidate for Tsinghua or Peking University. In his past life, she had specifically chosen to attend Hu Hai University with Xu Musen. Honestly, if Yao Mingyue were a normal person, her behavior could be considered the epitome of true love. Unfortunately, she was a ''yandere''. Her constant, unscrupulous possessiveness was truly unbearable. And that''s why Xu Musen still wanted to choose Hu Hai. Being one of the most inte-sensitive and highly developed areas in the maind, Hu Hai was perfectly suited for the path Xu Musen intended to take. He gazed at the graduation photo on the table. In the moment he turned his head, Yao Mingyue also gently tilted her head; her high ponytail resting on his shoulder. Her stunningly beautiful face glowed in the sunlight. She was really attractivein a way that was etched into Xu Musen''s consistent aesthetic appreciation. Too bad, she''s a tsundere. Xu Musen shook his head, pondering in his heart that this little tsundere would almost surely nail a spot at Tsinghua or Peking University. If he could trick her into applying for Tsinghua or Peking University while he blissfully went to Hu Hai University on his own. She would gain a degree from the top academic institutions in the country while he would enjoy his freedom and happiness. Wouldn''t that be delightful? After a long silence, the ss group chat had also be bustling. Those who did well began to show off their scores, and those who didn''t do well quietly lurked, while some had already started inquiring about factory lines that paid more. As the saying goes, after graduation, some went to Tsinghua, others to Peking University, and as for me, I did quite well tooI baked sweet potatoes. "Moriko, I freaking outperformed myself! Over 560 points! How about you?" He Qiang also sent him a message. Xu Musen chuckled: "I did so-so, just over 600, 688 points." "Damn! Can''t you go one day without showing off? But that number''s auspicious, I''ll reward you with the 688 set meal at Red Romance tonight!" He Qiang ribbed him but was genuinely happy for his good buddy, "So you can go to pretty much any school now, where are you nning to apply?" "Hu Hai, I guess. Still got time to see what happens." "That''s a nice ce, with rivers and seas, gives you a chance to cast a few lines on the Bund." Xu Musen''s lips twitched; this buddy was hopeless. Everyone else liked Hu Hai for its economic development or maybe the abundance of pretty girls, and foreign beauties were amon sight. But all he could think about was fishing. "Ding~" Yao Mingyue: "The results are out, congrattions." Xu Musen paused, their conversation hadn''t progressed in over half a month. "You too, congrattions." Xu Musen politely replied. After a moment, she sent another message: "Have you thought of any schools to apply to?" "Not really, I''ll leave it to fate. Do you have any ns?" Xu Musen nned to probe for some information. Yao Mingyue paused for a bit and replied with just three words: "Up to you." Leave it to fate, follow you. Xu Musen: ... F*ck! It feels like I''ve been hit by a buzzer-beater! For a moment, Xu Musen somewhat fondly recalled Yao Mingyue''s dominance from their past life, which could sometimes be quite addictive. Although that sentence could also be interpreted as "Whatever you say." But that''s where Yao Mingyue excelled: giving you an answer that could send your imagination running wildblending sincerity and tactics so well that truth or falsehood no longer mattered. Xu Musen inwardly clicked his tongue in admiration, Damn, that''s brilliant! Forget it, better y the "cold and indifferent yer" for a bit. It wasn''t long before another new message came. From An Nuannuan. This girl usually had a very regr routine. It looked like she stayed up tonight to see her results as well. "Xu Musen, Auntie helped me check my college entrance exam scores. There was a slight mishap this time, didn''t do too great, only got 701 points." Xu Musen''s mouth twitched as he looked at the ring text on the screen. "A slight mishap" "Didn''t do too great" "Only 701 points..." To be honest, if it had been anyone else, Xu Musen would have already spat out a mouthful of disdain. He kind of understood how He Qiang felt just now. "Nuannuan, that''s already very good, no need to humblebrag. (Worship)" "What''s humblebrag?" "It''s like being very pretentious... Never mind, have you decided on a school to apply to?" An Nuannuan seemed to hesitate for a moment, "I haven''t decided either, but..." She trailed off, as if weighing each word carefully. "Xu Musen, I don''t want us to be in a long-distance rtionship. Can we be together for university as well? (Rose x3)" Xu Musen looked at the words she yfully twisted, and while he wanted tough, something stirred in the depths of his heart. "I''ll follow you." "Want to be together in reality." Suddenly, Xu Musen was faced with a conundrum. That was whether he was a bit too popr? Chapter 64: Chapter 64: How about bluffing her into Tsinghua University or Peking University? After the results came out, Xu''s father and mother walked and talked with much more confidence the next day. They were willing to chat with anyone around. Others would smile and offer congrattions, then turn around to berate their own underachieving children with a Seven Wolves belt. Xu Musen always felt that every time he stepped outside, the students from the neighborhood who were on summer break looked at him a bit oddly. It was obvious they had beenpared to him by their parents. If a vige produced a student who got into Tsinghua University or Peking University, they would certainly be the nightmare of all other students in the vige. The day after the results were released, it was already time to start filling in university preferences. The school also notified the students to return to collect their graduation certificates, which was also an opportunity for the students to seek advice from their teachers on choosing a good university. The teachers often said that after the college entrance exam, choosing the right university and major was more useful than scoring a few more points. Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue had just arrived at school when they were greeted by the teachers. Their scores were the best advertisement for the school''s enrollment brochure. Especially Yao Mingyue''s, which had broken seven hundred points. Several students were pulled together to take a group photo, which was intended to be used for a promotional poster. They were also asked to write a slogan to inspire the younger students. Xu Musen casually wrote some motivational titude, "The harder you work, the luckier you get." Yao Mingyue nced at Xu Musen before gently writing her own message. "I''d rather make mistakes than do nothing at all. If it''s mine, I must not let it slip away." The ssmates were familiar with each other and couldn''t help but turn their gazes towards Xu Musen when they saw this sentence. Xu Musen stared at these words... these damn words could only be written by someone almost pathologically obsessive. No, he''d better find a way to get her into Tsinghua University or Peking University! The ssmates arrived one after another, and everyone gathered to reminisce about the past and dream about their future college life. "Ming Yue, have you decided which university you want to apply for? Seven hundred points! You could go to Tsinghua or Peking University, right?" A few girls surrounded Yao Mingyue enviously. Yao Mingyue didn''t rush to answer but looked up at Xu Musen for a moment. The teacher said with a smile, "Our ss has produced two top students this year. It''s not impossible for Xu Musen to get into Tsinghua or Peking University. Last year, the lowest admission scores for these universities were just over six hundred seventy points. With your science background, Tsinghua would be even better." "Right, didn''t Yao Mingyue say before that after going to university, she would seriously confirm her rtionship with Xu Musen? Yao Mingyue''s grades are good enough for Tsinghua or Peking University." "Oh~ No wonder Xu Musen studied so hard in thest month. It turns out it was for this reason." "Haha, I just saw their campaign slogans. ''The harder you work, the luckier you get.'' That''s clearly a confession..." Now that they had graduated, the students discussed the two openly and delighted in the gossip. Yao Mingyue''s cheeks were a little red at the moment, and the feeling of everyone pairing them up brought her a kind of joy that was hard to express. Moreover, this time she showed no intention of exining, even somewhat consenting to the idea of being together with Xu Musen after starting university. Watching her expression, something suddenly clicked in Xu Musen''s mind, and he decided to y along. He scratched his head. Showing an embarrassed look as if his secret thoughts had been uncovered, he said, "Don''t talk nonsense, who wouldn''t want to go to Tsinghua or Peking University if they had the chance?" This spurred even louder gossip and teasing from the ssmates. "Quit pretending already!" "Just admit it outright, why wait until university, huh?" The teachers were all smiling, knowing that if their ss could produce two students who got into Tsinghua or Peking University, they would definitely be in the running for the next Excellent Teacher award. Yao Mingyue''s eyes sparkled, and seeing Xu Musen''s somewhat unusual reaction, it seemed like she had heard the best news in recent times. After the students received their graduation certificates, they lingered, not in a hurry to leave, chatting leisurely. "Finally graduated, I want to buy aptop so I can y ''CF'' every day once I''m at university!" "I want to get a new phone, but my family refuses to buy me an iPhone, saying it''s too expensive." "Is anyone nning to get double eyelid surgery or some kind of facial treatment? I heard there''s a group discount at a hospital!" "Me and my buddy are also nning to get it done at the hospital." "You guys are getting double eyelid surgery too?" "No, it''s something else that gets cut. The second one is half-price too..." The boy coughed dryly. The girl who had interjected was a bit puzzled, but another girl whispered something in her ear, and she instantly blushed and spat, "Pervert." The boysughed heartily. "But my family won''t buy me aputer or a new phone, no matter how much I beg and plead. I don''t have the money to buy a decent one." "Then why not work a summer job at a factory and buy your own phone andptop? Isn''t that great?" "The factories now are just ck-hearted, might even withhold your wages..." It was clear that most of them wanted to fulfill their wishes during this holiday. But the undertone of most conversations revealed the word ''poverty''. As students, they need to ask their families for everything, but their families can''t support everything either. "Then just do part-time work. Settle ounts daily. Earn over a hundred a day, and you can take home several thousand in a month." At that moment, a voice came from the crowd. It was He Qiang speaking. Others looked at his dark face and immediately mocked, "There are more scams in part-time jobs, and where do you find a job that pays a hundred a day?" He Qiang nonchntly pulled out thetest model of an Apple phone, pretending to check the time. "Whoa, isn''t that the newly released Apple 4? He Qiang, did you strike it rich?" In this era, a nice phone was really something to show off among students. Otherwise, people wouldn''t bend over backward just to afford an Apple phone. He Qiang was usually low-key, so everyone assumed his family was average. Suddenly whipping out a phone that costs several thousand made others envious. "Part-time work. Saved up and bought it." He Qiang looked nonchnt. Have to say, showing off felt kind of awesome. Xu Musen also smiled quietly on the side. He didn''t realize his good buddy had such a talent for performance. The ssmates who were doubtful just a moment ago now looked at each other and couldn''t help but start to ask. "He Qiang, where exactly do you work part-time?" "You wouldn''t believe it if I told you." "Just kidding around before,e on, we''re all old ssmates, spill it." A few boys spoke enviously. "Fine, but it''s hard to exin. Fortunately, I have some flyers in my pocket. If you want to take a look, go ahead." He Qiang "identally" found flyers in his pocket with messy casualness and took them out. "Let me see!" But this sloppy act was enough to fool these high school students who were all intent on making money. Sure enough, everyone was immediately attracted to the words "daily wages," "no experience needed," and "the more you work, the more you earn" on the flyers. With He Qiang as a living example right beside them, quite a few were instantly tempted. Seeing that his aim was achieved, Xu Musen felt overjoyed and watched the adorable little busy bee ssmates. The harder they worked, the sweeter his own life would be. On the way back, Yao Mingyue''s gaze kept drifting toward Xu Musen, and finally, she couldn''t help but ask, "Hey, are you really nning to apply to Tsinghua?" Xu Musen also turned to look at her, thinking you''re finally taking the bait. But outwardly, he spoke with a touch of sentiment, "Ever since I was a kid, my parents told me to study hard so I could get into Tsinghua or Peking University. If there''s a chance, of course, I want to seize it." Xu Musen hadn''t lied, he had said to seize the chance, but didn''t say he had to apply to that school necessarily. He gave the little tsundere a nce. If he truly managed to coax her into applying to Tsinghua or Peking University, She would achieve a top-notch education, and he would obtain the freedom in life. Wouldn''t that be wonderful? Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Youre really hungry, you can eat anything! (Please follow the story!) "Now that we''ve got our diplomas and scores, we need to hurry up and think about what universities to apply for. Have you two thought about it yet?" After the scores were released, both families got together again to celebrate. Liu Rushuang asked with concern, her child''s college entrance exams were over, and she was about to go on a business trip again. Xu''s mother chuckled, "Musen has been going on about applying to Tsinghua these past few days. I''m not sure if his scores are good enough, but he''s so full of himself. As for Ming Yue, her scores are definitely no problem." "Mom, can''t you have a little faith in your son?" Xu Musen retorted, still not convinced. In recent days, he had been spreading the message far and wide that he was determined to get into Tsinghua, or at the very least Peking University. Yao Mingyue listened and gradually epted the idea that Xu Musen wanted to apply to Tsinghua. Actually, she had wanted to go to Hu Hai University all along, since one of her mother''s branch offices was located in Hu Hai. But for Yao Mingyue, the most important thing was to keep him close by her side. Tsinghua? That could work too. If the two of them really got into the same university, Yao Mingyue had decided to let him taste a bit of sweetness first. Even when he thought about touching someone in a wheelchair, it must have been because he couldn''t have her own legs every day, that''s why he was like this. He really was starving, able to eat anything! It was all because she was too charming! Yao Mingyue looked down at her own slender and fair legs, tender yet plump, hmph... in the future, she would have to punish him severely. Her face flushed as she got lost in her reverie... Xu Musen, meanwhile, stealthily watched her. Time to advance the n! The next day. The driving test for the second subject wasing up, but it seemed like an overcast day. Xu Musen felt the air was particrly humid when he left the house, hoping to finish the test quickly and be done with it. Yao Mingyue wore a sun-protection coat today, apanied by light-colored long pants on the bottom. She used to wear skirts specifically for Xu Musen to admire her legs, but then she realized that at the driving school, others stared at her more than Xu Musen did, even the envious nces of other girls! Annoyed, she put on long pants. The two of them had gotten used to going to the driving school together every day. Xu Musen mounted the bike, and Yao Mingyue sat on the back with practiced ease, her hands clutching his waist. Xu Musen couldn''t be bothered to wrangle with her; after all, once school started, they probably wouldn''t see much of each other. They rode all the way to the driving school. There were quite a few people taking the test today, as the second subject has always been a wholesale purveyor of geniuses and jesters. Parking in the side space turned into flipping over to the side. Starting on a slope turned intounching off a slope. Driving through an S-curve turned into bumper cars. The loudspeaker at the test site never stopped broadcasting. The coach had everything arranged in advance; there was nothing superfluous on the test site. Even a de of grass, a patch of earth, had its unique purpose. Many girls practiced the motions with an invisible steering wheel, nerves on high. "Contestant number 54! What are you doing sitting in the passenger seat?" "Contestant number 63! Are you checking the chassis because you want to fix the car?" Xu Musen, Yao Mingyue, and He Qiang all waited for their turn to test,ughing at the announcements they heard. There were also many others who had failed and were secretly wiping away tears. Xu Musen sighed, thinking those people might as well give up on getting their driver''s license early C they were too emotionally unstable. "The exam is too slow. I feel like it''s going to rain outside today." He Qiang looked at the weather; it was only a bit overcast in the morning, but now the clouds seemed to be gathering. "The weather forecast said the rain wouldn''te until tonight." "Pfft, weather forecasts are full of nonsense. Last time I went fishing at the reservoir, they said there would be light rain, but then damn hail started to fall, nearly killed me," He Qiangined bitterly. Fishermen care a lot about the weather. Finally, at noon, it was their turn. Xu Musen, like an old hand at driving, performed a fluid set of maneuvers and was done in no time. "Your examination has passed, please return to print your score report." Xu Musen walked off with an air of rxation. But He Qiang came off with a long face, "I forgot to signal, lost ten points, nearly failed." "Come on, you passed, didn''t you?" Xu Musen said, patting him on the shoulder with a smile. At that moment, Yao Mingyue also got in the car to start her test. Xu Musen and He Qiang watched from outside the wall fence. The school''s cars were old models of Santana; ssic indeed, but as tastes changed, they weren''t exactly considered good-looking anymore. They say if you drive a Range Rover or a Benz into your vige, even the vige chief will offer you cigarettes. But if you drive a Geely Emgrand, the vige chief will send a voice message telling you to keep your distance. Car rides can enhance an ordinary person''s charisma. But when Yao Mingyue sat in the car, she managed to give this Santana the air of a luxury vehicle. "Tsk tsk, can''t deny it, Yao Mingyue''s charisma is really something special, Moriko, you sure you don''t want to pursue her?" He Qiang asked. Xu Musen shook his head: "Just average, I''d say, not even half as good as her mom''s." "Come on, Yao Mingyue isn''t even half her mom''s age, and in the future, she''s sure to be a charismatic and rich beauty. Would you really be okay with her ending up with someone else?" He Qiang muttered, but Xu Musen didn''t respond, lost in thought. "By the way, it''s time to choose college preferences, have you decided on a school?" He Qiang quickly changed the subject. "Probably Hu Hai," Xu Musen responded as the image of An Nuannuan surfaced in his mind. The girl had been busy with something these past few days and they hadn''t met. She also mentioned wanting to go to Hu Hai. If he could go to the same school as her, it might be quite interesting. "Weren''t you the one adamant about going to Tsinghua or nowhere?" "Well, people should be self-aware." Xu Musen chuckled. It''s said that female drivers are frightening, but Yao Mingyue has strong learning abilities and even aced her driving test without breaking a sweat. However, no sooner had the three of them finished their test, the sky dimmed and heavy winds began to blow. "Damn, looks like it''s really going to rain. I''ve got to hurry back!" He Qiang said with some excitement, rubbing his hands together. "Why are you so thrilled about it?" "The heavier the rain, the bigger the fish thate up for air, increasing the chances of catching them!" He Qiang smirked with gleaming eyes. Xu Musen couldn''t help but tease, "That look in your eyes is nearly identical to someone heading to Red Romance to find an ''older sister''. Tell me, how did the breeding go with the fish at your ce?" "Get lost, fishing is way better than girls. No more talk, I''m off!" He Qiang chuckled, hopped on his electric bike, and zoomed off. Xu Musen shook his head with a smile, thinking it was good for him to have a hobby. When he turned around, he found Yao Mingyue standing behind him. She was watching him with great interest. "...When did youe out?" "Is Red Romance fun?" "..." Xu Musen didn''t exin, and Yao Mingyue also knew himhe didn''t have the guts. If he dared to fool around, her steel wool scourer would be waiting for three days of scrubbing! "Hurry up and get in the car, it looks like it''s going to rain." Xu Musen looked up, noticing the clouds had turned even darker. Summer was always like this: clear skies one moment, but the next a storm could break without warning. "Looks like it''s really going to rain. Do you want to call a cab and head back first?" Xu Musen felt a few drops of rain. "No need, it''s not far. I''ve got an umbre," Yao Mingyue said, still seated in the back, holding a small umbre. Xu Musen didn''t waste words and started for home, twisting the throttle. As expected, within the short ten-minute ride, a downpour began halfway through. The sudden rain left them unprepared. The rain pounded on their faces, forcing Xu Musen to squint. "Stop for a second," Yao Mingyue said from behind. "What''s wrong?" Xu Musen stopped by the roadside and looked back. He saw Yao Mingyue taking off her sun protection jacket and passing it to Xu Musen. The jacket was roomy and had a sunshade cap, which could provide some shelter from the rain. "You wear it," Xu Musen said as he turned back. In the torrential downpour, Yao Mingyue''s thin short-sleeved shirt was soaked through, bing somewhat translucent and clinging to her body, Xu Musen could even clearly see her light pink bra. The girl''s slender frame trembled slightly in the rain, her face determined as she bit her cold lips, stubbornly holding out the sun protection jacket to him. Xu Musen knew this stubborn girl too well; he had no choice but to drape the jacket over himself. With the sunshade cap, he could finally open his eyes against the rain. Yao Mingyue, meanwhile, snuggled into the windbreaker, wrapping her arms around his waist. The two of them pressed tightly together. The rain-soaked clothes felt almost as if they were wearing nothing at all, and Xu Musen took a deep breath and hurried home. While Yao Mingyue, hugging Xu Musen''s waist, warmed her cold cheeks against his broad back, the chill from the rain began to dissipate. She even wished for the road to stretch longer, to hold him tighter, as if to merge into his very being... Yet suddenly, she noticed that the space where she was embracing his waist seemed to have shrunk. Hmm... do abs alsoe in long strips? Chapter 66: Chapter 66 In Yao Mingyues Bathroom. The rain poured down in torrents. The two of them got home, and the rain seemed to let up somewhat. At this hour, Mum and Dad were not at home. Liu Rushuang had gone on another business trip. Xu Musen thought it over and decided to take her to her ce first, since his own homecked a change of clothes for her. Xu Musen had intended to leave after dropping her off, but Yao Mingyue pulled at him. "Come in too." Yao Mingyue clung to his arm. She was shivering slightly from the cold, yet her grip was strong. "I need to go home to shower." "Your ce doesn''t have a bathtub. Without soaking in a bath, you''ll catch a cold." Yao Mingyue, seeing him soaked through, adamantly refused to let him go. Just then, the phone rang. It was from Mum. "Son, the rain was torrential just now. Did you and Ming Yue get caught in it?" "No worries, we''ve reached home." "Good, then hurry up and take a warm shower so you don''t catch a cold. Ming Yue is a girl; she needs to be even more careful. Look after her." Xu Musen nodded. Then Yao Mingyue''s phone also started to ring. She uttered an ''oh'' twice and handed the phone to Xu Musen. "Xiaosen, you got soaked in the rain, right? Go to Auntie''s ce with Ming Yue and take a warm shower first. Auntie''s home has a steam room that can help get rid of the chill. Make sure you go and have a shower; there are clothes at the house you can wear." The caring voice of Liu Rushuang came through, her concern so genuine that Xu Musen could only agree. They entered the vi. Yao Mingyue took off her thoroughly wet shoes, followed by her pristine white socks. Her small feet, soaked by the rain, looked especially pale, each little toe resembling tiny crystal grapes, wet and with a peculiar allure. The thin clothes on her body clung tightly to her, outlining the young girl''s graceful curves all the more temptingly. Especially since the clothes were soaked through to the point where the outline of her undergarments was visible, the firm shape of her buttocks entuated. It was like misty hills and green waters that made the mind wander into reverie. Xu Musen felt his body growing hot. Damn this body, why did it seem like his energy was too abundant after the rebirth? Yao Mingyue turned to look at him, her pretty face that had turned pale from the cold now also gained a touch of warmth. "Shall I shower first?" Xu Musen nodded. You''d better hurry. Yao Mingyue walked to the bathroom, slowly stripping off her clothes, cing them in the clothing basket by the door. She thought for a moment and intentionally left a bit of hercy underwear showing Then she entered the bathroom with a slight smile on her lips. She finished her shower quickly, wearing a pink nightgown as she stepped out to find Xu Musen brewing a cup of hot tea for himself. "It''s your turn to shower now." "Hmm." Xu Musen nodded and passed by Yao Mingyue, catching the fresh scent of her just out of the shower. It was a fragrance he had smelled for a lifetime in his previous life. Moreover, in his previous life, Yao Mingyue always liked to pull him into the bath with her, turning a half-hour bath time into one or two hours. They''d almost go pruney Xu Musen shook his head and walked to the bathroom door, closed the partition door behind him, and began to remove his damp clothing. That''s when he spotted in a basket Yao Mingyue''s discarded clothes damp and somehow provocative. Most notably, a piece of her underwear was peeking out,cy at the edges. Abination of youthful girlhood and a hint of mature charm. Just removed, they seemed to still hold her body heat. Xu Musen shifted his gaze. Heh, so you''re testing me with this? Only perverts get excited over a piece of cloth, pah! Xu Musen ced his clothes in another basket and turned to enter the bathroom. It must be said that Yao Mingyue''s bathroom was quiterge, with a good fifty square meters,plete with a bathtub and a steam room. It even had ultraviolet beauty devices, among other things. It goes without saying, wealthy people really know how to live luxuriously. Earning money is indeed a long and arduous road! Xu Musenyfortably in the bath, feeling as if the water was infused with Yao Mingyue''s scent. Hmm, if it were a bit stronger... it even somewhat resembled Auntie Liu''s fragrance. Meanwhile, outside the bathroom, a shadow tiptoed across the carpet and gently pushed open the partition door. Yao Mingyue entered the changing room and slowly approached theundry basket. She first nced at her own clothes, which were surprisingly still in the same state. Yao Mingyue huffed, thinking that the clueless man should have at this point picked them up... ugh! Her gaze then shifted to the other side, where Xu Musen''s clothes were. Her face flushed slightly, and after a few seconds, she reached out her hand. A shirt, trousers, and... boxer briefs. Looking at the small garment that only boys could wear, with a vertical pocket at the front. For some reason, Yao Mingyue didn''t know why. She swallowed. Her face turned redder, as she grasped it wanting to take a closer look. In the end, she stopped herself, wrapped the shirt around it, but still leaned in to take a deep breath. Hmm... there''s a scent of rainwater, so I might as well wash it for him. She grabbed her phone, then suddenly noticed another phone beneath the clothes basket. She hesitated for a moment, but still picked it up. The lock screen passwordshe subconsciously tried her own birthday. "0621" As expected, it unlocked. The thing about phone passwords is that after using them for a while, you forget what they initially symbolized. Plus, having be muscle memory, Xu Musen hadn''t thought to change it. Yet, Yao Mingyue''s lips curved into a smile, this guy... clearly still cares about me, huh? She opened his chat list. In fact, Xu Musen''s chat list was very tidy, other than Mom and Dad, there was only He Qiang, Yao Mingyue, and An Nuannuan. The rest were group chats with ''Do Not Disturb'' enabled. However, seeing An Nuannuan''s name made Yao Mingyue frown. Opening it up only made Yao Mingyue clench her teeth. "I''m so lonely without you..." "Can I spend the night with you..." "Let''s meet up at college..." Yao Mingyue''s blood pressure soared! It felt as if countless green hats were being ced on her head! If she hadn''t felt that this girl didn''t mean it that way, Xu Musen''s phone would have probably been retired on the spot. But as she read on, a strange feeling started to emerge in her heart. Was this girl genuinely naive, or was she feigning it? Looking at the chat history, it didn''t seem like something a normal girl would say, a bit... too thoughtless. Some phrases would typically be avoided for fear of misunderstanding. Yet she had said them so foolishly. The more she did, the more authentic she seemed, and most importantly, Xu Musen seemed to fall for this act. Suddenly, Yao Mingyue recalled her mother''s words: if a man is strung along for too long, once he tastes a bit of sweetness, he''s very easily deceived. She bit her lip, pondering whether it was because Xu Musen couldn''t have her that he was tempted by this girl? Or was it that the girl was not actually foolish, and all of this was intentional? If so... Yao Mingyue looked at thest message. "Can we be together in college?" An Nuannuan''s grades could certainly get her into Tsinghua or Peking University. So, for whom did Xu Musen choose his school? Yao Mingyue felt as if she had ced a green hat on herself, and she finally couldn''t help but send a message. "Are you there?" Chapter 67: Chapter 67: The Special Reactions of a Sickly Cute and a Natural Dumb! Yao Mingyue decided to test out this "alluringly ditsy charm." After she sent out a message asking if he was there, a reply from the other side came in just a few seconds. "Mhm! Aunty Xiang is massaging me right now." An Nuannuan replied swiftly. Before Yao Mingyue could respond, another message notification popped up. An Nuannuan also sent a picture along. Yao Mingyue''s blood pressure shot up the moment she saw it! The photo, unmistakably, was of An Nuannuan''s fair legs, her cute little feet reflecting a shine under the light, each toe small and adorable. It was as if they were inviting someone to taste them. Close-up for a big face? Yao Mingyue was so angry she nearly crushed her teeth. This ditsy act must be deliberate, right? Who sends pictures of their legs and feet just while chatting? Yao Mingyue''s hands trembled as she was just about to reply when An Nuannuan sent another message, "Actually, Aunty Xiang''s massage is not asfortable as when you do it, Xu Musen. It''s been several days since you''ve given me one, when can I enjoy another splendid massage from you?" "..." Yao Mingyue really almost swore! Ahhh! Is she actually foolish or just pretending? Yao Mingyue almost threw her phone in frustration, but she managed to keep herst bit of sanity. "An Nuannuan, please don''t talk to me like this anymore." "Why?" "Because, I actually already have someone I like. From now on, you need to keep your distance from me, otherwise, you''ll be looked down upon by others!" Yao Mingyue sent the message imitating Xu Musen''s tone. As expected, it took a minute or two before the other side slowly replied, "Why would people look down on me? (Questioning face)" "Because I''ll soon have a girlfriend and I can''t talk to other girls or even spare them a nce!" "Oh... but aren''t we also good friends of different genders?" That single sentence made Yao Mingyue feel her blood pressure rise again. "I''m talking about boyfriend and girlfriend... it means we''d go shopping together, eat together, y together, watch movies together, and we would... casually hug, lift each other up, and do lots of things that others can''t do, the very best kind! Do you understand?" Yao Mingyue gritted her teeth as she sent this long message. Sure enough, there was a long silence from the phone. On the other end of the phone, An Nuannuan was looking at the messages sent... Shopping, eating, it seems they''d done all that. Does that mean they''re boyfriend and girlfriend? An Nuannuan didn''t understand why, but she felt her face getting warm. And what about the rest? Hugging, lifting each other up... he had carried her before, but the whole hugging and such... "Aunty Xiang," she said. "What''s wrong, Nuannuan?" "If someone suddenly tells you they need to make other friends and talks about lots of things... some which they''ve done before and some they haven''t, what does that mean?" An Nuannuan blinked. After thinking for a while, Aunty Xiang spoke up, "If it''s a boy, maybe he''s just saying it out of frustration, perhaps because he feels the care he''s receiving isn''t enough. Those things he mentioned, he''s actually hinting that the girl should pay him more attention..." As Aunty Xiang spoke, she suddenly paused and asked, "Did that boy say something to you?" An Nuannuan nodded and then shook her head. Aunty Xiang was bemused, "What do you mean by nodding and then shaking your head?" An Nuannuan blinked and after a brief contemtion, she spoke, "I feel like the things he said aren''t something he would say, but at the same time, it''s as if he''s expressing his inner thoughts." "What?" Aunty Xiang was confused. An Nuannuan, however, stared at the words on her phone. She pursed her lips slightly, contemting the best friends... Does that mean she should also show some kind of gesture? She clenched her little fists and made up her mind. ... On the other end of the phone. Yao Mingyue had intended to say something even more explicit, but after a long wait, finally, a reply came from the other side. "I understand, I''ll be good." It seemed there was no intent to linger on the topic. She must have realized when to back off! Yao Mingyue hummed in satisfaction. Hearing some noise from the bathroom, she quickly deleted the entire conversation between the two people and ced her phone back. But she, who always tends to veer off course, might never have imagined that An Nuannuan''s thoughts were even more outrageously wayward. ... Xu Musen had soaked for a while, then went to the sauna room for a steam beforeing out. The first thing he noticed was that his clothes were gone. Okay, there really is a pervert! But then he saw, lying on a table nearby, a clean set of folded trousers and a shirt. Looking at the style, they must be clothes that Uncle Yao used to wear. Xu Musen tried them on and stepped outside. He saw Yao Mingyue just as she wasing back from the balcony. "I washed your clothes for you," Yao Mingyue seemed very happy as she sat down beside him. Xu Musen nodded, looking out at the still-falling rain. He had been out since early morning and hadn''t had time for lunch, now his stomach rumbled in protest. With the rainstorm outside, there was no chance for delivery either. When Yao Mingyue heard his stomach growling, she slightly raised her lips, "Would you like me to make you something to eat?" "You?" Xu Musen scoffed, not to say anything negative, but this littledy with a frail appearance had all the capabilities except for any culinary skills. After all, she had always had housekeepers since childhood and had never needed to lift a finger. "Or would you rather do it?" Yao Mingyue pouted her lips. Xu Musen, for his part, went to the open kitchen, opened the fridge, and looked inside. Therge, three-door refrigerator was packed with various kinds of food. He might as well do it himself then. In hisst life, he had plenty of practice cooking while serving this female CEO. Xu Musen decided to stew some spare ribs soup and then cook some noodles. He took an apron from the kitchen, rolled up his sleeves, and started to take out the ingredients. He really began working in the kitchen. Yao Mingyue''s eyes widened slightly; she didn''t expect that he would actually start cooking in earnest. The relentless rain was pouring outside while both of them, having taken their baths, felt a bit lethargic andfortably nestled on the sofa. The only sounds in the room were Xu Musen chopping vegetables and the bubbling water on the stove, which felt exceptionally soothing. Yao Mingyuey on the sofa, watching Xu Musen as he cooked. Dressed in her father''s old clothes, the crisp white shirt made him seem even more mature. Xu Musen had really changed a lot during this time, especially in his demeanor, exuding more confidence and stubbornness. Especially the light in his eyes, always having that tenacity as if after enduring hardships, there would be a sweet oue. His upright posture, his broad shoulders, and the focused profile of his face as he seriously cooked made Yao Mingyue''s heart race uncontrobly. She even felt that it would be wonderful if things could always be this way. An hourter, Xu Musen had finished cooking. He had made corn and spare ribs soup and used the broth to cook two bowls of noodles. Xu Musen, with a bowl of soup and noodles, sat down at the dining table, took off his apron, and began to eat. "Hey! What about mine?" "In the kitchen, help yourself," Xu Musen replied without lifting his head, thinking that it was already generous to share his homemade noodlesserving her was out of the question. Yao Mingyue grumbled unhappily but also briskly walked to the kitchen to get her noodles. They were steaming hot and smelled delicious. She took a small bite and her eyes immediately brightened with delight; surprisingly, his cooking was delicious! "Howe I never knew you could cook before?" Yao Mingyue sipped the spare ribs soup, feeling her whole body warm up. She was very picky when it came to food. Moreover, she was sensitive to even a slight variance in the amount of seasonings such as salt. The professional housekeepers initially took a long time to cook meals to Yao Mingyue''s satisfaction. But this was Xu Musen''s first time cooking for her, and it seemed as if it was tailor-made for her, fitting her taste perfectly. Xu Musen paused in his eating, looking up at the satisfied Yao Mingyue. "There''s a lot you don''t know about me." Xu Musen replied casually, thinking to himself that he knew she had plenty of secrets. Yao Mingyue lifted her eyes to him, feeling recently as though she couldn''t quite understand him. But looking at the bowl of noodles that were perfect for her taste before her, She really wished she could keep him by her side forever, to eat his cooking every day A possessive excitement flickered on the young girl''s face, as she secretly made up her mind. Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Revealing Choices of Willingness. The rain hasn''t stopped, and the weather forecast says there will be heavy rain for the next two or three days. These days, several summer part-timers have alreadye to the store to sign up. Musen asked mom to act as the boss, assigning tasks to them, and in the evening, he would take the material works back and settle their wages on the spot. After a few days of getting used to each other, several people have been able to work independently, and in these few days, they have already secured more than ten deals. An advertisement fee of 3999 meant nearly fifty thousand yuan, and by estimation, by the end of this summer vacation, along with the game revenue and after deducting costs, he should be able to have over half a million in his pocket. That would be enough for him to enter university and start a new chapter of entrepreneurship. He then used theputer to look at the map of Hu Hai, noting severalmercial and snack streets next to Hu Hai University, which would all be lucrative sources of ie in the future. Musen first filled in his second and third preferences, leaving the first one nk, to be decided when he returned the next day. Moreover, Nuannuan suddenly sent a messagest night, saying she had something to tell him and wanted to meet the next day. Musen agreed. Nuannuan is also very likely to go to Hu Hai University, and it should be quite interesting to attend university with this youngdy. The next day. The sky was still filled with a faint drizzle, and looking at the night sky, it seemed likely that there would be heavy rain in the evening. Musen changed into new clothes and headed out with an umbre. On the way, he casually bought two candied haw sticks and soon arrived at Nuannuan''s doorstep. He rang the doorbell. "Who is it!" That crisp, milky voice belonged to the little girl, no doubt. "It''s me." "Don''t know you, won''t open!" An Nannan instantly recognized the voice of the viinpeting for her sister''s attention. "Alright, it seems like the candied haws I bought today will just have to be fed to the dog when I go back." Musen expressed his regret. "Eh!" On the other end, the little girl made a squeal, and her footsteps pounded as she ran downstairs, poking her head out of the door in just a few seconds. Seeing that Musen was indeed holding candied haws and grilled sausages, she eagerly trotted over, tempted. "Where''s your sister?" "Give it to me first, and then I''ll tell you." An Nannan stretched out her soft little hand towards him, her tone firm, but those yearning little eyes were somewhat adorably dumbfounded. At that moment, the main door was pushed open, and Nuannuan, wheeling herself out, appeared. "Nannan." She called out softly. Musen looked up, slightly dazzled, as Nuannuan was not wearing a dress today, but rather a cute pair of denim overalls. On top, she wore a white gauzy long-sleeved shirt, which made her look even cuterpared to wearing long skirts, and she had a small white fluffy bag around her waist. Her usually loose hair was tied up today. Revealing that face no less beautiful than Ming Yue, those peach blossom eyes always seemed extra affectionate. Musen walked over too, looking at Nuannuan''s outfit for the day: "Nuannuan, you look very pretty today." Nuannuan nced down at her clothes, which Aunt Xiang helped her choose today, and she seriously nodded in response to thepliment: "I know." Well, she''s not humble at all. Indeed, that''s her true self. "Bad guy, stop sweet-talking to deceive my sister! I won''t let you have her," the little girl barked out fiercely. "Nannan is also very cute today," Musen said with a beaming smile, giving her apliment as well. Immediately, the little girl blushed: "Even if you say that, I won''t... I''ll let you talk for at most five minutes." The next moment, Musen dangled a candied haw in front of her. The little girl''s eyes cleared instantly: "You, don''t tempt me with these, I''ll let you talk a bit longer..." Musen held back augh and handed her the candied haw. Clearly, this little girl had principles, but not many. Sure enough, after receiving the candied haw and whispering a few words with Nuannuan, An Nannan reluctantly nodded. "Let''s go." Nuannuan tugged at his sleeve, and Musen nodded. Without this little lightbulb around, it would be a bit more rxed for the two of them together. As they walked out of the vi area, Musen asked her, "Where would you like to go today?" The sky was a bit gloomy, and it might well rain again in the evening. But Nuannuan took out a little notebook from her small bag, nced at it, then quickly snapped it shut: "Can we go to the shopping street first?" "Of course." Musen apanied her to the shopping street, and they even strolled around the old market trade city. Nuannuan obviously wasn''t used to wandering in ces full of roadside stalls, looking curious about everything. "See anything you want to buy?" Musen asked her. Nuannuan shook her head, then asked him in return, "What about you?" Xu Musen looked at the toy store in front of him andughed, "I remember when I was a kid, my mom used to take me here, and I always wanted an Ultraman toy. I always thought of myself as a hero who defeats monsters." Butter, I found out that I was the little monster who was defeated by reality." Xu Musenughed at himself mockingly. An Nuannuan, seemingly deep in thought, nodded. When she looked at Xu Musen, there was a sparkle in her eyes. "Musen, I''m thirsty and want to drink some water." "Alright, I''ll go buy you some." By the time Xu Musen returned from buying water at the nearby supermarket, An Nuannuan was holding her purse and that little notebook again. "Water." "Oh~" An Nuannuan took it, and she made a checkmark on her little notebook, her expression seeming to brighten a little. "Musen, can I treat you to a meal today?" Xu Musen found her a bit secretive, but seeing her expectant eyes, he promptly nodded in agreement. "Then I might just ughter you, you little richdy." "What does ''richdy'' mean?" "It means... someone who''s very rich but also cold and aloof." "Hmm, it sounds a bit like Good Person Sister," An Nuannuan pondered. "..." Musen, you have quite the eye for people! An Nuannuan took Xu Musen to a Sichuan hotpot restaurant. As soon as they entered, the chili fumes were so strong that they stung their eyes. But An Nuannuan was excited. She even ordered the spiciest red oil pot. Xu Musen remembered that she had said her mother was from Sichuan. With such spicy food, it''s no wonder that there are so many proctology hospitals in Chengdu. But why are there so many in Nantong as well? Could it be that hemorrhoids really add a bit of texture to life? Meanwhile, An Nuannuan was munching on tripe and sipping milk tea. She still rested the milk tea steadily on her chest. Xu Musen couldn''t help but steal a nce, wondering if wealthy families really did have such good nourishment? "Musen, do you want some milk?" Maybe feeling his gaze, An Nuannuan offered. "Cough, no, I''m good." "Your face is all red from the spiciness." "It''s nothing... I''ll just drink some sour plum soup." ... Meanwhile, Yao Mingyue was holding the clothes Xu Musen hadn''t taken with him yesterday, already washed and clean. Yao Mingyue smelled them at the tip of her nose, and besides his scent, there was now also hers; this sense of two people intertwined gave her a nice feeling. She nned to return the clothes, but when she knocked on the door, there was no answer. Since both families had spare keys to each other''s houses, she just went ahead and opened the door. She entered the room and saw that Xu Musen''s door was just ajar; she peeked inside. Xu Musen was clearly not in his room. Yao Mingyue thought he might have gone to the flower shop to make those videos again. Entering his room, the ce was filled with his scent. Yao Mingyue couldn''t resist and rolled around on his bed. She dared not imagine howfortable it would be to sleep holding him! In the end, she neatly ced the clothes and prepared to leave, but her gaze fell upon hisputer''s desktop. Because Xu Musen had to frequently monitor the back end, hisputer was always on. College volunteer application... Yao Mingyue had sharp eyesight and immediately spotted a tab; the deadline for submitting choices was only in two days. She pondered, then decided to click and take a look. However, in the volunteer application, the most important first choice was empty. But the second and third choices were already filled out. "Hu Hai University of Science and Technology" "Hu Hai University of Technology..." Yao Mingyue''s brows furrowed at once, why were they all in Hu Hai? Wasn''t he supposed to apply to Tsinghua? Even if he was afraid of not getting in, he could choose another school in the same area. Yet, almost all three or four of his preferences were in Hu Hai. And there was another webpage disying the map of Hu Hai University. He was clearly aiming for Hu Hai! Yao Mingyue''s eyebrows tightly knit together, and her phoenix eyes now seemed to emit a dark light. Chapter 69: Chapter 69 Yao Mingyue: Are you two dating? (First update!) Yao Mingyue stared intently at theputer screen, as if the threads of clues were automatically weaving together in her mind. She thought of something and called Xu''s mother, her voice instantly softened, "Auntie, is Xu Musen at the store?" Xu''s mother, "No, I haven''t seen him all day, what''s up?" "It''s nothing, I''m just bringing him some clothes at home. I see he''s not there." "Oh dear, that rascal must have run off to y with He Qiang again. I''m sorry you''re troubled over him, Ming Yue." "It''s no bother, Auntie, it''s the least I can do..." Yao Mingyue''s face bore a smile, but as soon as she hung up the phone, the smile on her face turned as piercing as the cold of winter! The only thought in her mind was final. He''d better be with He Qiang! She took out her phone, nning to trick He Qiang. But she found that she didn''t have He Qiang''s number in her phone, or rather, she didn''t have any other guys'' contact information at all. Only Xu Musen''s. She had no choice but to add him from the ss group chat. At this very moment, He Qiang, taking advantage of the drizzle outside, had already donned a raincoat and headed for a fishing spot. Just as he finally saw the float start to move, his phone vibrated at the crucial moment. The vibration traveled down the fishing rod, instantly scaring the fish away. "Dammit! Who''s bothering me now!" He Qiang cursed as he took out his phone, but the message notification on the screen nearly made him drop his rod in shock. "Yao Mingyue requests to add you as a friend." He Qiang had a foreboding feeling. But out of respect for his friendship with his buddy, he still clicked ept. He hadn''t had the chance to ask. Before he could, a message came through from the other end of the phone. "Is Xu Musen with you? His family needs him for something." That tone... He Qiang, seeing the words about family, instinctively replied honestly. "Um... no." Yao Mingyue looked at those four words, her eyes growing even colder. Yet, she sent another message, "I''m asking for Auntie, are you and Xu Musen nning to apply to Hu Hai University together?" He Qiang replied honestly, hearing it was a parental inquiry, "Probably, Xu Musen did say he wanted to go to Hu Hai University..." As expected!! Yao Mingyue''s grip on her phone was so tight she almost shattered it! So even He Qiang knew, and only she was kept in the dark? And if he wasn''t at the shop and not with He Qiang, then there was only one conclusion left... Yao Mingyue''s gaze seemed to darkenpletely, and she even revealed a grim, hollow smile as she walked out of the room. ... At that moment, He Qiang, seeing that she wasn''t replying anymore, felt that something was amiss. But his brain was a bit overloaded, and he sent another message. "Um, are you looking for Xu Musen for something?" But then, a ring red exmation mark appeared. Yes, he had been removed as a friend. "..." He Qiang thought for a while, then decided to call his buddy. But after trying for a long time, there was no answer. In the end, he could only put down the phone. Although he didn''t know exactly what had happened, he had a feeling that his buddy was in for a disaster. "Swoosh~" A fish took the bait, and He Qiang was excited again. It was a big one! Dammit! The greater the turmoil, the more valuable the fish! ... Meanwhile, Xu Musen was watching a movie with An Nuannuan in the cinema. His phone was on silent mode. They were watching Doraemon today, which An Nuannuan enjoyed immensely, especially liking the robotic cat. "This big, fat, blue rodent is so amazing." An Nuannuan always had a way with descriptions. "They call it Doraemon. It has a magical pocket that contains everything you could want. Of course, it''s amazing," Xu Musenughed as he replied, taking the opportunity to feed her a popcorn kernel. An Nuannuan then turned to look at Xu Musen''s cheek and after a while, she said, "You''re amazing too. Whatever I want, you can provide for me." Xu Musen coughed awkwardly, thankful that they were surrounded by kids. "And no matter how amazing it is, it''s still fake, but your kindness to me is real," she said earnestly, without any other emotion, pure and touching. Xu Musen too looked into her clear eyes, gave a gentle smile, and quietly apanied her through the movie. If you keep being so casually flirtatious, you''re bound to be conned into a rtionship one of these days. After the movie, An Nuannuan marked another check on her notebook. "I wanted to ask earlier, what are you writing in your notebook?" "I can''t tell you yet." An Nuannuan put away her notebook, and that day, they strolled around, had a meal, and watched a movie together... It had gotten dark outside, and there might even be rainter in the evening. "Xu Musen." "Hmm?" "You''ve always taken me home before. How about I take you home today?" As An Nuannuan spoke, her fair face tinged with a bit of pink and a hint of nervousness. Was she really oblivious to what it meant to take a boy home? Xu Musen looked into her clear eyes and found that he couldn''t seem to refuse. "How will you get back then?" "Aunty Xiang will pick me up." After looking at each other for a while, Xu Musen slowly smiled and nodded, "Alright." The two took the bus back, jostling together, sitting close, not speaking, but both hoping the bus would slow down, even just a little more... They arrived at the entrance of the residentialplex. Xu Musen pushed An Nuannuan, pointing to one of the buildings, "This is my home, thank you for bringing me back." As he said this, he squatted down in front of An Nuannuan, looking into her eyes, "Nuannuan, do you have something you want to tell me?" An Nuannuan pursed her lips, for the first time struggling to speak. "Xu Musen, I''m afraid I won''t be able to y with you anymore, my grandma wants me to go to Hu Hai for treatment, and it will take at least a month." An Nuannuan said, lifting her head to look at Xu Musen with a somewhat sad expression. Xu Musen let out a sigh and smiled, "I thought it was something else, you scared me. This is good news. A monthter when we meet again, maybe we can walk out and y together." "Then, will you wait for me in Hu Hai?" The light in An Nuannuan''s eyes brightened. Xu Musen''s thoughts were firm, "Hu Hai University?" "Yes." "It looks like you''re going to change from being myst high school friend to bing my first college friend." Xu Musen''s speech was slow, yet it made An Nuannuan''s eyes dance and her chest flutter out of rhythm. She took out a little booklet in her hand, which read: The Best Friend Cultivation Manual! Shopping together (?) Eating together (?) Watching movies together (?) Preparing a gift for one another Seeing each other home (?) A hug This was on the first page, An Nuannuan took something out of her bag and presented it to Xu Musen. "This is..." Xu Musen took it and found, to his astonishment, it was an Ultraman Tiga transformation stick. He was momentarily dazed. "Xu Musen." An Nuannuan looked at him, gently patting her legs sitting in the wheelchair, her tone sincere. "I think I''m like you, we seem to have suffered some setbacks, but I believe we can definitely defeat these little monsters!" Her words were childishly amusing, yet the earnestness in her eyes left one speechless for a long time. Xu Musen gripped the Ultraman Tiga transformation stick tightly in his hand. At that moment, he also understood somewhat the feeling of bing light. At this moment, An Nuannuan was also a beam of light to him. "Thank you, this is the best gift I''ve received in a long time." Xu Musen held it tightly. An Nuannuan also checked off ''preparing a gift'' on her list. Finally, only a hug remained. The two looked at each other, An Nuannuan somewhat avoiding his gaze, fiddling with her fingers, Xu Musen smiling at the corner of his mouth. "Then I''ll look forward to our next meeting, and to seeing An Nuannuan who has defeated the little monsters." Xu Musen squatted in front of her, spreading open his arms towards her. An Nuannuan''s cheeks heated up as she slowly opened her arms and hugged him briefly. At that moment, a hazy rain began to fall from the sky, but the two of them felt particrly warm. This embrace, unrted to passion, Contained only the most sincere wishes. Aunt Xiang''s car was parked outside theplex. Watching the two embrace in the drizzling rain, she too was touched and smiled mildly. An Nuannuan got into the car and left. Xu Musen stood there watching the direction she left for quite a while, until he started to feel wet. It was probably going to be a stormy night. Xu Musen turned around, only to see another blurry figure standing under the eaves of a nearby house. As raindrops sshed, the two approached. Yao Mingyue... Xu Musen looked at her; the girl wore only a thin short-sleeve shirt, already drenched from the rain she apparently had stood in for a long time, holding Xu Musen''s freshly washed jacket in her hands. "I brought you your clothes." Yao Mingyue took the initiative to speak, even with a smile, but her eyes were hollow with ckness. The two stood in silence for a while, the rain growing heavier, nearly obscuring each other''s faces. "Are you two, dating?" Yao Mingyue asked calmly again, but her voice was shaking uncontrobly. Xu Musen looked at her and atst just shook his head, "Go back and take a shower, don''t catch a cold." Yao Mingyue stared fixedly at him, with rain washing over her eyes, falling drop by drop, indistinguishable from tears or rain. Suddenly sheughed twice, staggering, staring at Xu Musen with all the light gone from her eyes. "Xu Musen, have you forgotten what you said before? ... Xu Musen! You jerk!" Yao Mingyue threw the clothes in her hand fiercely at Xu Musen, staggered away, and vanished into the rainy night. Xu Musen stood in the rain watching her return to the vi, silently standing for quite a while. He could only resign himself to the saying, better a short pain than a long one. Night fell. Xu Musen in his room was lost in thought, staring at the university choices he had filled out. "Boom..." The summer storm roared thunderously, with lightning and thunder that were tremble-inducing. "Ring..." His mother called. His mother had already mentioned in the afternoon that there was going to be a storm tonight, and she and Xu''s father would stay at the shop and note back. "Hello?" "Son! Where is Mingyue? I just tried to call her, and couldn''t get through at all!" Xu Musen''s mother''s anxious voice came through, and he too was shocked. That girl... she wouldn''t do anything foolish, right?! Chapter 70: Chapter 70 You are mine! Forever and always! (Second update!) The thought patterns of someone with a sickly attachment are bound to differ from those of normal people. Yao Mingyue had more than once resorted to some extreme actions because of issues between them. The first thought that shed through Xu Musen''s mind was whether Yao Mingyue might have done something foolish. Even though he didn''t want to repeat the same mistakes with Yao Mingyue in this lifetime, he couldn''t just watch her get into trouble. After all, in this life, they owed nothing to each other; if they couldn''t be lovers, they needn''t be enemies either. Moreover, the kindness between their families was still there; he couldn''t just stand by and watch here to harm on his watch. "Mom, don''t worry, I''ll go check on her at her house." After saying this, Xu Musen hung up the phone and immediately got up and ran downstairs. Outside, another storm was raging, the worst weather of the year, with constant thunder in the sky, and lightning splitting the night. The strong wind also battered the windows, as if a procession of ghosts were parading through the streets. Some inexplicable irritation and unease started rising in Xu Musen''s heart. Suddenly, he remembered something. He ran all the way to the vi''s gate. He knocked, but no one opened the door. Xu Musen took out the spare key to her house and opened the door directly; the vast vi was empty, oppressively so in the darkness. The howling wind against the windows could be heard, such that even a grown man might feel a bit intimidated. "Yao Mingyue!" Xu Musen called out, switched on the light, but she wasn''t on the first floor. Xu Musen ran to the bathroom to check, but there was no sign of her either. Finally, he went upstairs, knowing where Yao Mingyue''s room was. The door wasn''t locked, and Xu Musen slowly opened it. The room seemed to be hit by a gust of cold wind, and the usually well-lit French window now appeared particrly sinister against the outside storm and swaying tree branches. The room was pitch-dark, and only the figure curled up on Yao Mingyue''s bed could be seen. Xu Musen turned on the light and was taken aback to see the figure trembling beneath the covers. Xu Musen cautiously approached the bed, about to call out to her. "Don''t, don''te any closer!" Suddenly, a glint of cold light shed, and a craft knife was brandished from beneath the covers, held defensively in front of her. Xu Musen instinctively grabbed her wrist. Under the covers, Yao Mingyue, curled up and hugging her knees, was shaking uncontrobly, her lips bitten intoyers of bloodstains. Her stunning face was now marred by a sickly pallor; her beautiful phoenix eyes red and bloodshot, surrounded by swollen rims. She resembled a small hedgehog in the forest, frightened by lightning, defensively raising its spines to protect itself. "It''s me." It was the first time Xu Musen had seen her like this; he tightly gripped her wrist, taking the craft knife from her hand. "Xu Musen..." Yao Mingyue, recognizing him, spoke with a trembling voice; the fear and emptiness in her eyes regained a hint of expression. "What are you doing with the knife?" Xu Musen frowned, quickly checking her wrists for wounds, finally relieved to find none. "Boom!" Another thunderp shook the air, and a sh of lightning illuminated both of their faces. Yao Mingyue, who had just calmed down a bit, instantly tensed up again. She burrowed tightly into Xu Musen''s embrace, clinging to him with all her might. Xu Musen instinctively stepped back, but Yao Mingyue, her entire body shivering, was gripped by an inexplicable fear. "Don''t leave me..." her voice broke with an unusual fragility and pleading, even containing a hint of crying. With each p of thunder outside, Yao Mingyue wished she could hide within his body. Xu Musen''s mind was flooded with memories of the past. In her previous life, Yao Mingyue always presented herself as a cold and dominant female CEO. Her only vulnerability, perhaps, was that whenever there was a storm with thunder, she would cancel all her work. Only by locking herself in her room and tightly embracing Xu Musen could she find peace. As for the reason, Xu Musen had a guess. Years ago, on just such a stormy night, there had been a car ident, and her father never returned. That night, Xu Musen had also been sleepless. His father had been dragged into the intensive care unit and didn''te out for half a month, leaving him with a leg injury. Back then, the two of them had sat huddled together on the cold hospital corridor chairs just like this. For a child who had just graduated from elementary school and was about to celebrate her birthday, it inevitably became a lifelong psychological shadow. At the moment, Xu Musen felt nothing but empathic pain and understanding. He held Yao Mingyue, gently stroking her head, with no other emotion in his heart butfort. "It''s all in the past now," he whispered, and Yao Mingyue held him even tighter. It took a long time before Yao Mingyue finally calmed down a bit, She lifted her head, her somewhat pale lips now also bitten with a hint of blood. She looked at Xu Musen and suddenly pushed him away. "Why are you still here? Aren''t you going to find her?" Xu Musen looked at her haggard appearance and sighed softly, "There isn''t as much between her and me as you think, and my mom called you a lot, but you never answered." Yao Mingyue''s gaze unintentionally nced at the floor. Xu Musen followed her gaze and then noticed the phone that had smashed to the ground, apparently retired on the spot. And it seemed her phone was a recent purchase. Really treating money like it''s nothing. Xu Musen felt a headacheing on: "Yao Mingyue, what''s past is past, you have to learn to control your emotions in the future..." "Xu Musen!" Yao Mingyue bitingly interrupted him, her eyes still hollow, "What, exactly, is the rtionship between you and that girl?" Xu Musen looked at her for a few seconds, then slowly began, "Friends." "Friends? She was hugging you?" Yao Mingyue let out a cold snicker. Xu Musen looked down and said, "Haven''t we hugged as well?" Yao Mingyue''s gaze faltered, but she didn''t leave his arms. "I hug you because you''re already mine! You can''t hug other people..." Yao Mingyue clutched his cor, mixing forcefulness with a touch of grievance. "Nobody belongs to anyone. My hug with her is just like the one with you right now, with no messy thoughts, just a pure hug." Xu Musen''s face was calm, and he felt no guilt. But Yao Mingyue let out a scoffingugh, her bloodshot eyes glinting. "You''re pure, but what about her?" Yao Mingyue emphasized each word, looking at Xu Musen, "If one day she falls in love with you, can you still say it''s just pure?" Scenes of Xu Musen''s interactions with An Nuannuan shed through his mind, including their outing today. Shopping, eating out, watching a movie, even exchanging gifts, and finally a farewell hug It felt almost like a couple''s interaction, of course, without any kissing, hugging, and lifting high. Yet, looking at Yao Mingyue, Xu Musen had been through these same activities countless times with her As for being moved, he could no longer tell which moment affected him more. "This is between her and me; it has nothing to do with you, Yao Mingyue. Right now, we''re merely friends, and I don''t need to exin anything to you." Xu Musen looked at her, his tone especially firm. "Xu Musen, you can''t fool me. You still like me!" Yao Mingyue tightly embraced Xu Musen''s neck, slowly straightening up in his arms, their cheeks nearing each other, their gazes intently locked. In Yao Mingyue''s phoenix eyes was a stubborn look, almost as if she were darkeningpletely. "But I don''t want to just be friends with you! You''re mine, forever..." The lightning shed. "Boom!" Chapter 71: The 71st rope is quite strong~ (Third update!) "I don''t want to be just friends with you! You''re mine, forever..." Yao Mingyue''s lips curled into a sickly smile. Xu Musen''s mind suddenly reyed a moment from his past life, where he had decided to divorce her and end thingspletely, and the psychopath had uttered this very same sentence. Xu Musen looked at her face, so close he could touch it; her faint scent and the warm sensation from her body made him feel somewhat uneasy. He even suspected that at any moment, the psychopath might just pull out a bottle of some drug and force it down his throat. "Boom!" In that moment, another peal of thunder sounded, causing Yao Mingyue''s body to tremble. Her whole demeanor deted as she shivered and hid in his embrace again. A reaction to psychological trauma. Xu Musen silently sighed. "Ring..." The phone rang. It was his mom, sounding anxious. "Son! How''s Ming Yue doing?" "She''s fine. Her phone got water damage and had no signal. She''s at home now." "Phew... That''s a relief; you scared me. Let me talk to Ming Yue for a moment." Xu Musen nodded and handed the phone to Yao Mingyue. "Hello, Auntie... I''m okay, just caught a bit of a cold." Yao Mingyue sniffled, controlling her breathing as she spoke briefly with Xu''s mother. As soon as the call ended, Liu Rushuang called. "Xiaosen, is Ming Yue okay?" Liu Rushuang''s voice also conveyed urgency. Clearly, she knew her daughter was terribly afraid of thunderstorms. "She''s fine, Auntie. I''m with her right now," Xu Musen said. On the other end of the call, Liu Rushuang sighed with a tinge of regret: "Since that day, Ming Yue has been scared of thunder. I''m on a business trip and can''t make it back. Xiaosen, could I ask you to take care of Ming Yue for me?" Xu Musen understood what kind of "care" she was talking aboutmost likely, it meant staying over to keep an eye on Yao Mingyue while she slept. But, sharing a bed with a psychopath, he was truly afraid he might wake up the next morning tied up and locked in a basement. "Xiaosen, I know Ming Yue can be quite wilful, but she''ll feel a bit more secure with you by her side. Just this one night, I trust you," Liu Rushuang continued. But I don''t trust your daughter... Boom! Another thunderp, and Yao Mingyue, terrified, curled up tightly in his embrace. Xu Musen felt as if he were seeing the young girl from many years before, who, like a lost soul, would seek refuge in his arms. As if he were herst bastion of safety. Xu Musen was silent for two seconds, then finally nodded his head. "Alright, I understand, Auntie." After hanging up, Xu Musen gently patted her back and prepared to stand. "Where are you going? You just promised you wouldn''t leave." Yao Mingyue clutched anxiously at his sleeve. "I''m not going anywhere. I''ll go downstairs and make some ginger tea. We''re both drenched, and if we don''t drink something we''ll catch a cold." Xu Musen stood up and left the room. As he brewed the tea, Xu Musen shook his head, thinking of it as thest time he''d take care of her. After they got to university, they likely wouldn''t meet again. He carried the tea back to the room. Yao Mingyue was sitting quietly on the bed, wrapped in a nket. In that moment, she looked almost pitiable. "Have some," Xu Musen offered her a cup. Yao Mingyue reached out to take it, the warmth of the cup calming her agitated mood considerably. "Yao Mingyue, I want to make this clear one more time. I don''t want to enter into a boyfriend-girlfriend or romantic rtionship with you. Being ordinary friends is fine, but let''s forget about dating." Xu Musen also took a sip of the ginger tea, feeling its spicy bite. "Friends... So, is that why you''re not going to Tsinghua or Peking and instead chose Hu Hai, for that ''friend'' of yours?" Yao Mingyue let out a cold, mockingugh, her gaze burning as she looked at him. Xu Musen furrowed his brows and locked eyes with Yao Mingyue for a long while. In the end, he took a deep breath and decided not to continue the charade, "I admit, I never intended to apply to Tsinghua or Peking University from the start, but this has nothing to do with her." "Xu Musen, are you trying to avoid me that desperately? It was you who said you would always be there for me!" Yao Mingyue clenched her fists tightly, her nails almost digging into her flesh. Xu Musen shook his head; some things could only be known to him. He slowly began, "But do you think, with the state we''re in now, if we go to university together, will we really be in the mindset to study or do anything else?" Some matters were only known to Xu Musen himself. In their past life, within the university, Yao Mingyue was utterly fixated on how to fully control him. Xu Musen, too, was blindly indulgent, drowning in it, which resulted in him having no other option but to live off her generosity in the end. Xu Musen looked at her, speaking evenly, "We both have our own things to do. You can have better development going to Tsinghua, and I can be free to do my own things. After we separate, we might actually live better lives, let''s not torture each other anymore." Xu Musen''s words were sincere, but they only made Yao Mingyue more agitated. "But I don''t want any development, I just want you!" Yao Mingyue gritted her teeth, staring intently at Xu Musen, "Xu Musen, dare you say you don''t like me? All those times you confessed to me, were they all fake?" Xu Musen shook his head, "Yes, I confessed to you many times, and you never epted. Why should I agree just because you ask? Is that fair to me?" Yao Mingyue''s hands trembled. Xu Musen continued, "The truth is, you haven''t really thought it through; you''re just afraid of losing me. Yao Mingyue, I''m not a puppet, not a toy, I am a living person." Yao Mingyue''s eyes reddened, "It was you who said you would always be there for me." "I did say I would be with you, but that doesn''t mean I have to give up everything for you. I don''t owe you anything." Xu Musen looked at her, "Moreover, you don''t even understand what it feels like to really like someone because you''ve never actually put in the effort to truly love someone. So even if you ended up with me, you wouldn''t be happy. We''ve both grown up; we each have our own paths to follow. Before you want to attain something, I suggest you first ask yourself whether you have truly made the effort to pursue it?" Xu Musen''s words were not reprimanding nor intentionally distancing, but lies can''t deceive, and truth cuts like a swift de. Yao Mingyue''s eyes seemed to lose their luster as she gazed at Xu Musen, then at the ginger tea in her hands. The spicy taste circted through her body. Outside, the thunder rumbled, breaking her train of thought. "Let''s go to sleep first. I''ll stay here and watch over you tonight. I''ll leave once the thunder stops." As Xu Musen spoke, he settled onto the couch in her room and leaned back. Yao Mingyue looked at him, her mind in turmoil. After a while, the thunder outside quieted a bit. The two didn''t say another word, and the room fell into utter silence. Xu Musen asionally looked back to see Yao Mingyue had already curled up under the covers. He looked up at her room, where the walls were adorned with many photos, many of which were group pictures of their two families together. Looking at their photos from childhood to adulthood, they truly seemed well-matched. It was a pity, then, that given Yao Mingyue''s current morbid psychology, being together would only lead to pain. It was a matter of fate without destiny. He stood up, looking at Yao Mingyue who seemed to have already fallen asleep, curled in the nkets. Her beautiful eyebrows were still slightly furrowed, as he observed her exquisite face. Xu Musen bent down, adjusting the nkets to cover her exposed shoulders. He returned to the couch and leaned back. After running about all day, getting soaked in the rain, and all this back-and-forth, exhaustion overwhelmed him, and he gradually dozed off. By midnight, only the sound of the wind could be heard outside. Yet Yao Mingyue suddenly opened her eyes. She saw the nket properly covering her and sat up. Xu Musen, now asleep on the couch, was unaware. Her fair feet pressed lightly on the soft carpet as she silently approached Xu Musen. Bending down, her lovely phoenix eyes, as dark as the night, drew closer to Xu Musen''s cheek, their lips almost touching. The scene resembled a gorgeous female ghost about to drain someone''s life force in the middle of the night. She turned her head, looking at the bedside. The piece of rope used to tie the curtains during the day seemed quite sturdy~ Chapter 72: Chapter 72 An Nuannuan: How about I just make a video for you? (Fourth update!) Yao Mingyue had a moment where she truly wanted to pick up that rope and tie up Xu Musen to hide him away. Even if they didn''t go to college, Yao Mingyue was confident she could support him for a lifetime. Looking at Xu Musen''s cheeks, the words he had just said kept repeating in her head. "You''ve never really taken action to love" "I''ve confessed to you so many times, but you" "To get what you want, you must work hard to strive for it" Yao Mingyue''s eyes flickered between brightness and darkness, and she bit her lip. Her mother had also said these things to her. To love someone, you need to be more proactive Does that mean, as long as she took action to love him, actively expressing her feelings, there would be a result? Maybe, even if a result wouldn''te so quickly, at least she could tell those girls, if they wanted to approach Xu Musen. That their rival would be her, Yao Mingyue! Yao Mingyue had her own pride and confidence. Thinking this, the corners of her mouth slowly rose, and she reached out to gently touch Xu Musen''s cheek. If she couldn''t have him for the time being, she certainly wouldn''t let anyone else get ahead of her. One day, she would slowly savor everything about him. Perhaps, Xu Musen would never expect that his discouraging words had reached the ears of this sickly sweet girl. And they seemed to have be an encouragement for her to "take initiative." ... Sunlight streamed in from the window. Xu Musen woke up in a daze. But he felt as though his hands were bound in some way. Opening his eyes, Xu Musen realized he was in Yao Mingyue''s bedroom with the sky clear after the rain and a brilliant blue outside the window, the vi''s view still quite nice. Only then did Xu Musen remember with a start that he had actually fallen asleep in Yao Mingyue''s room! Moving his body, he realized that the sensation of being bound was actually because a nket was covering him. The soft fluff carried a faint scent of a girl. Xu Musen lifted the nket, surprised to find himself unharmed. The little sickly sweet girl, she actually let him off the hook? Xu Musen quickly loosened his belt to check. Good, it was still full of spirit! He stood up, his bones making crackling noises. His back was a bit sore. And in the bed, Yao Mingyue''s figure was nowhere to be seen. Descending the stairs, Xu Musen seemed to smell a faint scent of something burnt. The air was filled with smoke. Looking toward the kitchen, Xu Musen saw Yao Mingyue clumsily bustling about. The trash bin was already filled with many burnt andpletely inedible fried eggs. Was she trying to cook? Xu Musen stared nkly for a moment, watching her clumsy movements, her fair arms now dotted with burns from sttered oil. "Let me do it," Xu Musen walked over, snatching the pan from her hands: "Go run the burned spots under cold water." Yao Mingyue watched him and, although his tone was very steady, she very much liked this feeling of tacit understanding between them. During breakfast, Xu Musen noticed that Yao Mingyue seemed particrly well-behaved today, as if she had forgotten all aboutst night. "Xu Musen." She suddenly called out. Xu Musen looked up at her: "What is it?" "The things you said yesterday, that at the very least we''re childhood sweethearts, at least friends, that''s true, right?" Yao Mingyue''s tone was also very calm, as if she had epted this status. Xu Musen looked at her like this, feeling somewhat surreal. In the end, he nodded silently. "Of course." "Then since we''re friends, we should treat each other as friends, you don''t have a problem with that, right?" At this moment, Yao Mingyue actually revealed a smile. Xu Musen always felt like she had dug a hole for him, yet he couldn''t quite pinpoint anything wrong. He nodded: "Sure." "That''s great, then. I wish you a happy college life in advance." Yao Mingyue''s mouth hinted at a smile; she raised her hot milk to clink sses with Xu Musen. Xu Musen looked at her, really worried whether the milk in his hand had been tampered with again. But her wordshadst night''s conversation truly made her change her mind? Xu Musen was silent for a moment, but he also let go, thinking this was the best oue. Wishing each other well. He raised the milk in his hand, made a toasting gesture in the air to her, and drank it down. After the meal, Xu Musen slipped away. Yao Mingyue, on the other hand, took out her spare phone, inserted the SIM card, and called her mom. "Ming Yue, did you sleep wellst night?" "Pretty well, Mom. I want to discuss something with youI''ve decided on my university choices..." ... The days of summer vacation were still quite nice. Xu Musen had already transformed into a little boss, and summer workers were indeed cheap and useful. A few guys went out with their cameras every day, turning nearly as tan as He Qiang. But seeing them drenched in sweat every day, bringing in an ie of thousands for him and then happily collecting their hundred-yuan pay, the joy was evident on their faces. Xu Musen was truly happy for them from the bottom of his heart. The harder you work, the closer Ie to the goal of my vi and luxury car! I''ll get you guys a beautiful sister-inw rel="noopener noreferrer"ter! If he had nothing to do in the afternoons, he would go to the driving school to practice driving. He Qiang, hesitant to speak, found him: "Can I ask you something?" "What is it?" "That, you and Yao Mingyue haven''t had any issues these past few days, right?" He Qiang was still thinking about Yao Mingyue''s strange behavior from the other day, but seeing that the two of them seemed fine and even came to practice driving together, it seemed like nothing was wrong. In fact, it felt even more natural. "Nothing''s wrong. Why?" "It''s nothing. I was just asking casually." Seeing that his good buddy was fine, naturally He Qiang would no longer stir the pot. "You''re being cryptic," Xu Musen teased. Suddenly, a message arrived on his phone. An Nuannuan: "Xu Musen, I had acupuncture today, my leg feels warm, as if your hand is rubbing me all over, wave after wave." Xu Musen: "Nuannuan, no need to be so descriptive next time." "But I feel like my leg is like a hedgehog." An Nuannuan said this and sent a photo. It was a picture of one of An Nuannuan''s legs. For the acupuncture, An Nuannuan probably wasn''t wearing pants, just a towel covering her, revealing her entire pale, tender thigh, so white it dazzled Xu Musen''s eyes. Many acupuncture needles were sticking out of her leg, like the strings of an organ. Xu Musen: "The acupuncture looks very professional, but are the number of needles in the left and right leg different?" "Is it?" "Yeah, you should zoom in on the right leg and take a separate photo." "Oh." "And your left leg too, take a photo of it alone for me to diagnose." "Is it okay if I just take a video for you?" "That would be best!" Xu Musen contentedly saved the photo. Not for anything else, just to learn a bit about the culture of Chinese acupuncture. Suddenly, he felt life was really quite enjoyable. Before long, the admission notices were sent out. He Qiang had also applied to Hu Hai University, so he would be in the same university town as Xu Musen. This was an unexpected joy. After starting university, he nned to start a business, and he would definitely need the most trustworthy people to join him in the most important parts. He Qiang was very reliable. An Nuannuan had gotten her admission notice a day earlier. She was admitted to the fine arts department to study painting. Xu Musen was admitted to information engineering, an old major he was adept at. The person delivering the notice was just outside themunity gate. When Xu Musen went down to get it, he happened to see Yao Mingyue. "Are you here to pick up the admission notice?" Yao Mingyue asked him with a smile. "Yeah." Xu Musen cleared his throat, feeling a bit awkward inside, but now that the notices had arrived, it was toote for her to regret anything. "You two are here for the admission notices, right? Please give me your names and thest four digits of your phone numbers," said the mailman. After they both reported their details, the mailman checked and said, "Oh, you two are together." The mailman took out two notices that were close to each other and handed them to Yao Mingyue. Xu Musen watched Yao Mingyue, afraid she might suddenly lose control and tear up the notices. But Yao Mingyue simply handed him his notice without even looking at it. "I have ns to go shopping with auntie today, so I''ll leave first," she said. Yao Mingyue quickly tucked the notice into her embrace and turned to leave. Xu Musen held the notice, watching Yao Mingyue''s retreating figure. Why did he feel like something was off? Chapter 73: Chapter 73 Yao Mingyue: Actually, I also failed to meet the required score. That evening, after the admissions notice arrived Xu Musen brought out his own admission notice during dinner. "So, Mom and Dad, I slipped down in my university choices. I didn''t get into Tsinghua, I only got into Hu Hai University." As Xu Musen spoke, he also paid close attention to Yao Mingyue''s reaction. Sure enough, Yao Mingyue''s chopsticks paused for a moment, she bit her lip gently and frowned slightly while looking at him. Xu''s father and mother were also stunned momentarily, but they didn''t express disappointment and immediately said, "Hu Hai University is also good. Our Xu family raising such a talented student is already quite impressive." Xu''s parents were indeed happy. In this Central Province, it''s not easy to get into a first-rate university; it really is like a single-nk bridge crossed by thousands of troops. Being able to get into such a top university, you could definitely throw several banquet tables to celebrate! Dragons beget dragons, and phoenixes beget phoenixes. Their son getting into Hu Hai University was enough to make them proud. "I checked the scores online. For Tsinghua, the candidates here needed at least 690 this year. You just missed it by two points, Ming Yue. You definitely got in, right?" Xu''s mother then asked Yao Mingyue. Yao Mingyue replied with a smile, "Actually, Musen and I scored the same. There''s no difference..." As she spoke, she also gave Xu Musen a look full of meaning. Yao Mingyue''s words seemed to Xu''s parents like modesty meant to save face for Musen. "Look at how well Ming Yue speaks. It''s just a pity this kid missed by two points, otherwise you two could have looked after each other in university," said Xu''s mother,forted by the thought of having a child at Tsinghua or Peking University, which was like having a schr or even a higher-ranked official in ancient timesit was quite glorious. However, on one hand, she felt a pang of regret, as the two wouldn''t be at the same university, so they would see each other less often. What if Yao Mingyue found a boyfriend at university? Gosh gosh, that''s like having watched over a sulent cabbage for nearly twenty years! It would be best if our own pig was the one to dig into it! Thinking this, Xu''s mother nced at her son who was cheerfully gnawing on a chicken leg at the moment. This silly boy! Top universities and a future girlfriend slipping away, yet he''s still grinning foolishly? "I''m talking to you, did you hear me?" Xu''s mother poked her son, frustrated by his apparentck of ambition. Musen was by now lost in the fantasy of breaking free from this little menace and embracing his future new life. Upon hearing his mother''s words, he coughed and said, "Yeah, it''s such a pity. I''d gotten used to our daily walks to and from school, and we''d nned to look after each other in university too. Now, all of a sudden, we''re going to be worlds apart, and my heart..." Howe it''s so lively! Xu Musen became an actor possessed. He waspletely oblivious to the fact that Yao Mingyue''s lips were now struggling to stayposed. "By the way, Ming Yue, I heard that the admission notices from Tsinghua and Peking Universitye with a model of the school gate when you open them. Let auntie have a look." Xu''s parents were very curious. However, Yao Mingyue seemed a bit coy, as if it was difficult for her to speak. "Is it inconvenient?" Xu''s mother asked with a smile. "Alright..." Yao Mingyue said and took out her admission notice, handing it over as if resigned to her fate. "This child, shy about good news? Let auntie have a look," Xu''s mother happily took the notice, reading aloud as she opened it, "Congrattions to Yao Mingyue for being epted into the School of Business Management... Hu Hai University''s new campus... Huh?" Xu''s mother''s voice came to an abrupt halt, and she rubbed her eyes, doubting what she had seen. Xu''s father and Xu Musen also stopped eating and leaned in to look. "Hu... Hu Hai University?!" Those four prominent characters on the cover made all three of them exim in surprise. Xu Musen''s left eyelid began to twitch frantically. The three of them then turned to look at Yao Mingyue in unison. Yao Mingyue''s face was slightly red, and she looked embarrassed as she said, "Actually, I slipped down too." "..." No way?! Xu Musen absolutely didn''t believe it. But Xu''s father and mother exchanged a nce. Ah, hasn''t the hope of having a daughter-inw suddenly returned? "It''s okay, it''s okay, Hu Hai University is also a top-tier university, and the scenery there is nice too. Plus, you and Musen will be at the same school and can look after each other. How great is that?" Xu''s mother consoled her, but the corners of her mouth couldn''t help but turn up. The cabbage she had watched grow up, wasn''t it just winding up being fed right to her own son? Yao Mingyue showed a timid smile, "Mmm-hmm, I will, take very good~ care of Musen." As she spoke, she bit her words slightly, licking her lips lightly. Xu Musen felt as if he had been struck by lightning, reminded again of Yao Mingyue''s unusual behavior that day. Everything clicked. The little tsundere was taking her revenge on him! Xu''s mother was serving vegetables to the two of them, cheerfully starting a conversation. "Now that you''re in university, it''s not as strict as high school. You should study when it''s time to study, but also rx when you need to. I''ve seen quite a few juniors and seniors getting married and having kids on campus..." Xu''s mother brought up this topic deliberately. The two shrewd people knew exactly what she meant. Yao Mingyue felt somewhat triumphant, having long since maxed out her favorability with Xu''s parents! Xu Musen, gnawing on a rib, spoke earnestly, "Mom, what you''re saying is wrong. University is still prime time for studying. I''d rather take more part-time jobs, make more trips to the library than waste time on these meaningless pursuits. As for dating, even a puppy wouldn''t bother!" Xu''s father and mother exchanged nces,ughing lightly. You''ve been pining for her since you were young, yet you''re still ying tough! "Ming Yue, eat some more." "By the way, does your mother know about this?" The two parentspletely ignored their son, the lovestruck fool. Xu Musen''s mouth twitched. No, he had to find time to give his parents a heads-up anyway. ... After the meal, Xu''s mother insisted that Xu Musen escort Yao Mingyue home. On the way, Xu Musen looked at the buoyant steps of Yao Mingyue. "Why did you apply for Hu Hai University?" "I was admitted through clearing." "Do you think I believe that?" "I believe you, so why can''t you believe me? Besides, you''re not my boyfriend, so why do you care where I want to go?" Yao Mingyue lifted her eyes, seemingly saying, we''re both crafty foxes, let''s not expose each other. Xu Musen looked at her, also admiring her resolve. She had remained calm even under those previous circumstances. Indeed, she was the business mogul who hadmanded the winds and waves in her past life. "I can''t control you, but I''ve already told you my stance: ''may we each live well on our own.''" Arriving at the vi gate, Xu Musen said this and turned to leave. Yao Mingyue turned around, her regal phoenix eyes curving into a beautiful arc as she extended her hand toward him. Xu Musen looked at her slender, fair hand but silently turned away. "You can shake paws with that friend of yours, but you can''t shake hands with me as a friend?" Yao Mingyue called out from behind him. Xu Musen didn''t turn his head: "Sorry, I''m just a hypocrite." Watching his somewhat helpless demeanor, Yao Mingyue''s lips curled upwards. Suddenly, she felt that sometimes, the seemingly most unreliable rtionship of "friendship" might actually allow for more to be done. For the average person, a good university is a crucial turning point in deciding one''s fate. But for Yao Mingyue, it was merely a ce to gild her already aplished life; she couldn''t care less. Watching Xu Musen''s receding figure, her gaze flickered. Compared to a future, I want you. Mmm, looking forward to university life~ Chapter 74: Chapter 74: If You Have What It Takes, Marry Ten! (Please Subscribe!) Summer vacation flew by in the blink of an eye. Xu Musen had sessfully obtained his driver''s license, and the advertisement shoot for the whole food street was essentiallyplete. Originally, some store owners were unwilling to have their locations filmed, somewhat embodying the mentality of "a good wine needs no bush." But when everyone else was advertising, if you didn''t, it was akin to moving backward by standing still. After all, there''s only so much appetite to go around; even the best products need to be promoted. Watching their sales decline, they eventually couldn''t resist seeking cooperation with Xu Musen. Throughout the summer, Xu Musen had filmed for about one hundred and fifty stores, each costing nearly four thousand. Heted almost six hundred thousand in his hands. After deducting costs and paying the summer workers, there was about five hundred thousand left. On thest day, Xu Musen even gave a bonus red packet of five hundred yuan to a few who had performed well. A few guys, tanned like ck loaches, were so moved they nearly hugged Xu Musen''s thigh and pped their chests, promising toe back to work for him after getting their college degrees. Xu Musen was touched. Truly a born worker''s physique! As the start of the new school year approached, Xu''s mother prepared arge and small bag of luggage for Xu Musen early in the morning. Seeing Xu Musen dressed and ready to go out, she stopped him, "Where are you going?" "He Qiang also got into Hu Hai University; I''m going to chat with him and see if he wants to travel together." "Wait a moment." Xu''s mother walked over and pulled him back, a bit exasperated, "I''m saying, why don''t you take this chance to help Ming Yue pack her things instead of chatting with a boy?" "What''s the benefit in packing her stuff?" "What do you think the benefit is?" Xu''s mother rolled her eyes at her son, "Back in high school, studies were the priority, and we didn''t allow you to date. Now in university, you both are at the same school, do you understand ''the advantage of being the first to the water''? Ming Yue is such a nice girl; you better seize the opportunity." Xu''s mother was quite satisfied with Yao Mingyue. Even speaking of the practical circumstances of both their families. Xu''s father''spany was still deeply wounded and hadn''t shown much improvement. Though Xu''s mother''s flower shop had made some extra money, it was hard-earned. Compared with Yao Mingyue''s family, it was like heaven and earth now. They couldn''t help but consider the reality of their situation, though it''s not that they wanted their son to marry into wealth. But after all, the friendship between the two families was longstanding, with each knowing the other inside and out. Moreover, over these days, it had be apparent that Yao Mingyue did have a fondness for Xu Musen. Liu Rushuang also maintained a very open-minded attitude. So, if Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue could reallye together, it would put their minds as parents at ease. "Mom, you have to believe in your son. I can support our family to have a good life on my own." Xu Musen spoke earnestly; he understood his parents'' thinking. This was like the family urging a daughter to marry someone of equal standing, all to avoid a difficult life for their child. But they didn''t know Yao Mingyue''s true nature, nor how hard it was to stomach such soft rice. "It''s not that Mom doesn''t believe in you, but after all, isn''t Ming Yue the best in looks, height, and family background?" "That was then, this is now. I really don''t want to be in a rtionship right now." "Tch, aren''t the love letters you wrote to Ming Yue still hidden under your desk?" Xu''s mother directly exposed her son''s secret, "Girls have to be pursued. It took your dad a long time to chase me too." Xu Musen scratched his head. Things from his previous life, even if he told his parents directly, they wouldn''t believe him. They might even use him of being ungrateful. After all, without the need for a dowry, or to buy a car or house, without having to work, with unending pocket money every day, and someone utterly devoted to you. Many would vie for such an opportunity without sess. "Mom, I really don''t suit Ming Yue, so don''t bother about it." Xu Musen stated firmly. Xu''s mother also stopped what she was doing and looked at her son, sighing, "Son, Mom isn''t forcing you to do anything; you''re still young, and the family might not be of much help in the future. You''ll struggle in society, and marrying a good wife can save you a lifetime of toil. And after all, we''ve watched Ming Yue grow up. She might be a little willful sometimes, but aren''t all girls from well-off families like that? That''s enough; if you truly let her slip away, you''ll regret it." Yet another face, one simple and a bit silly, shed across Xu Musen''s mind as he spoke without thinking. "What if there''s one with a wealthy family, a great figure, good looks, and a nice personality?" Xu''s mother turned and nced at her eldest son, without mincing words, "Is there such a girl who would be interested in you?" "Well, it''s not impossible, what if there is?" "Heh, okay, okay, if you have the capability, go find one. Marry ten or eight to aid you, and y emperor for all you care," his mother said disapprovingly. "No need for that, my appetite isn''t that big; two or three will suffice." "Go, go, go, daydreaming in broad daylight..." Xu Musen ran out the door, while Xu''s mother watched her son''s departing figure. She was a bit dreamy herself; her son was off to university in the blink of an eye, his height having grown unnoticed. She had seen all the changes in Xu Musen during this time, and as a mother, she was very gratified. But their past experience of bankruptcy made her afraid of poverty, afraid of suffering. There''s a saying, ''When poor, one does not choose a wife.'' Their family''s circumstances forced them to consider practical issues. She didn''t want her son to suffer as they had. So, she wished to set up her son with Yao Mingyue. One reason was that she genuinely liked the girl. And the other was to give her son a safety for his future life. Wasn''t that a perfect solution? Of course, these thoughts were only her own, and if her son really insisted on marrying another girl, she could only let nature take its course... "This kid." Mrs. Xu shook her head, preparing to help Yao Mingyue pack her things. Xu Musen went to meet with He Qiang, and the two of them chatted about their ns for the uing semester while fishing. He also prepared a big red envelope for He Qiang. "So much!" He Qiang took it and saw it was filled to the brim, at least fifty thousand. He had never touched so much money in his life, and he was trembling a little. "Hold it tight, don''t drop it into the river and waste it." "Damn, isn''t this too much? I''m just giving you a hand." "It''s not much, you haven''t been idle all summer, and without you, I couldn''t have earned so much. What''s more, I will need your help after starting university." "We''re buddies; why split it so clearly? This is too much." "We''re buddies and you''re being polite with me? Not to mention fifty thousand, as long as you follow my lead well in the future, it''s no problem to add a few more zeros to this amount!" Xu Musen said with a smile, remembering that He Qiang had even sold his fishing rod to help him raise money, so he naturally had to do right by him. He Qiang was moved to the point of tears, "Moriko, you''re really the best, never mind adding zeros, if you need it in the future, you can turn me into a zero." "???" Back at home. Liu Rushuang called, saying she had originally nned toe and take them to university, but Xu Musen declined. Over two thousand kilometers back and forth, driving would be too exhausting, it''s better to just take the high-speed train. "Alright then, just take care of each other on the way, and once I''m done with my work here, I''ll take you guys out to eat!" Liu Rushuang instructed them both, as it was the first time they were traveling so far without an adult, she couldn''t help but worry. In these days, An Nuannuan was also very punctual in sending pictures of her undergoing treatment. One had to admit, the specialists in Hu Hai were really skillful; An Nuannuan''s legs were now leaning against the wall, and she could slowly move them. Although she still needed a wheelchair most of the time, judging by the recovery, it probably wouldn''t be too long before she could truly be healed. Xu Musen was really looking forward to meeting her at school. Off to university. Xu''s father and mother took them to the high-speed train station, and He Qiang also arrived. "Call us once you get there, look after each other, don''t hesitate to spend money where it''s needed, and get along well with your ssmates..." Mrs. Xu came over, happy that the kids had been admitted to a good university, but she still felt reluctant about their sudden departure. "Ming Yue, be sure to take good care of yourself at university. If there''s anything, just go to Musen, and if he doesn''t listen to you, tell me, and I''ll sort him out for you!" "Yeah, don''t worry, auntie, I''ll take care of him too. You and Uncle Xu should also take care of yourselves." Mrs. Xu and Yao Mingyue hugged each other like mother and daughter. Xu''s father approached Xu Musen and patted his shoulder, "Don''t overwork yourself, your mother and I are holding the fort at home. University will be the happiest time of your life, so take good care of yourself and study hard." Xu''s father, a man of few words and a very traditional Chinese father, conveyed his contentment and encouragement in his words, warming Xu Musen''s heart. "Dad, you and mom take care of yourselves as well. From now on, your son and you will support this family together." Xu''s father looked at his son, who was now a half-head taller than him, grunted affirmatively, and patted his shoulder again. "Let''s go." On this side, there was fatherly love and filial piety, whereas with He Qiang, his dad, tanned and burly, was a loud and hearty man. "When you''re at university, you should learn more from Xu Musen. All you know is fishing. First, find me a daughter-inw to bring home, got it?" "I don''t want to find one; girlfriends are nothing but trouble. Fishing is way more fun." "You ingrate, if you don''t bring one back after graduating, I''ll throw you in theke to feed the fish!" ... They set off. The high-speed train seats were face-to-face, and Xu Musen and He Qiang were originally seated together, but under Yao Mingyue''s death re. He cleared his throat, "Well, I get motion sickness, I''ll sit on the side." Xu Musen''s lips twitched, but he was used to it by now. After all, when you''re at your lowest, it''s always your brothers who help you. But it''s also your brothers who rib you the most. Yao Mingyue lifted her chin proudly, ready to sit down next to Xu Musen. "Hello, that''s my seat inside, could you please move?" At that moment, a very maic female voice reached them. They looked up. There stood a tall girl. She wore a id shirt with a neat knot tied at her slender waist, and denim shorts below. Her legs were a healthy wheat color, long and straight; she must have been over one meter seventy, with a strikingly leggy proportion. Though she seemed a bit too thin. She wore a baseball cap, hiding her hair underneath, with sharp, gleaming eyes, a high nose bridge, and thin lips. Her looks were quite good, if An Nuannuan and Yao Mingyue were perfect scores. She would score a seven, and of course, most importantly, her healthy wheatplexion was notmon among girls. Plus, she gave off a vibe of being strong-willed and not easily messed with. There''s a term for it in the future, what was it? Right, a dark-skinned girl! Chapter 75: Chapter 75 The Scumbag Playing Both Sides? The girl with the dark skin in front of her was holding the ticket and said something to He Qiang. "Oh, oh." He Qiang stood up and moved aside, and the girl directly took the seat near the window. "Thank you." Her voice was faint, and she swept a nce at Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue before pulling out her MP3 yer and putting on headphones to look at the scenery outside the window. She seemed pretty cool. This kind of wheat-colored skin was quite rare; at a distance, it looked kind of dark, but upon closer inspection, it had a soft, tender feel. It was a different kind of dark from He Qiang, whose skin was dark no matter how you looked at it. Xu Musen was also seated by the window, and when she sat down, he felt his foot get squeezed a bit. Looking down, he saw that the dark-skinned girl was wearing a pair of sports shoes. Her legs were long, and unlike most girls'' pale, tender ones, hers had the flow of power and lines of someone who frequently ran or engaged in activities. For a girl, these legs might not have been considered that attractive, but the smoothness, like natural ck silk, had a unique impact. "Sorry," the girl apologized, moving her legs aside, but her brows under her cap furrowed slightly. The next moment, a pair of fair, plump legs grabbed his attention. Yao Mingyue suddenly sat close to him, their legs touching, and he could even feel the softness of her thighs against his. A contrast of ck and white, quite impactful. However, Yao Mingyue''s body temperature seemed to have dropped, and just as she raised her eyes, they met his. She looked like a little fox caught stealing snacks. Seemingly asking him, "Do you find other girls'' thighs attractive?" Xu Musen closed his eyes to rest. But this action made Yao Mingyue gnash her teeth again. What did he mean by that? You felt up the legs of the girl in the wheelchair. You stared at the dark-skinned girl''s legs. And now you''re not looking when I offer you mine? In that moment, Yao Mingyue almost doubted her charm, looking down at her own wless, snowy white long legs. Pah! A dog man who can''t recognize a good thing! She suddenly stood up, ced her bag in Xu Musen''s arms, blocking his view from looking downward. "I''m going to the restroom," said Yao Mingyue as she stood up and walked toward the bathroom. "Tsk, tsk, Moriko, I''ve been meaning to ask, howe she also applied to Hu Hai University?" He Qiang couldn''t help but ask on the side. "I want to know too, who the hell leaked the information in the first ce," Xu Musenined. He Qiang suddenly coughed and said, "Maybe it''s fate, but I always feel that she''s kind of into you now. I bet if you dere your feelings for her again in university, you''ll definitely win her over!" "I''ve said it, I don''t want to date now, and I especially don''t want to date her." "Cut it out, don''t lie to yourself, dude. Can you really stand to watch Yao Mingyue date other guys in the future?" He Qiang naturally didn''t believe it; after all, childhood friends for over a decade can''t possibly break off so cleanly. Xu Musen just looked at the pale pink shoulder bag of Yao Mingyue''s in his hands, with a look of resignation mixed with mncholy. "I wish for some peace, but besides me, I bet no other guy could even get within half a meter of her." However, his resigned look could be interpreted as being somewhat smug to others. As if he were saying, only I can handle her. Xu Musen and He Qiang didn''t notice that the wheat-skinned girl had overheard the mention of Hu Hai University and nced up at Xu Musen, especially at the watch on his wrist. In her eyes, however, there was no envy, only a subtle shift of her legs further away from him. "You really don''t know what hunger is when you''re full, huh? And right, you''ve nevercked wealthy women around you. An Nuannuan is also at the same university as you, aren''t you nning to switch targets?" He Qiang teased his good brother with a wink. The brows of the wheat-skinned girl beneath the cap furrowed even more. "Get lost, she and I are just clean friends," Xu Musen said grumpily. By then, Yao Mingyue had also returned. When she got to their seats, she nced at the girl opposite and tugged at Xu Musen''s arm. "I want to sit inside. I get carsick." "I get carsick too," Xu Musen tly refused, eager to see the views along the way. Yao Mingyue sneered to herself, thinking, You''re just car-sick from legs, aren''t you? She didn''t continue arguing and just sat down, almost as if she wanted to sit right on hisp. The fragrance and softness of Yao Mingyue''s body did make Xu Musen feel a bit hot, but whenever he tried to move away, she clung to him even closer. With no sense of modesty. "Fine, fine, fine, you can have the seat." Xu Musen felt that if he didn''t stand up soon, something else might stand up in his ce. After swapping ces, Yao Mingyue and the girl were now facing each other. Yao Mingyue''s gaze quickly scanned the girl, especially passing over her chest. Um... Yao Mingyue''s confidence surged back. "Musen, you''re so good to me," she said sweetly, thanking Xu Musen. Xu Musen was covered in goosebumps: "Talk properly." Even He Qiang, a straightforward man, felt something odd. Why did it seem like his buddy and Yao Mingyue were on such awkward terms? Only Xu Musen knew that this little ''tsundere'' was just asserting her dominance. Even if they were not together, all she had to do was let slip words that could lead to misunderstandings, and then no other girl would approach him. Sure enough, the girl with the wheatplexion pulled down her cap and looked out the window. Xu Musen sighed. Yao Mingyue''s trick never failed. The only time he was outsmarted was in front of An Nuannuan. No matter how obvious Yao Mingyue''s tactics were, An Nuannuan would simply blink her eyes and say, "Oh, you''re so awesome." Natural ditz versus cunning mastermind. Xu Musen looked out the window at the scenery flying bywhat Central inscked the least wasnd. The t horizon stretched everywhere; it was the season for nting corn, and the fields were lush and green as far as the eye could see. Many on this bus were prospective university students heading out to school, looking at the outside scenery with a bit of awe. This endless in seemed like an invisible cage, too nd and monotonous; they also wanted to see mountains and seas. The journey would take most of the day. The carriage gradually became quiet as well, the unchanging view making people sleepy. Yao Mingyue had already started dozing off against the window. The girl with the wheatishplexion had gone to the bathroom. Xu Musen had wanted to sleep too, but suddenly received a message on his phone. An Nuannuan: "Xu Musen, are youing to Hu Hai today?" "Yeah, already on the way, are you reporting in today?" "Grandma said to go tomorrow instead, she said she needed to arrange the dormitory for me first." "Okay then, I thought we''d see each other today. How are you recovering now?" "Pretty good, I can walk slowly now by leaning on the wall, but I get tired easily. Let me show you." As An Nuannuan spoke, there was a pause for a second or two, and then she sent a picture. Xu Musen''s eyes were suddenly filled with a blinding white. In the photo, An Nuannuan''s fair, delicate feet looked as cute as cotton candy, with crystal clear nails as if snowkes hadnded on jade stones. More than a dozen acupuncture needles were inserted in her feet. An Nuannuan: "The doctor says my feet haven''t walked for too long and need more massage to stimte blood flow; I''m getting acupuncture every day." Looking at the small feet in the photo, Xu Musen replied after a moment: "Nuannuan, actually, I know a bit about foot massage and therapy." After a pause of a second or two on the other end, An Nuannuan replied: "Did you learn that at Red Romance?" "..." How does she still remember that?! Xu Musen gave He Qiang, who was dozing off, a re. You''re ruining my reputation! "Of course not! Back in primary school, we had assignments where we would wash our parents'' feetthat''s where I got the practice!" "Oh, you''re so awesome." "..." For a moment, Xu Musen felt like he was also being bested by the natural ditz. Meanwhile. Xu Musen felt a weight on his shoulder and a pleasant scent filled his nostrils; turning his head, he saw Yao Mingyue had dozed off too. Her eyes slightly closed, her dense and long eyshes asionally fluttered, and her fair cheek lightly rested on his shoulder. The sleeping Yao Mingyue was really quite beautiful, devoid of craze, and at this moment, she was just an eighteen-year-old girl. But it was still better to keep a distance from her for now. Xu Musen stretched out his hand, intending to push her away. But suddenly, he felt a gaze fixed on him. Looking up, the girl with the wheatishplexion was already standing in front of her seat, her gazending on Xu Musen''s phone screen. And at that moment, Xu Musen''s phone still disyed the photo An Nuannuan had sent of her fair, delicate feet. "..." And Yao Mingyue was resting her head on his shoulder, perhaps feeling Xu Musen trying to push her. She mumbled as if she were talking in her sleep: "Be gentle..." At this moment, Xu Musen felt like a phnderer caught between two boats, indulging in another girl''s feet under the gaze of his girlfriend. As expected, the look in the wheatish girl''s eyes turned into disdain, and she sat back at the window seat and continued to gaze outside. But whatever, who would recognize anyone after getting off the bus? Xu Musen pushed Yao Mingyue''s head away. He then leaned against the seat and squinted his eyes to nap as well. But it wasn''t long before Yao Mingyue''s head tilted again, finding its way back onto his shoulder. ... After five or six hours, the scenery outside the bus began to change significantly, withrge rivers everywhere. They could already feel they were exceptionally close to the seaside; the air was filled with moisture. Off the high-speed train. It was a sea of people. During the start of the school year, there were students reporting for duty everywhere. They took a cab and the three of them arrived at the entrance of Hu Hai University. Grand gates adorned with banners weing new students were everywhere. At the entrance, many volunteers wearing the university''s service gear were smiling and greeting the neers. "Moriko, I''m off to my school first. Let''s grab dinner together tonight. Wishing you a... happy college life." He Qiang''s school was next door. As he looked at Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue, his words carried a hint of schadenfreude. "Go on, and remember what your dad said, if you can''t find a girlfriend in college, he''ll sort you out!" Xu Musen punched him, yfully hurting each other as good friends do. After He Qiang left, Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue looked at each other. Yao Mingyue stood in the sunlight with a radiant smile. "Xu Musen, what about you? Do you want to find a girlfriend in college?" There seemed to be some encouragement in Yao Mingyue''s words, as if all he needed to do was utter that word and she would immediately give him an answer. Xu Musen looked down at her. "Does it have to be a girl?" "?" Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Jealousy, Dont Sleep Too Soundly Tonight! School started. In Hu Hai, a city that was on par with international standards, Xu Musen didn''t know about its economic development, but he was certain the girls here wore incredibly short skirts! In economically developed ces, there were always more girls, especially in universities. The ratio of female to male students could even reach 7:3. The gender ratio at Hu Hai University wasn''t that extreme, but the sights along the way had still dazzled Xu Musen. Legs d in various stockings with ck, white, fis, and printed designs paired with all kinds of short skirts and shorts, not to mention backless and belly-baring tops. In current Zheng City, such attire might still draw stares and whispers, but in Hu Hai, everyone had grown ustomed to it. Moreover, the more economically developed the area, the more girls dressed themselves up. Xu Musen felt he hadn''t seen any that were too hard on the eyes. "Xu Musen, aren''t you afraid your eyes will pop out?" Yao Mingyue reached out and waved a hand in front of his face. This guy! Didn''t he think she was prettier than those seductive vixens? "I''m enjoying the view as I please." "Am I not prettier than them? Why don''t I see you looking at me?" With indignation, Yao Mingyue pushed out her full, round chest and showed off her delicate, perfect face. Yao Mingyue truly had reason to be proud. Whether it was her body or her looks, even among the many beauties of Hu Hai University, she shone the brightest. She was dressed today in a light, patterned chiffon blouse paired with a matching knee-length skirt, and at 172 centimeters tall, she was certainly within the golden ratio for a woman''s height. She had even put on a light touch of makeup today, especially around her phoenix eyes, adding a touch of nobility. Bystanders couldn''t help but give her a few extra nces, filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred as they looked at Xu Musen''s indifferent face. Xu Musen nced at her and said, "You feel just average to me." Having said that, Xu Musen turned and continued walking into the university with his suitcase in tow. Yao Mingyue froze for several seconds, and when she finally snapped back to reality, she clenched her teeth tightly! Just average?! "Hey there, you must be a new student reporting today, right? Let me help you with your luggage." Just as she reached the entrance, a male student dressed in volunteer clothing immediately came forward, eyeing Yao Mingyue''s stunningly angry face. Smiling like the spring breeze, he wondered what he was really doing volunteering. Was it truly to serve juniors and sisters? Stop kidding, wasn''t it just to take the opportunity to charm a younger female student and get a girlfriend? He came over with a smile on his face, intending to show off his warm and caring upperssman side. "No need." Yao Mingyue was already annoyed, and the sudden appearance of this person blocking her view only irritated her further. "I am the head of the Student Council''s Discipline Department, very familiar with the school. You don''t have to be shy, let me help you, I''m strong enough as an upperssman!" The male student said as he rolled up his sleeves and reached for the suitcase in Yao Mingyue''s hands. "I said no need! If you''ve got strength to spare, go move bricks on a construction site." Yao Mingyue spoke with a frown, seemingly venting out her frustrations, and, indeed, she felt much better. Yao Mingyue pulled her suitcase away, leaving the man''s hand awkwardly hanging in the air. Surrounded by onlookers, he felt his face heat up with embarrassment. Watching Yao Mingyue''s retreating back, he felt indignant and spat in his heart. "What''s so great about her? She''s just a bit good-looking. With an attitude like that, she must''ve just been dumped..." As he was trying to save his own face, another girl with a tall figure and wheat-colored skin approached. He looked up and, though she wasn''t as breathtakingly beautiful as the first girl, she was still quite attractive. Especially her long legs that seemed to be d in natural ck stockings, quite impactful. He immediately put on a smile: "Hello, I''m from the Student Council..." "Excuse me." But the wheat-skinned girl didn''t even give him a second nce, merely uttering a phrase before quickly walking away. "..." The male student stood there, thinking: Damn it! Who said freshmen girls were easy to charm? "Senior, could you help me with my luggage?" Finally, a girl approached him proactively. "Of course, I can. It''s only right to take care of new students!" His spirits lifted, finally someone had noticed his charm, right? "That''s great, thank you, senior!" The girl happily pushed two suitcases, each over a meter tall, towards him. The male student''s smile twitched as he felt the weight of the suitcases; each was at least thirty pounds. "All these... are they your luggage?" "Oh no, one of them is my boyfriend''s. I didn''t want him to overexert himself... Hey, why are you leaving, senior?" Treat a senior like livestock, will you! ... "Tsk, these guys, really. They couldn''t find a date all through freshman year and actually think they can win hearts just by carrying luggage for the girls." "Exactly, it feels like there are so few handsome guys in this year''s batch..." "Hey, look over there, isn''t that one pretty good-looking?" A few girls involved in the orientation were also whispering amongst themselves. Some had noticed Xu Musen, who was consulting a map. One of the girls, with dyed blond hair and a good body, looked Xu Musen over, especially noting the watch on his wrist. Her eyes lit up at once. "Do you need me to take you to the registration spot?" The scent of perfume reached him, and when Xu Musen turned around, he was greeted by a sh from arge pair of headlights. Long blond hair and a pretty good face, about a six or seven, but with a great figure, in a low-cut white shirt, she certainly caught the eye. Coming on with high beams? She was dressed very maturely, almost not seeming like a student anymore. "Thank you, but I know where it is, no trouble needed." Xu Musen''s gaze leisurely swept over her, he offered a polite smile, and shook his head. "No problem at all! You''re new to the school and must not understand many things, I can exin them to you." The blonde woman was a bit taken aback by how bluntly Xu Musen refused, and even more so by the fact that he didn''t give her a second nce. She was quite confident about her figure, as such fresh-faced freshmen were usually very interested in the opposite sex. Just now, who knows how many guys were sneakily admiring her. But she had no interest in those "puppy-like" younger students who would blush and stutter for ages without speaking, and only dared to steal nces at her chest with their peripheral vision, which only made them seem even more lecherous. Byparison, she preferred tall guys with some muscle who radiated confidence andposure. If you''re going to look, be bold about it. Most women don''t actually mind being looked at by men; it''s just that you''re not their type. The passing male students looked over, clicking their tongues in envy. Why couldn''t they get approached by such a bombshell senior like him? "Really, it''s no trouble." Xu Musen shook his head, intending to leave. "Then let''s add each other as friends. If you have any questions, your senior is always avable." The blonde girl''s smile remained unchanged as she pulled out her phone directly from her bosom, its screen disying a selfie she took in the gym. The curves outlined by her yoga pants could indeed easily breach the psychological defenses of a youth in tumult. As the saying goes, it''s hard to p a smiling face; Xu Musen was thinking of an excuse to quickly get away. Suddenly, a fair small hand reached out, and Yao Mingyue stood expressionless between them. She held a phone that was still in the middle of a call: "My mom wants to talk to you." Xu Musen reached out and took it. "Hello, Xiaosen, have you and Ming Yue arrived at school?" "Yeah, we just got here." "That''s good. I''ve arranged for someone to deliver bedding to your school. Remember to pick it up this afternoon." "There''s no need for that; there''s a ce right by the school that sells them." "Those ces don''t sell good quality bedding, and Hu Hai is more humid than Zheng City. Poor bedding can easily lead to e. I''m often out on business trips, so at school, you''ll have to look out for Ming Yue. She''s quite stubborn, and besides you, there aren''t many people she can talk to..." Liu Rushuang slowly instructed. Meanwhile, Yao Mingyue and the blonde girl silently exchanged nces for a moment. Yao Mingyue''s eyes also swept over her chest. Kind of like ????? that. Yao Mingyue gritted her teeth. Was her family too poor to afford the other half of the fabric? Did she have to dress like that to lure away her man? She looked at the girl in front of her, suddenly smiling, and while holding her arms across her chest, she said, "He''s upied and can''t take the phone right now. How about you add me as a friend first, senior?" Yao Mingyue''s figure was simrly tall and slender, exuding the appeal of both a young girl and a mature woman. That almost-perfect pretty face was a killer weapon just by standing there. The blonde girl sized her up and down; though smiling, her look gave off a chilling vibe. She retracted her gaze and looked at Xu Musen before smiling, "It''s fine, I won''t bother you anymore. See you if it''s meant to be." With that, she turned and left. Xu Musen only then theatrically put the phone down. While being possessive and controlling had its drawbacks, it also had its perks, like fending off meaningless social interactions. After all, Yao Mingyue really wasn''t afraid of offending people. "Did I interrupt your romantic prospects? Are you upset?" Yao Mingyue turned around, looking at Xu Musen with a smirk. Xu Musen turned and looked at her seriously, "Yes, I''m furious. As a punishment, you''re not allowed to talk to me for the next four years!" Xu Musen''s face was serious as he lifted his foot and started walking forward. Yao Mingyue was stunned for a second, then angrily chased after him, "Xu Musen, exin yourself! Do you actually want to get involved with that kind of girl?" "I think she''s quite nice. At first nce, she seems easygoing,rge-hearted, much better than you." "Xu Musen! You''re asking for it!!" Yao Mingyue ground her teeth, but Xu Musen had already walked ahead. He first went to check in and collected his dorm number and key. Xu Musen nced at the sign-in sheet and found that his roommates this time were not the same three people from his past life. He had been assigned to the ss with the best grades. However, Xu Musen didn''t feel it was a pity. In his previous life, he had beenpletely devoted to Yao Mingyue, barely knowing anyone else well enough to talk to in his ss, and he hadn''t had a good rtionship with his roommates either. In fact, even if he saw them now, Xu Musen might not remember them. Meeting new roommates wouldn''t be bad, apletely fresh start. Xu Musen picked up his key and saw Yao Mingyue standing behind him, her phoenix eyes gleaming as she gazed at his dorm number. Xu Musen, pulling his suitcase, prepared to first take a look at the dorm. All dorm buildings were along one path, and Yao Mingyue was staying in the girls'' dormitory building one. She stopped walking but then blocked Xu Musen''s way. "What is it?" Xu Musen raised an eyebrow at her. "Are you just going to stand there and watch as a girl lugs her suitcase up by herself?" Yao Mingyue nced at her one-meter-tall white suitcase. Packed with bottles and jars of cosmetics, it was somewhat heavy. "Of course, I won''t just stand by and watch." Xu Musen nodded and then took a pair of sunsses from his backpack and put them on. Now he couldn''t see a thing. "Goodbye." Xu Musen turned and continued on his way. Yao Mingyue stood frozen on the spot for a good while. Her look went from astonished to icy, then she smirked menacingly, watching Xu Musen''s retreating figure. She pursed her lips in a smile; she had already noted Xu Musen''s dorm number. Hehe, you''d better not sleep too soundly tonight! Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Its the one who says no to dating thats the real jerk! College, the most important friendship is actually just a dormitory. If you don''t make an effort to connect with your ssmates, you might graduate without even knowing each other''s names. "5061..." As Xu Musen arrived at the dorm room''s door, he could already hear the lively chatter inside. And two were already starting to smoke. Xu Musen didn''t like smoking; first, he didn''t have the addiction, and second, in his past life, Yao Mingyue wouldn''t let him smoke. Because she wanted to make sure she could kiss Xu Musen anytime and it would always be sweet and delightful. What a disgrace. "Yo, thest roommate finally arrives." A guy with slightly long hair, looking somewhat gangsterish, smiled and started the conversation. Everyone introduced themselves. This gangster-looking guy dressed in trendy brands is Zhou Hangyu, a local from Hu Hai. When he speaks, he asionally lets out a regional ent, sounding a bit gibberish. Another guy wearing gold-rimmed sses, tall but skinny, is Li Rundong from Shandong. As for thest one, looking a bit pale and chubby, and very honest, is Ma Yaxing. Surprisingly, he''s also from the Central ins, the same as Xu Musen. Sitting quietly off to the side, he seemed a bit out of ce in the conversation between the other two, and when he said "I" it was met with augh. Listening to their introductions, Xu Musen started to form an understanding of their characters. "Xu Musen, also from the Central ins." Xu Musen simply introduced himself. "Yo, you three are all from the north, do you all think it''s easier to get into a university in Hu Hai?" Zhou Hangyu, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, asked with interest. "Easy my ass, I scored 650 points, and almost didn''t make it. I''m already considered the genius of my vige," Li Rundong said. "650 points and you''re not going to Tsinghua or Peking University buting to Hu Hai University? Aren''t over 400 points enough here?" Zhou Hangyu was somewhat disbelieving. Li Rundong ha-ha''d in a tone of discontent, "You were just born in the right ce; with your scores, you''d only be getting into amunity college where we''re from." "Lucky me, what can I do? Here, buddy, have one too," Zhou Hangyu cheekily smiled and offered a cigarette to Xu Musen. He said he''s offering a cigarette, but he twisted his wrist almost to a ny-degree angle, just to show off his green Rolex Submariner. This guy was clearly the kind of rich city boy who loves to show off and act pretentious. Xu Musen had noticed this right away. Li Rundong''s family seems to be quite well-off, able to converse normally with Zhou Hangyu. But Ma Yaxing, dressed inly, came from a small county town and was somewhat insecure, unsure how to join in the conversation. If Xu Musen hadn''te in, the atmosphere might have continued to be awkward. "I don''t smoke." Xu Musen extended his hand and gently pushed it away. "Yo? Is that a Rolex on your wrist?" Zhou Hangyu noticed the watch on Xu Musen''s wrist and immediately showed interest. "Damn, that''s a limited edition from five or six years back! It''s so well preserved, I bet there are people willing to pay 100,000 for it now!!" Zhou Hangyu knew his stuff, and his words made Li Rundong and Ma Yaxing involuntarily look over too. Xu Musen''s watch was actually quite modest and unassuming, not easily recognized by those not in the know. "Just this watch, 100,000?" Ma Yaxing smacked his lips in astonishment, his parents were ordinary workers earning only a few thousand a month. Such a small watch could equal three to four years of his family''s ie... He looked at Xu Musen, silently reflecting. He had thought that because they were from the same ce, they could chat more easily, but here was yet another rich person. "Of course, how would you know about such things in a small county? 100,000 is even on the low end for this handmade watch model. My dad has one, and I''ve been green with envy..." Zhou Hangyu casually mentioned. But thisment made Ma Yaxing''splexion turn, regardless of Zhou Hangyu''s intentions. The remark did seem somewhat contemptuous, and the atmosphere became a bit awkward for a moment. Zhou Hangyu realized this, but since it was their first meeting, he couldn''t quite bring himself to apologize. At that moment, Xu Musenughed and rolled up his sleeve, unting his watch in front of him, "Didn''t you say your dad also has one? So, do I look like your dad with it on?" The three of them were startled at first, then Li Rundong couldn''t help but burst outughing. "Damn! You''re taking advantage of me! I''m not going to argue with you anymore, let''s smoke, smoke..." Zhou Hangyu''s face turned red, and this time, he specifically offered a cigarette to Ma Yaxing as well. For the guys, that was as good as an apology. Ma Yaxing took it, his nce towards Xu Musen carried a bit of gratitude. Xu Musen''s joke had provided a perfect opportunity for everyone to save face. ... The topics of conversation in a boys'' dormitory, no matter what they start off discussing, will always eventually turn to the opposite sex. Zhou Hangyu: "So, do any of you have girlfriends? I know quite a few people; how about I take you to a social tonight?" Li Rundong: "Sure, introduce me to a richdy from Hu Hai; I don''t want to work hard anymore." Zhou Hangyu: "Heh, the richdies from Hu Hai are famously crazy. You should probably go to the butcher''s market, get a piece of pork, stick a coin in, and get some practice first. Otherwise, you might want to start wearing steel wire underwear to get used to it." "Get outta here... Actually, I think some of the uppersswomen weing the new students at the school gate today were pretty nice. There''s one with yellow hair, such huge eyes I was dazzled. Too bad she seems rather aloof; I could only dare to sneak a nce." Li Rundong rubbed his hands while Zhou Hangyu couldn''t help but make a disdainfulment. "You''re really sleazy." "Nonsense, who doesn''t like it big?" Ma Yaxing still felt a bit out of ce in the conversation and was somewhat nervous about the mixer that evening. "Maybe I just won''t go..." "Come on, I''ve already reserved our spots, and don''t worry, I''m footing the bill for the whole night!" Zhou Hangyu grandly gestured with his hands. Xu Musen just listened silently, not joining in the conversation. "Xu Musen, with your height and looks, plus the luxury watch you''re always wearing, you must have no shortage of girlfriends, right?" Zhou Hangyu brought the topic back around. Xu Musen shook his head. "What''s the point of talking about that stuff? I''d rather memorize a few more lines of code." Li Rundong pushed up his gold-rimmed sses. "Generally, those who say such things are actually the most inscrutable yboys." "Right on the money!" "Agreed!" The atmosphere in the dorm became harmonious as they chatted. Afterward, they all went down to grab a bite to eat. Most of Hu Hai University''s dishes were sweet and so nd that Ma Yaxing and Li Rundong shook their heads in disapproval. Looking at the pitiful amount of chili peppers in the dish, they said, "You Hu Hai people really eat nd food. I could put that much chili in my eye and not even blink." "Actually, spiciness is a type of pain sensation. Why don''t you try putting those chili peppers in your ''downstairs'' eyes?" "We''re eating! Can''t you avoid saying such disgusting things?!" ... On the other hand, Yao Mingyue entered the dorm and hardly spoke much with her roommates. Her three roommates felt that Yao Mingyue was somewhat aloof and hard to approach, but Yao Mingyue''s attractiveness, her dress style, and her fair skin made it hard for the girls not to find excuses to strike up a conversation. Yao Mingyue was somewhat patient with girls, as long as they weren''t the ones who appeared before Xu Musen. So, she engaged in a bit of sporadic conversation with her dorm mates. "Yao Mingyue, you''re so pretty, there must be lots of boys chasing after you, right? Do you have a boyfriend right now?" A girl with short hair couldn''t help but delve into gossip. Youth is the same for boys and girls; the topic is always close to these matters. Yao Mingyue''s mind was full of Xu Musen, but thinking about his current attitude towards her still made her angry. However, she then recalled the conversation she had with Xu Musen on that thunderstormy rainy day... A gleam shone in the depths of her eyes as her lips gently curved into a smile. "A boyfriend? Not quite yet." "Huh?" The three girls suddenly sensed some juicy gossip. "What do you mean? Is someone chasing you right now? You haven''t agreed yet?" Yao Mingyue lifted her fair chin with a deep and distant gaze towards the male dorms. "Something like that, but sooner orter, we''ll be together." "Ooooooh!" "That''s pretty bold!" "I really want to see what this lucky guy looks like..." The three female roommates were thrilled by Yao Mingyue''s directness; if it were them, they would certainly wait modestly for the boy to say such things. In the past, Yao Mingyue would have done the same, but now that Xu Musen''s attitude had changed so drastically... She also had to adjust her strategy. After all, he could only end up being hers! As Yao Mingyue was thinking, she received a message on her phone: Liu Rushuang had bought bed sheets and a duvet cover for them, which had arrived at the security office at the entrance. Yao Mingyue stood up, took out her phone, and sent a message to Xu Musen: "The bed sheets and duvet cover my mom sent have arrived. Come pick them up with me." Xu Musen took his time before replying: "I''ve got something to do, I''ll go get themter." Yao Mingyue gripped her phone tightly, this guy... But suddenly, a light shed in her eyes, and the corners of her mouth lifted in a joyful smile as she left the dorm. The three female roommates exchanged nces, having observed all of Yao Mingyue''s expressions as she sent the message. They couldn''t help but feel that she seemed like the one who had fallen in love. Xu Musen, on the other hand, was discussing with the others about going out to buy bed sheets and duvet covers after their meal. Xu Musen wasn''t in a hurry; his own bedding was already bought. It was a good opportunity to take care of things like recharging the water card. "Fine, we''ll go back to the dorm to rest for a while and go together in the afternoon." The three of them headed back to the dorm first. Xu Musen went to handle the water card. Soon, on the pathway leading to the male dorms, a tall figure clutching bed sheets caught the attention of many male students. Yao Mingyue, holding the bedding, walked on the road towards the male dorms, drawing more and more gazes. Eventually, she arrived at the bottom of Xu Musen''s dormitory building. The boys going up and down the stairs couldn''t take their eyes off Yao Mingyue. "My, which department is she from? She''s incredibly handsome." "What''s she doing at the bottom of the guys'' dorm building? Could it be she''s delivering bedding to her boyfriend?" "Darn it, if I had a girlfriend as gorgeous as her, I''d be willing to pull out my ribs to make her soup, let alone let here all this way in the scorching sun to deliver bedding." "No idea which lucky bastard is so fortunate." Meanwhile, Yao Mingyue stood at the base of the dormitory, the crowd of onlookers growing around her. The more people gathered, the more her smile widened with delight. Yes, that''s right, let the whole school know they were involved! Poor little Xu Musen, you''ll never escape the palm of this old woman! In the end, Yao Mingyue confidently stepped forward and entered the male dormitory building... Chapter 78: Chapter 78: A gentleman does not take the credit of others unless it is offered freely. Men''s dormitory building. During the two to three days of registration, anyone coulde and go freely. Many parents also came along to help with luggage and make the beds. But the sight of Yao Mingyue appearing instantly made the male students on the floors both surprised and a little excited. Such a beautiful girl showing up with aforter was something they dared not even dream of. The pessimists said, "Too bad, taking aforter to the men''s dorm usually means it''s for her boyfriend." The optimists spected, "Maybe it''s for her brother or something? Then my future brother-inw or brother-inw could be in this building!" Some bold students even took the initiative to offer help, but Yao Mingyue outright ignored them. 5061 Eventually, she arrived at Xu Musen''s dorm room door. The guys in the surrounding rooms couldn''t help but poke their heads out to see which lucky bastard had such a pretty girl bringing him aforter. Yao Mingyue reached out and gently knocked on the door. "You''re pretty fast, ah. I thought you were getting a water card" Zhou Hangyu came to open the door, a cigarette dangling from his lips, but the instant he saw Yao Mingyue, he froze. Damn, she''s a knockout! Yao Mingyue dressed in light-colored attire, her skirt revealing two long, immactely white legs that seemed to brighten the entire corridor of the men''s dorm. Especially her face, which was nothing short of perfection with willow-leaf shaped eyebrows, and phoenix eyes that naturally exuded an air of nobility. Her nose was straight and high, her lips plump and rosy, her skin so fair it was wless. Hu Hai wasn''t short on beauties, but the girl before them was definitely one of the most gorgeous. "Who are you looking for?" Zhou Hangyu, upon noticing the frown that briefly crossed her face, instantly put out the cigarette he had just lit. "Does Xu Musen live here?" Yao Mingyue asked in a calm voice. The dorm room wasn''t exactly filthy but there was smoke, and what if Xu Musen breathed it in? For a moment, she even thought about renting a ce outside and living there with Xu Musen. "You''re looking for Xu Musen?" The three guys in the room were stunned for a moment, then couldn''t help but ask, "What''s your rtionship with Xu Musen?" "Boyfriend and girlfriend." Yao Mingyue replied at an even pace. Right, that''s what Xu Musen said, they could be friends. What''s the problem with boys and girls being friends, briefly called boyfriend and girlfriend? "Boyfriend and girlfriend..." But to their ears, the words seemed a bit bitter to swallow. Dammit, didn''t that guy just say he wasn''t interested in a girlfriend? And now, right after dinner, his girlfriend came in person to deliver aforter to the men''s dorm. Just before, they were still lecturing Xu Musen. Li Rundong and Ma Yaxing, the two single dogs, felt like they took a ten-thousand-point spiritual blow. Ignoring the hundred-thousand-dor watch, now there was also such a beautiful girlfriend he wouldn''t im. Such freakin'' pretense! "Xu Musen went to get a water card; he''s not here right now." "It''s fine, I''m here to make his bed." Yao Mingyue said, looking around the dormitory, "Where''s his bed?" "This, this..." Zhou Hangyu made room, and Yao Mingyue stepped forward, climbed onto the bed, and began to tidy up the bedding. The three guys stood to one side, looking at each other, then moved to the balcony. It wasmon to see male students helping female students with luggage or carrying boxes upstairs. Normally, it would be the boys helping the girls make their beds or bringing them daily necessities. But a girl braving the scorching sun to bring aforter to a boy''s dorm to make his bed? This was truly a first for them. "Damn it, Xu Musen really knows how to y it cool, iming to be single despite having such a beautiful girlfriend. What a jerk!" "I told you, the more a guy refuses to talk about love, the shittier he is. Such a beauty and he''s still not satisfied, hope he doesn''t burst from overindulgence." "Wuwuwu, I also want a girl to make my bed... Ma Yaxing, why''s your face as red as a donkey''s butt?" "Before, I''ve never seen such a pretty girl, I''m nervous..." ... Summerforters aren''t thatplicated, and Yao Mingyue, a dummy at household chores, quickly made the bed. She took a covert nce at the three secretly whispering on the balcony, a smile curling on her lips. This was exactly the effect she wanted. Afterward, her eyes twinkled, she took something from her pocket and pressed it under Xu Musen''s pillow. Then she purposefullyy on the bed, as if to leave her own scent on it. It was like the way animals show dominance and im territory. She got off the bed and the three guys on the balcony looked over. "Please take good care of Xu Musen and get along well in the future," she said with a smile. "Of course, we''re all brothers here." They nodded, hearts filled with envy. Where would they find such a beautiful girlfriend who could handle household chores and knew how to talk! Yao Mingyue turned and left. The three men looked at Xu Musen''s bed, which was neatly made, and smacked their lips. ... At that moment, Xu Musen had just finished getting his water card and also made a campus card, as he would eventually need a separate number for work. He headed back to the dorm room. But as soon as he entered, Li Rundong and Zhou Hangyu descended on him. "You scumbag! Just tell us, do you have a girlfriend or not?" "Hiding such a small matter? You really don''t consider us brothers!" Xu Musen was bewildered, facing their envious, jealous, and resentful expressions, "What girlfriend? I just went out to get a water card, that''s all." "Still pretending! A pretty girl came all the way up here to make your bed, and you say she''s not your girlfriend?" Xu Musen''s eyebrows twitched, and looking up, sure enough his previously bare bed was now neatly made. The only two girls he knew now at Hu Hai University were... An Nuannuan, who hadn''te to report today, and there''s no way she could have made it up to the fifth floor. So it must have been Yao Mingyue. But could that little rich girl, who wouldn''t even touch spring water with her ten fingers, actually make his bed for him? "You really know how to put on a show, man. Where did you con this chick from? She''s really pretty and has a great presence." "Exactly, does your girlfriend have any pretty besties? A beauty''s friends are all beauties,e on and introduce some to us guys." The two guys were howling like ghosts and wolves. Xu Musen, seeing their reactions, immediately guessed what Yao Mingyue was up to with her moves. Her sudden high-profile appearance and voluntarily making his bed would naturally make others assume they were closely involved. They might even take them for a couple. If that were the case, even if other girls wanted to get close to Xu Musen, they might think he had a girlfriend and back off. Yao Mingyue had asked him to confess to her before exactly for this reason. Only now it seemed she had changed her strategy. No sooner had Xu Musen rebooted his system than she immediately rolled out a major update. He rubbed his brows, feeling a bit of a headacheing on. "My rtionship with her isn''t like that, don''t overthink it," he said. "Still pretending? Who else would make a bed for someone if not their lover?" "We''re all brothers here, quit being so stubborn, tone down that yer vibe." "Believe it or not, that''s up to you." Xu Musen just shrugged. What kind of world was this, where a guy carrying a girl''s heavy luggage all the way to her dorm would bebeled a sucker, but a girles over to make the bed and it''s either, ''you''re in a rtionship'' or ''you''re a yer''? Men quiver with cold, when will they ever be able to stand up for themselves? "Alright, the counselor said to head to the ssroom for roll call at two o''clock, it''s time to get our military training uniforms fitted." The group started heading downstairs, making their way toward the academic building. About thirty to forty people in the ss. It was the first time the new ssmates were meeting, and already they were clearly grouping by dorm rooms. Everyone was sizing each other up. When Xu Musen entered the ssroom, quite a few girls looked over at him. His height at one meter eighty-two was definitely considered tall in the south, and he had a well-proportioned and upright build. Moreover, Xu Musen walked with ease,cking the reticence or excessive excitement typical of same-age peers entering university for the first time. It made him appear confident andposed. Plus, Xu Musen was quite handsome. In his previous life, although he mainly yed the kept man, he would asionally apany Yao Mingyue to various high-end events. In terms of demeanor, he was far ahead of his peers. "Damn, walking with you steals all my thunder," Zhou Hangyuined, feeling dissatisfied. In the past, he was the center of attention, but next to Xu Musen, especially since he was from the south, his own shorter stature became apparent. Not being able to show off is so annoying! Li Rundong patted his shoulder: "If you really like showing off that much, next life, just reincarnate as a briefs'' crotch." "Get lost, you little punk." Xu Musen smiled slightly, also giving the girls in the ss a quick nce. After all, those who could get into Hu Hai University generally wouldn''t be too shabby, and most of the girls took care to dress themselves up a bit. At a nce, there weren''t a few girls in the ss who looked decent. Of course, his tastes had been spoiled by the likes of Yao Mingyue and An Nuannuan; it wasn''t easy for ordinary people to catch his eye. The students continued to arrive. "Hey, the quality of this dorm room isn''t bad, and there''s a dark-skinned one too, looks quite striking," Zhou Hangyu suddenly whispered, motioning them to look at the door. Four girls walked into the door. Xu Musen looked up and was immediately surprised. One of the girls, wearing a duckbill cap, d in a id shirt and denim shorts, and sporting a wheat-colored skin, was particrly eye-catching. Wasn''t this the girl he met on the high-speed train? At that moment, the wheat-colored girl also happened to look up, locking eyes with Xu Musen and clearly startled for a moment. But the very next instant, she seemed to avoid his gaze as if it were the gue. "..." It was the first time Xu Musen had been avoided like the gue. Had he done something to offend her? Standing next to her was a very fashionably dressed girl, not very tall at around one meter sixty, but her fashion sense was very modern. Despite her small stature that made her seem somewhat petite and cute, herrge watery eyes were particrly alluring. A typical Southern girl''s features. Using a term popr from his previous life, she would be described as a standard Southern spud, incredibly studious. Her looks rated a good seven or eight out of ten. She could probably be considered the prettiest girl in the ss, and as soon as she appeared, the guys in the ss were all eyes. "These two chicks are not bad. It''s just that there are too few girls in our ss. The art department has six or seven girls out of ten, while we only have a dozen or so. Too many wolves and not enough meat," onemented. "Be grateful that we even get to see girls. The civil engineering department next door can''t even scrape together one good-looking girl. Guess after graduation on the construction site, even the sow will seem grace personified," another replied. Zhou Hangyu rubbed his hands together: "Alright, I''ve called dibs on this tanned chick! I''m tired of fair and pretty, want to change it up." Li Rundong was not to be outdone: "What taste. Then this Southern girl is mine!" Ma Yaxing opened his mouth: "Both of you, keep it down. Look at how calm Xu Musen is." "Heh, he has a pretty girl willing to make his bed, and you''reparing yourself to him?" Zhou Hangyu made a tsk sound, then nudged Xu Musen: "You''ve already got a girlfriend, man. Don''tpete with us!" "Don''t worry, I never go after someone else''s preference," Xu Musen responded with a smile and shook his head. But Ma Yaxing was inwardly mumbling. A gentleman doesn''t seize the love of others, unless it''s freely given... Chapter 79: Chapter 79: The Beautiful Counselor. Students arrived one by one until finally, a tall and full-figured silhouette walked through the door. This was a woman who appeared to be no older than thirty, dressed in ady''s suit with a hem that reached the knees, yet a small portion of her delicate calves could still be seen, and she wore a pair of ck high heels matching the suit, elegantly walking up to the podium. The upper half of her body was d in a simple white blouse, but her impressive bust made one worry whether the buttons working so hard to stay closed might burst open any minute. Her long hair was tied up in a neat bun, her face was that of a mature woman''s unique charm, Xu Musen rated her a solid seven-plus, mainly because her figure was such a bonus. If she was a married woman, he''d give her an extra point. She wore a pair of ck-framed sses; her lips were rosy, and when she wasn''t talking, she seemed quite aloof. For some reason, such attire and temperament seemed more fitting for a teacher from the Ind Country... Sorry, sensei! But as she walked into the ss, she smiled slightly, "Hello everyone, my name is Bai Xin, and for the next four years of university, I''ll be your guidance teacher. Here''s my phone number and contact information, feel free to ask me any questions." She spoke in very standard Mandarin, leaving her phone number 1379981... on the ckboard, and her mature charm in every move made the male students in the ss act like little monkeys controlled by hormones. One of the bolder ones asked, "Teacher, can we talk to you about life and love matters too?" Bai Xin nodded with a smile, "Of course, but if dating leads to failing exams, I will deduct your credits, you know." The ss erupted inughter. "Femme fatale teacher, please punish me harshly! Take away my credits mercilessly!" Zhou Hangyu''s eyes lit up, and he was practically drooling. "Don''t get carried away, the instructor might already be married," Li Rundong said contemptuously. "I shall aspire to Cao Cao''s spirit!" Listening to their conversation, Xu Musen sighed, thinking these are truly boys in their adolescence. All that''s left in their heads aside from color is just a puddle of yellow water. "My name is Zhao Hu, from the Northeast. If you''re my ssmate from now on, we''ll share the good fruits together." "My name is Chen Xiaoqian, from Guangxi. Please take care of me." The ssmates introduced themselves one after another. Zhou Hangyu wiggled his ear, smacked his lips, and said, "This girl looks pretty delicate, why would she be called Chen Xiaoji?" "That''s ''Xiaoqian,'' it''s just the same sound in their local dialect," Li Rundong exined from the side, poking him, "Look, those two girls are about to introduce themselves." The fashionably dressed girl went on stage and as expected, had a sweet voice when she spoke. "My name is Lin Daiyu, not the Lin from The Dream of the Red Chamber, from Hangzhou. I like reading and gaming in my free time. Please take care of me in the future." She opened with a joke about her name, clearly a lively and vivacious girl. And instantly, her hobby of gaming piqued the interest of even more boys. Finally, the girl with the wheat-colored skin also got up to introduce herself. "My name is Zhao Lianmai, from the Central ins. Please take care of me." This girl was as ever, stingy with words, promptly stepping down after her introduction. "Tsk tsk, got character, I like it!" Zhou Hangyu rubbed his hands together, excited like a horsefly, and began his self-introduction on stage. "My name is Zhou Hangyu, a local from Hu Hai. My family is in business, currently single. If anyone is interested, please contact me promptly, the more the better!" The moment he spoke, there was a rascal vibe about him, triggeringughter throughout the ss. Although a few boys quietly called him a show-off, the fact that he was a local from Hu Hai, and his family was in business, undeniably gave him an advantage over many others. Ten years of hard work for exams only got us into the same ssroom as others. To be as carefree and confident as he is, without some windfall, would take at least two or three generations of effort. Li Rundong also touched his hair and pushed up his gold-rimmed sses as he stepped on stage. "I''m Li Rundong, from Shandong. I''m a pretty helpful person. If there''s a chance in the future, I''d be d to serve the ssmates and teacher." This statement was somewhat unexpected. The instructor looked at him; it was clear his offer of service was a bid for a position. Truly fitting for someone from Shandong... Then it was Ma Yaxing''s turn, who fidgeted a bit, looking embarrassed to go up, "Um... My name is Ma Yaxing, from the Central ins. Please take care of me." He quickly stepped down after speaking. In reality, Ma Yaxing''s demeanor was the normal state for most students. Now it was Xu Musen''s turn. He walked up, and many girls watched him with interest; in terms of appearance and temperament, Xu Musen was indeed one of the most conspicuous in the ss. "Hello everyone, my name is Xu Musen, from the Central ins. Please take good care of me in the future." Xu Musen didn''t say much, but as he was about to leave the stage, a girl with a blush on her face asked, "Xu ssmate, a question on behalf of my roommate, do you have a girlfriend?" As soon as the question emerged, the entire ss turned their eyes towards him. Xu Musen paused for a second and chuckled, "As long as our nation isn''t prosperous and strong, I shall not date." The ss fell silent for a second, then burst intoughter. "Man, it''s the first time I''ve heard of being single phrased so nobly!" "Hahaha, honestly, I''ve thought the same." "Look at yourself in the mirror; you''re clearly just unable to find someone." A few girls in the ss felt a small thrill; without a girlfriend, they still had a chance. The guidance teacher Bai Xin nced sideways at Xu Musen, feeling that hisst statement was like an adult teasing children. Interesting Back in the dorm, the three good brothers exchanged nces before spitting out in disdain. A pretty girl''s alreadyying out the bed for you, and you say you don''t have a girlfriend, pfft, scumbag! The dark-skinned girl eyed Xu Musen, her scorn even more evident. It was Lin Daiyu beside her who whispered softly to Zhao Lianmai, seemingly interested, "Lianmai, what do you think about this guy?" Zhao Lianmai simply averted her gaze quietly, "I''m not interested." "Heehee, I think he''s pretty good, tall and has a nice aura." Lin Daiyu did take another look at Xu Musen, her almond-shaped eyes curving into a smile. ... After that, the instructor asked everyone to report their height and weight to prepare for military training uniforms. But when it came to this part, the girls would feel embarrassed to fill in their real weight, and the boys would stubbornly lie about their height. "Although I''m 1.7 meters, if I wear shoes that add three centimeters, and then add insoles for another two centimeters, that makes me 1.75 meters, right? Round it up, and I''m iming I''m 1.8 meters, what''s wrong with that?" "Why don''t you say you''re 1.9 meters when you jump up then?" On the girls'' side. "Ah, I ate too much at lunch today, I''ve actually always been under 100 pounds." "Stop sucking in your stomach, your face is about to turn red" Bai Xin shook her head with a smile, already ustomed to this scene, "Alright, get the exact measurements at home. Report them to someone in your dorm by tomorrow, and then they will be collectively submitted to Lin Daiyu and Xu Musen." Xu Musen was a bit surprised, why am I getting involved? Because a college student getting remembered by an instructor isn''t necessarily a good thing. If you dare to skip ss, they''ll definitely catch you! "Okay, teacher!" Lin Daiyu seemed quite happy as she waved in acknowledgment. "How about you, any problems?" Bai Xin sat on a stool, one leg slightly lifted, smiling as she looked at Xu Musen. After thinking, Xu Musen reckoned he might really need her if he wanted to stir up trouble at school in the future. He could only nod, "Okay." "Good, that''s it for the meeting." Bai Xin stood up with a smile, stretchingnguidly in a breathtaking way, then picked up her materials, and with the sound of her high heels clicking elegantly on the floor, she left. "You little rascal! You can''t even leave the instructor alone!" Zhou Hangyu said with envy, jealousy, and hatred. "Don''t talk nonsense, or they won''t let you graduate." Xu Musen chuckled. As he prepared to leave, passing by the doorway, he came face to face with a few girls. Lin Daiyu''s bright almond eyes and slightly round cheeks made her look as though she could only reach Xu Musen''s chin as she stood in front of him. She looked up with a smile, "Xu Musen, I''ll be counting on you to look after things from now on." The boys and girls in the ss turned to nce back, feeling a bit sour, but they also thought that the two of them did indeed seem like the best match in the ss. Especially Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong, who were just fighting over courting her, cursed Xu Musen several times as a scumbag in their hearts. "I''ll be looking forward to it." Xu Musen looked down at her with a polite smile, simply nodding his head. Meanwhile, the dark-skinned girl beside Lin Daiyu didn''t say a word, even making a point to keep a greater distance from him. Although he didn''t know what he had done to upset her, he wasn''t about to force himself on her if she was not interested. Back in the dorm. Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong started howling like ghosts and wolves. "Xu Musen, have you no sense of fidelity?! You have a girlfriend but stille topete with us; you''re truly heartless!" "Exactly, even the goddess instructor favors you, I''m so pissed!" "I''ve said it already, I really don''t have this intention; she insisted on my participation, so am I to me?" Xu Musenughed. He had to admit that the feeling of living a carefree life was indeed more exhratingpared to the frustration of his past life. There wasn''t much to do in the afternoon, so a few of them decided to go out and buy some daily necessities. That''s when Xu Musen received a message from Yao Mingyue. "I need to shop,e with me." She was still not over hermanding tone. "I''m going with my roommates, you go on your own." "You prefer your roommates over apanying me? And I even helped make your bed!" "I wanted to say, who asked you to make my bed?" "Auntie told me to take care of you. You got a problem, go talk to auntie about it?" Xu Musen couldn''t be bothered with her anymore. But Yao Mingyue wasn''t one to give up until she achieved her goal, "Are youing or not? If not, I''ming to your dorm to find you!" Xu Musen''s eyelid twitched. He really wanted to block her, but that wouldn''t work on her. With Liu Rushuang there, Xu Musen couldn''t just turn her away. Plus, with her temperament, if she couldn''t send messages on her phone, she would indeede knocking on his door, causing an even bigger fuss. "Fine, where are you?" "Below your dorm building." "..." Xu Musen''s eyelid twitched again. This yandere, if he had refused just now, she probably would have been kicking down his door within two minutes. After thinking, Xu Musen suddenly remembered he had a good excuse to bring along a third party. He took out his phone, "Qiang Zi,e out, let''s go buy some stuff." He got off the bed. "Where are you going?" "Just out for a bit, you guys go buy what you need." With that, Xu Musen left the room. The three roommates exchanged nces and immediately went to the balcony window to peek down. Indeed, there was a striking figure standing down below. A minuteter, Xu Musen also appeared. The two faced each other, looking like a scene from a campus idol drama. The three roommates looked at each other again. In unison. "Damn, what a scumbag!" Chapter 80: Chapter 80 I Just Dont Want to Date You. (Subscribe please!) Downstairs, Yao Mingyue changed into a pristine white long dress, adorned with a light-yellow sun hat. Her slender figure stood tall and graceful, with the hem of her dress fluttering in the wind, stirring the hearts of countless young men. Xu Musen came down and exchanged a nce with her. The corners of Yao Mingyue''s mouth lifted, and her pure white legs moved briskly towards him. "Let''s go." Xu Musen couldn''t be bothered to talk too much; he wanted to finish shopping quickly and send this tsundere girl home. "Hey! Shouldn''t the first thing you say when meeting a girl be apliment?" Yao Mingyue blocked his path, tilting her delicate face upward. It seemed she had also applied some light makeup, making her already wless beauty appear even more stunning and dreamlike. This face that had entangled him for a lifetime Xu Musen''s gaze paused for a second or two before he looked away. "Not bad." "Stubborn." Yao Mingyue noticed the brief flicker of distraction in his eyes; she could see it was a look reserved only for when he gazed at her. Yao Mingyue was very pleased, feeling the afternoon breeze grow cooler. The two walked on, attracting envious stares from many ssmates along the way. After all, Yao Mingyue was exceedingly beautiful, with a figure many girls could only envy in vain. Walking alongside Xu Musen, it really felt as though they were about to star in a campus idol drama. Yao Mingyue relished the assumption from others that they were a couple, and she gradually moved closer to Xu Musen as they walked. asionally, she would "identally" brush against his arm. Boys are indeed amazing; his arms felt long and hard, with rough muscles. Once they exited the school gates, Xu Musen stopped at the intersection. "Why have you stopped?" "Waiting for someone." "Who?" Yao Mingyue''s gaze suddenly became wary as she looked around the intersection. She didn''t see the figure in the wheelchair. "Moriko!" A momentter, He Qiang appeared at the street corner, jogging over. However, as soon as he saw Yao Mingyue next to Xu Musen, he sensed something amiss. "Yao ssmate, what a coincidence." "Hello, He Qiang," Yao Mingyue greeted with a smile. But why did He Qiang feel as though her eyes conveyed a sense of, "How dare you interrupt my date"? "Qiang Zi, I''ve missed you so much, let''s go bro, I''ll take you to buy sesame biscuits." Xu Musen affectionately grabbed He Qiang''s shoulder. "Go on, it''s been less than half a day since west saw each other." He Qiang spat in dismissal, and observing Yao Mingyue''s slightly annoyed expression, he whispered, "Are you using me as a shield again, you little...?" "Some things lose their meaning when spoken aloud. You know we have a deep brotherly bond," Xu Musenughed, remembering how He Qiang had also teased him in the past. Xu Musen, with his arm around He Qiang''s shoulder, began to walk faster, and Yao Mingyue, watching their receding figures, suddenly felt like she was the superfluous one. She trotted over and grabbed hold of Xu Musen''s sleeve. "What are you doing?" "Who told you to walk so fast? There are so many people on the street, I''m afraid I''ll lose sight of you two." Yao Mingyue said this, yet her entire being was pressing closer to him. Actually, most people feel a certain nervousness around very attractive and charismatic women. Despite wanting to take a closer look, they be too nervous to approach once they get close. Yao Mingyue naturally had this "do not disturb" field within a meter of her, and despite the crowded street, no one darede close to her. "Don''t me the road if your legs are short." Xu Musen tried to free his sleeve, but Yao Mingyue bit down on her teeth and wouldn''t let go. "My legs are short?" My legs are longer than your life! Yao Mingyue thought angrily. If they weren''t in the street, she would lift her skirt just to show him! "Let go." "I will not let go!" She held on, ring at him, "If you say that again, I won''t just tug at your sleeve." Xu Musen was exasperated. "Yao Mingyue, howe you''ve be so thick-skinned? I don''t even have a girlfriend yet; can you please not get in my way?" Yao Mingyue let out a coldugh, "Isn''t someone not interested in dating?" "I just don''t want to date you." Xu Musen''s voice was indifferent. Yao Mingyue''s beautiful face instantly turned cold. He Qiang listened, stunned. What was happening? It felt as if the loyal wingman roles among good buddies had gotten switched around. "Then nobody dates, I''ll keep an eye on you!" Yao Mingyue suppressed the anger in her heart. If you don''t want to date, then neither of us will! She thought wrathfully, I''ll see whom you choose when I''m the only one left by your side. The three of them went to the supermarket, pulling and tugging along the way. They were among students shopping for daily necessities, especially the girls, who carried big and small bags with meticulous care. And Yao Mingyue was one such girl. She insisted on using different detergents for washing regr clothes and undergarments, even changing the cleaning agent ording to the color of the clothes. There were specialized cleaners for washing shoes and socks. The bath products were even more extravagant. Shampoo, conditioner, fabric softener, shower gel, body lotion, miracle water, eye cream, face masks... Yao Mingyue had already piled up her cart with big and small bottles. Xu Musen turned to look at He Qiang, who was holding just a toothbrush, a bar of Safeguard soap, and a towel. "Is this all you''re buying?" "No problem, I''ll use my roommate Ah Long''s." "Then you should buy an extra bar of soap to repay your roommate properly." "Get lost." He Qiang looked at Yao Mingyue, who had three or four towels just for herself, and clicked his tongue, "What do you need so many towels for? You won''t even use them all." Yao Mingyue turned back to nce at them and spoke, "There are towels for drying hair, for the body, for the feet, and also for wiping... Don''t you guys use more than one towel?" He Qiang dered that a rough man like him just needed one towel, from head to groin, and let his feet air dry naturally. Yao Mingyue''s face was full of disdain. She couldn''t control the other guys, but she was determined to ensure her future husband practiced good hygiene. She grabbed two more towels and handed them to Xu Musen, "From today onward, you''ll also use separate towels for different purposes." Xu Musen didn''t argue; it was necessary to use different towels for different purposes, after all. Otherwise, his ''little brother'' might catch athlete''s foot, and there''d be no exining that at the hospital. In the end, Yao Mingyue bought a pile of things, including sunscreen necessary for military training. "Why bother with that stuff? Military training is half a month long, and you''ll get a tan no matter what. The girl we saw on the high-speed trainst time looked quite natural with her tan, didn''t she?" "She''s got a wheatishplexion, you''re more like buckwheat, they''re not even the same species, you know?" "At least they are both wheat..." He Qiang grumbled unconvinced. It had to be said that girls tend to be more meticulous. Some things really are useful, things that the two rough men might not think of on their own. She also bought one of those curtains for the bed, which almost every girl in the dormitories had. But hardly any boy in the dormitories used them, because as soon as you hung one up, they said you were hiding inside to ''manage your pipe''. Xu Musen and He Qiang ended up acting asbor, helping carry stuff. He Qiang left first. Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue also headed toward the dormitories. "Here''s your stuff." Xu Musen handed over the things she bought. Yao Mingyue looked at him, "Aren''t you going to take me upstairs?" "No, and don''te looking for me under my dormitory building when there''s nothing important. Let''s avoid any misunderstandings," Xu Musen shook his head. Yao Mingyue took several deep breaths, her shapely chest heaving twice, "Xu Musen, are you ashamed to be seen with me?" "On the contrary, Miss Yao, you''re so beautiful. It wouldn''t be good if people got the wrong idea. I wouldn''t dare to dy you. Besides, maintaining some distance was what you always wanted, wasn''t it?" Xu Musen said with a shake of his head and smile. In his previous life, when he confessed to her, she always used the excuse that they should keep a little distance first. This was using the barbarians'' own tactics against them. Yao Mingyue''s pretty face turned red with anger, her teeth clenched, "If people misunderstand, let them! If I can''t get married in the future, I''ll me it on you!" "I can''t afford that," Xu Musen shook his head and turned to leave. The minister takes his leave, and with that leave, it''s for a lifetime. Standing downstairs with her bags big and small, Yao Mingyue watched the receding figure of Xu Musen, the indignation on her face eventually giving way to a mischievous smile. Good, you''d better note find me on your own initiative. ... "I''ve set up a gathering tonight. We''re going out to eat with that girl from Lin Daiyu''s dorm we met today," Zhou Hangyu suddenly announced in the dormitory. "Man, you move fast. How did you ask her out?" Li Rundong''s eyes lit up, and he immediately moved closer. "I''ve got some charm; it''s just a matter of speaking up," Zhou Hangyu said with glee. But in reality, he had contacted her through her roommate, and the girl hadn''t agreed at first. However, a few minutester, she suddenly asked, "Are you in the same dorm as Xu Musen?" After getting an answer, she agreed. Therefore, the focus quickly turned to Xu Musen, "Musen, you''ve got girls around you; could you notpete with your brothers here?" "Perform well, and I''ll just concentrate on eating," Xu Musen nodded indifferently. Women were too much trouble. Better to focus on making some money. In his mind, Xu Musen was already calcting. He had a capital of five hundred thousand, which wasn''t a lot, but it was enough to run a shop. The first step was to start within the campus, but what to do exactly, Xu Musen nned to observe and see. "Damn, in the end, you haven''t even added her QQ?" When Li Rundong learned that Zhou Hangyu had made contact through Lin Daiyu''s roommate, he snorted, "At least add her as a friend and say hello first." "You know nothing. Only losers add friends online. True masters meet face to face. Do you know what ''starting a conversation with "are you there?" makes you? A clown.'' And that''s what you are," Zhou Hangyu retorted. "Psh! You''ll see. Just wait till we meet tonight and I''ll show off my deadly charm!" Neither of the two would give in. Listening to them, Xu Musen couldn''t help but shake his head withughter. Ah, youth. Just as he thought this, his phone chimed with a message alert. "Lin Daiyu from your ss group requests to add you as a friend." Xu Musen paused for a moment, his gaze instinctively drifting over to the two discussing their strategies for picking up girls. He clicked ''ept.'' A couple of secondster, Lin Daiyu sent a message. "Are you there?" Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Yao Mingyue Caught in the Act, Tension Fills the Air. Xu Musen hadn''t had a girl take the initiative to add him as a friend in who knows how long. Not because he wasn''t outstanding, but because a certain tsundere was watching him too closely. Looking at her first message that read, "Are you there?" Xu Musen then nced at his two adorable roommates, still attempting to show off their charm. He silently replied with a "?" Meanwhile, at the other end of the phone, Lin Daiyu was lying on her bed. She wasn''t tall, but had very fair and supple skin, and she was quite voluptuous. She had good proportions too. She might not be tall, but her legs were by no means short, as she sat on the bed swinging her pale little legs. Staring at the "?" that popped up on her phone, she was also taken aback. Truth be told, she rarely took the initiative to add boys. A beauty has self-awareness. Although she wasn''t tall, her facial features and figure were well beyond those of her peers, and besides, didn''t boys nowadays all like a cute height difference? She found Xu Musen quite interesting today, whether it was his height and appearance, or the personality and demeanor he showed today, all of which were her type, so she wanted to get to know him better. But to her surprise, it seemed as if he wasn''t quite giving her face. She was quite a beauty after all, adding him, messaging him first, and he just responded with a "?" No wonder he didn''t have a girlfriend, such a straight man! Or perhaps he hadn''t seen the note? She yet again typed out a message and sent it. "I''m Lin Daiyu." "I know, is there something you need?" Looking at this lukewarm response, Lin Daiyu pursed her lips: "I just wanted to ask you, about the get-together tonight, are all the guys from your dorm going?" "Yeah, got nothing else going on." "That''s great, then we''ll see you tonight!" "Alright." Seeing his response, Lin Daiyu felt that he was being somewhat nomittal. She returned to the chat list, several boys from her ss had added her today as well. Making small talk and being overly solicitous, to which she responded half-heartedly. She put down her phone, feeling somewhat gloomy. Just then, her roommate yed a song by Eason Chan. "Things out of reach are always causingmotion; those who are favored always feel secure" Ah, so annoying. She looked down at Zhao Lianmai on the other side, who was reading a book without wearing her duckbill cap. Long hair reaching her waist, ck and supple tresses that sparked envy, Lin Daiyu especially envied her long legs. Her roommate was quite tall and slender, exuding a special aura. Of course, if there had to be a fault... it would be that her personality was a bit reclusive and not very sociable. And her chest wasn''t as ample as Lin Daiyu''s. "Lianmai, are you going to join us for dinner tonight?" "Not too interested." She shook her head. "Come on, the first dinner at the start of school is quite important, and you might meet some interesting people." Lin Daiyu said with a smile. Zhao Lianmai didn''t really want to meet too many people, but thinking it was the first dinner of the new semester, she checked her wallet, and finally nodded silently. ... The three guys in the dorm were all excited for the uing social event, rubbing their hands together eagerly, even fussing with their hair. Zhou Hangyu was skinny to the point of looking a bit gaunt, with a middle parting in his hair, he looked just like Captain Jia at a nce. Ma Yaxing was nervously rubbing his hands, this clearly being his first social gathering of this kind. Ready to leave. Xu Musen''s phone pinged with a message from Yao Mingyue. "Come out for dinner tonight." "Already going with roommates." "What about me?" "You go with your roommates too. The first university dinner is important; skip it, and your roommates might ostracize you." "Haha, it would be me isting them, not the other way around." "..." Sometimes Xu Musen really admired her. Apart from his matters, scarcely anything could bother Yao Mingyue. "Then go ahead and ostracize me too, my phone''s dying, can''t chat anymore." After sending the message, Xu Musen pocketed his phone. In the girls'' dorm, Yao Mingyue looked at hisst message, her chest heaving with emotion. If he hadn''t already left, she would have gone and kicked his dorm door down. "Mingyue, are youing out for dinner with uster?" Seeing her frown, her roommate asked tentatively. Although Yao Mingyue didn''t have an overly boisterous personality, they always felt that she was like a capricious youngdy. Always keeping a distance. Actually, Yao Mingyue''s way of interacting with others had its issues, having had few friends from childhood. She intended to refuse, but then her mother''s words suddenly echoed in her mind: "You should interact more with others to understand the real thoughts of ordinary people." This was what shecked, the ability to love someone as an ordinary person. She pursed her lips. Even if it meant leveling up with these NPCs. "Sure." ... There were plenty of restaurants near the school, and music-themed restaurants were quite trendy recently. Essentially a quiet bar with live performances where you could dine. They arrived first, having already reserved a table. Zhou Hangyu was quick to grab the best seats. "Like this, I''ll sit next to the dark-skinned girl, then Li Rundong will sit next to me with Lin Daiyu between us. We can each try our luck with the girls, how about that?" Li Rundong checked the seats and immediately said, "Get lost, does that not mean you''d be sitting between them? You nning on winning them both over?" Could hear quite the racket all the way from Shandong! "I organized this gathering, so what''s wrong with a bit of privilege?" "Other dads might allow it, but women, never!" The two of them huffing and puffing, Xu Musen and Ma Yaxing sat together, watching the other two bicker back and forth, neither willing to give in to the other. Chapter 82: Chapter 81: Yao Mingyue Caught Red-Handed, A Tense Confrontation._2 It was as if they were witnessing two dung beetles in nature locked in a tussle. Finally, the girls arrived. Lin Daiyu, Zhao Lianmai, and two other female roommates joined them. "Hello, you guys..." Lin Daiyu, whose name suggested she was the most delicate, was surprisingly the liveliest at the moment. She greeted everyone with a smile, but then she also noticed Li Rundong and Zhou Hangyu, locked together in a stubborn embrace. Surprise flickered across their eyes, slowly giving way to a little excited thrill that felt somewhat twisted. It was as if they''d stumbled upon some weird ''ship. Lin Daiyu, pulling Zhao Lianmai with her, noticed the empty spot beside Xu Musen and sat down right next to him. "We meet again, ssmate Xu Musen." Lin Daiyu shed him a sweet smile, a dimple appearing on her face. Xu Musen smiled and nodded at her. Zhou Hangyu:... Li Rundong:... Fuck! Were these two still passionately dueling in the topne, only to have their crystal stolen just like that? They both instantly turned to look at Xu Musen, already cursing with jealousy in their hearts. Dammit, weren''t we agreed not topete with us? Xu Musen, seeing the look in their eyes, could only helplesslymunicate with his own eyes that it really had nothing to do with him. "You two, are you going to keep hugging each other like this?" A girl couldn''t help butugh. "Off, off!" Only then did the two men react, hastily separating and dusting off their clothes with disdain. However, seeing Lin Daiyu and Zhao Lianmai sitting beside Xu Musen made them feel almost tearfully helpless. "Cough, Lin Daiyu, why don''t you sit on the opposite side? You can watch the performance from there." Xu Musen had already tried his best to yield to these two hungry wolves. But Lin Daiyu was grinning, with no intention of getting up, "No need, it''s quite nice here. Music is for listening, and eyes can look at something even more pleasing." As she said this, her beautiful almond-shaped eyes met Xu Musen''s gaze. Her words left everyone present slightly stunned. Her two female roommates blushed, but in their hearts, they were thinking that this line was quite the flirt. Such a direct approach, what man could withstand it? The other guys were internally eximing. They took a moment to look at Xu Musen''s handsome face. Indeed, it was a world where looks mattered; Xu Musen had good looks, while they were simply a bunch of losers... Ma Yaxing looked on enviously, the epitome of a studious guy who''d not dated throughout college. He always felt nervous and blushed when talking to girls. Yet he''d never imagined that girls could be so forward with a handsome guy. Xu Musen, however, was somewhat immune to such flirting, as he had already dealt with someone at a higher level, Yao Mingyue. For instance, if your lips were dry, other girls might tenderly help you apply lip balm, and the bolder ones might even apply it mouth-to-mouth. But Yao Mingyue would just take him into her room, after all, it was for applying lip balm... He could only respond to the little girl''s thoughts with a slight smile. At the same time, he gave his two mates a look as if to say he''d done all he could. Li Rundong and Zhou Hangyu exchanged nces, thinking, "Damn it!" The dinner party began. Zhou Hangyu suggested they drink some alcohol. Most of the girls were reluctant at first, but Lin Daiyu was exceptionally bold, grabbing some sake to drink along. However, it was apparent she was a lightweight; a ss or two of sake turned her cheeks a rosy pink. "So, Lin Daiyu, you said you like ying games, what kind do you like?" Li Rundong wasn''t ready to give up and tried to start a conversation. "Audition Dance Battle!" Lin Daiyu answered with a smile. "What a coincidence, I also..." Li Rundong finally found somemon ground. But Lin Daiyu looked straight at Xu Musen, and with a grin, asked, "Xu Musen, do you like ying games?" Li Rundong:... "I''m not too fond of ying games, but I quite like making money from games." "You can make money from games? Do people tip you for ying with them?" Lin Daiyuughed heartily. Xu Musen''s mind lit up, thinking of the apaniment services from his past life. "I wish someone would tip me, but no one seems interested." Xu Musen said half-jokingly. "Hehe, how about I support you? I''ll pay you a sry to y games with me on the weekend, what do you say?" Lin Daiyu''s cheeks flushed from the alcohol as she spoke, everyone nced at her again. The way she phrased it sounded like she wanted to keep Xu Musen as a kept man, didn''t it? Xu Musen was a bit speechless himself; why did it seem like all the girls around him were wealthy, and all wanted to support him? I really don''t want to be a kept man, okay! "Haha, I''m just joking. I don''t have that much money, either." Lin Daiyuughed heartily, having not expected she''d blurt out such a remark, likely because the alcohol was making her lose some control. Her face colored even redder. "Is that so, that''s too bad. I thought I could stop making an effort. When you, Boss Lin, make a fortune, remember to tip me then." Xu Musen alsoughed it off, raising his ss to steer the odd atmosphere elsewhere. But when Lin Daiyu heard this, her face turned redder as she looked at him, and the awkwardness was dissolved by his self-deprecating joke. If not, it seemed like the two good buddies across from her were about to devour her with their eyes. Lin Daiyu sneaked a nce at him, liking theposure he disyed that could ease any situation. "It''s so boring to just drink. How about we y Truth or Dare?" Chapter 83: Chapter 81: Caught Red-Handed, Yao Mingyue at the Explosive Scene. _3 Zhou Hangyu felt that all the girls were revolving around Xu Musen, and he, the one who organized the gathering, had be invisible. He immediately spoke up, wanting to y a game. "Oh yeah, sure!" The girls'' eyes also lit up. "If we are to y, you have to ept the oue of the bet, no objections, right?" Zhou Hangyu brought over a few dice cups. "Of course, no problem. Xu Musen, are you ying too?" Lin Daiyu spoke up. "No problem." Xu Musen nodded as well. The first round was won by Li Rundong. He rubbed his hands, pushed up his gold-rimmed sses, and looked at Lin Daiyu: "Lin ssmate, uh, have you ever... had a boyfriend before?" "Hmm~" As soon as this piece of juicy truth came up, everyone immediately became interested. Lin Daiyu''s face turned red, but she didn''t beat around the bush and said, "I had some interaction with a boy in high school, but we just touched hands, nothing more!" As she said this, she especially nced at Xu Musen, as if to exin, afraid that he might misunderstand. Xu Musen thought to himself, what does it matter to me whether you have had a boyfriend or not? Anyway, I wasn''t nning on touching your hand either. Li Rundong internally felt his favorability towards her increase a bit. Whether it''s a guy or a girl, everyone has a bit of a psychological preference for cleanliness, who wouldn''t want someone untarnished. The second round was won by Zhou Hangyu. He, too, touched his hair and looked at Zhao Lianmai, who had been silent the whole time, and asked, "Zhao ssmate, I''d like to ask if you have any intentions of finding a boyfriend, and if so, what type are you looking for?" Zhao Lianmai, still wearing that baseball cap, raised her eyebrows slightly at the question, but didn''t hesitate for too long before answering coolly, "I have no ns to find a boyfriend." "Anything else?" "I''ve already answered one of your questions." "..." Zhou Hangyu felt quite defeated. This isn''t how the script was supposed to go! They continued ying and a girl won the next round. Her gaze circled the guys and finally settled on Xu Musen. "Hehe, Xu ssmate, I also want to ask, have you never been in a rtionship?" "I rarely lie, I''m single just like everyone else here," Xu Musen said with a smile. "Then why don''t you want to start a rtionship?" "Sorry, I''ve already answered a question," Xu Musen smilingly shook his head. Zhao Lianmai slightly lifted her eyes to look at him, then quietly shifted her gaze away. Another round, again won by Li Rundong, who seemed slightly excited and cleared his throat before slowly asking, "Lin ssmate, if you are considering finding a boyfriend now, what type of person are you looking for?" "Me?" Lin Daiyu touched her slightly blushing cheek, but her gaze inadvertently swept over Xu Musen, then she said with a smile, "Actually, I''m not very demanding. I don''t care about height or belong to the appearance association; as long as I find the person pleasing to the eye, that''s enough." Li Rundong was instantly even more excited, sitting up straight, full of anticipation as he pointed to himself: "Then what about me? Do you think I''m suitable?" Silence fell over the room for a second. Holy shit, that''s bold! Zhou Hangyu thought, this dude usually looks nerdy wearing those gold-rimmed sses, but who knew he could be so direct in his actions. Indeed, those who wear gold-rimmed sses are all secretly passionate. The girls also showed faces eager to see the drama unfold. Only Lin Daiyu looked at him, her smile slightly awkward yet polite: "Suitable for what?" "I..." Li Rundong was petrified instantly. Why did it feel like that response was even more heartbreaking than an outright rejection? "Pfft... Hahaha." Zhou Hangyu couldn''t hold back, and beer sprayed from his mouth, making Li Rundong, who was already displeased, lose face even more. "What are youughing at?" "I just remembered something hrious, bro, you gotta believe me," Zhou Hangyu said with a serious face, but he couldn''t hold back hisughter before finishing, and everyone at the table burst intoughter. Damn it! I''m not ying anymore! Li Rundong silently downed a big gulp of liquor, choked on it, and wished he could find a hole to crawl into. The game continued. At that moment, on the street outside, Yao Mingyue and her three roommates were also looking for a restaurant. "This music restaurant is said to be interesting, how about we go check it out?" "It''s just people singing, so noisy, I''d rather find a quiet ce..." "Yao Mingyue, what do you think?" "I''m fine with anything." Yao Mingyue wasn''t particrly interested in what to eat, mostly because she was fed up with Xu Musen''s shenanigans. This damn guy, don''t let me catch you... While they were still searching for a restaurant, they heard bursts ofughtering from a restaurant next door. One of the voices locked onto Yao Mingyue''s ears like a bat in the night, pinpointing the exact audio. She turned her head and saw through the ss windows of the music restaurant the familiar figure inside. Xu Musen? Yao Mingyue''s pupils shrank in an instant because she saw, right beside Xu Musen, there was actually a girl sitting, and moreover, this girl was sitting very close to him! You could tell she was doing it on purpose because that''s exactly how she herself liked to sit! In that moment, Yao Mingyue''s instinct to catch a cheater awakened, and she walked straight into the restaurant. "Ming Yue, where are you going?" Her roommates called out, but Yao Mingyue had already pushed the door open and walked in without saying a word. They exchanged nces and followed her in. At this moment, at the table, Zhao Lianmai and Lin Daiyu also won a round. The dark-skinned girl passed the chance to speak the truth to Lin Daiyu. Her gaze naturally fell onto Xu Musen, and her almond eyes sparkled: "So, Xu, how many times have you been in love? And what kind of girl do you like now?" Everyone looked at Xu Musen with great interest. After all, in their minds, a guy like him who is tall, handsome, studies well, with good temperament, andes from a good family, must have a rich love history. But Xu Musen looked a bit distracted, then shook his head and said, "To my embarrassment, I''ve actually never been in a rtionship." "Impossible!" The girls couldn''t believe it. "That''s absolutely impossible!" The boys directly expressed their doubt in his character. Xu Musen just smiled helplessly, "Really, I''ve confessed to a girl a few times before, but I''ve only ever been rejected." Upon Xu Musen''s self-exposed secrets, the girls couldn''t believe that such an outstanding guy had been rejected, not just once! The boys looked at each other, thinking that if this was true, they really felt like saying, "So, you finally got what wasing for you." Lin Daiyu''s eyes flickered as she continued to question him: "Then it''s her loss, right. Do you still like her now?" Xu Musen was taken aback and hadn''t yet replied. Suddenly, a cool and pleasant voice came: "ying Truth? Can I join?" Everyone looked up following the voice. "Holy shit?" Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong both opened their mouths wide. The girls also looked up and froze for a moment. In front of them stood a girl in a white long dress, breathtakingly beautiful, tall, and elegant. At that moment, she had a smile on her lips, but her phoenix eyes exuded a pressing air, and her dark pupils were fixated on the girl beside Xu Musen. Hmm, the smell of fireworks Chapter 84: Chapter 82: The Downward Blow from a Wealthy Woman! Even though Yao Mingyue appeared with a smile on her face, the air was still filled with the scent of gunpowder. Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong looked at Yao Mingyue, dumbfounded. Wasn''t she the girl who was making the bed in Xu Musen''s dorm room today? They then nced at Lin Daiyu, who was sitting next to Xu Musen. Good heavens, was this turning into a battlefield in person? The two of them were surprised, and a bit schadenfreude tickled their hearts, thinking, "Look at you now, trying to act all cool, kid!" Now a collision was bound to happen. However, they looked at Lin Daiyu, a sure campus belle, then at Yao Mingyue, who was clearly one level highera campus queen. One voluntarily made his bed, the other took the opportunity of a drinking party to make contact with him. God damn it, this is the price of being a yboy; no need to feel sorry for him! The female students exchanged doubtful looks among themselves; being girls, they were more sensitive to the tension between love rivals. They looked at Yao Mingyue and Lin Daiyu. Although as roommates they definitely sided with Lin Daiyu, they had to admit that this girl who suddenly appeared suppressed Lin Daiyu utterly in both beauty and temperament. Xu Musen didn''t expect that even going out for a simple meal could stir up so much trouble. This ''little delicate flower'' was truly his fated nemesis. Lin Daiyu also felt the hostility emanating from the other party, and she too was a bit displeased. Before Xu Musen could speak, Yao Mingyue''s lips curled with a sense of superiority. "We''re all from the same school, sharing a table wouldn''t bother you, right?" Without giving anyone the chance to refuse, Yao Mingyue went straight to Ma Yaxing''s side, smiled at him and said, "May I sit here, ssmate?" Since he was sitting with Xu Musen, he immediately blushed from nervousness when faced with such a beautiful woman''s request and stood up right away. "Thank you." Yao Mingyue swiftly took the seat, without any hesitation sitting close to Xu Musen. She sandwiched him in between, as if embracing him from both sides. This scene made many people in the restaurant itch with curiosity. Xu Musen''s mind suddenly shed to a scene from "Flirting Schr." Others think I enjoy the blessings of everyone, but in reality, I''m surrounded by hungry wolves... The originally well-organized drinking party was suddenly interfered with by a stranger, who acted as if she were the official partner. It made Lin Daiyu look like a little mistress who was secretly seducing someone else''s man. "Who are you?" Lin Daiyu''s brows furrowed slightly. "Won''t you introduce us?" But Yao Mingyue was already looking directly at Xu Musen, as if she was the legitimate girlfriend. Xu Musen nced at both of them and took a casual sip of beer. He said, "She is the girl I mentioned earlier, the one who has rejected my confessions several times." Xu Musen finished speaking calmly, with no change in emotion and even a smile on his face, as if he was merely introducing something trivial. But to everyone else, this statement was like a bombshell. "What??" Damn, is this drama happening right before our eyes? The girls, who had been skeptical that someone as outstanding as Xu Musen could be rejected, instantly felt more at ease upon seeing Yao Mingyue''s face. Indeed, if they were that good-looking, they would be more discriminating too. Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong, on the other hand, swore under their breath. If it were them, they wouldn''t have the guts to share such a humiliating past, especially in front of the concerned party. Wasn''t that just like shitting in the street? But it had to be said that Xu Musen''s ability to handle the situation with disarming candor was somewhat impressive. Zhao Lianmai, who had been silent all this while, finally looked up at Xu Musen with a hint of change in her eyes. Lin Daiyu was dumbfounded for a while, her round almond eyes still full of disbelief. As she stared at Yao Mingyue''s smug smile, as if the field was all hers, her little fists clenched tight with anger. This feeling of being pressed to the floor and rubbed against was igniting herpetitive spirit even more. "However, I can now answer your second question," Xu Musen smiled again and continued. "I was young and foolish when I made those confessions, and now we have no rtionship whatsoever, so I would appreciate it if everyone would stop bringing up this matter in the future. She doesn''t have a boyfriend yet, and I would be very guilty if I hindered her chances of finding someone." Xu Musen''s tone was joking, but every word he said was crystal clear. The more casual the tone, the deeper the knife often cut. Yao Mingyue''s expression darkened, and she bit her lip, her chest heaving with emotion. "Oh~ so that''s how it is, no worries, we can still be friends if not lovers." Lin Daiyu seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, then showed a tinge of embarrassment: "It''s my fault; I didn''t expect to ask such a timely question today. I apologize." This smooth series of maneuvers indeed had a bit of a Lin Daiyu''s green tea vibe to them. Yao Mingyue narrowed her eyes. If Xu Musen had spoken to her like this in private, she would have definitely made a scene. But seeing the overconfident girl who had appeared, her pride would not allow her to be outdone. She turned her head to look at Xu Musen: "But you didn''t reject me thest time you confessed." "What''s the point of bringing this up now, aren''t we both doing fine on our own?" "You think it''s fine to just go our own ways? Why didn''t you think of that when you confessed to me in front of the whole school? Now that you''ve made me fall for you, you want to run away? Why do you get to decide when to stop chasing?" Yao Mingyue fixed her gaze on him, bombarding Xu Musen with a rapid sequence of pressing questions, rendering him speechless. Seriously, it''s always been me who has been rejected, so why does it sound like you''re the victim, deceived and abandoned by a scumbag? And indeed, there was a shimmer in Yao Mingyue''s eyes that seemed to plead for pity. ``` I never realized she was a top-tier master of acting and tea art! The spectators were internally eximing at the spectacle. "..." "My stomach feels a bit ufortable, I''m going to the restroom." Xu Musen stood up and left the ce of dispute right away, lest the drama queen would really flip the table. He headed to the front desk to settle the bill, since the problems at today''s gathering had arisen on his ount, he would treat it as his treat, and find an excuse to slip awayter. ... Now, without Xu Musen at the table, it seemed as though thest barrier hadpletely disappeared. Yao Mingyue''s expression of grievance in her eyes vanished in an instant, reced with a somewhat stern re at Lin Daiyu. "ssmate, please keep your distance from Xu Musen in the future." Lin Daiyu, seeing her face change as quick as a Sichuan Opera mask, grew even more indignant, "Why should I stay away from him?" "Because he likes me, and always has." "Heh, didn''t you reject him already? He also said that there''s nothing between you anymore." "He''s just pretending to be tough. It won''t be long before we get back together," Yao Mingyue said calmly. "?" Lin Daiyuughed out of anger. I think you''re the one who''s really tough-talking here, right? Aren''t you just a little too conceited? "You''re not even a couple, who he is with has nothing to do with you!" Yao Mingyue picked up the beer ss Xu Musen had drunk from, took a small sip, and looked Lin Daiyu up and down with a curve forming at the corner of her lips as she continued to speak. "Do you think you have something thatpares to me? Why would he choose to leave me for you?" Yao Mingyue was relentless when it came to her rivals in love. "What makes me inferior to you?" Lin Daiyu retorted, even though she really was beautiful. But she was notcking herself. Yao Mingyue continued to look at her, her phoenix eyes giving off a prating vibe: "In terms of figure, appearance, ability, and even wallet, where can you outdo me? Only I can give him everything he wants!" Yao Mingyue''s words were a direct punch to the heart, devoid of mercy. Whether one is rich or not is fairly obvious at first nce. Lin Daiyu came from a fairly well-to-do home, but that was only by ordinary standards. Yao Mingyue was a bona fide industrialist and a rich woman. Lin Daiyu then took a good look at Yao Mingyue. A wless visage, exquisite as if created by God''s favorite muse. Moreover, with Yao Mingyue''s height of 1.72 meters, she was definitely tall and outstanding among girls, and her figure... was also perfectly proportioned, leaving an impable impression. Even though her body proportions weren''t bad either, her height was a clear disadvantage. For a moment, she felt a sense of defeat. "My family has three houses in Hangzhou!" Before she could finish, Yao Mingyue smiled faintly and pulled out a silver-white credit card from her purse. "This is a credit card that can be applied for only with a deposit of over ten million." Yao Mingyue shook the card and said no more. You see, fixed assets and cash deposits are two different concepts. You might afford a million-dor house in a big city, but you may not be able to shell out one hundred thousand in cash all at once. This move could be considered a dimensional strike, utterly crushing. We''re all just poor students, even if some of use from decent homes, we usually just unt our clothes, food, housing, and transportation. But who goes around shing a credit card worth millions right from the start? It''s no different than someone just starting a card game with a three, and you countering with a royal flush and a straight flush. Not to mention the girls present, even the boys were left speechless for a long moment. A little heiress worth tens of millions? Did Xu Musen really reject a little heiress worth tens of millions who was willing to throw herself at him, offering opulence and beauty with legs for days? At that moment, not just Ma Yaxing and Li Rundong, but even Zhou Hangyu, who came from a rtively well-off family, couldn''t utter a word. If it were them, they would have agreed to be a rich woman''s dog! Lin Daiyu clenched her fists. In fact, she initially had only a passing crush on Xu Musen and wasn''t really serious. But the aggressive behavior of the girl in front of her aroused an even stronger defiant spirit in her. "So what? He doesn''t like you, still doesn''t like you. Even if you were the top female tycoon Dong Mingzhu, it would be useless!" Lin Daiyu straightened her back: "Let''spete then, and see who''s really the unwanted one!" With that, she angrily stood up and left. Yao Mingyue just sneered. Even though Xu Musen had changed a lot, Yao Mingyue still knew him well. He truly wasn''t interested in average girls. Yao Mingyue never really saw her as a contender, but the only one she should be wary of, was the girl sitting in the wheelchair, looking simple and naive. She nced in the direction Xu Musen had left, slowly stood up, and waved at the three dumbfounded boys, "I should be going too. Oh, and please wish Musen a good night for me. Tell him to have sweet dreams." After that, she turned and walked away. The lively restaurant was now left with just the three of them staring at each other. Damn! What happened to the social get-together? What happened to showing off our skills at picking up girls? It turned into Xu Musen''s personal rich woman battle? "Damn it, why can''t I meet such a rich woman? Xu Musen even rejected her, he really doesn''t know what''s good for him. If it were me, I''d even be willing to scrub myself with a steel wool pad every day!" Zhou Hangyu said with envy and frustration. "But I think this girl is too oppressive; she seems hard to get along with..." Ma Yaxing shook his head. He was well aware that they were simply not in the same league. So he saw things more clearly. And Li Rundong was there, drowning his sorrows in drink. He hade eager to flirt, yet the girls didn''t even give him a second nce. He chugged a beer with a bitter taste in his mouth,menting, "It was so hard to be moved for once, and yet she crushed me so utterly. Damn!" ``` Chapter 92: Chapter 86: I Seldom Describe a Girl as Sleazy! "Damn! Have you guys heard? Today, someone rocked up to school in a Rolls-Royce!" "Aren''t there plenty of rich folks driving luxury cars to Hu Hai University?" "But here''s the thing, they say the person who got out was a girl, a richdy in a Rolls-Royce! If you couldtch onto her, you''d have it made for life!" In the dorm room, Zhou Hangyu was scrolling through his phone when someone posted a photo of the Rolls-Royce on the school forum. "For the sugar mama thing, just ask Xu Musen. He''s got the most experience," Li Rundong said, nodding towards Xu Musen who had juste out after a shower. "Xu Musen, you already have a sugar mama chasing you. Can''t you leave a little something for your brothers?" Zhou Hangyu said wistfully. "Forget about it, these sugar mamas usually have the worst princess attitudesyou don''t want to mess with that..." Li Rundong shook his head. Xu Musen had overheard the two men''s conversation. The richdy in the Rolls-Royce they were talking about was probably An Nuannuan. He smirked and said, "That''s not quite right; some richdies are quite pleasant to deal with." "Pfft, pleasant for you maybe. I know a few little rich girls from Hu Hai who splurge thousands on a single meal and buy bags worth several ''da bu lius'' without batting an eyelid. Us poor sods can''t keep up with that," Zhou Hangyumented, shaking his head. Although his family was not bad off, they were nowhere near Rolls-Royce level. Ma Yaxing stayed out of the conversation; his monthly allowance didn''t even reach a thousand. Thousands on a meal? In the end, doesn''t it all just turn into poop? No matter how fancy the food is, poop doesn''t turn pink. "You guys are just seeing it too one-sidedly. It''s all about connecting with people. Sometimes, even a skewer of candied hawthorns can make a richdy happy," Xu Musen said with a smile as he checked his phone and noticed a few messages. Yao Mingyue: "I''m hungry." Before, whenever she said she was hungry, Xu Musen would immediately dash to her dorm, eager to go out and eat with her. But now, Xu Musen simply replied with two words: "Don''t starve." A few secondster, Yao Mingyue sent another message: "Xu Musen! I''m telling you I''m hungry!" "There are steamed buns on your bed. Go to sleep and you won''t be hungry. Sleep early, I''m not chatting anymore, I''m going to take a shower." "Xu Musen! I''ll smash your shower tub!" Xu Musen had already switched the chat screen. There was also a message from Lin Daiyu: "Xu Musen, have you eaten? There''s a new grilled fish restaurant across from the school; I heard it''s quite good." Xu Musen: "I''m not fond of fish." Lin Daiyu: "Why? Are you worried about the bones?" Xu Musen: "No, it''s because it''s virtuous." Lin Daiyu: "?" There was also a friend request; Xu Musen remembered it was probably An Nuannuan''s roommate. But the ount that added her was a side ount, which he used for advertising and collecting ''leeks.'' He agreed to add her as a friend in the dorm to spare her embarrassment, so as not to leave a bad impression on Nuannuan and the others. He thought about it but hasn''t yet agreed. Thest message was from the adorable little Nuannuan: "Xu Musen, I''m ready." "I''ll pick you up downstairs from your dorm in a while." "Mhm! I''ll be waiting." Xu Musen put down his phone. Only to hear Zhou Hangyu still going on and on. "Pfft! Stop showing off, as if eating a six-yuan bowl of spicy hot pot could get youid six times," he grumbled. Li Rundong turned his head to look at Xu Musen, who was putting on new clothes, and asked with a smack of his lips, "Dressed all snazzy, got a date?" "Coincidentally, a richdy in a Rolls-Royce asked me out to dinner." Xu Musen chuckled. "Bullshit!" The two said in unison, then they began discussing the Rolls-Royce sugar mama who had appeared at the school gate. And you''re going out to dinner with her tonight? You really think you have the Innate Soft Rice Holy Body! "Believe it or not, it''s up to you. I''m leaving first," Xu Musen waved goodbye. That''s just how it is sometimes; when something feels too good to be true, the more earnestly you try to tell others, the less likely they are to believe you. "This guy really has making a show of himself down to an art. So any richdy around here has something to do with him, huh?" "Seriously, he looks all tough but is such a show-off." "Well, you never know... the girls around him do seem pretty impressive," Ma Yaxing said earnestly. "Yeah right, he''s got twelve dou of sugar mamas, and we owe him two dou, is that it?" Li Rundong chimed in while holding his phone, eventually gathering the courage to send a message to Lin Daiyu after hesitating for a long time. "Are you there?" It took a while before he got a response: "?" But Li Rundong was excited and continued texting. "Uh, I heard there''s a new grilled fish ce opposite the school that''s pretty good. Do you want me to treat you there...?" "No need, I don''t like fish." "Oh? But this ce uses clearke fish, no bones." "I don''t eat fish because looking at them makes me want to p someone!" "???" ... On the other side, Yao Mingyue was also looking at the message on her phone, her pretty face flushed with anger. This ungrateful bastard! What does he mean by ''don''t starve''? Can''t he tell that she wanted to go out to eat with him? This was college, where if a single man and a woman went out for dinner, watched a movie, and then returned a bitte, finding the dorm room locked, It would be perfectly legitimate for them to... It''s his own fault for not seizing the opportunity! Furious, she tossed her phone on the bed, ready to wash up and go to sleep. At that moment, Xu Musen had already arrived at An Nuannuan''s dorm building and saw An Nuannuan sitting in her wheelchair under a tree by the entrance, waiting. "Nuannuan." The night was dim; she sat quietly by the tree, seemingly fascinated by the ants on the ground. For a college girl, she seemed rather childlike. But one couldn''t help but admire her strong inner world. ``` "You''re here." An Nuannuan lifted her head to look at Xu Musen, her adorably dumbfounded eyes also brightened a bit. That look was as if she was staring at a huge candied haw on a stick. This little foodie. Xu Musen walked over and helped her push the wheelchair. "Hungry?" "Mhm, mhm, my stomach is all empty, can you fill it up quickly, please?" "..." What kind of subus talk is that? Xu Musen couldn''t hold back, alright, alright, I''ll feed you well today! Xu Musen pushed her. Campus was bustling, and when people saw An Nuannuan, they would take a curious nce. An Nuannuan''s long hair had fallen loose again, covering most of her face, her curious eyes darting around. University life waspletely different from high school. Many young couples on the street were holding hands, or even sitting on the benches cuddling and hugging. When the mood struck, they might even share a kiss. An Nuannuan would focus intently on them as they exchanged pecks back and forth, making some of the couples feel embarrassed. Once out of the school gate, there were several food streets. Delicacies from all over the country could be found here, and An Nuannuan''s mouth watered along the way. "Xu Musen, I want to eat cotton candy." "You can''t have sugar in the evening." "Ying~" "Acting cute won''t work... at most I''ll buy you a lollipop." "Xu Musen, I want to eat that roasted chicken wing." "Miss, you still have to der." Along the way, An Nuannuan had already snacked on several treats, her adorably dumb face showing a blissful sheen. Xu Musen looked down at her, why did he always feel like he had raised a daughter? Xu Musen shook his head. She couldn''t be his daughter, but making one together in the future... that wasn''t out of the question... When passing a snack stall selling Takoyaki. An Nuannuan wiggled her little nose and suddenly lifted her head, tugging Xu Musen''s sleeve. "Xu Musen, you''re really nice to me." "No amount of ttery will get you any now, are you still eatingter?" Xu Musen saw right through her thoughts. Sure enough, An Nuannuan''s lips puckered slightly, her eyes lingering regretfully on the fragrant Takoyaki. "This little girl is so cute. Here, auntie will give you a few to taste." Hearing their conversation, the stall owner couldn''t help but soften at the sight of An Nuannuan''s pitiful look. Taking a bamboo skewer, she poked three and handed them to An Nuannuan. "Xu Musen..." But faced with the temptation of food, An Nuannuan instantly tugged on Xu Musen''s sleeve and asked. This feeling... also softened Xu Musen''s heart. "Forget it, just eat, eat. Thank you, boss, I''ll patronize your business next time." Xu Musen thanked the stall owner. "Ah, no problem, happy eating is all that matters." The stall owner felt a bit sorry for An Nuannuan seeing her in a wheelchair. An Nuannuan happily took them in hand, and instead of eating the first bite herself, she offered it to Xu Musen: "You eat first." Xu Musen looked at her. Indeed, the temptation of food for her was no less than He Qiang''s affection for fishing rods. Yet she still thought to offer it to him first. Xu Musen smiled, "Are you trying to bribe me?" "Because you''re my everyday satisfaction!" An Nuannuan said earnestly. "..." Alright, he knew he shouldn''t have expected anything else. Xu Musen took a bite. It was indeed pretty good. He looked down at An Nuannuan again. Her big eyes were fluttering, clearly very happy. But Xu Musen felt like he had never seen her truly happy andughing. At best, her lips would curve slightly. An Nuannuan''s cute appearance would surely be beautiful if she smiled more. "Nuannuan, can you smile for me?" "Why?" "Because I don''t think I''ve ever seen youugh. I want to see it." Xu Musen looked at her, and An Nuannuan also swallowed the Takoyaki in her mouth, nodded, and made an ''oh'' sound. Then she lifted her head and looked towards Xu Musen. "Hehe~" "..." She gently pulled up the corners of her mouth, her eyes squinting slightly. How to put thisher beauty ensured even her tears looked good. But this smile... Xu Musen rarely used the word ''lecherous'' to describe a woman, especially such a pretty one. But her smile really was akin to a perverted old man drooling over a beautiful woman''s legs. "Nuannuan, maybe you shouldn''t smile like that." "Why not?" "Because it''s a bit... lecherous." "Oh~ but that''s how I learned it from you." "Huh???" An Nuannuan munched on the Takoyaki, her clear eyes blinking: "That''s how you sometimes smile when you look at my legs." "..." Xu Musen felt as if countless knives had just given him a bone-chilling stab! He suddenly understood why Yao Mingyue, being such a tsundere, could get so angry that she''d throw down her chopsticks and walk away. Why did this adorable dummy always manage to catch him off guard with such seriousness? ``` Chapter 93: Chapter 87: I Didnt Want It, She Insisted. An Nuannuan really liked to eat hot pot. Moreover, she also really liked the abnormally spicy kind in the Chongqing-style nine-grid pot. Just as the beef balls were ready, she couldn''t wait to pick one up and ced it on her te to blow on it. It''s just that her loose strands of hair always seemed to obstruct her speed of eating. "Hello, could you get me a rubber band?" Xu Musen said to the waitress. "Sure, do you need help with it?" The waitress took out a hair tie from her pocket. "I''ve got it, thank you." Xu Musen took the hair tie, rose to his feet, and came up behind An Nuannuan: "Let me help you tie up your hair." "Uh-huh." An Nuannuan nodded, as Xu Musen gathered up her enviable, silky strands of hair that felt just like silk. Xu Musen expertly tied up her hair and even used a disposable chopstick to help her twist it into a bun. This skilled technique even had the waitress who was originally going to help out looking impressed. Finding a handsome guy who could also tie up a girl''s hair, and do such a good job of it, was indeed rare. Sure enough, the better-looking the guy, the more charming he tends to be. "You''re really good." An Nuannuan touched her hair bun, her eating speed could at least double without the hair getting in the way! She then generously offered Xu Musen the beef ball she had just fished out. Musen also nched a slice of tripe for her and watched the young girl eat with her mouth smeared in red chili oil, fanning herself due to the spiciness. Musen couldn''t help but say, "If you like hot pot this much, you really should have applied to a school in Sichuan." "I did consider it for a bit, but grandma said the medical facilities there aren''t as good as here, and also, there''s no one to take care of me over there." There was a hint of regret in An Nuannuan''s voice. Xu Musen remembered that this little girl had mentioned her mom was from Sichuan. But all this time, he had never seen her parents; she always talked about her grandparents instead. Xu Musen had never asked about the specifics. As friends, all that mattered was treating each other sincerely. "No worries, actually this ce is quite good too. We have all kinds of delicacies and snacks from around the country. If you want, you can eat something different every day throughout your four years of college." "Then will you keep apanying me out during these four years of college?" An Nuannuan looked up with some expectation in her eyes. Xu Musen looked at her silly, cute appearance and felt a tickle in his heart. "Sure." ... After the meal, Xu Musen pushed her along the school''s paths. An Nuannuan was gulping down a cup of milk tea. Having delicious hot pot followed by sweet milk tea was just the ultimate happiness in life. The night weather was cool, feeling especiallyfortable blowing on the two of them. When they arrived at the girls'' dormitory entrance, Xu Musen slowed his steps, not sure why. He felt a reluctance to part, much like after a first date with a girl. "Xu Musen." "Hmm?" "I''m so happy today. On my first day of college, you came to pick me up, made my bed, and treated me to food. You''re the only person other than my family who is so good to me without asking for anything in return." An Nuannuan spoke earnestly, and her voice even seemed sweeter, perhaps because of the milk tea. "Actually, I''m not that nice. At first, I was just coaxing you to do paintings for me." "But you paid me a sry." The fifty yuan sry, which probably meant next to nothing to this rich girl whose family owned a Rolls-Royce. Yet seeing An Nuannuan''s serious expression, Xu Musen increasingly felt something pure in his heart. In an era where cunning and deception were everywhere, her presence was like a breath of fresh air. "Nuannuan, if you hadn''t known me earlier, would you still trust me like you do now?" "But I''ve known you for a long time, every time you confessed, I was the one who picked up the flowers you threw away. And..." "Cough cough, let''s not bring up the embarrassing past." Xu Musen felt goosebumps all over just thinking about it. An Nuannuan gave an "oh" and watched Xu Musen with herrge, blinking eyes. "Actually, I''m also really happy. You know, in college, it''s nice to have a friend to hang out with, go shopping, and eat together..." Xu Musen smiled in response, unaware of the fleeting gleam in An Nuannuan''s eyes. Being with An Nuannuan was always very rxing for Xu Musen. Perhaps it was because in his past life, he had felt too controlled. It was like being wrapped in a nket, warm andfortable, but the feeling of beingpletely restrained and unable to move,pletely at the mercy of others, was just too painful. But when he was with An Nuannuan, Musen felt especially rxed and even had a desire to take care of her and possess her... Musen was sure he wasn''t a lunatic, but he was somewhat influenced after all. When ordinary people fall in love, they also subconsciously want to know more about their significant other. Things like checking in, looking through the phone, and so on, are all expressions of possessiveness. As long as it doesn''t cross the bottom line in the other person''s heart, it can also be a way to express affection for each other. The status of a friend is stable but also fragile. He looked at An Nuannuan''s cheeks, then smiled faintly in his heart. Forget it, things are pretty good as they are now. If he allowed himself to think too much, he might just scare her away. "Xu Musen." An Nuannuan suddenly tugged at his sleeve. "What''s up?" "Look over there, under that tree." An Nuannuan pointed to a spot under a tree where the light was dim, where a young couple was hugging each other. Chapter 94: Chapter 87: I Didnt Want It, She Insisted. _2 ``` College students, freshly enrolled in university, fall in love with the greatest intensity. When they start dating, they can hug and kiss passionately for an hour or two each day. It''s like cupping therapy; they don''t stop until they''ve left a trail of hickey marks. Moreover, the hands of the male in this young couple are never still, slipping inside clothes at every opportunity. Young people, indulging in their reckless desires on a moonless, windy nightit truly makes you envious... Pah! Despicable! "What are they doing?" Xu Musen, looking into An Nuannuan''s clear eyes, coughed awkwardly. "Well, maybe the girl got heatstroke, and the boy is giving her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation." "What about his hands?" "CPR, haven''t you learned about that in high school textbooks?" Xu Musen started spouting nonsense. "Oh~ so you mean to say that kissing can cure heatstroke." An Nuannuan nodded her head obediently as if she had learned something new. Xu Musen''s heart skipped a beat; so this little cutie is aware that they''re just kissing. Thankfully, he, a gentleman of integrity, hadn''t misled her... An Nuannuan took a sip of her milk tea and then looked up again at Xu Musen''s face, especially pausing to examine his lips, lost in thought. "All right, stop staring at them, let''s head back." Xu Musen wheeled her to the corner beneath the girls'' dormitory. An Nuannuan felt somewhat reluctant: "Xu Musen, what you said about taking me out to eat throughout the four years of universityis that true?" "Of course, it''s true, but if you get fat, don''t me me." "If I gain weight, you can just massage it for me, right?" "It''s not like the weight only goes to your legs" Xu Musen''s gaze drifted unconsciously over An Nuannuan''s body, like her white and round... cheeks. When Nuannuan''s face is chubby, she looks really adorable, like a Samoyed, and you just want to rub and pinch it. Meanwhile, An Nuannuan was looking down at her feet d in sandals, her toes clear and defined, like plump, crystal-clear grapes. In reality, ever since she saw him holding that Romantic Foot Massage card in high school, she knew that he was the kind of person who admired girls'' small feeta podophile weirdoas Nannan had described. And yes, he always seemed to be sneaking peeks at her own feet... She suddenly felt a tingling sensation. Might this be simr to the feeling of acupuncture? She looked up at Xu Musen, her clear eyes rippling slightly. "Xu Musen, do you really like chubby girls?" "Of course, I''ve always thought it''s better for girls to be a bit chubby. Too skinny might look good, but the reality is... ahem, health is most important." Xu Musen coughed, knowing she would understand such things when she grows up. Looking at him, as if making up her mind, Nuannuan said: "Then I... you can pinch me too." As she spoke, her foot in the sandal nervously scratched against the sole. For Nuannuan, legs and feet were the same; she hadn''t felt much on them previously and never understood why some people were fascinated by them. But as for Xu Musen, he must have his reasons for liking them! Grandma often told her that there are ces on a girl''s body that shouldn''t be touched by others, like your chest and your bottom. But as for the feet... Grandma never mentioned those. She looked up at Xu Musen, who had a surprised expression, feeling her cheeks grow warm, puffing up even cuter. "Is it okay?" And Xu Musen, who was looking forward to it, rubbed his hands together eagerly. "Hmm, just for a little bit." An Nuannuan lowered her gaze and nodded. "Okay, I promise it''s just for a bit." Xu Musen slowly reached out his hand, thinking to himself that pinching a friend''s cheek is perfectly normal. Foreigners even greet each other with a peck on the cheek. An Nuannuan slightly moved her foot, even trying to control and lift it up a bit. But the next moment, she suddenly felt her face gently pinched. A bit dazed, she looked up to see Xu Musen, contentedly pinching her cheek. Indeed, it was soft, like a marshmallow. "Thanks for the treat." Xu Musen, satisfied, withdrew his hand, looking at An Nuannuan''s somewhat dazed expression and her slightly lifted foot. "But you allowed me to pinch, so no getting mad and kicking me with your foot." An Nuannuan''s face finally flushed a bit; she opened her mouth, then didn''t know what to say. "I should go back and sleep." She said softly, lowering her foot. "Alright, go back and rest early." Xu Musen watched her slide down the nearby slide, waving at her. The registration period for new students had already ended. The dormitory supervisor at the gate was eying him sharply, seemingly ready to perform a sweeping attack with the recently used mop if he dared to approach a step closer. "You should sleep early too." An Nuannuan waved back at him and pushed her wheelchair down the corridor, heading off. Xu Musen stood there, watching her figure disappear until his hand caught his attentionhe had to admit, the feel of her cheek had been quite nice. She almost reneged on her deal, thinking of using her foot against him... Really now... Wasn''t that entrapment? Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Xu Musen was about to leave when he suddenly stopped dead. No!!! A realization hit Xu Musen as he recalled Nuannuan lifting her foot and the nk look on her face when he pinched her cheek... Wait?? Damn! What had he just overlooked? ... The next morning broke early. Awakened by the ringing of an rm clock. "It''s only seven o''clock, whose rm is that?" ``` Chapter 88: Chapter 84 Only a pervert would have an appetite for a piece of cloth! ``` After a month apart, An Nuannuan seemed to be in a slightly better state of mind. A delicate and pretty face was propped against the car window as she eagerly looked up at the candied haw that Xu Musen held in his hand. The close-up view of her exquisite cheeks, her big eyes fluttering like a little cat waiting to be fed. "Nuannuan, have you lost weight?" Xu Musen looked at her fair little face, remembering it was a bit plump when he saw her a month ago, but now there was no hint of baby fat left. She had lost some cuteness, but had gained a young college girl''s sense of youthful delicacy. "Aunt Xiang and Grandma wouldn''t let me eat, so I got hungry and lost weight," An Nuannuan said, sounding pitiful. The Aunt Xiang sitting in the front couldn''t help butugh and cry, "Nuannuan, what the family didn''t let you eat were all those greasy foods; it sounds like we''re abusing you when you say it like that." Xu Musen couldn''t help butugh as well. No wonder she wanted him to buy her a candied haw; she probably craved it badly during thest month in the hospital. "Aunt Xiang, how about we treat this candied haw as a reward for Nuannuan starting school?" Xu Musen pleaded on her behalf. Aunt Xiang smiled helplessly. No wonder these two got along so well. One willing to eat, the other d to feed. "Nuannuan''s leg is much better now; her diet doesn''t have to be so restricted anymore, but still, we can''t let her eat too much." As Aunt Xiang spoke, she turned to address Nuannuan, who had already started licking the rock candy haw: "You too should learn to get along with friends properly in college and not always trouble others, got it?" An Nuannuan paused her licking and looked up at Xu Musen, nodding seriously, "Mm-hmm, don''t worry, I''ll only trouble Xu Musen." "..." Was Xu Musen supposed to be happy with thisment, or feel like he''d signed up to be a sucker? Aunt Xiang pursed her lips with a slight smile and then said to Xu Musen, "Then I''ll trouble you to apany Nuannuan to registration, while I talk to the school leaders about some matters." "No problem." Xu Musen nodded. Aunt Xiang took the wheelchair out of the car. Although An Nuannuan could already stand and walk a few steps with difficulty, recovery always required time to rest, so for now, a wheelchair was necessary. After helping Nuannuan into the wheelchair, Aunt Xiang patted her head: "Now that you''re in university, you''re an adult. You must learn to get on well with your roommates, understand?" The family had originally considered buying a house near the school for An Nuannuan, with someone to take care of her. But the olddy thought that Nuannuan had to learn to be independent at some point. The university is a microcosm of society, and dorm life is the NPC "starting vige" where you learn to manage interpersonal rtionships. Plus, her leg was slowly getting better. So they arranged for An Nuannuan to stay in the school dormitory. "Mm-hmm," An Nuannuan nodded obediently. Aunt Xiang turned to Xu Musen: "I''m troubling you with this." "It''s only right." Xu Musen pushed Nuannuan along with a smile, heading towards the school entrance. Aunt Xiang stood at the school gate, watching their retreating figures, Xu Musen feeding her with a smile, Nuannuan happily licking her rock candy haw. An Nuannuan, due to various reasons, was somewhat out of sync with the usual thinking and living of normal people. The family had always tried to help her gradually adapt to the lifestyle of the ordinary people. But Nuannuan had never really had any girl friends; on the contrary, she got along particrly well with this young boy. Aunt Xiang watched the two, one willing to spoil as if a person drenched by rain always wishes to provide an umbre for others. The other, very much enjoying the feeling of being close and cozy with someone. She''s been worried whether this boy might harbor some odd thoughts towards Nuannuan. But observing him for quite some time, this young man seemed a bit daring in his ways, but not excessively so. And he was still essentially kind-hearted, initially thinking that Nuannuan''s family was in trouble, he even considered finding her a part-time job. It''s clear he truly cares a lot about Nuannuan. And Nuannuan? Before, there was nock of boys wanting to get close to her, but An Nuannuan had always treated them as if they were air. After a few days, those boys would leave, no longer willing to be ignored. Only this boy named Xu Musen, it seemed Nuannuan had never resisted him from the start, but rather, paid him special attention. "Xu Musen..." Aunt Xiang muttered the name, suddenly feeling a familiarity that felt very ancient, yet she couldn''t recall where it was from. No matter, having a boy as a friend is good, so that she learns to manage rtionships between the sexes correctly. Hopefully, Nuannuan will make more friends in university. At this moment, Xu Musen, pushing Nuannuan, had entered the school gate. "Xu Musen, you should eat some too," An Nuannuan offered the candied haw to Xu Musen. "You licked off all the candy shell upfront; you just don''t want to eat the hawthorn, right?" Xu Musen exposed her little motive directly. "That''s not true..." An Nuannuan shyly diverted her eyes: "Xu Musen, you''re really good to me." "Praising me won''t work; Aunt Xiang said, it''s about bnced nutrition," "Oh..." An Nuannuan felt a bit disappointed but bit into the hawthorn anyway and began eating. This time, the hawthorn wasn''t so sour, and having not eaten these things for a long time, she began eating with bright eyes. At this moment, the boy holding roses was staring at them, agape, especially at the delighted Nuannuan eating her candied haw. How could a girl be so beautiful? And to top it off, a rich girl who attends school in a Rolls-Royce! That''s a Rolls-Royce! Although Hu Hai is no stranger to wealthy people, how many can ride in a Rolls-Royce? His gaze shifted to Xu Musen, and his mouth dried up. "My person has arrived, and I wish you sess with your confession." Xu Musen patted his shoulder with a beaming smile, "Go for it, I''m rooting for you!" After saying that, Xu Musen pushed An Nuannuan away first. ``` Man, relying on the aura of a wealthy woman to show off really feels quite exhrating. And this guy''s face turns fiery hot, just when he himself was bbering to others about how to do things. A skewer of candied haws was all it took to abduct the young heiress sitting in a Rolls-Royce. He looked down at the flowers and various gifts he had meticulously prepared, feeling an unbearable sourness in his heart. At that moment, another girl walked over, and the boy immediately perked up, holding the roses as he approached her. "Chen Yanran, long time no see." The boy tried to mimic Musen''s tone just now, and suddenly he felt an immense depth of sentiment. But when the girl looked at the roses in his hands, she just rolled her eyes, "Are you being old-fashioned or what? It''s this day and age, and you''re still using flowers for a confession? My bestie''s boyfriend made her a bouquet of roses out of banknotes when he confessed to her." The boy''s face stiffened, but then he spoke up again, "Actually, there''s also a gift I prepared for you inside" "Oh, really?" The girl finally showed interest, took out the gift box from among the roses, but her face fell again after opening it, "I''ve already told you, I only use YSL for lipstick and sunscreen. What is up with this cheap stuff, do you want me to break out again?" Nonchntly, the girl tossed the items back to him, missing her aim and dropping them onto the ground. Her picky tone drew the attention of those around them, and the boy felt his face burning. Looking at the girl in front of him, he suddenly felt a sense of unfamiliarity after a month of not seeing her, and this face,pared to that girl who just got out of the Rolls-Royce, it was miles apart. His own sense of injustice started to bubble up inside, "These were also carefully prepared by me, how can you be like this" "What did I say that''s incorrect? My bestie''s boyfriend even gave her a Chanel bag as a back-to-school gift. My bestie said, a guy who''s willing to buy you a bag is not necessarily a good man, but a guy who''s reluctant even to get you a bag is definitely not a good man. And she''s not even as pretty as me, so why should I ept you?" This girl was indeed very materialistic, and the burning stares from around them made the boy lose face even more. He was reminded once again of the girl who had descended from the Rolls-Royce. If we''re really talking about looks, isn''t she ten thousand times prettier than you? And she was overjoyed with just a candied haw, isn''t she ten thousand times wealthier than you? Looking at the girl before him, he suddenly felt a mix of strangeness and coldness, and increasingly aggrieved! "What do you mean? Will you only be happy if I buy you a bag?" "What I care about isn''t the bag, but your attitude. Oh right, Chanel recently released a newmbskin design. Just buy that for me, and I''ll" "I should''ve bought you a damn mirror earlier!" The boy then threw the roses directly into the trash can, seeing clearly the person in front of him, "Talking aboutmbskin, I think you''re thembskin. Take it or leave it, I''m not serving you anymore!" ... The lively noise made Musen and Nuannuan, who hadn''t gone far, couldn''t help but turn back for a look. Musen shook his head, see, a bootlicker in the end is left with nothing. But at least he cut his losses in time. Nuannuan, on the other hand, silently watched for a while, then turned to look at Musen, "He''s kind of like you were before." "..." Musen nearly lost hisposure. Back when he was in the thick of it himself, he never found such situations to be this socially mortifying. Now, as an observer, it felt embarrassingly cringeworthy. "Nuannuan, let''s forget about this incident in the future." "Oh" Musen then led Nuannuan to the registration area to sign in. "Ah, so you''re Nuannuan." A female student in charge of weing the newbies at the signing area looked at Nuannuan in surprise. "Do you know each other?" Musen looked at Nuannuan''s dumbfounded expression. "Nuannuan and I are in the same dorm, we were just saying that she hasn''t shown up for registration yet." The girl talked with a smile, her gaze shifting between Nuannuan and Musen, curiously asking, "You guys are?" "Friends, the very best kind," Nuannuan blurted out. Instantly, the girl put on a knowing look. She had just noticed that Nuannuan was in a wheelchair. Then she took another look at Musen trailing behind her. So tall, so handsome! And his smile so warm. With a meaningful smile, she said, "I see, this is the key to our dorm room, let''s talk more when we meet back at the dorm tonight!" The girl was rather enthusiastic, taking out the dorm key and handing it to Nuannuan. Their dorm was quite unique. The dorms for art students had better conditions, after all, their tuition is much more expensive than the average major. Musen pushed Nuannuan to the dorm building of the art department. Seeing the girlsing and going, he was reminded that this building also housed students learning music and dance. The girls studying these subjects, whether in terms of figure or temperament, were not to be outdone. And they dressed rather boldly, each one in ck, white, or fis stockings, along with various mini-skirts and denim shorts. The sight of their fair, dazzling thighs was mesmerizing, and outside the dorm windows, all sorts of astonishing little pieces of fabric fluttered in the wind. They were like banners that young men in their puberty could hardly resist. Now, since it''s still during the start of the semester, parents were allowed into the girls'' dormitories. "Nuannuan, should I take you into the dorm to have a look first?" Aunt Xiang probably won''t be back for a while, and it''s so hot outside. How could Musen bear to let Nuannuan keep roasting outside? Definitely not because he wanted to check out the girls'' dorm, absolutely not! Nuannuan blinked her eyes and turned to gaze at Musen''s cheeks. "Musen." "Hmm?" "Did you see something delicious? You''re practically drooling." "..." Musen''s gaze silently withdrew. Only a pervert would crave those pieces of fabric, right! Chapter 96: Chapter 88 But hes going to have a girlfriend sooner or later, right? "Xu Musen, howe I feel like you''re always dodging that rich woman?" "I mean, if a beautiful rich woman chased after me, I could let her have five kids in four years of college!" In the dormitory, Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong felt both envious and puzzled. "You guys don''t understand, actually being targeted by a rich woman is very stressful." Xu Musen shook his head, he didn''t want to share his past life with others, and no one would believe it anyway. "Yeah, being targeted means you can live without trying, without working, without worrying about houses and cars, just spending money and fooling around with a rich woman every day, such huge pressure, boo hoo hoo. Xu Musen, could it be that you''re not up to it..." Zhou Hangyu said in a teasing tone. Xu Musen nced at his slender figure and chuckled, "If those rich women kept you, you probably wouldn''t survive half a year." "This is called being lean, concentrated with essence, understand?" "Right right right, being small is also cute." "Damn it, not convinced? Let''s go to the bathroom andpare!" The dormitory became noisy and boisterous again. Xu Musen suddenly remembered An Nuannuan and picked up his phone. "Nuannuan, you don''t have to do military training, right?" "Yeah yeah, the teacher said I can move freely, are you going to do military training?" "Yeah, it starts this afternoon, take care of yourselfter." It was quite a while before An Nuannuan replied. "Oh, I''m not there, you be careful not to get heatstroke." "Okay." Xu Musen felt a mix of amusement and disbelief, what, does it mean I can safely get heatstroke if you''re by my side? On the other side of the dormitory. While sipping her milk tea, An Nuannuan looked at her phone''s chat screen, her gaze pausing briefly before she reached out and touched her cheek. It was indeed soft. "This uniform is so ugly, baggy and makes me look fatter." "Haha, that''s because you''re too t, look at Jiayue''s chest, it''s so round and bulging, careful not to let them slip out, hahaha." "Xiaohui, don''t talk nonsense!" The slightly chubby girl blushed. Of course, the weight she gained wasn''t for nothing; she had a considerable bust. But their eyes turned towards An Nuannuan, who was sitting on the bed, filled with even more envy. Curled up, An Nuannuan looked like a small bundle, her skin as white as milk, and overall appeared rather slim. However, her chest assets absolutely dwarfed theirs. Especially since An Nuannuan could ce her milk tea firmly on her chest while using her phone, leaving them green with envy. "Nuannuan, your figure is really good, do you have any eating secrets?" The girls couldn''t help bute over and ask. An Nuannuan took a sip of her milk tea, feeling that her bust seemed to have grown a bit more recently, and after a moment of thought, she said. "I don''t know, maybe it''s Xu Musen''s doing." "???" The three girls paused for a moment, as if they had heard some shocking gossip. Artificially ripened by hand? "Ah? But aren''t you two not in a rtionship yet?" The plump girl blushed, such bold words were a bit too much for someone who had never been in a rtionship. Jiang Jinfang narrowed her eyes slightly, looking at An Nuannuan''s bra size and then down at her own. She could even see the lower half of her legs, a sense of defeat setting in. "Didn''t you ask what I eat? Nowadays, it''s Xu Musen who takes me to eat." An Nuannuan blinked, her eyes clear. The girls looked at each other, suddenly feeling that maybe they were too dirty-minded? "Nuannuan, are you sure you and Xu Musen are not in a rtionship?" They always felt that the way they interacted now was almost like a couple, maybe even sweeter at times. An Nuannuan shook her head while drinking her milk tea, "What''s the advantage of being in a rtionship?" "Of course, like being able to go shopping together, eat together, watch movies, go home together, cuddle and hug..." "But I''ve already done all those things with him." An Nuannuan stated. The girls paused, then realized that indeed, these activities could also be done with friends. Jiang Jinfang said, "Of course, there are other things, like you guys might hold hands, kiss, and as things progress, you might even go out to sleep together." She spoke more directly, making the girls blush, but they were all adults and knew these things. An Nuannuan blinked, "Is that the kind of sleeping together that can make babies?" "Of course, that''s all that''s on guys'' minds nowadays." "Oh~ I''ll have to discuss that with my grandparents." "What if your grandparents agree?" "Then I''ll discuss it further with him." An Nuannuan nodded throughout the conversation, seemingly having a response for everything asked of her. "..." Jiang Jinfang didn''t know what to say for a moment. The girls felt an impregnable air about her. It seemed like she didn''t truly understand what dating and having children implied. "But aren''t you worried that he might find a girlfriend one day?" "He promised me, he''d be my best friend for life." "But one can have many friends, and only one girlfriend... and if he gets a girlfriend, she''ll definitely mind him having other girls around..." said the girl. An Nuannuan didn''t continue the conversation but just sipped her milk tea, which didn''t taste as sweet as it had before. "Alright, let''s not worry about these things now, let''s focus on this afternoon''s military training." "Exactly, it''s hottest at two or three in the afternoon. Make sure to apply sunscreen or it''ll be hard to get your skin to lighten for half a year." A girl changed the subject, and they started to help each other apply sunscreen. An Nuannuan had her little notebook, on which the content she wrote was the Good Friend Handbook from before they parted waysst time. This time, she flipped open a new page, pondered for a bit, and began to add new content. ... Military training was about to start, and Yao Mingyue sent him a message toe to her dormitory building to get his military training uniform. Xu Musen had no choice but to go, and Yao Mingyue had already changed into her military training uniform. The quality of the camouge uniform wasn''t good, and it usually looked baggy when worn. However, this was not the case on Yao Mingyue''s tall figure, when she could even make a stic bag look good. In her camouge military uniform, not only was there no ckness, but it also entuated the perfect curves. The belt at her waist and the cap on her head added a dashing and valiant air to her. Perhaps this was what the heroic Mn felt like. "How is it? Do I look good in this?" Yao Mingyue saw the admiration in his eyes and proudly twirled around. "Where''s my uniform?" Xu Musen asked calmly. Yao Mingyue took out his military training uniform from behind her but then said, "I went through all the trouble washing your clothes, and this is the first time I''ve ever washed someone''s clothes. Don''t you have anything to thank me with?" "Is this how you force a deal?" "Either way, say something nice, and I''ll give you the uniform." Yao Mingyue hugged the uniform to her chest, starting to y the rogue. "Yao Mingyue, you really seem like a ''licking dog'' right now, you know?" "Licking dog? I''m just treating you the way you treated me before. I haven''t even confessed to you in public yet." Yao Mingyue''s mouth curved up, seemingly not caring about the gazes of others at all. "Yao Mingyue, I haven''t found a girlfriend yet, don''t you hold me back." "How am I holding you back?" Yao Mingyue smiled at him, "Then you confessed to me before and now suddenly stop pursuing, are you not holding me back?" This silkybo of moves left Xu Musen a bit powerless to retort. When he had confessed in the past, although there had been some egging on and hints from her, he really did like her at that time. "Let''s not talk about the past. Let''s each live well from now on. I don''t like you now, and it''s a waste of time on me." "I like it, and it''s not a waste of time on you." When Yao Mingyue spoke, her phoenix eyes roamed over Xu Musen''s body. Honestly, her dominant statement was quite tantalizing. Xu Musen looked at her silently for a second or two, thinking that since she had put it that way, he was indeed helpless against her. Xu Musen could control not seeking her out, but he couldn''t control what she wanted to do. And her reasons were well-founded. All he could say was that the bullets he had fired years ago had hit him right between the eyes now. "It''s okay if you don''t want to speak. You haven''t applied sunscreen yet. Let me help you apply some, and I''ll give you the uniform." Yao Mingyue said this and, without waiting for Xu Musen to refuse, she came straight over with a bottle of sunscreen. She sprayed some on Xu Musen''s arm, and just as the cool sensation spread, Yao Mingyue was about to start smoothing it over him. "Forget it, I give up. I''ll go back and apply it myself, okay?" Xu Musen had had enough, as some of the boys and girls passing by were looking over with interest. Yao Mingyue''s lips curved into a smile: "Stick to your word and don''t go back on it. I''ll let you off this time, no thanks needed." After saying this, Yao Mingyue handed him the military training uniform, but Xu Musen noticed that her fair little hands were a bit red at the palms. Xu Musen held the military training uniform, which was of poor quality and had a slightly pungent odor, and the fibers were also rough. It always took a wash or two to be thoroughly clean, and rubbing it by hand would make it abrasive. He looked at Yao Mingyue''s reddened hands and, for the first time since his rebirth, felt that this little tsundere was actually quite serious about certain things. "I''m heading back." Xu Musen turned quietly and walked away. Yao Mingyue stood there, watching his retreating figure, and looked down at her own hands. Well, the effort wasn''t wasted. ... Back in the dormitory, the guys were also donning their military training uniforms and snatching something from each other. "Damn it, stop snatching, I just shamelessly went to the supermarket to buy this." "Does this thing work or not, it feels a bit creepy." "You know nothing, using this stuff as shoe pads absorbs sweat and feels soft." Xu Musen saw that these guys were actually grabbing a stack of sanitary pads and band-aids. Xu Musen found it a bit funny, not sure when the rumor started that lining shoes with sanitary pads during military training worked wonders. Although the military training shoes were indeed poor-quality glue shoes prone to causing sweat and hardness, the best option was still to use pure cotton insoles. "These things are useless." "Band-aids are useful, they prevent blisters on the heels... Hey! Li Rundong, what are you sticking to your chest for?" "You hillbilly, marathon runners will stick it here when they run to prevent chafing." "They run dozens of kilometers in a marathon. Do you need it,e on, Ma Yaxing, why did you stick it on too? And made it into an X?" Ma Yaxing chuckled sheepishly, "I don''t know why, but whenever there''s friction, I feel a bit annoyed..." Xu Musen silently observed them: "I''vee to see, each of you has your own tricks." "Aren''t you going to use some?" Xu Musen shook his head and began to change his clothes as well. It had to be said, Yao Mingyue had washed it with care, the originally stiff and rough uniform. Now it felt extra soft and even carried her unique faint scent. "Wow, why is your uniform so soft? Is this because a girl washed it?" Li Rundong touched his uniform and immediately appeared envious. Zhou Hangyu edged closer, sniffed jokingly, and chuckled, "Brother, you smell good." "Go away, I''m straight, keep your distance from me!" Chapter 97: Chapter 89: The Incident of the Two Women Delivering Water. (Please subscribe.) Military training is arguably one of the most memorable collective activities in college. After all, the life of most college students is a cycle of ssroom cafeteria dormitory, or just lingering in the library. If you don''t join a club, don''t participate in any activities, or don''t strive for any positions, then college life will just pass by ndly. The entire school was a sea of little green figures, gathering on the designated parade ground. The instructors were already waiting. The counselor Bai Xin was also there. College counselors are usually elusive, and unless you''re after a schrship or seeking to join an organization, you won''t see them much throughout college. People gradually arrived. The boys sat on the parade ground, watching the girls one by one dressed in camouge uniforms. Normally, they could conceal their figures with fashion and makeup. But once they put on the military training uniforms, it was all down to their natural attributes. "Damn, I used to think some girls in the ss were pretty good-looking, but howe they look so different without makeup?" "Nonsense, are the four great Asian tricks of deception a joke to you? I''ve even seen a few instances of puffed-up fraud." Xu Musen sat in the shade; he had already gone through military training in his previous life and honestly had no expectations. Other than exhaustion, there was still more exhaustion, and when it came to practicing the squatting position, standing still for half an hour without a move, it was not much different from torture. He was thinking about whether to find an excuse to take it easy and go have some milk tea with An Nuannuan instead. "Hello~" Two figures appeared in front of him, one tall and one short. It was Lin Daiyu and Zhao Lianmai. Lin Daiyu was not tall, but her figure was quite nice, and in her military uniform, she gave off a kind of cute college student vibe. Zhao Lianmai was taller, around one meter seventy, and with her wheatishplexion, she looked especially suited in the military uniform. "You look pretty handsome in your military uniform." Lin Daiyu looked at Xu Musen with sparkling eyes and casually sat down next to him. "You fit into it nicely too." Xu Musen politely replied. Lin Daiyu was not shy about her height issue andughed, "I''m just too short, Lianmai looks so cool in it." Zhao Lianmai stayed silent on the side. "Did you apply sunscreen?" Lin Daiyu looked at Xu Musen''s exposed arms, clearly defined muscles, and then she couldn''t help but swallow. Many college students nowadays pursue thinness as beauty. Regardless of gender, everyone wants to be thin and tall, but they look like skeletons when they take off their clothes. Actually, she preferred Xu Musen''s body type, seemingly slim with clothes on but muscr beneath. He must have abs, right? "I did." Xu Musen nodded. "Okay, I thought you guys rarely pay attention to sunscreen." Lin Daiyu looked a bit disappointed. Xu Musen gave a faint smile, but in his heart, he was thinking, what''s with the girls nowadays? Why does each one of them seem to want to take advantage of him? "Actually... I didn''t apply any sunscreen." Li Rundong leaned in and said. Lin Daiyu looked at him and smiled politely, "Getting some sun is good, helps with calcium absorption." "..." "ss one, assemble!" The instructor began calling for assembly as it was about time. This afternoon was mainly for letting the instructors address the students and allow them to get ustomed in advance. It started with a thirty-minute session of standing at attention. After that, they practiced marching, turning, and then more standing at attention. This went on for two hours. Finally, they got a twenty-minute break. "My gosh, I''m dying here, so tiring." Zhou Hangyu''s small frame just copsed on the parade ground, unwilling to get up. "With your shape, wanting to chase a rich woman? You won''tst one night." Li Rundong teased from the side, just regretting not buying a bottle of water earlier, now feeling parched. "Hehe, I don''t know if I canst, but your beloved goddess is making her move again." Zhou Hangyu also pointed with his lips. Following his gaze, they saw Lin Daiyu walking toward Xu Musen with a bottle of water in hand, "Have some water." "That''s okay, I can go buy some myself." Xu Musen shook his head. "You bought us dinner before. Can''t I even treat you to a bottle of water? If not, wouldn''t I look like I love taking small advantages?" Lin Daiyu brought out this justification. Xu Musen therefore didn''t refuse any longer, "Alright then." Xu Musen reached out, took the bottle, and took a sip. Lin Daiyu watched as he tilted his head back, his Adam''s apple moving with the swallow, and some sweat trickling down. It was rather sexy. "Huh, why do you have a girl''s perfume on you?" Lin Daiyu moved a bit closer, wiggled her nose, and then she recognized the scent as familiar. "Is it... from that girl who washed your clothes?" "Mhm." Xu Musen nodded, although he didn''t want to associate himself with that little "sickly sweet" girl, he also had little interest in this Lin Daiyu. "Oh, are you and her possibly...?" Lin Daiyu actually felt somewhat disappointed. If he didn''t have a girlfriend, it wouldn''t be a problem for her to pursue him. After all, as far as she was concerned, she had a good impression of Xu Musen. "There''s nothing between us, I''m not interested in dating for the time being. Friends are okay, but lovers, no thanks. I haven''t even enjoyed the beautiful single life of college yet, why find a partner to trouble me." Xu Musen responded with a smile, also expressing his stance to her. But to Lin Daiyu, his words sparkled, and she eventuallyughed, "I feel like what you just said sounds a bit yboyish." Chapter 98: Chapter 89: The Incident of the Two Women Delivering Water. (Please subscribe.)_2 "I''m telling the truth," "But friends can still be ranked at different levels, right?" Lin Daiyu''s words had an implied meaning as she looked at the clothes he was wearing, wishing she could have washed them for him, but it was that girl who ended up doing it for him. Is this the lethality of one''s first love? "Not necessarily, I treat most people the same." Xu Musen replied, but the image of that silly figure popped into his head. "Really, I actually treat both friends and ssmates the same." Lin Daiyu''s almond-shaped eyes twinkled with possible hidden meanings. By this time, Li Rundong came over again, noting the bottle of water in Lin Daiyu''s hand, and said, "Lin, I didn''t bring any water..." Lin Daiyu looked at him while nodding and took a sip from the bottle. "Are you going to buy some water?" "Uh... Yes, I was thinking of buying some." "That''s perfect." Lin Daiyu took two coins out of her pocket, ced them in his hand with a smile, and said, "Then you might as well buy one for me too. I''m afraid Xu won''t have enoughter." Li Rundong: "..." Why did he feel as though not only could he not win over the goddess, but also had to give a helping push? Xu Musen couldn''t help but ridicule internally, feeling utterly bamboozled. He nced at Xu Musen and felt so bitter inside he almost wanted tomit murder, yet in front of the goddess''s request, he nheless forced a smile and turned to leave. When he went to buy water, he specifically did not spend those two coins but kept them as a keepsake instead. Watching this adorable roommate, Xu Musen couldn''t help but shake his head, but he knew too well that one cannot wake a person who is pretending to be asleep. Obviously, the girl treated you as someone easy to dismiss, yet there you are, still eagerly licking her boots. A bootlicker neveres to a good end. "Hey, look at the girl up ahead. She''s really beautiful, and it looks like she''s heading our way!" "Oh man, which department is she from? Definitely campus belle material, and her figure is absolutely killer." While everyone else sought shade for a rest, on the other side of the field, a tall figure holding two bottles of water walked in the sunlight. The loose military training uniform draped on her, yet it couldn''t hide her valiant and breezy aura. Her long hair tied back into a high ponytail bounced slightly with her steps, and her phoenix eyes scanned the crowd quickly for her target. Why is this little tsundere here again? Lin Daiyu saw her too, and her delicate face immediately filled with hostility. Zhou Hangyu was excited; what wasing hade atst. Show off all you want, jerk! Meanwhile, Yao Mingyue''s radar had zeroed in on Xu Musen sitting beneath therge tree at first nce. I''ve found you... Her lips curved into a smile as she headed straight toward him. The ssmates in the ss also noticed Yao Mingyue walking resolutely in their direction. Several boys were thrilled. "Damn, she''s exquisitely fair and has long beautiful legs, absolutely top-notch." "Do you think she''s heading for me?" "Nonsense, she''s clearlying for me!" No wonder they were excited. Even amidst Hu Hai University''s abundant beauties, Yao Mingyue''s appearance was absolutely the crme de crme. If Liu Yifei appeared before you one day, indeed, it would be hard to remain calm. "Xu Musen!" Yao Mingyue raised her voice, quickening her pace as she approached. Xu Musen???!! The ssmates were dumbfounded. She was looking for Xu Musen again? All eyes immediately turned toward Xu Musen. Even the training instructor couldn''t help but look over. "Xu Musen." Yao Mingyue approached Xu Musen at a leisurely pace, her gaze briefly fell on Lin Daiyu but only swept over her lightly. As if seeing nothing, she extended her hand, offering him the ss bottle of water she was holding: "This is for you." Yao Mingyue''s mouth was curled into a smile,pletely indifferent to the gazes around her. All around them, everyone''s gaze involuntarily shifted, especially the boys who were dying of thirst; they felt even more envious, jealous, and resentful. Xu Musen looked at her, honestly, he didn''t expect this pampered youngdy would actually brave the scorching sun to bring him water. "Wow, what''s the deal between this girl and Xu Musen?" "She''se to deliver water. The rtionship must be special. Damn, Xu Musen''s ancestors must be grinning in their graves. Howe it feels like all the pretty girls are connected to him?" Some girls, looking at Yao Mingyue''s heavenly beauty, initially felt that facing Lin Daiyu, they might have a bit of confidence topete. But her appearance immediately let them know they stood no chance at all. Xu Musen looked at her, feeling as if she was an adhesive ster stuck to him "No need, I already have water." Xu Musen shook his head. This sentence seemed to make Lin Daiyu feel as if she had won a round, and she deliberately opened a bottle of water just like Xu''s and took a sip. Yao Mingyue also noticed they were holding identical bottles of mineral water. Her lips slightly lifted, and she put on a look of concern. "Why would you drink such cheap water? What if you get diarrhea? You should drink mine instead." The water Yao Mingyue was holding was imported Evian mineral water. At a time when international direct purchases were not somon, a bottle could cost several tens or even nearly a hundred yuan. You must know, most college students do not have a monthly living expense over a thousand yuan. A bottle of mineral water costing nearly a hundred, that undoubtedly was exorbitantly priced. Even those unfamiliar with Evian, looking at the delicate ss bottle, would know it was certainly not cheap. Herment was clearly aimed at Lin Daiyu. Sure enough, Lin Daiyu couldn''t contain herself any longer, clenching her teeth as she stood up, "Who are you calling cheap?" Chapter 92: Chapter 86: I Seldom Describe a Girl as Sleazy! "Damn! Have you guys heard? Today, someone rocked up to school in a Rolls-Royce!" "Aren''t there plenty of rich folks driving luxury cars to Hu Hai University?" "But here''s the thing, they say the person who got out was a girl, a richdy in a Rolls-Royce! If you couldtch onto her, you''d have it made for life!" In the dorm room, Zhou Hangyu was scrolling through his phone when someone posted a photo of the Rolls-Royce on the school forum. "For the sugar mama thing, just ask Xu Musen. He''s got the most experience," Li Rundong said, nodding towards Xu Musen who had juste out after a shower. "Xu Musen, you already have a sugar mama chasing you. Can''t you leave a little something for your brothers?" Zhou Hangyu said wistfully. "Forget about it, these sugar mamas usually have the worst princess attitudesyou don''t want to mess with that..." Li Rundong shook his head. Xu Musen had overheard the two men''s conversation. The richdy in the Rolls-Royce they were talking about was probably An Nuannuan. He smirked and said, "That''s not quite right; some richdies are quite pleasant to deal with." "Pfft, pleasant for you maybe. I know a few little rich girls from Hu Hai who splurge thousands on a single meal and buy bags worth several ''da bu lius'' without batting an eyelid. Us poor sods can''t keep up with that," Zhou Hangyumented, shaking his head. Although his family was not bad off, they were nowhere near Rolls-Royce level. Ma Yaxing stayed out of the conversation; his monthly allowance didn''t even reach a thousand. Thousands on a meal? In the end, doesn''t it all just turn into poop? No matter how fancy the food is, poop doesn''t turn pink. "You guys are just seeing it too one-sidedly. It''s all about connecting with people. Sometimes, even a skewer of candied hawthorns can make a richdy happy," Xu Musen said with a smile as he checked his phone and noticed a few messages. Yao Mingyue: "I''m hungry." Before, whenever she said she was hungry, Xu Musen would immediately dash to her dorm, eager to go out and eat with her. But now, Xu Musen simply replied with two words: "Don''t starve." A few secondster, Yao Mingyue sent another message: "Xu Musen! I''m telling you I''m hungry!" "There are steamed buns on your bed. Go to sleep and you won''t be hungry. Sleep early, I''m not chatting anymore, I''m going to take a shower." "Xu Musen! I''ll smash your shower tub!" Xu Musen had already switched the chat screen. There was also a message from Lin Daiyu: "Xu Musen, have you eaten? There''s a new grilled fish restaurant across from the school; I heard it''s quite good." Xu Musen: "I''m not fond of fish." Lin Daiyu: "Why? Are you worried about the bones?" Xu Musen: "No, it''s because it''s virtuous." Lin Daiyu: "?" There was also a friend request; Xu Musen remembered it was probably An Nuannuan''s roommate. But the ount that added her was a side ount, which he used for advertising and collecting ''leeks.'' He agreed to add her as a friend in the dorm to spare her embarrassment, so as not to leave a bad impression on Nuannuan and the others. He thought about it but hasn''t yet agreed. Thest message was from the adorable little Nuannuan: "Xu Musen, I''m ready." "I''ll pick you up downstairs from your dorm in a while." "Mhm! I''ll be waiting." Xu Musen put down his phone. Only to hear Zhou Hangyu still going on and on. "Pfft! Stop showing off, as if eating a six-yuan bowl of spicy hot pot could get youid six times," he grumbled. Li Rundong turned his head to look at Xu Musen, who was putting on new clothes, and asked with a smack of his lips, "Dressed all snazzy, got a date?" "Coincidentally, a richdy in a Rolls-Royce asked me out to dinner." Xu Musen chuckled. "Bullshit!" The two said in unison, then they began discussing the Rolls-Royce sugar mama who had appeared at the school gate. And you''re going out to dinner with her tonight? You really think you have the Innate Soft Rice Holy Body! "Believe it or not, it''s up to you. I''m leaving first," Xu Musen waved goodbye. That''s just how it is sometimes; when something feels too good to be true, the more earnestly you try to tell others, the less likely they are to believe you. "This guy really has making a show of himself down to an art. So any richdy around here has something to do with him, huh?" "Seriously, he looks all tough but is such a show-off." "Well, you never know... the girls around him do seem pretty impressive," Ma Yaxing said earnestly. "Yeah right, he''s got twelve dou of sugar mamas, and we owe him two dou, is that it?" Li Rundong chimed in while holding his phone, eventually gathering the courage to send a message to Lin Daiyu after hesitating for a long time. "Are you there?" It took a while before he got a response: "?" But Li Rundong was excited and continued texting. "Uh, I heard there''s a new grilled fish ce opposite the school that''s pretty good. Do you want me to treat you there...?" "No need, I don''t like fish." "Oh? But this ce uses clearke fish, no bones." "I don''t eat fish because looking at them makes me want to p someone!" "???" ... On the other side, Yao Mingyue was also looking at the message on her phone, her pretty face flushed with anger. This ungrateful bastard! What does he mean by ''don''t starve''? Can''t he tell that she wanted to go out to eat with him? This was college, where if a single man and a woman went out for dinner, watched a movie, and then returned a bitte, finding the dorm room locked, It would be perfectly legitimate for them to... It''s his own fault for not seizing the opportunity! Furious, she tossed her phone on the bed, ready to wash up and go to sleep. At that moment, Xu Musen had already arrived at An Nuannuan''s dorm building and saw An Nuannuan sitting in her wheelchair under a tree by the entrance, waiting. "Nuannuan." The night was dim; she sat quietly by the tree, seemingly fascinated by the ants on the ground. For a college girl, she seemed rather childlike. But one couldn''t help but admire her strong inner world. ``` "You''re here." An Nuannuan lifted her head to look at Xu Musen, her adorably dumbfounded eyes also brightened a bit. That look was as if she was staring at a huge candied haw on a stick. This little foodie. Xu Musen walked over and helped her push the wheelchair. "Hungry?" "Mhm, mhm, my stomach is all empty, can you fill it up quickly, please?" "..." What kind of subus talk is that? Xu Musen couldn''t hold back, alright, alright, I''ll feed you well today! Xu Musen pushed her. Campus was bustling, and when people saw An Nuannuan, they would take a curious nce. An Nuannuan''s long hair had fallen loose again, covering most of her face, her curious eyes darting around. University life waspletely different from high school. Many young couples on the street were holding hands, or even sitting on the benches cuddling and hugging. When the mood struck, they might even share a kiss. An Nuannuan would focus intently on them as they exchanged pecks back and forth, making some of the couples feel embarrassed. Once out of the school gate, there were several food streets. Delicacies from all over the country could be found here, and An Nuannuan''s mouth watered along the way. "Xu Musen, I want to eat cotton candy." "You can''t have sugar in the evening." "Ying~" "Acting cute won''t work... at most I''ll buy you a lollipop." "Xu Musen, I want to eat that roasted chicken wing." "Miss, you still have to der." Along the way, An Nuannuan had already snacked on several treats, her adorably dumb face showing a blissful sheen. Xu Musen looked down at her, why did he always feel like he had raised a daughter? Xu Musen shook his head. She couldn''t be his daughter, but making one together in the future... that wasn''t out of the question... When passing a snack stall selling Takoyaki. An Nuannuan wiggled her little nose and suddenly lifted her head, tugging Xu Musen''s sleeve. "Xu Musen, you''re really nice to me." "No amount of ttery will get you any now, are you still eatingter?" Xu Musen saw right through her thoughts. Sure enough, An Nuannuan''s lips puckered slightly, her eyes lingering regretfully on the fragrant Takoyaki. "This little girl is so cute. Here, auntie will give you a few to taste." Hearing their conversation, the stall owner couldn''t help but soften at the sight of An Nuannuan''s pitiful look. Taking a bamboo skewer, she poked three and handed them to An Nuannuan. "Xu Musen..." But faced with the temptation of food, An Nuannuan instantly tugged on Xu Musen''s sleeve and asked. This feeling... also softened Xu Musen''s heart. "Forget it, just eat, eat. Thank you, boss, I''ll patronize your business next time." Xu Musen thanked the stall owner. "Ah, no problem, happy eating is all that matters." The stall owner felt a bit sorry for An Nuannuan seeing her in a wheelchair. An Nuannuan happily took them in hand, and instead of eating the first bite herself, she offered it to Xu Musen: "You eat first." Xu Musen looked at her. Indeed, the temptation of food for her was no less than He Qiang''s affection for fishing rods. Yet she still thought to offer it to him first. Xu Musen smiled, "Are you trying to bribe me?" "Because you''re my everyday satisfaction!" An Nuannuan said earnestly. "..." Alright, he knew he shouldn''t have expected anything else. Xu Musen took a bite. It was indeed pretty good. He looked down at An Nuannuan again. Her big eyes were fluttering, clearly very happy. But Xu Musen felt like he had never seen her truly happy andughing. At best, her lips would curve slightly. An Nuannuan''s cute appearance would surely be beautiful if she smiled more. "Nuannuan, can you smile for me?" "Why?" "Because I don''t think I''ve ever seen youugh. I want to see it." Xu Musen looked at her, and An Nuannuan also swallowed the Takoyaki in her mouth, nodded, and made an ''oh'' sound. Then she lifted her head and looked towards Xu Musen. "Hehe~" "..." She gently pulled up the corners of her mouth, her eyes squinting slightly. How to put thisher beauty ensured even her tears looked good. But this smile... Xu Musen rarely used the word ''lecherous'' to describe a woman, especially such a pretty one. But her smile really was akin to a perverted old man drooling over a beautiful woman''s legs. "Nuannuan, maybe you shouldn''t smile like that." "Why not?" "Because it''s a bit... lecherous." "Oh~ but that''s how I learned it from you." "Huh???" An Nuannuan munched on the Takoyaki, her clear eyes blinking: "That''s how you sometimes smile when you look at my legs." "..." Xu Musen felt as if countless knives had just given him a bone-chilling stab! He suddenly understood why Yao Mingyue, being such a tsundere, could get so angry that she''d throw down her chopsticks and walk away. Why did this adorable dummy always manage to catch him off guard with such seriousness? ``` Chapter 93: Chapter 87: I Didnt Want It, She Insisted. An Nuannuan really liked to eat hot pot. Moreover, she also really liked the abnormally spicy kind in the Chongqing-style nine-grid pot. Just as the beef balls were ready, she couldn''t wait to pick one up and ced it on her te to blow on it. It''s just that her loose strands of hair always seemed to obstruct her speed of eating. "Hello, could you get me a rubber band?" Xu Musen said to the waitress. "Sure, do you need help with it?" The waitress took out a hair tie from her pocket. "I''ve got it, thank you." Xu Musen took the hair tie, rose to his feet, and came up behind An Nuannuan: "Let me help you tie up your hair." "Uh-huh." An Nuannuan nodded, as Xu Musen gathered up her enviable, silky strands of hair that felt just like silk. Xu Musen expertly tied up her hair and even used a disposable chopstick to help her twist it into a bun. This skilled technique even had the waitress who was originally going to help out looking impressed. Finding a handsome guy who could also tie up a girl''s hair, and do such a good job of it, was indeed rare. Sure enough, the better-looking the guy, the more charming he tends to be. "You''re really good." An Nuannuan touched her hair bun, her eating speed could at least double without the hair getting in the way! She then generously offered Xu Musen the beef ball she had just fished out. Musen also nched a slice of tripe for her and watched the young girl eat with her mouth smeared in red chili oil, fanning herself due to the spiciness. Musen couldn''t help but say, "If you like hot pot this much, you really should have applied to a school in Sichuan." "I did consider it for a bit, but grandma said the medical facilities there aren''t as good as here, and also, there''s no one to take care of me over there." There was a hint of regret in An Nuannuan''s voice. Xu Musen remembered that this little girl had mentioned her mom was from Sichuan. But all this time, he had never seen her parents; she always talked about her grandparents instead. Xu Musen had never asked about the specifics. As friends, all that mattered was treating each other sincerely. "No worries, actually this ce is quite good too. We have all kinds of delicacies and snacks from around the country. If you want, you can eat something different every day throughout your four years of college." "Then will you keep apanying me out during these four years of college?" An Nuannuan looked up with some expectation in her eyes. Xu Musen looked at her silly, cute appearance and felt a tickle in his heart. "Sure." ... After the meal, Xu Musen pushed her along the school''s paths. An Nuannuan was gulping down a cup of milk tea. Having delicious hot pot followed by sweet milk tea was just the ultimate happiness in life. The night weather was cool, feeling especiallyfortable blowing on the two of them. When they arrived at the girls'' dormitory entrance, Xu Musen slowed his steps, not sure why. He felt a reluctance to part, much like after a first date with a girl. "Xu Musen." "Hmm?" "I''m so happy today. On my first day of college, you came to pick me up, made my bed, and treated me to food. You''re the only person other than my family who is so good to me without asking for anything in return." An Nuannuan spoke earnestly, and her voice even seemed sweeter, perhaps because of the milk tea. "Actually, I''m not that nice. At first, I was just coaxing you to do paintings for me." "But you paid me a sry." The fifty yuan sry, which probably meant next to nothing to this rich girl whose family owned a Rolls-Royce. Yet seeing An Nuannuan''s serious expression, Xu Musen increasingly felt something pure in his heart. In an era where cunning and deception were everywhere, her presence was like a breath of fresh air. "Nuannuan, if you hadn''t known me earlier, would you still trust me like you do now?" "But I''ve known you for a long time, every time you confessed, I was the one who picked up the flowers you threw away. And..." "Cough cough, let''s not bring up the embarrassing past." Xu Musen felt goosebumps all over just thinking about it. An Nuannuan gave an "oh" and watched Xu Musen with herrge, blinking eyes. "Actually, I''m also really happy. You know, in college, it''s nice to have a friend to hang out with, go shopping, and eat together..." Xu Musen smiled in response, unaware of the fleeting gleam in An Nuannuan''s eyes. Being with An Nuannuan was always very rxing for Xu Musen. Perhaps it was because in his past life, he had felt too controlled. It was like being wrapped in a nket, warm andfortable, but the feeling of beingpletely restrained and unable to move,pletely at the mercy of others, was just too painful. But when he was with An Nuannuan, Musen felt especially rxed and even had a desire to take care of her and possess her... Musen was sure he wasn''t a lunatic, but he was somewhat influenced after all. When ordinary people fall in love, they also subconsciously want to know more about their significant other. Things like checking in, looking through the phone, and so on, are all expressions of possessiveness. As long as it doesn''t cross the bottom line in the other person''s heart, it can also be a way to express affection for each other. The status of a friend is stable but also fragile. He looked at An Nuannuan''s cheeks, then smiled faintly in his heart. Forget it, things are pretty good as they are now. If he allowed himself to think too much, he might just scare her away. "Xu Musen." An Nuannuan suddenly tugged at his sleeve. "What''s up?" "Look over there, under that tree." An Nuannuan pointed to a spot under a tree where the light was dim, where a young couple was hugging each other. Chapter 94: Chapter 87: I Didnt Want It, She Insisted. _2 ``` College students, freshly enrolled in university, fall in love with the greatest intensity. When they start dating, they can hug and kiss passionately for an hour or two each day. It''s like cupping therapy; they don''t stop until they''ve left a trail of hickey marks. Moreover, the hands of the male in this young couple are never still, slipping inside clothes at every opportunity. Young people, indulging in their reckless desires on a moonless, windy nightit truly makes you envious... Pah! Despicable! "What are they doing?" Xu Musen, looking into An Nuannuan''s clear eyes, coughed awkwardly. "Well, maybe the girl got heatstroke, and the boy is giving her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation." "What about his hands?" "CPR, haven''t you learned about that in high school textbooks?" Xu Musen started spouting nonsense. "Oh~ so you mean to say that kissing can cure heatstroke." An Nuannuan nodded her head obediently as if she had learned something new. Xu Musen''s heart skipped a beat; so this little cutie is aware that they''re just kissing. Thankfully, he, a gentleman of integrity, hadn''t misled her... An Nuannuan took a sip of her milk tea and then looked up again at Xu Musen''s face, especially pausing to examine his lips, lost in thought. "All right, stop staring at them, let''s head back." Xu Musen wheeled her to the corner beneath the girls'' dormitory. An Nuannuan felt somewhat reluctant: "Xu Musen, what you said about taking me out to eat throughout the four years of universityis that true?" "Of course, it''s true, but if you get fat, don''t me me." "If I gain weight, you can just massage it for me, right?" "It''s not like the weight only goes to your legs" Xu Musen''s gaze drifted unconsciously over An Nuannuan''s body, like her white and round... cheeks. When Nuannuan''s face is chubby, she looks really adorable, like a Samoyed, and you just want to rub and pinch it. Meanwhile, An Nuannuan was looking down at her feet d in sandals, her toes clear and defined, like plump, crystal-clear grapes. In reality, ever since she saw him holding that Romantic Foot Massage card in high school, she knew that he was the kind of person who admired girls'' small feeta podophile weirdoas Nannan had described. And yes, he always seemed to be sneaking peeks at her own feet... She suddenly felt a tingling sensation. Might this be simr to the feeling of acupuncture? She looked up at Xu Musen, her clear eyes rippling slightly. "Xu Musen, do you really like chubby girls?" "Of course, I''ve always thought it''s better for girls to be a bit chubby. Too skinny might look good, but the reality is... ahem, health is most important." Xu Musen coughed, knowing she would understand such things when she grows up. Looking at him, as if making up her mind, Nuannuan said: "Then I... you can pinch me too." As she spoke, her foot in the sandal nervously scratched against the sole. For Nuannuan, legs and feet were the same; she hadn''t felt much on them previously and never understood why some people were fascinated by them. But as for Xu Musen, he must have his reasons for liking them! Grandma often told her that there are ces on a girl''s body that shouldn''t be touched by others, like your chest and your bottom. But as for the feet... Grandma never mentioned those. She looked up at Xu Musen, who had a surprised expression, feeling her cheeks grow warm, puffing up even cuter. "Is it okay?" And Xu Musen, who was looking forward to it, rubbed his hands together eagerly. "Hmm, just for a little bit." An Nuannuan lowered her gaze and nodded. "Okay, I promise it''s just for a bit." Xu Musen slowly reached out his hand, thinking to himself that pinching a friend''s cheek is perfectly normal. Foreigners even greet each other with a peck on the cheek. An Nuannuan slightly moved her foot, even trying to control and lift it up a bit. But the next moment, she suddenly felt her face gently pinched. A bit dazed, she looked up to see Xu Musen, contentedly pinching her cheek. Indeed, it was soft, like a marshmallow. "Thanks for the treat." Xu Musen, satisfied, withdrew his hand, looking at An Nuannuan''s somewhat dazed expression and her slightly lifted foot. "But you allowed me to pinch, so no getting mad and kicking me with your foot." An Nuannuan''s face finally flushed a bit; she opened her mouth, then didn''t know what to say. "I should go back and sleep." She said softly, lowering her foot. "Alright, go back and rest early." Xu Musen watched her slide down the nearby slide, waving at her. The registration period for new students had already ended. The dormitory supervisor at the gate was eying him sharply, seemingly ready to perform a sweeping attack with the recently used mop if he dared to approach a step closer. "You should sleep early too." An Nuannuan waved back at him and pushed her wheelchair down the corridor, heading off. Xu Musen stood there, watching her figure disappear until his hand caught his attentionhe had to admit, the feel of her cheek had been quite nice. She almost reneged on her deal, thinking of using her foot against him... Really now... Wasn''t that entrapment? Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Xu Musen was about to leave when he suddenly stopped dead. No!!! A realization hit Xu Musen as he recalled Nuannuan lifting her foot and the nk look on her face when he pinched her cheek... Wait?? Damn! What had he just overlooked? ... The next morning broke early. Awakened by the ringing of an rm clock. "It''s only seven o''clock, whose rm is that?" ``` Chapter 95: Chapter 87: I Didnt Want It, She Insisted. _3 ``` "Damn it, stop sleeping, we have to go pick up our military training uniforms soon." Li Rundong got up early and woke everyone in the dorm. Xu Musen also woke up slowly, regrettingst night''s restless sleep. Oh, it''s all because he was too naive, sob sob sob... And he still felt like he could smell the faint scent of Yao Mingyue lingering around him. This girl was so amazing, he even suspected the perfume had been marinated into her skin. After breakfast, they headed to ss. Instructor Bai Xin was already there and called Xu Musen and several other boys over to help bring the military training uniforms. "Teacher Bai, let me help too!" Lin Daiyu took the initiative, standing beside Xu Musen with a sweet smile. Xu Musen just nodded at her politely. "Okay, let''s get this done quickly so we can finish early." Bai Xin pushed up her ck-rimmed sses, eyeing the two of them together with a thoughtful expression. "Damn beast, hitting on girls first thing in the morning..." Li Rundong felt extremely unbnced internally. Why was it that he couldn''t obtain the love he wanted, while you were so aloof? Zhou Hangyu patted his shoulder, "Dude, face reality. It''s not him hitting on girls; it''s your goddess hitting on guys." "Go away!" Xu Musen finished distributing the uniforms. "Isn''t this uniform too big? It''s almost like a dress on me." "You must have lied about your height again, look, it fits me just right." "Actually, height really doesn''t matter. By the way, how did you know I''m six feet tall?" "Dammit, isn''t this hat a bit too big?" Zhou Hangyu, with the hat on, felt it was a bit unstable on his head. Being skinny, he looked like a monkey in camouge when wearing the military uniform. Li Rundong took the opportunity to tease him, "You look even more like Captain Jia now!" "Screw you, you look like a puppet soldier!" Bai Xin tapped the ckboard, saying, "Take the uniforms home and wash them. Military training starts this afternoon, and now please wee the drill instructor to talk to everyone." Amidst a round of apuse, a boy with slightly darkened skin from the sun, dressed in an instructor''s uniform, walked confidently into the ss, came to attention, turned, and saluted everyone. "Hello, everyone, I am Wang Liujun, the drill instructor for your military training. For the next half a month, I hope everyone can cooperate with each other and have a meaningful and exciting military training experience!" The instructor gave a very formal speech, but the girls below were cheering, "Wow, he''s so handsome!" "He looks fit, it''s true that all the good-looking guys serve the country!" Every year in college military training is an example of female college students falling head over heels for the instructors. After all, militarized management has a brainwashing effect, and with such highly authoritarian training, it''s easy for these young girls to develop a worshipful attachment. So, after every military training, the girls in the ss are always in a state of misery. "This guy is so arrogant, daring to call himself Instructor Wang!?" "Are you freaking deaf, hisst name is Wang..." "Pfft, wait till I''m done with the training, I''ll also have six-pack abs." "Buddy, instead of abs, I suggest you consider stic surgery first..." The ss was buzzing with excitement, ready to go and wash their uniforms. The uniforms all had a pungent smell, definitely needing a wash before wearing them. But these were quick-drying uniforms, and in this weather, they''d dry in an hour or two if hung outside. As they were about to leave the ss, Lin Daiyu, clutching the uniform and with shining doe eyes, bounced up to him, "Xu Musen, we n to wash our clothes togetherter, want me to wash yours too?" Lin Daiyu''s offer caused a stir in the ss. Many boys were envious. After all, Lin Daiyu was the prettiest girl in ss, and with a lively personality, she was someone many boys liked. Offering to wash a boy''s clothes was almost like dering an interest. Especially Li Rundong, who felt as if he''d been pped in the face. Even though she really had nothing to do with him. "No need, I can wash it myself when I get back." Xu Musen shook his head and declined. "Okay then see you in the afternoon." Lin Daiyu didn''t press further, a sh of disappointment crossing her face before she smiled and waved goodbye to him. "Xu Musen, I''m going to freaking kill you!" By then, Li Rundong couldn''t help but whimper. "Actually, her ignoring you is a good thing for you." Xu Musen shook his head. This Lin Daiyu definitely had some theatrical elements in her act just now, butpared to Yao Mingyue''s acting skills, she was far inferior. However, it seemed her abilities were not low either. If she really wanted to bait Li Rundong, she could probably hook him till he was flipping over. ``` "Musen, can you stop pretending?" Li Rundong could hardly restrain himself. You flirt with the girl I like, and then have the nerve to say it''s for my own good? Do you really take me for a suffering soul? ... We walked all the way to the boys'' dormitory. I noticed everyone slowing down a bit. The boys seemed to be staring at something. "There seems to be a girl standing up front, and her legs are pretty long." Zhou Hangyu was also craning his neck to see, and before he could see the girl, he noticed a pair of long legs. But when he continued to look up, he suddenly froze. She was wearing a white blouse and pleated skirt, her tall figure entuating beautiful curves; beneath the pleated skirt, a pair of long legs dazzled in the sunlight. Her delicate and perfect face, along with those naturally aristocratic phoenix eyes, made people dare only to look from afar, none brave enough to strike up a conversation. "Hey? Musen, isn''t that the richdy who made your bed?" Zhou Hangyu blurted out without thinking. Musen also looked up and, sure enough, it was Yao Mingyue! Whenever this delicate beauty showed up, it was bound to mean trouble. Musen didn''t say a word, lifted his school uniform to cover his handsome face, and nned to blend into the crowd and silently head upstairs. But Yao Mingyue seemed to have a radar system for finding Musen. Among the crowd, she always spotted him first. "Musen!" Yao Mingyue called out. Instantly, the crowd looked around. ssmates, hearing this girl even prettier than Lin Daiyu call for Musen. One by one, they looked at Musen with envy, jealousy, and hatred. "..." Musen put down his military training uniform, having already seen Yao Mingyue approaching him. The crowd automatically made a small space. "Is there something you need?" Musen saw her holding a school uniform and a small bag in her arms. Yao Mingyue frowned at his indifferent tone but had gotten somewhat used to it over time. "Give me your military uniform, I''ll wash it for you." At those words, the ssmates were even more stunned. Again? They looked at Musen, grinding their teeth in frustration. Who said today''s girls are all so delicate, afraid to dip their fingers into spring water? They''re all vying to doundry for someone? Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong, in particr, were almost jealous to the point of bursting, damn it! "Have you ever washed clothes?" Musen was amused, this little princess hadn''t ever done manualundry. There weremunal washing machines in the dorm, but they would undoubtedly be in high demand right now. And Yao Mingyue had a bit of a germ phobia; she certainly wouldn''t use themunal machines. "You have to try everything slowly. I gave my first hand-washedundry to you, shouldn''t you feel honored?" Yao Mingyue said things that could easily be misunderstood. "Heh, I can''t enjoy such a service. I''ll wash it myself." Musen prepared to walk around her. But Yao Mingyue blocked him again, lifting the small bag: "This is sunscreen." "Real men don''t need it." "You have to use it. What if you get a tan?" Yao Mingyue looked at Musen''s currently fair and sun-kissed skin as if she were regarding her own personal property. "Getting a tan has nothing to do with you." Musen couldn''t stand her expression. Just as he was about to turn and leave, Yao Mingyue suddenly flung the small bag in front of him. People''s first reaction to thrown objects is usually to reach out and catch them. As he reached out, Yao Mingyue snatched the military uniform from his hand. By the time Musen realized what was happening, Yao Mingyue had already retreated several steps with his uniform, lifting her clean and pretty face in triumph. "If you don''t want to go through military training this afternoon with your butt exposed,e find meter to get the uniform!" As she said this, Yao Mingyue left with a smile on her lips and a spring in her step. Musen stood there, not knowing what happened, pondering the smile that had crossed Yao Mingyue''s face just now. It wasn''t a smile of possessive triumph, but rather it was more like the pure and proud smile of a young girl. This kind of smile... It suddenly reminded Musen of the lively and mischief-filled her from their childhood. The two images ovepped in his mind, leaving Musen with aplicated sigh. I really don''t want to marry, but do you have to force it on me? Chapter 96: Chapter 88 But hes going to have a girlfriend sooner or later, right? "Xu Musen, howe I feel like you''re always dodging that rich woman?" "I mean, if a beautiful rich woman chased after me, I could let her have five kids in four years of college!" In the dormitory, Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong felt both envious and puzzled. "You guys don''t understand, actually being targeted by a rich woman is very stressful." Xu Musen shook his head, he didn''t want to share his past life with others, and no one would believe it anyway. "Yeah, being targeted means you can live without trying, without working, without worrying about houses and cars, just spending money and fooling around with a rich woman every day, such huge pressure, boo hoo hoo. Xu Musen, could it be that you''re not up to it..." Zhou Hangyu said in a teasing tone. Xu Musen nced at his slender figure and chuckled, "If those rich women kept you, you probably wouldn''t survive half a year." "This is called being lean, concentrated with essence, understand?" "Right right right, being small is also cute." "Damn it, not convinced? Let''s go to the bathroom andpare!" The dormitory became noisy and boisterous again. Xu Musen suddenly remembered An Nuannuan and picked up his phone. "Nuannuan, you don''t have to do military training, right?" "Yeah yeah, the teacher said I can move freely, are you going to do military training?" "Yeah, it starts this afternoon, take care of yourselfter." It was quite a while before An Nuannuan replied. "Oh, I''m not there, you be careful not to get heatstroke." "Okay." Xu Musen felt a mix of amusement and disbelief, what, does it mean I can safely get heatstroke if you''re by my side? On the other side of the dormitory. While sipping her milk tea, An Nuannuan looked at her phone''s chat screen, her gaze pausing briefly before she reached out and touched her cheek. It was indeed soft. "This uniform is so ugly, baggy and makes me look fatter." "Haha, that''s because you''re too t, look at Jiayue''s chest, it''s so round and bulging, careful not to let them slip out, hahaha." "Xiaohui, don''t talk nonsense!" The slightly chubby girl blushed. Of course, the weight she gained wasn''t for nothing; she had a considerable bust. But their eyes turned towards An Nuannuan, who was sitting on the bed, filled with even more envy. Curled up, An Nuannuan looked like a small bundle, her skin as white as milk, and overall appeared rather slim. However, her chest assets absolutely dwarfed theirs. Especially since An Nuannuan could ce her milk tea firmly on her chest while using her phone, leaving them green with envy. "Nuannuan, your figure is really good, do you have any eating secrets?" The girls couldn''t help bute over and ask. An Nuannuan took a sip of her milk tea, feeling that her bust seemed to have grown a bit more recently, and after a moment of thought, she said. "I don''t know, maybe it''s Xu Musen''s doing." "???" The three girls paused for a moment, as if they had heard some shocking gossip. Artificially ripened by hand? "Ah? But aren''t you two not in a rtionship yet?" The plump girl blushed, such bold words were a bit too much for someone who had never been in a rtionship. Jiang Jinfang narrowed her eyes slightly, looking at An Nuannuan''s bra size and then down at her own. She could even see the lower half of her legs, a sense of defeat setting in. "Didn''t you ask what I eat? Nowadays, it''s Xu Musen who takes me to eat." An Nuannuan blinked, her eyes clear. The girls looked at each other, suddenly feeling that maybe they were too dirty-minded? "Nuannuan, are you sure you and Xu Musen are not in a rtionship?" They always felt that the way they interacted now was almost like a couple, maybe even sweeter at times. An Nuannuan shook her head while drinking her milk tea, "What''s the advantage of being in a rtionship?" "Of course, like being able to go shopping together, eat together, watch movies, go home together, cuddle and hug..." "But I''ve already done all those things with him." An Nuannuan stated. The girls paused, then realized that indeed, these activities could also be done with friends. Jiang Jinfang said, "Of course, there are other things, like you guys might hold hands, kiss, and as things progress, you might even go out to sleep together." She spoke more directly, making the girls blush, but they were all adults and knew these things. An Nuannuan blinked, "Is that the kind of sleeping together that can make babies?" "Of course, that''s all that''s on guys'' minds nowadays." "Oh~ I''ll have to discuss that with my grandparents." "What if your grandparents agree?" "Then I''ll discuss it further with him." An Nuannuan nodded throughout the conversation, seemingly having a response for everything asked of her. "..." Jiang Jinfang didn''t know what to say for a moment. The girls felt an impregnable air about her. It seemed like she didn''t truly understand what dating and having children implied. "But aren''t you worried that he might find a girlfriend one day?" "He promised me, he''d be my best friend for life." "But one can have many friends, and only one girlfriend... and if he gets a girlfriend, she''ll definitely mind him having other girls around..." said the girl. An Nuannuan didn''t continue the conversation but just sipped her milk tea, which didn''t taste as sweet as it had before. "Alright, let''s not worry about these things now, let''s focus on this afternoon''s military training." "Exactly, it''s hottest at two or three in the afternoon. Make sure to apply sunscreen or it''ll be hard to get your skin to lighten for half a year." A girl changed the subject, and they started to help each other apply sunscreen. An Nuannuan had her little notebook, on which the content she wrote was the Good Friend Handbook from before they parted waysst time. This time, she flipped open a new page, pondered for a bit, and began to add new content. ... Military training was about to start, and Yao Mingyue sent him a message toe to her dormitory building to get his military training uniform. Xu Musen had no choice but to go, and Yao Mingyue had already changed into her military training uniform. The quality of the camouge uniform wasn''t good, and it usually looked baggy when worn. However, this was not the case on Yao Mingyue''s tall figure, when she could even make a stic bag look good. In her camouge military uniform, not only was there no ckness, but it also entuated the perfect curves. The belt at her waist and the cap on her head added a dashing and valiant air to her. Perhaps this was what the heroic Mn felt like. "How is it? Do I look good in this?" Yao Mingyue saw the admiration in his eyes and proudly twirled around. "Where''s my uniform?" Xu Musen asked calmly. Yao Mingyue took out his military training uniform from behind her but then said, "I went through all the trouble washing your clothes, and this is the first time I''ve ever washed someone''s clothes. Don''t you have anything to thank me with?" "Is this how you force a deal?" "Either way, say something nice, and I''ll give you the uniform." Yao Mingyue hugged the uniform to her chest, starting to y the rogue. "Yao Mingyue, you really seem like a ''licking dog'' right now, you know?" "Licking dog? I''m just treating you the way you treated me before. I haven''t even confessed to you in public yet." Yao Mingyue''s mouth curved up, seemingly not caring about the gazes of others at all. "Yao Mingyue, I haven''t found a girlfriend yet, don''t you hold me back." "How am I holding you back?" Yao Mingyue smiled at him, "Then you confessed to me before and now suddenly stop pursuing, are you not holding me back?" This silkybo of moves left Xu Musen a bit powerless to retort. When he had confessed in the past, although there had been some egging on and hints from her, he really did like her at that time. "Let''s not talk about the past. Let''s each live well from now on. I don''t like you now, and it''s a waste of time on me." "I like it, and it''s not a waste of time on you." When Yao Mingyue spoke, her phoenix eyes roamed over Xu Musen''s body. Honestly, her dominant statement was quite tantalizing. Xu Musen looked at her silently for a second or two, thinking that since she had put it that way, he was indeed helpless against her. Xu Musen could control not seeking her out, but he couldn''t control what she wanted to do. And her reasons were well-founded. All he could say was that the bullets he had fired years ago had hit him right between the eyes now. "It''s okay if you don''t want to speak. You haven''t applied sunscreen yet. Let me help you apply some, and I''ll give you the uniform." Yao Mingyue said this and, without waiting for Xu Musen to refuse, she came straight over with a bottle of sunscreen. She sprayed some on Xu Musen''s arm, and just as the cool sensation spread, Yao Mingyue was about to start smoothing it over him. "Forget it, I give up. I''ll go back and apply it myself, okay?" Xu Musen had had enough, as some of the boys and girls passing by were looking over with interest. Yao Mingyue''s lips curved into a smile: "Stick to your word and don''t go back on it. I''ll let you off this time, no thanks needed." After saying this, Yao Mingyue handed him the military training uniform, but Xu Musen noticed that her fair little hands were a bit red at the palms. Xu Musen held the military training uniform, which was of poor quality and had a slightly pungent odor, and the fibers were also rough. It always took a wash or two to be thoroughly clean, and rubbing it by hand would make it abrasive. He looked at Yao Mingyue''s reddened hands and, for the first time since his rebirth, felt that this little tsundere was actually quite serious about certain things. "I''m heading back." Xu Musen turned quietly and walked away. Yao Mingyue stood there, watching his retreating figure, and looked down at her own hands. Well, the effort wasn''t wasted. ... Back in the dormitory, the guys were also donning their military training uniforms and snatching something from each other. "Damn it, stop snatching, I just shamelessly went to the supermarket to buy this." "Does this thing work or not, it feels a bit creepy." "You know nothing, using this stuff as shoe pads absorbs sweat and feels soft." Xu Musen saw that these guys were actually grabbing a stack of sanitary pads and band-aids. Xu Musen found it a bit funny, not sure when the rumor started that lining shoes with sanitary pads during military training worked wonders. Although the military training shoes were indeed poor-quality glue shoes prone to causing sweat and hardness, the best option was still to use pure cotton insoles. "These things are useless." "Band-aids are useful, they prevent blisters on the heels... Hey! Li Rundong, what are you sticking to your chest for?" "You hillbilly, marathon runners will stick it here when they run to prevent chafing." "They run dozens of kilometers in a marathon. Do you need it,e on, Ma Yaxing, why did you stick it on too? And made it into an X?" Ma Yaxing chuckled sheepishly, "I don''t know why, but whenever there''s friction, I feel a bit annoyed..." Xu Musen silently observed them: "I''vee to see, each of you has your own tricks." "Aren''t you going to use some?" Xu Musen shook his head and began to change his clothes as well. It had to be said, Yao Mingyue had washed it with care, the originally stiff and rough uniform. Now it felt extra soft and even carried her unique faint scent. "Wow, why is your uniform so soft? Is this because a girl washed it?" Li Rundong touched his uniform and immediately appeared envious. Zhou Hangyu edged closer, sniffed jokingly, and chuckled, "Brother, you smell good." "Go away, I''m straight, keep your distance from me!" Chapter 97: Chapter 89: The Incident of the Two Women Delivering Water. (Please subscribe.) Military training is arguably one of the most memorable collective activities in college. After all, the life of most college students is a cycle of ssroom cafeteria dormitory, or just lingering in the library. If you don''t join a club, don''t participate in any activities, or don''t strive for any positions, then college life will just pass by ndly. The entire school was a sea of little green figures, gathering on the designated parade ground. The instructors were already waiting. The counselor Bai Xin was also there. College counselors are usually elusive, and unless you''re after a schrship or seeking to join an organization, you won''t see them much throughout college. People gradually arrived. The boys sat on the parade ground, watching the girls one by one dressed in camouge uniforms. Normally, they could conceal their figures with fashion and makeup. But once they put on the military training uniforms, it was all down to their natural attributes. "Damn, I used to think some girls in the ss were pretty good-looking, but howe they look so different without makeup?" "Nonsense, are the four great Asian tricks of deception a joke to you? I''ve even seen a few instances of puffed-up fraud." Xu Musen sat in the shade; he had already gone through military training in his previous life and honestly had no expectations. Other than exhaustion, there was still more exhaustion, and when it came to practicing the squatting position, standing still for half an hour without a move, it was not much different from torture. He was thinking about whether to find an excuse to take it easy and go have some milk tea with An Nuannuan instead. "Hello~" Two figures appeared in front of him, one tall and one short. It was Lin Daiyu and Zhao Lianmai. Lin Daiyu was not tall, but her figure was quite nice, and in her military uniform, she gave off a kind of cute college student vibe. Zhao Lianmai was taller, around one meter seventy, and with her wheatishplexion, she looked especially suited in the military uniform. "You look pretty handsome in your military uniform." Lin Daiyu looked at Xu Musen with sparkling eyes and casually sat down next to him. "You fit into it nicely too." Xu Musen politely replied. Lin Daiyu was not shy about her height issue andughed, "I''m just too short, Lianmai looks so cool in it." Zhao Lianmai stayed silent on the side. "Did you apply sunscreen?" Lin Daiyu looked at Xu Musen''s exposed arms, clearly defined muscles, and then she couldn''t help but swallow. Many college students nowadays pursue thinness as beauty. Regardless of gender, everyone wants to be thin and tall, but they look like skeletons when they take off their clothes. Actually, she preferred Xu Musen''s body type, seemingly slim with clothes on but muscr beneath. He must have abs, right? "I did." Xu Musen nodded. "Okay, I thought you guys rarely pay attention to sunscreen." Lin Daiyu looked a bit disappointed. Xu Musen gave a faint smile, but in his heart, he was thinking, what''s with the girls nowadays? Why does each one of them seem to want to take advantage of him? "Actually... I didn''t apply any sunscreen." Li Rundong leaned in and said. Lin Daiyu looked at him and smiled politely, "Getting some sun is good, helps with calcium absorption." "..." "ss one, assemble!" The instructor began calling for assembly as it was about time. This afternoon was mainly for letting the instructors address the students and allow them to get ustomed in advance. It started with a thirty-minute session of standing at attention. After that, they practiced marching, turning, and then more standing at attention. This went on for two hours. Finally, they got a twenty-minute break. "My gosh, I''m dying here, so tiring." Zhou Hangyu''s small frame just copsed on the parade ground, unwilling to get up. "With your shape, wanting to chase a rich woman? You won''tst one night." Li Rundong teased from the side, just regretting not buying a bottle of water earlier, now feeling parched. "Hehe, I don''t know if I canst, but your beloved goddess is making her move again." Zhou Hangyu also pointed with his lips. Following his gaze, they saw Lin Daiyu walking toward Xu Musen with a bottle of water in hand, "Have some water." "That''s okay, I can go buy some myself." Xu Musen shook his head. "You bought us dinner before. Can''t I even treat you to a bottle of water? If not, wouldn''t I look like I love taking small advantages?" Lin Daiyu brought out this justification. Xu Musen therefore didn''t refuse any longer, "Alright then." Xu Musen reached out, took the bottle, and took a sip. Lin Daiyu watched as he tilted his head back, his Adam''s apple moving with the swallow, and some sweat trickling down. It was rather sexy. "Huh, why do you have a girl''s perfume on you?" Lin Daiyu moved a bit closer, wiggled her nose, and then she recognized the scent as familiar. "Is it... from that girl who washed your clothes?" "Mhm." Xu Musen nodded, although he didn''t want to associate himself with that little "sickly sweet" girl, he also had little interest in this Lin Daiyu. "Oh, are you and her possibly...?" Lin Daiyu actually felt somewhat disappointed. If he didn''t have a girlfriend, it wouldn''t be a problem for her to pursue him. After all, as far as she was concerned, she had a good impression of Xu Musen. "There''s nothing between us, I''m not interested in dating for the time being. Friends are okay, but lovers, no thanks. I haven''t even enjoyed the beautiful single life of college yet, why find a partner to trouble me." Xu Musen responded with a smile, also expressing his stance to her. But to Lin Daiyu, his words sparkled, and she eventuallyughed, "I feel like what you just said sounds a bit yboyish." Chapter 98: Chapter 89: The Incident of the Two Women Delivering Water. (Please subscribe.)_2 "I''m telling the truth," "But friends can still be ranked at different levels, right?" Lin Daiyu''s words had an implied meaning as she looked at the clothes he was wearing, wishing she could have washed them for him, but it was that girl who ended up doing it for him. Is this the lethality of one''s first love? "Not necessarily, I treat most people the same." Xu Musen replied, but the image of that silly figure popped into his head. "Really, I actually treat both friends and ssmates the same." Lin Daiyu''s almond-shaped eyes twinkled with possible hidden meanings. By this time, Li Rundong came over again, noting the bottle of water in Lin Daiyu''s hand, and said, "Lin, I didn''t bring any water..." Lin Daiyu looked at him while nodding and took a sip from the bottle. "Are you going to buy some water?" "Uh... Yes, I was thinking of buying some." "That''s perfect." Lin Daiyu took two coins out of her pocket, ced them in his hand with a smile, and said, "Then you might as well buy one for me too. I''m afraid Xu won''t have enoughter." Li Rundong: "..." Why did he feel as though not only could he not win over the goddess, but also had to give a helping push? Xu Musen couldn''t help but ridicule internally, feeling utterly bamboozled. He nced at Xu Musen and felt so bitter inside he almost wanted tomit murder, yet in front of the goddess''s request, he nheless forced a smile and turned to leave. When he went to buy water, he specifically did not spend those two coins but kept them as a keepsake instead. Watching this adorable roommate, Xu Musen couldn''t help but shake his head, but he knew too well that one cannot wake a person who is pretending to be asleep. Obviously, the girl treated you as someone easy to dismiss, yet there you are, still eagerly licking her boots. A bootlicker neveres to a good end. "Hey, look at the girl up ahead. She''s really beautiful, and it looks like she''s heading our way!" "Oh man, which department is she from? Definitely campus belle material, and her figure is absolutely killer." While everyone else sought shade for a rest, on the other side of the field, a tall figure holding two bottles of water walked in the sunlight. The loose military training uniform draped on her, yet it couldn''t hide her valiant and breezy aura. Her long hair tied back into a high ponytail bounced slightly with her steps, and her phoenix eyes scanned the crowd quickly for her target. Why is this little tsundere here again? Lin Daiyu saw her too, and her delicate face immediately filled with hostility. Zhou Hangyu was excited; what wasing hade atst. Show off all you want, jerk! Meanwhile, Yao Mingyue''s radar had zeroed in on Xu Musen sitting beneath therge tree at first nce. I''ve found you... Her lips curved into a smile as she headed straight toward him. The ssmates in the ss also noticed Yao Mingyue walking resolutely in their direction. Several boys were thrilled. "Damn, she''s exquisitely fair and has long beautiful legs, absolutely top-notch." "Do you think she''s heading for me?" "Nonsense, she''s clearlying for me!" No wonder they were excited. Even amidst Hu Hai University''s abundant beauties, Yao Mingyue''s appearance was absolutely the crme de crme. If Liu Yifei appeared before you one day, indeed, it would be hard to remain calm. "Xu Musen!" Yao Mingyue raised her voice, quickening her pace as she approached. Xu Musen???!! The ssmates were dumbfounded. She was looking for Xu Musen again? All eyes immediately turned toward Xu Musen. Even the training instructor couldn''t help but look over. "Xu Musen." Yao Mingyue approached Xu Musen at a leisurely pace, her gaze briefly fell on Lin Daiyu but only swept over her lightly. As if seeing nothing, she extended her hand, offering him the ss bottle of water she was holding: "This is for you." Yao Mingyue''s mouth was curled into a smile,pletely indifferent to the gazes around her. All around them, everyone''s gaze involuntarily shifted, especially the boys who were dying of thirst; they felt even more envious, jealous, and resentful. Xu Musen looked at her, honestly, he didn''t expect this pampered youngdy would actually brave the scorching sun to bring him water. "Wow, what''s the deal between this girl and Xu Musen?" "She''se to deliver water. The rtionship must be special. Damn, Xu Musen''s ancestors must be grinning in their graves. Howe it feels like all the pretty girls are connected to him?" Some girls, looking at Yao Mingyue''s heavenly beauty, initially felt that facing Lin Daiyu, they might have a bit of confidence topete. But her appearance immediately let them know they stood no chance at all. Xu Musen looked at her, feeling as if she was an adhesive ster stuck to him "No need, I already have water." Xu Musen shook his head. This sentence seemed to make Lin Daiyu feel as if she had won a round, and she deliberately opened a bottle of water just like Xu''s and took a sip. Yao Mingyue also noticed they were holding identical bottles of mineral water. Her lips slightly lifted, and she put on a look of concern. "Why would you drink such cheap water? What if you get diarrhea? You should drink mine instead." The water Yao Mingyue was holding was imported Evian mineral water. At a time when international direct purchases were not somon, a bottle could cost several tens or even nearly a hundred yuan. You must know, most college students do not have a monthly living expense over a thousand yuan. A bottle of mineral water costing nearly a hundred, that undoubtedly was exorbitantly priced. Even those unfamiliar with Evian, looking at the delicate ss bottle, would know it was certainly not cheap. Herment was clearly aimed at Lin Daiyu. Sure enough, Lin Daiyu couldn''t contain herself any longer, clenching her teeth as she stood up, "Who are you calling cheap?" Chapter 99: Chapter 89: The Incident of the Two Women Delivering Water. (Please subscribe.)_3 "Sorry, I didn''t mean to target anyone specifically, but I just feel that he''s not used to this kind of water. There''s better and more suitable for him, so why force him to choose those worthless things?" Yao Mingyue spoke with a smile, yet her words caused Lin Daiyu''s chest to tighten with difort. Who are you calling worthless?! At this moment, Li Rundong had also returned with a bottle of mineral water that cost one yuan. He had just overheard Yao Mingyue''sment. And was enraged by it. What do you mean? What''s wrong with one yuan being cheap? Am I not even human?! The students around them were also whispering amongst themselves. "What''s going on here? Why does it feel like a case of jealousy?" "ss bottled mineral water, does drinking it send you to heaven or what?" "Country bumpkin, this is called Evian, and it costs almost a hundred for one bottle." "Damn, a hundred for a bottle of water? Is it not still just mineral water?" "Exactly, I''d rather have a big bottle of iced tea, I''m amoner and I love it!" Regardless of what they said, it was clear that the youngdy in their presence was definitely rich! And this beautiful rich girl even took the initiative toe under the sun to deliver water. At once, their gazes toward Xu Musen were filled with even more envy. Lin Daiyu calmed her emotions a bit and said through clenched teeth. "Tch, no matter how good the water is, it''s only good if you can drink it when you''re thirsty." "When you''re thirsty, you naturally aren''t choosy, so there''s noparison." The conversation between the two was not direct, but the tension in the air was almost palpable. Xu Musen was feeling somewhat of a headache. He stood up and pulled Yao Mingyue aside. As Yao Mingyue turned to leave, she gave Lin Daiyu a meaningful smile, like the smile of a victor. The two of them went behind a nearby tree. "Yao Mingyue, what do you want to do?" "To bring you water, of course." Yao Mingyue lifted the bottle in her hand, her smile genuine, "I promised Auntie I''d take good care of you." "But that doesn''t mean you can disrupt my life." "She''s not right for you." Yao Mingyue said it outright, "Is that any of your business?" "Of course, you''ve pursued me after all. Have you ever seen someone rece Wang Zn with Wang Zuxian? You might not be ashamed, but I am." Yao Mingyue held her arms confidently, tilting her wless, beautiful face, convinced that even whenpared to Wang Zuxian, she too had her unique charm, but the words from her mouth were indeed hurtful. Xu Musen didn''t react immediately, but eventually, he was amused. "So, does that mean if I find someone better than you, I can pursue them?" Yao Mingyue was stunned for a moment, the image of that person in the wheelchair surfacing in her mind. She felt a flicker of insecurity, but Yao Mingyue''s most fatal trait was her pride. She raised her perfect, wless face, looking at Xu Musen: "There won''t be anyone better than me, no one will understand you more than I do, and certainly, no one will like you more than me!" The girl''s voice was uncontrolled, spilling into the ears of many around. Each of them was dumbfounded. Such a passionate and domineering promation, not to mentioning from a fair-skinned, beautiful, long-legged rich girl, even most boys didn''t have the courage to do so. Xu Musen was momentarily dazed, having heard such words from Yao Mingyue countless times before. Her eyes always filled with a sick possessiveness, but this time, although her eyes were still undeniably strong, he seemed to see,ing from deep within her soul... the confidence in their childhood friendship, in herself. It was as if he saw once again the little girl who used to hide in his embrace. Stubborn yet confident, and a little foolish... Chapter 100: Chapter 90: Has he ever made unreasonable demands to you? "No one could like you more than I do." Yao Mingyue''s words were no different from a public confession. And Xu Musen annoyingly couldn''t refuse her. Because she hadn''t actually confessed to him directly yet. Confident to an extreme in herself, she believed that with her appearance, all the little fox spirits around Xu Musen would automatically give up. She had the capital to be proud, probably in the nearby sses, Lin Daiyu would be the only one unwilling to give in. The other girls would start to avoid him. This tactic, Ming Yue had tried and true in her past life. "Don''t pull this stunt again in the future, I don''t like you, it''s useless on me." Xu Musen said calmly, since he wasn''t interested in Lin Daiyu to begin with. "You do like me, stop pretending." "?" Xu Musen was speechless, what kind of fairy-like statement was this? "Moreover, by deliberately distancing yourself from me, aren''t you just angry that I didn''t ept your confession earlier, trying to get my attention by this ploy?" Ming Yue''s lips curled up, and she suddenly stepped closer, extending her pale, slender finger, lightly lifting Xu Musen''s chin. Xu Musen leaned against the tree, with Ming Yue pressing up close to him, their posture in that moment was strikingly like a scene from "The King of Comedy". Only, the roles of the male and female leads were reversed. Ming Yue''s cheeks were especially radiant in the sunlight, her phoenix eyes seemed to stretch endlessly at this moment. "Well then let me tell you, you''ve sessfully caught my attention, and from now on, your drinking water during military training is on me!" "..." That greasy yet smooth aura, clearly chasing him yet disying far more confidence and dominance than those being pursued. This was uniquely Yao Mingyue. The scene suddenly fell into a peculiar silence. "Damn it! Why does it feel so greasy, but when she does it, why is it so smooth?" "Boohoo, fair-skinned, pretty-faced, tall-legged, the richdy knows how to flirt, the perfect future CEO vibe, this guy really doesn''t know what''s good for him!" "Exactly, isn''t it just a rejected confession? If it were me, I''d be licking their boots for a lifetime!" Even the girls were wide-eyed at Ming Yue''s bold and confident demeanor. So it turned out, chasing a guy could also be done with such dominance? Xu Musen held back for a while, why did he have this feeling of being flirted with by a female version of Zhang Han? Truly greasy! But he couldn''t deny, for that one or two seconds, his vanity as a man was indeed quite satisfied. Is this what a mature CEO vibe was like? Suddenly he could understand why some girls always liked to read brainless wish-fulfillment novels about domineering CEOs falling in love with ''me''. But the feeling of being subdued by her, and me, made Xu Musen instantly kick into high alert. Too scary, one careless slip and he might fall into the trap of a wealthydy''s pampering. He almost ended up with the tragic life of not having to worry about food and drink, without the need to strive, free car and housing, and pampered by CEOs This scene also slightly stunned Lin Daiyu. There were not a few girls who took the initiative, but openly chasing after a guy and still looking so utterly confident and even having an air of assured victory seemed several leagues above her own slow approach. "It''s almost time to gather!" The instructor checked the time and thought to himself that it seemed the college students these days are just too yful. The purpose of Ming Yue had been achieved, and she stuffed the water she had into Xu Musen''s hands. "I''ll be off, try not to get too tanned." Ming Yue said, her gaze briefly ncing over at Lin Daiyu not far away before she turned to leave. Xu Musen truly felt mncholic. There''s an old saying that holds true, even heroic women are afraid of a persistent harasser. Faced with such a lovestruck girl, he truly didn''t have much of a countermeasure for the time being. Xu Musen silently walked back to his ss. The eyes of the entire ss were on him, savoring the analysis of the various hot gossips. Xu Musen''s gaze casually surveyed the girls around him. Indeed, several of the girls who had been interested in him were now just in the mood to watch the drama unfold. Even Lin Daiyu, sitting among the girls, looked at him a little differently now. Well, it''s actually more peaceful this way. These NPCs are irrelevant. Meanwhile, at the girls'' dormitory. An Nuannuan was drawing in her room, her phone rang, it was Aunt Liu''s. "Nuannuan, should you be in military training at school? It''s hot outside, do you want me to cook some mung bean soup for you tomorrow to bring over?" An Nuannuan, guzzling down a sip of milk tea: "No need, Aunt Liu, I have something to drink." On the other end of the call, Aunt Liu heard the guzzling sound and immediately said, "Nuannuan, are you drinking milk tea again? I told you to cut down on these high-sugar drinks." "But it tastes so good." "Good taste can''t justify drinking it like water, I''ll bring you some mung bean soup tomorrow to cool down and prevent heatstroke." An Nuannuan was going to refuse, but hearing the word ''heatstroke,'' her eyes rolled around, and she muttered to herself, "So mung bean soup can cure heatstroke too" "What?" "Nothing, Aunt Liu, could you cook two portions of mung bean soup?" There was a pause for a second on the other end of the phone before she answered with augh, "Do you want to give him a portion too?" "Yep, he treated me to a meal, I have to return the favor." "Well, don''t bother him too much." Aunt Liu spoke, though they were much reassured knowing that Nuannuan had such a friend at school. But after all, men and women are different, they were worried that Nuannuan''s straightforward nature might easily be taken advantage of. "Nuannuan, when you went out to eat with him, did he make any... excessive requests?" Aunt Liu asked tentatively. "What''s considered an excessive request?" "For example, he might want to... touch you or something, not in a massage way." An Nuannuan recalled what happenedst night, and her pretty face inexplicably started to heat up. "Not really..." Her voice was super soft. It was she who had yfully lifted her little feet yesterday, but he just pinched her own face instead. In that moment, she felt as though she was the naughty child. "That''s good, Nuannuan, you have to remember, even good friends must maintain a proper distance, especially with boys, you can''t let them touch, you have to be mindful of that, understand?" "Oh~ What if it''s for a massage?" "Then it can only be below the calf... I''lle by and give you a rub when I''m free." "But Aunt Xiang, you''re not asfortable as he is..." An Nuannuan mumbled to herself, herst few words drifting off softly. "What?" "I mean Aunt Xiang, don''t overwork yourself." "You little rascal, alright, I''ll bring you mung bean soup tomorrow." "Oh~" She hung up the phone. An Nuannuan then lowered her head. Although drawing in the dormitory was quiet, she still felt a bit lonely. She moved her leg slightly; she could slowly stand up now, but it would take some time to fully recover. She needed more massages to recover faster. An Nuannuan looked down at her fair calves and the delicate feet below her slippers. Her clear eyes still had some ripples, only able to massage below the calf, huh... ... The first day of military training ended. They hurried back and took a refreshing shower. But an entire summer without much activity, suddenly followed by such intense exercise, especially twenty minutes of squatting, left them all howling in pain after getting back to the dorm. "I can hardly straighten my back, and it''s only the first day; how are we going to survive the rest of the half month?" "If you can''t straighten up, take some Liuwei Dihuang pills, it helps with young people." "Cut it out, I''m starving, shall we go down and grab a bite?" "Damn, I really don''t feel like moving, those squats made my feet sore, can you bring some food back up for me?" "Why don''t you go down and bring some food up for me? I''ll even pay you two yuan for your trouble." Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong were bothzing in bed, neither wanting to go down. Besides, the cafeteria was packed, not a single ce to sit, and with the summer heat, everyone was drenched in sweat, and the air conditioning in the cafeteria barely worked. Going to eat felt like taking a sauna, and it involved waiting in line for a long time, too. With that time, they could do a lot of other things. Xu Musen, hearing this, had a business idea that was already forming in his mind. "What do you guys think, if someone could pack up the food you want and deliver it right to your bed but charged a small delivery fee, how much would you be willing to pay?" "One or two yuan would be good enough, just like treating them to a bottle of water." "I agree, it''s not easy running back and forth in this summer heat." Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong both shared their opinions. Ma Yaxing thought about it, one or two yuan wasn''t much, but he was still reluctant to spend it carelessly. For him, running from the dorm to the cafeteria to earn one or two yuan was a rather attractive option. Xu Musen stroked his chin, calcting that the food delivery business had the potential to be a billion-dor market in the future. Meituan''s delivery service wasn''t online yet, it was absolutely possible to start something. However, it would need a strong server and big data support, something Xu Musen definitely couldn''t handle at the moment. But creating a small program within the school wouldn''t require much in terms of program and server resources. Xu Musen thought it was feasible to make a simplified version to test the waters. Conveniently, his ssmates all studiedputer software programming, which was right up their alley. Worst case scenario, they could rope in some senior students. Xu Musen felt it waspletely doable, so he picked up his phone and called his mother: "Mom, is theputer I left at your store still there?" "They''re all here, why, you need it?" "Yeah, I want to work on a little project, please mail it to me these next few days, along with the camera." "You, it''s just been two days since you started university and you''re already thinking about these things, how''s college?" "It''s going well, pretty good." "And how''s it between you and Ming Yue?" "How could it be, just like that." Xu Musen could only reply like this, what else could he say? Could he tell her his son had turned the tables and now Yao Mingyue was chasing him like a lovesick puppy? "You know, now that you''re both in Hu Hai, you can look out for each other. Even if nothinges of it between you two, you should still keep an eye out for her, Aunt Liu has helped our family a lot over the years." "Alright, I got it." Xu Musen could understand his family''s perspective. After all, he was the only one who knew about the events of his past life. But every time he thought about Yao Mingyue''s behavior today, he felt a headacheing on. This was no longer a case of him not wanting her insistent affection. As long as he was single, she always found reasons to cling to him. No wonder, in TV dramas, some girls would find a fake boyfriend to fend off such persistent suitors, it really was a bit unbearable to deal with them every day. After some thought, he felt that Nuannuan, the naive and cute little dummy, would be the easiest to coax. Xu Musen was pondering this when his phone received a message. An Nuannuan: "Xu Musen, I''m so hungry, can we fill our stomachs together today? (Rose 3)" "..." Chapter 101: Chapter 91: This Time Its My Turn to Give You a Massage! (6k for subscription!) The night breeze was refreshing. Xu Musen picked up a certain girl who wanted to get pregnant. Today, An Nuannuan was still wearing a pair of shorts, with most of her snow-white thighs exposed while sitting in the wheelchair. It was true that the doctor had said she should often get some sun exposure to stimte recovery, but did she wear those at night to absorb the essence of the sun and the moon? However, Xu Musen quite liked it. She wore a cute short-sleeved shirt and a thin coat on top, which toned down her appearance a bit. "Xu Musen, what are we eating today?" An Nuannuan seemed to look forward to going out to eat more than anything. Xu Musen was a bit mncholic, "Nuannuan, are you happy to see me when youe out, or to eat?" "Of course, I''m happy to see you, and as long as I see you, there''ll naturally be good food." "What if I don''t take you to eat something tasty?" "Then I''ll take you to eat something tasty." "So you just can''t do without food, right?" "Because I like eating meals with you." An Nuannuan''s eyes were clear, the corners slightly curved like a natural crescent, exceptionally beautiful. "Why do you like eating with me so much?" Xu Musen looked into her eyes, his tone also indulgent after apromise. "Because you''ll always soften up and buy me tasty food, you won''t despise my eating manners, and you''ll even help me tie my hair..." "Sounds like I''m a tool, then how do you n to reward me?" Xu Musen asked her with a smile. She lifted her head. "I''m wearing shorts today." Xu Musen had naturally noticed earlier and nodded, "Uh, so?" An Nuannuan didn''t speak but just tugged at his sleeve and shook it, "I''m hungry." "Alright." As Xu Musen pushed her, he suddenly realized that from the perspective standing behind her, his view was dominated by two white, slender legs. Pressed together, the soft flesh between the thighs nestled against each other was particrly tempting. He could even see under her cool, transparent shoes, the delicate little feet and cute toes wiggling as if greeting him. I''m wearing shorts today... Xu Musen suddenly snapped out of it, looking down at the young girl, was this her way of repaying him? This, this, isn''t right at all, could I, Xu Musen, a gentleman of integrity, be a sleazy person sneaking peeks at a girl''s thighs? So, Xu Musen stared intensely. "Nuannuan." "Hmm?" "Should we go eat in the dining hall today?" An Nuannuan''s eyes lit up; she never had the chance to eat in the cafeteria during high school. She nodded immediately. The eastern dining hall, closest to the dormitory building, had two levels. There were no fewer than a hundred shops, but the seating was less than five or six hundred, making it easy to miss out on a spot during peak meal times. Right away, An Nuannuan''s eyes were drawn to a spot in the cafeteria selling mini hotpots on a rotating conveyor, and she was fascinated by this novel approach. "Xu Musen, I want to eat this." "Sure." Xu Musen nodded and found a spot with An Nuannuan. An Nuannuan really liked the idea of food passing by her that she could just grab and eat. That look in her eye resembled how boys gaze at girls passing by. A Nuannuan here, a He Qiang there; both seemed quite pure-hearted. "You''re grabbing too much; soon there won''t be any room left in the pot." Xu Musen looked at the little pot in front of her, about to overflow. "But I want to try a bit of everything," An Nuannuan said wistfully. "Then put it in my pot to cook first." Xu Musen subconsciously wanted to indulge her. "Xu Musen, you''re so good to me." "Could you notpliment me while sneakily taking food from my pot to eat?" "Teehee~ I''m just checking if it''s cooked. You eat first." An Nuannuan said and ced the shrimp dumpling she was about to eat back onto the te in front of Xu Musen. Yet her peach blossom eyes still gazed longingly. "Alright, you eat first." Xu Musen couldn''t help butugh at her silly look. An Nuannuan loved eating shrimp dumplings, and she had finished off the small te. "Xu Musen, there''s no more of this to eat." "Just ask the boss for a refill." Xu Musen called out to the boss as he spoke. After a moment, a girl wearing an apron with the restaurant''s logo came over to refill the shrimp dumplings. However, her body suddenly paused when she saw it was Xu Zhisen. Xu Musen also sensed someoneing and looked up to see a tall girl with a healthy wheatishplexion on her exposed arms. The girl was wearing a mask, but Xu Musen recognized her instantly. "Zhao Lianmai?" Her gaze swept over Xu Musen and An Nuannuan, who was intently eating, and she hesitated. Just now, she had seen them adding food to each other''s tes, taking from each other''s bowls without any reserve. Wasn''t that beyond what ordinary friends or even opposite sexes would do? She looked at Xu Musen, recalling the afternoon''s events, as the entire ss discussed what had happened at noon. Lin Daiyu was so upset she hadn''t eaten dinner. And him? Professing to be single, yet sitting so intimately with another girl eating a meal. "Enjoy your meal." Without engaging further, she simply said and left to continue arranging. Xu Musen didn''t call out to her again, watching her work efficiently. Starting a part-time job right at the beginning of the school year. "Do you know her?" An Nuannuan asked. Chapter 102: Chapter 91: This Time Its My Turn to Give You a Massage! (6k for subscription!)_2 "Hmm, a ssmate of ours." "Oh, she seems really impressive." "How is she impressive?" "The shrimp paste she squeezed out looks so nice, perfectly round and adorable; just looking at it makes you hungry." An Nuannuan remarked earnestly. Xu Musen couldn''t help butugh upon hearing this; she sometimes ''got'' things that were different from everyone else. Not too far away, Zhao Lianmai, who was organizing dishes, heard An Nuannuan''spliment and slightly raised her head to nce at her. Seeing the wheelchair beneath her and after a moment of silent contemtion, her look towards Xu Musen became even moreplex. This jerk, he couldn''t possibly be deceiving a disabled person, could he? And this girl seems so naive and easy to deceive; being with a yboy like him, there''s unlikely to be a good oue. Her lips pursed, in the end, she didn''t know what to say. After eating for half an hour, An Nuannuan was touching her little belly with a blissful expression. "I''m so full, so satisfied." "I''m just afraid if you eat like this every day, you''ll graduate from college slower than pigs are fattened up for ughter." "Pigs are also very cute." An Nuannuan didn''t care in the least; after all, the only unforgivable thing in this world is to let good food go to waste. "You rest for a bit." Xu Musen stood up to pay the bill. Zhao Lianmai seemed to want to keep her distance from him, leaving Xu Musen a bit helpless. But he quite admired students who could bring themselves to look for a part-time job as soon as school started. Xu Musen also felt that he needed to speed up his own money-making efforts. Although there was still over half a month of military training left, if he could seize the opportunity during this period, it would be a chance. He observed carefully and saw that there were obvious issues with theyout of the restaurant. Perhaps because the restaurant was built early, they didn''t anticipate such arge number of students, so there were not many seats avable. With nearly a hundred shops, the seating ratio was less than one to five; that is, if it''s dine-in service, a shop can only amodate four or five customers at the same time. During the time he was eating, there were four or five people who wanted to eat hotpot, but had to leave because there weren''t any seats avable. For the shop owners, that was just a loss of money. With this in mind, Xu Musen''s eyes gleamed with an idea. "Boss, how much do I owe?" "Alright, let me calcte it." The boss took over the sticks in the bucket and began tallying the bill. Xu Musen casually chatted: "Boss, your business looks really good. A few students wanted toe eat just now but couldn''t find a seat." The boss smiled but then sighed, "It''s alright, but we can''t help it, the amount of seating is set by the cafeteria. When it''s busy and we have more people, we can''t amodate them all; we can only earn our money through hard work every day." Listening, Xu Musen nodded thoughtfully, then said, "One of my friends told me that their school cafeteria is even smaller, but someoneunched a campus delivery tform, and even if students don''t leave their dorm rooms, they still have food delivered to their doors, and the boss earns even more." "Really? That can''t be a job where someone has to run deliveries all day, right? Our little shop doesn''t earn enough in a month to afford that kind of employee." The boss sounded intrigued but then shook his head. Actually, the concept of food delivery has been around since the Song Dynasty, but back then, it was a service only wealthy officials and nobles could enjoy. Besides, delivering goods is a physically demanding job that requires a high sry; their small shop might not earn enough in a month from deliveries to pay a courier''s monthly wage. Small businesses like theirs can''t handle it. If they formed a partnership, it would involve different people with various intentions; issues could arise from differing business volumes and meal times. Listening, Xu Musen''s heart grew brighter with each word he heard. Their pain points were Xu Musen''s business opportunities. "Boss, if there was a tform where students could order online and you just had to ept orders on your phone, with the tform only taking a cut from the profit of each order and no other fees, what percentage would you be willing to ept?" The boss thought earnestly for a while; in catering, the general profit was around sixty percent, but the customers lost every day were also an invisible loss. After all, earning more could, to a certain degree, spread out the costs. And the delivery model would save on storefront expenses, which could increase profit margins. Plus, these would all be additional ie; free money was not to be ignored. After considering it, he figured that anything below fifty percent wouldn''t be very profitable for a restaurant. If they had to share profits, they could at most spare one or two percent. "If there really was such a convenient tform, letting go of one percent profit wouldn''t be impossible. But I''ve never heard of such a system." "Just because it doesn''t exist now doesn''t mean it won''t in the future. If such a projectes up, you''ll be the first one I discuss it with," Xu Musen said cheerily. The boss looked at the young student before him; even though he spoke well, he was still young after all, and the boss took his words about doing business as a joke. He also chuckled, replying casually, "Sure, young people should have that drive. If you really pull it off, I''ll definitely support it. The totales to thirty-five yuan and eighty cents, but I''ll round it down to thirty-five for you." "Boss, you''re generous." After paying, Xu Musen was about to return when he turned and found himself meeting Zhao Lianmai''s gaze. She moved a step closer and whispered, "Come with me for a moment." Without further ado, she walked to a secluded corner of the room. Xu Musen followed her. "Zhao, do you need something from me?" Xu Musen asked with a smile, remembering that they were from the same hometown, but from the time they took the subway, she seemed to have an aversion to him. Chapter 103: Chapter 91: This Time Its My Turn to Give You a Massage! (6k for subscription!)_3 Zhao Lianmai pulled out a slightly worn wallet from her embrace, counted out some money, and handed it to him. "What''s this?" "This is for thest dormitory gathering, my share." "I told you, it was my treat, you don''t have to pay." "Sorry, I''m not in the habit of taking advantage of others. Here''s my fifty-two yuan and seventy cents." Zhao Lianmai''s words carried the same determination as the sharp awns of wheat from the loess soil. But somehow, it always felt like there was an ulterior motive behind her words. Xu Musen looked at the money in his hand, noting that it included both new and old bills, but to be precise, it should have been fifty-three yuan. "Why is there an extra yuan?" "Didn''t have change, just rounded it up." Zhao Lianmai said indifferently. Xu Musen looked at her for a while. "Then sorry, I''m not in the habit of taking advantage of others either, so give it to me when you have change." Xu Musen pulled out one yuan and returned it to her. Zhao Lianmai was taken aback for a moment, holding the one yuan in her hand, also not expecting him to retort like this. "Also, I''m very curious, why do I always feel like you have something against me?" Xu Musen asked with a smile. A flicker of emotion crossed Zhao Lianmai''s eyes, as if recalling some unpleasant memory, she bit her lip. Then her gaze shifted to An Nuannuan, who was sitting obediently, waiting for Xu Musen. She said, "I just don''t like those who are fickle-hearted. It''s not specifically about you." You''re totally singling me out here! Xu Musen said helplessly. "I''ve said it before, there''s nothing going on between me and them." "It has even less to do with me. I don''t want to have anything to do with you rich people either." Zhao Lianmai shook her head slightly, then nced once more at the girl in the wheelchair: "Just a word of advice, don''t toy with a girl''s feelings carelessly." "No, I...how did I toy with anyone?" Xu Musen said, a mix ofughter and helplessness in his voice. But Zhao Lianmai had already turned and left. Xu Musen always felt that Zhao Lianmai had a particr dislike for fickle people. But what had he, a single guy, done to provoke anyone? If they insist on being given, am I really obliged to ept responsibility? I''ve heard of forcing a good person into prostitution but never of forcing a handsome guy to be a scumbag. Nevertheless, Xu Musen looked at the money in his hand: small amounts, clearly saved and reluctantly spent. Plus, being able to swallow her pride and take on a part-time job at the beginning of the semester. For a girl, this mindset is quite challenging. And even though she clearly needed money and took on a part-time job, she insisted on contributing her share; this mental strength surpasses many people. Such people are indeed suitable to be recruited to work for oneself. Xu Musen appreciated this. Turning back to An Nuannuan, she was simply sitting there waiting for him. It seemed as if she would continue to wait if he didn''t return. Pushing her out of the restaurant, onto the school corridors bustling with groups of friends and intimate couples, their unusual pairing was indeed eye-catching. "Nuannuan, are you getting along well with the people in your dorm?" "Yeah, they''re all pretty nice." "Then why don''t you go out with them for meals or shopping?" "I always feel...different from them. Sometimes when I say something, it''s like they don''t know how to continue the conversation with me." An Nuannuan looked up at Xu Musen, her big eyes filled with confusion and a touch of grievance: "Xu Musen, am I really bad at talking?" Xu Musen was silent for a moment; indeed, sometimes An Nuannuan''s remarks did hit a nerve. But on second thought, what she said was not wrong; in fact, it was the real, unfiltered truth. We are just so ustomed to lying that when we hear the truth, it feels so jarring. Seeing her in the wheelchair, perhaps she hadn''t ever interacted with people normally since she was young, those pure and aggrieved eyes. Xu Musen inexplicably felt a pang of heartache. "Of course not, they are just too dumb to understand the humor in your words." Xu Musen said with a smile. "But you should still try to get along with them more, having more friends is always good." But An Nuannuan lifted her head to look at him: "But I just want to be best friends with you. You told me, if I want to make friends, you have to screen them for me." "That doesn''t stop you from making other friends. How about this... You can trymunicating more with the girls, but stay away from the boys for now." Xu Musen offered his answer. After all, her family had sent her to university alone, hoping she could integrate into a normal life more quickly. Xu Musen could have selfishly convinced her to only interact with him. But as someone who had also faced constraints, he couldn''t selfishly impose the hardships he had endured onto An Nuannuan. Of course, as for boys, the level of contact is still too much for An Nuannuan to manage. For now, having himself as a male reference point was enough. "Why?" "Because there''s not a single good thing about boys; all they have in their heads is colorful glue." "What about you?" "I''m an exception." "Oh~" An Nuannuan''s eyes sparkled: "Xu Musen, can I have a milk tea?" "How many did you have today already?" "I only had a few sips." "One sip is a whole cup, right?" Xu Musen looked at her; believing this little foodie''s ''just a sip'' was like believing a boy''s ''just a touch''. "How about half a cup then, we can each have half." An Nuannuan had already made quite apromise. Looking at her pitiful expression, Xu Musen saw the same in the stray cats and dogs on campus, those who inspired protective feelings in the older students. "Then it can only be half-sugar." Chapter 104: Chapter 91: This Time Its My Turn to Give You a Massage! (6k for subscription!)_4 ``` "Ying~" "Acting cute is ineffective." Xu Musen still bought her a cup of milk tea, though this time it was fruit tea with less sugar. But An Nuannuan enjoyed it very much. The two of them arrived at a corner of the sports field, watching students some running, some dancing and singing, others ying basketball or table tennis, some gathered for a card game, or couples chatting together... This is what youth is all about. Xu Musen felt an unprecedented sense of rxation; college life really did take off. "Xu Musen, I also want to sit on the grass." An Nuannuan looked at others sitting around on thewn, her eyes twinkling with anticipation. "Okay." Xu Musen gently held her; the girl was wearing shorts, leaving her soft, snowy white thighs in his hands. It was a bit hard to let go, and An Nuannuan''s light panting from the movement made her sound cutely breathless. Xu Musen quickly put her down on the ground and then took a sip of the milk tea. "Am I heavy?" An Nuannuan saw him breathing somewhat heavily. "No, it''s probably because the military training this afternoon was a bit exhausting." Xu Musen also sat down cross-legged on the grass, quickly covering up the stirrings of his heart. However, the touch of An Nuannuan''s soft, delicate legs still lingered in his palms, making him subconsciously rub his hands. And her plump little toes were looking even more attractive, having reached an edible level. No, that seems too lecherous. "Um, Nuannuan, your legs now..." An Nuannuan followed his gaze, her eyes shifting slightly: "Xu Musen, can I give you a massage, please?" "How could I impose Alright, my hands are all warmed up." Xu Musen was gleeful, ready to extend his hand, but An Nuannuan propped herself up on her arms and pressed down on Xu Musen''s shoulders. Uh??? Xu Musen was momentarily taken aback, then An Nuannuan seriously began to knead his shoulders. "Nuannuan, aren''t we doing this backward?" "Not at all, I just wanted to massage your shoulders. You must be very tired from today''s military training, right?" Xu Musen actually wanted to convey that he wasn''t tired at all. But seeing the earnest look on An Nuannuan''s face and feeling the soft touch on his shoulders, well, it was quitefortable indeed. Is this the campus field health care? "I''m quite lucky to have such a beautiful girl giving me a massage," Xu Musen mused as he gazed at An Nuannuan''s immacte face; her beauty had truly captured his heart. Having long been praised for her good looks, An Nuannuan was used to it, but facing Xu Musen''s words, she spoke softly, "Actually, I''m the lucky one. I don''t have other friends beside me, so I only have you to keep mepany. You have many friends, but you still choose to spend time with me every day. Xu Musen, you''re so good to me." An Nuannuan spoke not with a flirty voice, but inly and seriously, and that''s what touched him the most. Xu Musen looked at her. Perhaps the best thing for a person isn''t to possess the only one but to prefer you over a myriad of choices around. Xu Musen felt as if his heart, sealed in concrete, had been pried open a bit at this moment. He stared at the girl in front of him; it was a close call, he almost let this silly cutie stir his feelings. Truth be told, maybe he should really tease her... "This is my first time, did it make you feel good?" An Nuannuan suddenly spoke. "..." Xu Musen choked up again. Alright, perhaps she doesn''t even know what liking someone means right now. Even if he teased her, he would wait until they both realized what liking someone really meant. At that moment, on the sports field, two girls were walking by; they were Yao Mingyue''s roommates. "Hey, see that guy in the corner, doesn''t he look like Yao Mingyue''s suitor?" "It does look like him, and that girl with him..." ``` Chapter 114: Chapter 95: Are you just giving him a taste of sweetness? I escorted An Nuannuan to the dormitory building. All the way there, Xu Musen was thinking about the things that had just happened. He hadn''t expected An Nuannuan to say such words. The girl who usually seemed so goofy and dorky, turned out to have such a delicate mind. To be honest, the words she said earlier really touched Xu Musen''s heart. You are good to me, so I want to be good to you too, even without those "identities". This is what a true little fairy is! "Xu Musen, was I wrong just now?" An Nuannuan suddenly spoke up. "Hmm?" Xu Musen hadn''t reacted yet and looked down into her eyes. An Nuannuan pouted her lips. "Actually, I feel kind of sorry for Good Person Sister. She doesn''t seem to have many friends around, alwaysing and going alone." Xu Musen listened and reflected silently for a moment. Yes, Yao Mingyue''s strong aura and personality indeed made it hard for her to find friends. Maybe it didn''t matter to her, after all, she only had eyes for Xu Musen. But now, it seemed like she truly didn''t have any confidants by her side. However, unless she changed her ways, Xu Musen couldn''t gamble his life on her, otherwise, they would both be miserable. "It''s not your fault; it''s her own issues," he shook his head. An Nuannuan gave an "Oh," her big eyes swirling, her little brain seemingly pondering for quite a while before she spoke, "Xu Musen, do you really not like her anymore?" Xu Musen looked down at her upturned, snowy face, her clear eyes seeming somewhat moved. He slowly began, "Liking someone and being suitable for each other are not the same. I don''t like her personality as it is now." "Then what kind of personality do you like?" An Nuannuan continued to ask, like a curious baby. Xu Musen couldn''t help but look at her. An Nuannuan wasn''t as ostentatious or dazzling as Yao Mingyue when you first meet her. But her pretty face had an extraordinarilyforting effect. If Yao Mingyue was the unapproachable, aloof beauty of youth, Then An Nuannuan was the kind of cute and innocent girl, beautiful without awareness. Having been manipted by others in his past life, Xu Musen always wanted to find someone he could control. Looking at An Nuannuan''s harmless appearance, he smiled slightly and said, "I still prefer someone who is good-looking and will obediently listen to me, someone not too bright will do." "Oh~" An Nuannuan nodded, her intelligence obviously not modest. She was, after all, smart! "What about you? What kind of boy do you like?" asked Xu Musen, unable to help himself. An Nuannuan was startled for a moment, as if her little brain had never processed such aplex thought. After thinking for a long while without knowing how to answer, she finally looked up at Xu Musen, appearing somewhat troubled and aggrieved, "I just wanted to mooch a meal..." Xu Musen was taken aback, then couldn''t help butugh. "Forget it, let''s pretend I didn''t ask. Go back and have a good nap." With that, Xu Musen turned to leave, but An Nuannuan tugged at his sleeve. "What is it?" "Can you... take me for ice cream tonight?" An Nuannuan licked her pink lips, looking at him expectantly. "Of course." Xu Musen looked at this little foodie, and it seemed like in her heart, food probably rated higher than dating. Xu Musen couldn''t help but tap her forehead lightly. "Good afternoon." Xu Musen turned and left. An Nuannuan watched his retreating figure, her clear eyes stirring with ripples. "Eh~ You two are so sweet!" At that moment, her plump roommate Ge Jiayue and Jiang Jinfang had also juste back from eating, and they had witnessed the parting scene between the two. Ge Jiayue''s face was filled with a fangirl''s excitement, "Hehe, were you guys just exchanging some secret signals? Was it like in Journey to the West, secretly meeting him at midnight to learn magic that can make you grow big or small?" An Nuannuan blinked, her tone both joyful and boastful, "He said he''d take me for ice cream." The two nced at each other, their looks carrying hidden meanings. Typically, when a boy takes a girl out for ice cream, his intentions are not so innocent. Amon tactic for probing military secrets. Ge Jiayue blushed and leaned in closer. "Are youing back to the dorm today?" "Huh?" An Nuannuan blinked her clear, peach blossom eyes. "Never mind, as long as you''re safe going out anding in..." Seeing An Nuannuan''s oblivious expression, they didn''t have the heart to tease her further. Back in the dorm, An Nuannuan went to the balcony and took out the sketch she had drawn today. The drawing depicted Xu Musen during military training, seemingly smiling at her through her pencil at all times. An Nuannuan''s eyes sparkled as she continued to draw, focusing on the details of his body. But when she got to his arms, she felt dissatisfied with the muscle lines no matter what. Maybe just looking wasn''t enough to catch all the details; An Nuannuan thought for a bit, perhaps there was another way to appreciate the subtleties? By now, the other roommates had returned to the dorm as well. One of them excitedly said, "Hey! Have you heard? Apparently there was almost a fight in the cafeteria today over a boy!" "Really? We were at the cafeteria, howe we didn''t notice?" "Of course, it''s true. You might have been on a different floor. Someone even took pictures." "Let me see... But it''s all back shots; wait, this guy looks really familiar." Chapter 115: Chapter 95: Are you just giving him a taste of sweetness?_2 A few people looked on and suddenly felt a sense of familiarity, "Ah, isn''t that Nuannuan''s male friend?" "And that wheelchair beside him, it''s definitely An Nuannuan, that girl''s face is unclear but just looking at the photo I feel such a strong oppressive presence, can An Nuannuan really stand up to this kind of girl?" "Wa Qu, what was the end result?" "That guy personally escorted An Nuannuan back to the dorm, what do you guys think?" Ge Jiayue was thest to speak up. But the girls were still gossiping amongst themselves. "But I heard from others that this other girl is particrly beautiful, she''s even been rated as one of the school beauties on the school forum." "But An Nuannuan is pretty too, it''s also my first time seeing such a beautiful girl." "The problem is that girl''s approach is so fierce! She came on so strong right from the start, An Nuannuan may be beautiful, but she seems to bepletely naive when ites to rtionships." "Yeah, boys at this age are hardly able to resist temptation, if Nuannuan doesn''t step up her game, there''s a real risk that someone might steal her man." The girls went out to the balcony and peered out one by one, watching An Nuannuan focused on painting. Even though the figure in the drawing didn''t have facial features yet, it was still clear who she was painting. "What the heck, she clearly likes that guy, it''s just that neither of them wants to admit it." "Seriously, if I had Nuannuan''s pretty face and her big boobs, I would''ve made a move to conquer him already!" "Cough cough, Nuannuan?" Ge Jiayue called out, and saw that An Nuannuan immediately tried to cover up her drawing. "Hehe, we''ve all seen it already, you''re painting him, right?" An Nuannuan felt a little embarrassed. "What''s there to hide about, if you like someone, you have to be brave and go for it, how are things progressing with you two?" Ge Jiayue leaned in to ask. An Nuannuan pouted slightly and said, "We''re good friends, it''s purely tonic." "You can lie to yourself, but don''t lie to your sisters." The girls burst intoughter, "We all know about what happened at the restaurant today, Nuannuan, we absolutely support you!" "Exactly, you can''t always be so reserved as a girl, what if you let him slip away?" "Yes, I heard that the other girl is very assertive, if she really gets her way, won''t he end up being eaten up by her? Later on, he might even cut off all contact with you." At this, An Nuannuan''s hand, which was holding the painting brush, paused abruptly, Topletely cut off contact... That would mean, no more shopping together, eating together, watching movies, or going home together... An Nuannuan suddenly realized that her life had slowly started to revolve around him. If he suddenly disappeared, would she revert to her previous solitary existence? Her lips started to quiver, a small downturn showing her vexation. "No, he hasn''t treated me to ice cream yet..." An Nuannuan''s aggrieved expression instantly melted her roommates'' hearts. "Oh, don''t tease Nuannuan. Actually, chasing boys is pretty simple, especially those in their teens, you just need to give him a little sweetness from time to time." As they said this, they cast a nce over An Nuannuan''s figure. An Nuannuan''s skin was overbearingly beautiful; it seemed like water might drip out if it were pinched. Although An Nuannuan sat in a wheelchair, it didn''t detract from the slenderness and smoothness of her legs. She insisted on standing up and taking a few steps every day, appearing very petite and cute when sitting in her wheelchair. But once she stood up, she was nearly 170 centimeters tall. The proportions of her legs were simply incredible, but of course, the most prominent feature was her chest. At night, when they saw Nuannuan changing into her pajamas, they thought it was all just padded deception. But who would have expected them to be genuine national treasures! They all drooled at the sight, let alone the boys. An Nuannuan really didn''t get it, "Sweetness?" What does that mean? "Oh, it''s just... it means you can have more physical contact, like holding hands, or maybe a pinch on the face." Ge Jiayue blushed, actually a new driver who had never been truly tested, to her those were already things only couples would do. An Nuannuan blinked slowly, "So, does letting him touch my legs and pinch my feet count?" "???" The girls who had been chattering non-stop were instantly stunned. What what??!! Didn''t you say it was just a tonic friendship? And that you weren''t in a rtionship? Howe all of a sudden even feet are in the mix? For many girls, their feet can sometimes be more private than other parts of their body. And what kind of fetish is this, ignoring all of Nuannuan''s most obvious advantages and going for her feet instead? This is perversion, right? "Nuannuan, he... touched your feet?" The girls couldn''t help but look down, An Nuannuan usually likes to wear sandals, but her little feet are still white and tender. Honestly, there are research reports that suggest a girl''s feet metabolize faster, and once they sweat, the smell bes more... robust. It''s just that girls love cleanliness, changing their socks and shoes frequently, and soaking their feet daily. That''s why there is hardly any smell. But in the heat of summer, it''s inevitable that feet sweat, and they can''t im their feet don''t smell at all. Yet looking at Nuannuan''s little feet, so white and tender that one might almost see the pink veins, and without a trace of that thickened skinyer, they were soft as marshmallows. Huh? Did they all think that such little feet might actually taste sweet? Damn! Am I the pervert? The girls exchanged nces, then looked at Nuannuan''s na?ve demeanor, and suddenly felt as though they didn''t need to teach her anything. She achieves what''s an extreme for ordinary people without even trying. ... When Xu Musen returned to his dormitory, the other three were eagerly asking him who he was going to choose. Xu Musen ignored them. Hey on his bed to rest for a moment, and couldn''t shake the feeling that he could still smell Yao Mingyue''s fragrance on himself. Thinking about today''s events, his feelings wereplicated. Honestly, seeing Yao Mingyue end up like this didn''t bring him much pleasure. It''s just that the events of a past life were over. In this life, neither of them owed the other anything, and it was okay for them to part ways peacefully, to each live well. But he had somewhat underestimated the severity of that little ill-tempered girl''s condition. Today, however, An Nuannuan had inflicted real damage, and even with her ill-tempered character, she would probably be hurt for a while. As for whom to choose... The expression An Nuannuan had earlier shed through Xu Musen''s mind. She was a bit slow, but definitely not dumb. Xu Musen smiled, figured it was fine the way things were. He rolled over, burying his face in the pillow, ready to snooze face-down for a bit. But he kept feeling like it was even more fragrant this way, as though he was resting on Yao Mingyue''s thighs. "What''s this pillow made of, why does it feel a bit rough..." Xu Musen murmured, but the fatigue from military training made him too tired to ponder it further, and he fell asleep. Meanwhile, in the girls'' dormitory. Yao Mingyue was hugging her pillow, silently leaning against the headboard, and her roommates had also heard about the cafeteria incident. But they only exchanged nces, not daring to discuss it directly. Yao Mingyue hugged her pillow, her phoenix-like eyes showing a trace of red. That speech from An Nuannuan was like knives plunging into her heart, yet what she said seemed to be true. She had always been the pampered one since childhood, always needing to control everything, yet she overlooked one thing: she could be pampered because someone was willing to do so. Maybe she wasn''t special; it was Xu Musen''s affection that haloed her with a sacred light. Now that he wanted to withdraw, the one who would suffer most was her. But Yao Mingyue really couldn''t ept it; for whatever reason, she didn''t want Xu Musen to leave. Yet, she trulycked the ability to love someone earnestly. Whether it''s delivering water or meals, whatever she could do, other girls could do as well. Like that girl named... what was it, Daiyu or Green Tea Sister. That wasn''t special treatment. Yao Mingyue scored 700 on college entrance exams, but when it came to love, she was as nk as a sheet of paper. She clenched her teeth; but where could she learn about love? Is there something that would make Xu Musen obedient at first sight? Suddenly, an image of a knowledgeable and elegant figure appeared in Yao Mingyue''s mind. She picked up her phone and walked to the balcony. Although reluctant, she made the call. "Mom..." Chapter 107: Chapter 92: Bootlickers are Really Awesome! (Please Follow and Subscribe!) While everyone was gnawing on buns and sipping soy milk, Xu Musen was eating soup dumplings and sipping on pork rib soup, followed by a piece of authentic osmanthus cake as if he were dining at the imperial kitchen. Showing off! "This guy is just boasting whileining, damn, he says he won''t eat but then shows off by crunching away! He wouldn''t eat hard food in his life!" Zhou Hangyu was so envious his teeth were about to shatter. Li Rundong also smacked his lips, but his gaze was fixed on Lin Daiyu, who stood there, holding her milk and bun, motionless. He walked over and took the initiative to say, "Lin, I actually didn''t have time for breakfast either, so...maybe..." Before he could finish his sentence, Lin Daiyu stuffed the bun in her hand directly into his. Li Rundong''s face immediately bloomed like an old chrysanthemum. Could it be that the goddess had finally sensed his feelings? He spoke with a bit of excitement. "How could I ept this...how about I take you out to dinner tonight?" "No need, I was nning to feed the leftovers to the stray dog Big Yellow in the school, but since you want it, it''s yours." Lin Daiyu was in an extremely bad mood, but after saying this, she felt much better in her heart. She nced at Xu Musen silently and then turned and left. Li Rundong stood in ce. Zhou Hangyu could hardly bear to watch. He came over and patted him on the shoulder, "Dude, if I were you, I''d just give up. She''s clearly told you you''re a bootlicker, so stop licking." But Li Rundong bit into the bun and argued, "She was willing to give me the bun, proving I still have a ce in her heart. Why didn''t she give it to you then? Can you stop being sour?" "???" Zhou Hangyu looked at him for a while and spat out, "Licking dogs really are f*cking amazing!" Military training continued. Today, the intensity of the military training obviously ramped up. It started with an hour of standing at military attention under the sun, followed by arm-swinging drills that would freeze us in position for several minutes every so often. In thest thirty seconds, the instructor would always deliberately count slowly, stretching one second into four or five seconds. Anyone who rxed would immediately get extra time. This first day was about capturing troublemakers. If you caught the instructor''s eye, the rest of the military training would be quite unbearable. Finally, it was break time, and everyone in the ss sought refuge under the shade of trees, exhausted. Some of the girls had never done intense physical training before andined, "What''s this, I hate this kind of frozen-arm and squat training the most, half up and half down. If we''re gonna move, let''s keep moving, why stop for no reason, it''s so ufortable..." The guys around them, hearing this, weren''t sure why but felt it was extremely aggressive. "Damn, my arms are about to sour to death, but we still have to keep our arms at ny degrees." "You should be content that they didn''t make you raise your right arm to forty-five degrees." "Artistic failure, huh? That''s somewhat interesting." Zhou Hangyu came over to tease Xu Musen, "Howe no one is bringing you water today?" In the crowd, Lin Daiyu and Zhao Lianmai sat together, fanning themselves with a small fan. Although they asionally nced over, neither came over. Xu Musen, resting with his eyes closed, replied, "It''s nice and quiet." "You''re quiet, but someone has started licking. You''d better hurry and advise Li Rundong; this guy always thinks his chance hase." "A bootlicker cannot be scolded awake; he has toe to his senses on his own," Musenmented, knowing all too well that he himself had been hopelessly licking for years. At that moment, Lin Daiyu was also hurt. Sitting with Zhao Lianmai, she spoke softly, "Lianmai, do you think he really doesn''t want to be in a rtionship or just doesn''t like me?" Although Lin Daiyu was always hurt, Yao Mingyue would be turned away every time she approached as well. So, Lin Daiyu, although never quite at peace,forted herself thinking she wasn''t the only one rejected. Maybe he really hadn''t thought about dating? Zhao Lianmai looked at her and was silent for a moment. Whether Xu Musen wanted to date or not, she wasn''t sure, but that look of like or dislike always differed slightly. When Musen looked at Lin Daiyu, there wasn''t the slightest ripple of emotion. And when facing that assertive girl, He was cold as well, even deliberately avoiding her at times. But in fact, avoidance indicated care. If one truly feels nothing for another person, they would be politely distant. Just as he was now with Lin Daiyu. Moreover, Zhao Lianmai had seen another girl dining with Xu Musen the night before. When Musen looked at that girl, his eyes were filled with the rare doting he seldom showed. It was definitely not the kind of emotion seen between ordinary friends. She pursed her lips, finally saying, "He''s not suitable for you." "Why? Am I really that bad?" Lin Daiyu felt even more dejected. Zhao Lianmai thought about the girl she saw yesterday; in terms of looks, she was not at all inferior to that assertive girl. And in certain areas... she was exceptionally talented. After some thought, she chose a more tactful tone, "It''s not that. Maybe he doesn''t really like girls who are too forward and too smart." "Huh?" Lin Daiyu didn''t understand. She could grasp the concept of not liking someone who was too forward, but what did it mean to not be smart? "Lin, are you thirsty? I was just about to go buy some water," Li Rundong approached again, believing he had made significant progress with her. Lin Daiyu was already annoyed and a bit thirsty, but she just pursed her slightly dry lips and replied indifferently, "No need, I''m not thirsty." Chapter 108: Chapter 92: Bootlickers are Really Awesome! (Please Follow and Subscribe!)_2 Li Rundong nodded and went back. "Not licking anymore?" Zhou Hangyu watched the fun. Li Rundong, however, was preparing to walk out of the yground, "You don''t know shit, when a girl says no, she means yes! This is the perfect time to make a move, you have to know how to create surprises, get it?" As he spoke, he started running towards the yground, and Zhou Hangyu shook his head and cursed again, calling him a ''hopeless tterer''. Shortly after. On the edge of the yground, An Nuannuan held a small jug, under the scorching sun, in a long white dress, blinking her big eyes curiously at the students undergoing military training on the yground. "Computer, Software Engineering ss One..." She muttered to herself but seemed a little confused about the direction. At that moment, Li Rundong, with sweat all over his head, came back with a cup of milk tea. When he saw the girl in the wheelchair on the yground, he marveled to himself. Isn''t she too pretty? He originally thought that the girl named Yao Mingyue was already unbeatable, but this one turned out to be even more impressive. And with that somewhat dazed look, she''s obviously very cute and adorable, plus her figure is incredibly well-proportioned. Isn''t she the epitome of a baby-faced... you know what? In that instant, he felt Lin Daiyu suddenly wasn''t as appealing anymore. And what she was muttering just now, wasn''t that his own ss? "Um, are you looking for Software Engineering ss One?" Li Rundong nervously started to speak. An Nuannuan lifted her head to see a boy, and her little mind first recalled what Xu Musen had said. Boys are no good, and her big eyes immediately became alert. But then she saw the milk tea in his hand, and she felt tempted again. She had passed by the milk tea shop earlier and had stared at it for a long time, but remembering Xu Musen''s words that she should only drink one cup a day, she held back. "I won''t tell you." An Nuannuan slowly spoke. "?" Li Rundong was taken aback, "No, I mean, I don''t have any other intentions, I''m just a student from Software Engineering ss One, I can help you find your way to whoever you''re looking for." An Nuannuan said, "I''m looking for my friend." A friend, huh, Li Rundong nodded with relief, and that heart of his, never willing to be left out, again began to stir. He felt that this somewhat silly-looking girl seemed to be easier to... chase after than Lin Daiyu. There are two types of tterers, one is the infatuated tterer, the other kind is the one who tters anyone they see. They fall into roles quickly and just as swiftly rece one love interest with another. They could be considered a kind of tterer-scumbag. Clearly, Li Rundong belonged to thetter category. "Should I take you there?" "Oh." An Nuannuan nodded, but just followed behind him without saying much. "Wouldn''t it be better if I pushed you?" Li Rundong was ready to earn some brownie points. But An Nuannuan immediately shook her head, her big eyes full of wariness, "No, I only let him push me." "...Alright, then I''ll continue leading the way." Li Rundong didn''t catch whether "he" was male or female and continued walking ahead. An Nuannuan, on the other hand, followed slowly, looking down at the little jug in her arms, eagerly anticipating seeing Xu Musen, her eyes twinkling. Li Rundong marveled at the girl''s beauty, and noting her somewhat happy demeanor, felt a bit like saying, "Soldier, the lovelydy is right ahead." He used his own shadow to shield her from the sunlight, thinking to himself that he really was a big warm-hearted guy. At the same time, An Nuannuan''s gaze often drifted to the milk tea in his hand, herrge eyes brimming with an infatuation that wasn''t far off from the feeling of being in love. Li Rundong kept ncing at her using his peripheral vision and noticed it. Could it be that this girl realized he was a big-hearted guy and had noticed his irresistible charm? As they were about to reach the ss area, Li Rundong prepared to seize the opportunity. "ssmate, since we''ve met by fate, how about we exchange contact information? Let''s be friends." Friends? An Nuannuan, recalling what Xu Musen had told her upon hearing this word, immediately shook her head, "That won''t do, Xu Musen said not to make friends with other boys." "I see Wait! Who did you say?" Li Rundong shook his head in disappointment, but the next second his eyes widened, "You mean Xu Musen?" "Yeah, you know him too, huh?" An Nuannuan nodded proudly, as if knowing Xu Musen was something to brag about. Li Rundong felt as if he''d been struck by lightning. Again with Xu Musen? Does every pretty girl have something to do with him? Damn it, it''s so unjust, did that kid save the gxy in his past life? Li Rundong''s outburst was heard by the people in the ss, who all turned to look. Seeing An Nuannuan, they all showed expressions of amazement. "Another campus beauty, which department does she belong to? Why do we who studyputer science have such tough luck?" "Nonsense, why would beautiful girls like to sit in front ofputers all day?" "But who did she call just now? Xu Musen again?" Xu Musen opened his eyes, wondering what was going on. Why was he yelling as if someone had stolen his wife? But as soon as he opened his eyes, he saw the familiar wheelchair and the white-dressed, adorable, dazed cute girl. "Nuannuan?" Xu Musen sprang to his feet and walked over quickly. "Damn... Another red boss battle?" Zhou Hangyu, seeing the suddenly appeared beautiful girl, turned around and stood up to join in the excitement. "Nuannuan, what brings you here?" Xu Musen looked at her fair little face, which had turned a bit red due to the hot sun. "I came to bring you some mung bean soup to drink." An Nuannuan held up the small jug she had taken from her arms, which she had protected very well, and even in the summer heat, the pleasant fragrance of mung beans seemed to waft through the air. Chapter 109: Chapter 92: Bootlickers are Really Awesome! (Please Follow and Subscribe!)_3 Xu Musen was touched as well, considering it was a long way from her dormitory to here. While they could take the stairs as a shortcut, she had to honestly follow the winding road. The uphill and downhill path was certainly not easy. Looking at her smooth forehead that was already covered with some fine sweat, her fair cheeks were also a bit reddened by the sun. Yet her eyes were bright, seemingly carrying a sense of pride. As if saying, look, I''m quite impressive! It seemed even more intense than the midday sun. Xu Musen felt his heartbeat quicken, you little girl, by doing this, you''re making people want more Hmm? Why does this mindset feel so familiar? "Silly girl, you didn''t even apply sunscreen. What if you get sunburned?" Xu Musen looked at her skin, as white and tender as milk. An Nuannuan probably rarely sunbathed, her skin was very delicate. He quickly ushered An Nuannuan to the cool shade under the trees. The surrounding students were all stunned. Howe every pretty girl seems to go looking for Xu Musen? Especially Lin Daiyu, who witnessed the entire scene unfold. For the first time, she saw in Xu Musen''s eyes an expression that he had never shown her. So it turned out he wasn''t uninterested in dating, it''s just that he had someone else in mind She looked at the other girl''s cheeks and, despite feeling ufortable, she had to admit that the girl was indeed very beautiful. Just as pretty as that other girl. There was a sense of defeat in her heart, but also a bit of reality setting in. She even felt a strange emotion. Better to lose to such a sweet young girl than to the girl with the sarcastic tongue; it was somewhat more bearable for her. Even the instructor couldn''t help but take a look. Isn''t it said that nowadays the wolves are many and the meat is scarce? The youth of today really are maybe you shoulde and be an instructor in my stead? The small me of hope that Li Rundong had just been ready to kindle was instantly extinguished. He nced once more at An Nuannuan, then resignedly turned his gaze back to Lin Daiyu. Forget it, continue with the one I''ve been pursuing. He walked over and handed her the milk tea he had queued to buy: "Lin, I bought you this milk tea as thanks for the breakfast you gave me." "Oh." Lin Daiyu epted it, trying to suppress the bitterness in her heart. It was the first time in her life that she had felt what it was like to be dumped. Even though he had never considered dating her in the first ce. At this moment, Xu Musen squatted in front of An Nuannuan, noticing that her lips were a bit dehydrated and white from the sun. But the mung bean soup he was holding was full to the brim, untouched. "You''re so thirsty, why didn''t you drink some yourself first?" "It''s all for you. Aunt Xiang said mung bean soup can prevent heatstroke." "It''s not that easy to get heatstroke, right? Couldn''t you have bought a milk tea for yourself on the way?" "You said we could only have one a day." "Then drink it, do you have to wait until you get heatstroke?" Xu Musen felt both heartache and helplessness, this little girl''s thought process was indeed sometimes stubborn to a fault. An Nuannuan raised her bright and clear eyes to look at Xu Musen: "Because I wanted to save the one chance to have milk tea today to drink it with you." Her little face was sunburned a bright red, yet it was like a blush of bashfulness on a young girl''s cheeks, seeming to make the milk tea she drank with Xu Musen even sweeter than usual. Her voice was not loud, but it was like a breeze that reached everyone''s ears; at that moment, it seemed as if the noisy voices all around had been smoothed out. It was just that the jealousy inside the boys'' hearts had already reached its peak! God damn it, a knife in hand, follow me! I''m gonna sh this son of a bitch! Xu Musen felt something stir in his heart at that instant, realizing that he had unconsciously be the most special one in her heart. "I''ll buy you ice cream tonight." "You better not be kidding!" An Nuannuan''s big eyes suddenly sparkled, the adorable ent from her small hometown slipping out. "I''m not kidding, wait for me a bit." Xu Musen, looking at her sunburned skin, turned around to Lin Daiyu: "Um, Lin, could I borrow your sunscreen for a moment?" Lin Daiyu looked at him, not expecting that the first time he''d initiate a conversation with her, it would be for another girl. Her heart felt a bit bitter, but also strangely ticklish... "Okay." Lin Daiyu took out her sunscreen and handed it to him; it was actually something she had prepared for him. "Thanks, I''ll buy you a new bottleter." "No need for that, take this too, I''m on a diet and don''t drink milk tea." At that moment, Lin Daiyu also felt a sense of relief, smiled faintly, and handed over the milk tea she was holding. Li Rundong:... "Thanks a lot." Xu Musen received it and smiled at her; this little favor would be remembered. Turning around, he approached An Nuannuan. He handed the milk tea to her. "Here, drink." An Nuannuan, who was already craving it, reached out her hand but still looked at Xu Musen: "What about tonight''s..." "I''ll make an exception for you today." "Hehe~ you''re really good to me." Only then did An Nuannuan take the milk tea with ease and happily started to drink. "Put on some sunscreen too; if you get sunburned, I won''t be able to exin it to Aunt Xiang." "Oh~" An Nuannuan applied a bit, and where she couldn''t spread it evenly, Xu Musen reached out to help her smooth it out. This gesture... There was only one thought in the minds of everyone in the ss. This dude is definitely gearing up for romance! "Dammit, I bought that milk tea, Xu Musen you son of a..." Li Rundong suffered a great blow, Zhou Hangyu patted him on the shoulder: "Come on, you''re notpletely in vain, at least you participated a bit. Maybe next time buy some ultra-thin 0.01s, who knows, they might juste in handy, contributing to someone else''s romantic endeavors. Good man!" "Screw you, would you die if you didn''t insult me?!" The two friends began to bicker. Lin Daiyu, however, was looking at Xu Musen and An Nuannuan, the bitterness in her heart slowly fading away, and she started to think of something else. That girl named Yao Mingyue, if she saw this scene, she''d probably be the real ''loser dog'' on the spot, right? She was kind of looking forward to it~ Chapter 110: Chapter 93 Yao Mingyue Being Cuckolded. (Please subscribe!) Today''s military training has a bit of a lovey-dovey vibe. After delivering the mung bean soup, An Nuannuan didn''t leave. Instead, she sat in the shade of arge tree, sipping her milk tea with a slurp and watched Xu Musen''s military training intently. She even took out a drawing board from her wheelchair, the dopey kangaroo wearing a helmet was already half-finished on it. She watched Xu Musen training. Xu Musen was tall and imposing, standing in thest row of the military training formation, the green camouge uniform was quite a test of a male''s physique and temperament. The muscr lines of Xu Musen''s exposed arms were sleek, his shoulders broad and straight, his eyes under the brim of his cap deep and bright, with the asional sweat trickling down his distinct jawline. Men should have a masculine air about them. An Nuannuan watched Xu Musen train seriously, asionally exchanging nces with her and offering a slight smile. It made the girl''s heart itch a little. She initially wanted to focus on drawing the helmeted kangaroo, but she couldn''t help but sneak peeks at him. Then, she switched to a new drawing, quickly sketching the outline of the field with a few strokes that captured Xu Musen''s tall figure. As if he were shining amongst the crowd. Yeah, now she could look at him openly. An Nuannuan sipped on her milk tea while watching Xu Musen train and drawing him, sometimes showing a bit of glee or a blushing expression. The other male students also noticed An Nuannuan''s expressions, marveling at her beauty; they thought this quiet, overly cute girl seemed like she had stepped out of aic book. Lunchtime arrived. With the dismissalmand echoing. Everyone began to head to the canteen inrge numbers. When Xu Musen approached An Nuannuan, he noticed she quickly hid her drawing away. "What are you drawing? Why so secretive?" "No~" An Nuannuan shook her little head, her eyes slyly darting about. She took out a small handkerchief to dab at the sweat on Xu Musen''s forehead. "Is military training tiring?" Her pale and delicate fingers gently touched his cheek, fragrant and soft, as if instantly dispelling the fatigue of the training. "It is a bit tiring, but I feel much better now," Xu Musen responded with a smile. The surrounding male students felt even more heart-tired. "Brother Musen~ I''m so tired too, wipe my sweat too~" Zhou Hangyu teased with a peculiar tone. Li Rundong internally whined, cursing the damn yboy. "Scram, scram, scram." Xu Musen gave the flirt a knock and then turned to An Nuannuan and said. "Shall we go have lunch together?" "Sure!" The little foodie was always full of energy when it came to eating. Xu Musen pushed the wheelchair, and a group of them walked toward the canteen together. Lin Daiyu watched their figures from the back of the group, her gazeplex and with a bitter smile, she whispered to Zhao Lianmai. "Lianmai, I think I''ve just been dumped..." "No, you never even dated to begin with." Zhao Lianmai shook her head. "You''re really notforting, Lianmai. But that girl really is beautiful, and she seems to have a nice personality. In such hot weather, sitting in a wheelchair, she came all this way to deliver mung bean soup. If I were a guy, I''d be moved too. Losing to her doesn''t feel so wrong, at least my heart doesn''t hurt so much." Lin Daiyumented, looking like someone who had matured through heartbreak. "Boring." Zhao Lianmai was indifferent about romance. "I have to be like you from now on, sealing off my heart from love... No more dating for me either..." "..." Meanwhile, on the other side. Yao Mingyue was walking among the crowd; she hade from another training ground, wanting to join Xu Musen for lunch. She stood at the crossroads, her cool gaze searching through the throngs of people, making many passing boys take a second look at her. Her tall figure of 1.72 meters, along with her superb physique, showcased the valiant spirit of the camouge uniform perfectly. Her phoenix eyes exuded a natural nobleness, the aura of a dominating queen bee of the future. "Who is that girl? She''s too pretty." "That presence and physique are amazing, someone go get her contact infoI''ll pay a high price!" Yao Mingyue was oblivious to her surroundings, her gaze soon fixating on the tall figure of Xu Musen in the crowd. He was smiling, seemingly chatting with friends, asionally bending down to listen, his patience and smile something Yao Mingyue hadn''t seen for quite some time. Just as she prepared to follow him, a figure suddenly appeared in front of her. "Ming Yue, would you like to join us for lunch?" A handsome student with a slicked-back hairstyle was inviting Yao Mingyue. This person, Chen Guangnian, was a ssmate in Yao Mingyue''s ss. He seemed well-spoken and good-looking,ing from a seemingly wealthy household, and even wore a pair of gold-rimmed sses, giving off somewhat of a refined rascal vibe. The type that many girls would like. But Yao Mingyue, as if she had heard nothing, kept her eyes on Xu Musen, who was now starting to walk toward the canteen with the crowd. At that moment, she finally noticed that there seemed to be someone in front of Xu Musen, just a bit too low and hidden by the crowd. She looked closely and saw a little head, half of a snow-white cute face peeking out, her small hand pointing expectantly towards the direction of the canteen. Yao Mingyue''s eyes suddenly narrowed. Which little vixen was this? Two images shed in her mind. She never really took that Lin Daiyu seriously. Chapter 111: Chapter 93 Yao Mingyue Wearing a Cuckolds Cap. (Subscribe please!) _2 But another... Her automatic adultery-catching function immediately activated! "Ming Yue, if you don''t want to eat at school, I know a ce off campus that has a..." "Move!" Yao Mingyue was in a rather bad mood, and she simply walked around this person, heading towards the cafeteria. Chen Guangnian stood there, the words he was about to say stuck in his throat. Yao Mingyue was usually very aloof, but he never expected she wouldn''t give an inch of face. The gazes around him made his cheeks feel somewhat burning. However, he wasn''t discouraged and calmly pushed his gold-rimmed sses up, watching the direction in which Yao Mingyue was leaving. At this moment, inside the cafeteria. The students were packed like sardines, especially during military training when appetites were already high, and long queues formed at many windows. Some upperssmen sighed that this year''s students must have never eaten before, each one acting like a starving ghost. Many who had gotten their food still couldn''t find a ce to sit. Xu Musen, pushing An Nuannuan, looked around: "What would you like to eat?" An Nuannuan also raised her little head, dazzled by the array of choices in the cafeteria, each one looking temptingly delicious. "They all look so good..." Too bad she could only eat one at a time. Xu Musenughed at the sight of her, suddenly thinking that one reason she liked hotpot might be because it allowed her to throw in a variety of ingredients. "How about trying the pick-your-own meal here? It''s pretty good." Xu Musen pointed to a counter nearby, where more than thirty dishes were disyed, along with fruits and small desserts, avable to choose from with the final price based on weight. An Nuannuan, seeing so many dishes, immediately nodded in anticipation. Xu Musen handed her a te, and as soon as she reached the counter, she started picking out fried chicken, braised pork, little sausages, then some cream cakes and some fruit. There wasn''t a single green thing in sight. "What about vegetables?" Xu Musen asked, looking at her heaping te devoid of any leafy greens. "There''s fruit, though." "But that can''t count as vegetables; you need a bnced meal." "Ying~" "Acting cute won''t work; do you really want to turn into a little pig?" Xu Musen picked up the tongs, added some greens to An Nuannuan''s te, and took a few pieces of fried chicken onto his te. Watching him, Nuannuan looked longingly and tugged at Xu Musen''s sleeve: "Ok, that''s enough, don''t take anymore." Seeing the te now properly bnced, Xu Musen finally handed it back to her: "Take a good look, from now on you should eat with this meat-to-vegetable ratio, got it?" "Oh," An Nuannuan felt a bit disappointed. Xu Musen, pushing her, searched for a seat. It wasn''t long before a few guys hastily shoveled their food into their mouths to vacate their seats for Nuannuan. Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong also followed to scrounge a spot. Once An Nuannuan started eating, she entered a zone of concentration that was hard for outsiders to break. "Xu Musen, can I trade some vegetables for one of your sausages?" "No picky eating; you have to eat a bite of vegetables for every bite of meat. You must finish all the greens on the te, or else there will be no ice cream tonight." "Wu~" An Nuannuan could only take a small bite of vegetables, but her eyes stayed fixed on Xu Musen''s chicken and sausages. She voiced her hope softly. "Then, once I''mpletely well, can you give me a big sausage to eat every day?" Xu Musen felt praised, yet he noticed some odd nces from the girls around them. "We''ll talk about that when you''re well." "Oh~" Watching Xu Musen''s and An Nuannuan''s harmonious interaction, Zhou Hangyu couldn''t help himself and leaned toward Xu Musen, asking, "You sly dog, where did you pick up this chick?" "What do you mean pick up? This is mutual attraction due to personal charisma." "Cut the crap; you two were exchanging coy nces during military training today. That dog food vor was too damn strong." "We are friends, pure friendship, you understand?" Xu Musen replied with a smile. "I don''t believe a ghost of that; you say it''s pure friendship? Then can I be added as a good friend too?" "Then go ask her." "I''ll ask." Zhou Hangyu cleared his throat and turned to An Nuannuan: "Hey there, I''m Xu Musen''s roommate. Can we add each other as friends too?" An Nuannuan lifted her head, blinking her clearrge eyes: "You can just talk to Xu Musen about that." "Huh?" Zhou Hangyu was confused. An Nuannuan then looked rather pleased and serious: "Xu Musen is in charge of my friend management, whatever he says, goes." "..." Everyone felt as if they were being pped in the face with cold dog food. Xu Musen himself was momentarily stunned. How could this adorable dolt speak such easily misunderstood words with such a serious expression? But, that feeling ofplete trust from someone else was genuinely exhrating. "Xu Musen, you scumbag!" Zhou Hangyu cursed inwardly, teeth gnashed. Xu Musen already had a girl eating out of his hand, and he still imed they weren''t dating? Li Rundong also felt a sourness in his mouth, damn it, today''s meal must have been marinated in lemon juice! At the next table, Lin Daiyu and Zhao Lianmai also overheard that sentence, and they both went silent for a good while. Lin Daiyu: I''ve learned something new. Zhao Lianmai: Poor girl. "Hey, looks like you''re having a great time chatting. How about adding me as a friend too?" Just then, a pleasant yet slightly hair-raising voice chimed in. Chapter 112: Chapter 93 Yao Mingyue Being Cuckolded. (Please subscribe!) _3 Everyone turned around, and their eyes suddenly widened. Yao Mingyue was also holding a te, her stunningly beautiful face with a smile, and her pearly white teeth even showing a sharp little canine. Her phoenix eyes were slightly narrowed, her pupils seemed to shimmer with a deep, abyssal luster, constantly looking at An Nuannuan and Xu Musen, who were engrossed in eating. Lin Daiyu at the next table suddenly got a little excited, "She''s here, she''s here! She''s finally here!" "Why are you so excited?" Zhao Lianmai spoke indifferently. "Of course! This girl''s personality is so strong that it''s annoying. Watch her definitely get knocked down this time!" Lin Daiyu had a very satisfying feeling. Zhao Lianmai, on the other hand, shook her head with a sigh, originally thinking that her roommate was still quite an outstanding girl. But ever since the school term started and she got involved with Xu Musen, her IQ seemed to have decreased. Indeed, love is the culprate that erases the intelligence of young girls. Especially scumbags skilled in PUA like these. Stay away. Yet her gaze couldn''t help but shift over. "Excuse me, could you please let me have your seat?" Yao Mingyue, acting as if she was familiar, softly asked Li Rundong, who was sitting next to Xu Musen. Li Rundong was stunned for a moment. Damn, why did this scene feel so familiar? Last time he gave up his seat, he missed out on the goddess Lin. This time...well, there was no chance for even a connection. He looked at Xu Musen, thinking that this guy deserved it! "No problem!" A good roommate is ready to sell you out! You always snatch my goddess? Li Rundong immediately moved aside swiftly and decisively. "Thank you." Yao Mingyue gracefully took a seat, but there was still a noise when she ced her te down. Xu Musen''s eyebrows twitched; this clinging ster had stuck itself to him again. And Yao Mingyue''s gaze at this moment carried a bit of a dark, sinister vibe. When she looked at An Nuannuan, it was with the hostility of encountering a natural enemy. "You''re here again?" "I''m here to eat. Do you have to mind that as well?" Yao Mingyue was far from as calm inside as she appeared to be outwardly. The moment she saw An Nuannuan earlier, she nearly lost control of her emotions and went to flip the table. Especially seeing Xu Musen and her exchanging food affectionately, all of which should have belonged to her! Her heart was sour, and even more filled with indignation! Why? Why was it that she only appeared for a short month or two, yet could upy so much of his space so rightfully? Yao Mingyue bit her silver teeth, holding back her urge to explode publicly. "Hey, it''s the kind sister!" But at this moment, An Nuannuan had almost finished the meat on her te and was about to stealthily steal some from Xu Musen''s te. But when she looked up, she found the person sitting beside Xu Musen had changed. Just her calling her "kind sister." Made Yao Mingyue clench her fists, a sense of humiliation flooding her from nowhere! It was as if you were being cuckolded by someone else, yet they wereplimenting you for being such a good person. At the adjacent dining table, Lin Daiyu also paused for a moment before she couldn''t help but burst intoughter. "Hahaha, she really hadn''t guessed wrong; her scheming nemesis was just as in and dull-witted as she had imagined!" Xu Musen too felt that these two seemed to counter each other, but he was a bit worried the little sick beauty might suddenly start flipping tables. He said in a low voice, "Let''s talk about this in private." "Talk about what? Dating?" Yao Mingyue shifted her gaze, her dark pupils staring intently at him, her lips curling upwards as she fought to control her emotions. She suddenly increased her distance from Xu Musen as if to whisper, making her voice just loud enough for everyone to hear. "Xu Musen, I remember two months ago after you confessed your feelings to me, you said you didn''t want to date anymore. But now you''re suddenly so intimate with another girl of unclear origin. Does our mom know about this?" At that moment, Yao Mingyue certainly wielded the aura of the legitimate wife, even deliberately changing her form of address. This made some of the onlookers suddenly look at Xu Musen in a more dubious light. What the heck? Could this be the famous Chen Shimei who speaks of marriage yet has two lovers at once? Xu Musen looked at her, "When did I be ''our mom'' to you?" "My aunt said when I was little that she wanted a cute and sensible daughter like me. Can''t I fulfill my aunt''s wish?" Yao Mingyue spoke to Xu Musen, but her gaze turned to An Nuannuan, seemingly on purpose to let everyone know. "Ah, so they were childhood friends." "This kind of childhood friendship must''ve included a marriage arrangement when they were kids, huh? I had a childhood betrothal with my godfather''s daughter when I was little, but as she grew up prettier and prettier, I just kept liking fattier, and now, it''s not mentioned anymore, wuu wuu wuu..." The status of childhood friends was indeed enormously oppressive; a few people were learning of it for the first time and felt even more out of sorts. So, you were born with a rich and exquisitedy included, huh? Grinding their teeth to pieces! Lin Daiyu was also stunned for a moment. So that was it... No wonder she always carried herself like the main wife, but then she scoffed. "Childhood friends, so what? Since ancient times, it''s always been that the girl-next-door can''tpete with a match made in heaven! Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey!" Everyone''s thoughts were visibly different. But the only one at the center of the storm, An Nuannuan, was blinking her big eyes, having finished thest piece of meat and now looking at the vegetables with some hesitation. "You sure have a thick face. Whom I hang out with is none of your business. Don''t scare my friend," Xu Musen frowned. "Friend?" Yao Mingyue bit her lip, recalling how she once used the word ''friend'' to continue enjoying the sensation of being pursued by him. She knew best that there was no such thing as pure friendship between men and women. So the word ''friend'' sounded particrly harsh to her, giving her the sense that there was a green tint forming over her head. She was just about to say something more. But suddenly, a pair of chopsticks appeared in front of her. An Nuannuan, holding the vibrantly green vegetables from her own te with her chopsticks, ced them onto Yao Mingyue''s te. "Kind sister, you don''t look well, be careful of heatstroke. Eating more vegetables is good for your health," An Nuannuan''s voice was full of concern, but the next moment, she sneaked a sausage from Xu Musen''s te. Hehe... He said that I could eat meat only after the vegetables were gone, so now there''s no problem. However, at that moment, Yao Mingyue''s chest heaved violently, looking at the fresh green vegetables on her te. She suddenly felt as if the vegetable was ced upon her own head! She looked at the foolishly charming girl in front of her. Was she delivering green [hat] to herself and then stealthily eating her man''s sausage the next moment? Was she doing it on purpose, or was it an ident? Ahhh! Someone was on the verge of goingpletely insane! Chapter 113: Chapter 94: The True Damage of the Silly Cutie! "Hahaha! You finally got what you deserved, strutting around like the perfect girlfriend, now with a green hat stuffed right in your face!" Lin Daiyu watched the scene unfold, feeling an immense sense of satisfaction inside, even though she herself was also a loser in love. But seeing you not having it any easier made her feel much morefortable. Zhao Lianmai shook her head as she watched Lin Daiyu alternate between smugness and dejection. Love really does make people lose their intelligence terribly. With all this time, it would be better to earn more money. At this moment, Yao Mingyue watched as An Nuannuan deftly picked food from Xu Musen''s te. As if they had done it many times before, Xu Musen didn''t make any moves to stop her, as though he was already used to it. This tacit understanding drove Yao Mingyue even crazier! She almost twisted her stainless steel te into a deformity, her eyes fixed on An Nuannuan''s innocent-looking face. Yet she couldn''t help feeling that this girl was not as simple as she appeared! "How can you, as a girl, have the audacity to pick food from a guy''s te? Didn''t your family teach you about not getting too familiar with the opposite sex?" Yao Mingyue said it through clenched teeth, her tone dripping with disdain. "We''re friends," replied An Nuannuan seriously, chewing on a sausage she''d snagged from Xu Musen. "Friends? So that makes it okay to be so casual? Have you no shame?" Yao Mingyue red at her, her eyebrows furrowed. An Nuannuan then took another bite of her sausage, as if to say, what''s shame? Is it tastier than a sausage? Xu Musen chose that moment to break the tension. "Yao Mingyue, can you stop making a scene?" "How am I making a scene? Isn''t what I said the truth?" Yao Mingyue turned around, her fists clenched tightly: "Why should she, a so-called friend, a neer, be able to take what should have been mine?" Hearing her words, Xu Musen felt a sinking feeling in his heart: "I don''t belong to anyone, and I''ve told you, we no longer have any rtionship." Yao Mingyue moved closer to him, so close she could smell the fragrance on her body, her beautiful face now marred by an unhealthy possessiveness. "What you say doesn''t matter to me. I want you! I''ve told you before, I''d give you my answer once we both got to university." Now Yao Mingyue was even closer, her gaze locked on him, "I''m telling you now, I agree to be with you!" Xu Musen looked at the face that was so close, which had once moved his heart more than once. The debt he owed her, he had repaid in hisst life. Talking about it now was pointless. "Please get this straight, it''s me who doesn''t want to." Xu Musen stepped back slightly, his expression calm. Though saying this did feel a bit pretentious. After all, whether it''s her looks, figure, or temperament, Yao Mingyue is a campus belle that thousands are enamored with. Any guy would boast to his friends just about having a few words with her or adding her as a friend. Not to mention having her throwing herself at you like today. "Why wouldn''t you want to?" "Because I don''t like you now, it''s as simple as that." Xu Musen''s indifferent words made Yao Mingyue''s heart sour and irritated even more. "You don''t like me? Then who do you like? Her?" Yao Mingyue extended her finger, pointing at An Nuannuan, who was busy eating her sausage. An Nuannuan''s way of eating was definitely not delicate among girls; her cute little mouth was slightly oily, scarfing down food at an rming rate, as if missing a second would lead to starvation. With that sentence, Yao Mingyue pushed Xu Musen to the edge of a precipice with a decision to make. You say she''s just a friend, right? What pure friendship is there between men and women? It''s just fear of puncturing that thin film of pretense. As long as it remains intact, they can continue nurturing feelings under the guise of friendship, all the while avoiding many unnecessary rivals. This tacticYao Mingyue, I am the master! Now she just wanted to puncture that film and end their ambiguity for good! At this moment, everyone''s eyes turned towards them. Everyone was a bit silent. Although An Nuannuan might seem a bit foolish, she''s undeniably beautiful, and sometimes her sporadic words hit right on the mark. She might be naive, but she''s definitely not stupid! As for Yao Mingyue, there''s no need to say more. She doesn''t lose to anyone in looks, and more importantly, what man could stand against such a forceful and proactive approach? This choice between two? They wouldn''t even dare to think about it. Xu Musen frowned. He looked at Yao Mingyue and An Nuannuan. Of course, he had a bit of a crush on An Nuannuan, but for now, the pace of their rtionship was just right. After all, if they really became a couple, things might start to go sour. Some aspects would shift from mutual warmth to a responsibility. Xu Musen felt he wasn''t ready for a rtionship yet. Plus, he couldn''t use her as a shield. And more to the point, An Nuannuan, this little girl, probably had no idea what dating really was. What if he scared her offpletely? How would he then coax her slowly? Lin Daiyu, the top spectator at the next table, also had a flicker in her eyes. "Xiao Mai, if all three of them fall apart, maybe..." "What happened to the ''concrete heart'' you were set on?" Zhao Lianmai looked at her somewhat speechlessly. "Woo, that was my mistake, sister, but can this girl really withstand it..." All Lin Daiyu could do was shake her head and sigh. Although she hated to admit it, Yao Mingyue''s aura was indeed formidable. If it were her in this situation, she probably wouldn''t know how to react. Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong looked at the unfolding scene, their hearts filled with a mix of envy, jealousy, and irritation. Will it turn into a fight? Just at that moment, An Nuannuan, who had been burying her head in her meal, finally lifted her head. Her clear eyes twinkled, seemingly oblivious to the tension that was thick in the air around them. Confronted by Yao Mingyue''s oppressive aura, any other girl might have been scared off. But An Nuannuan looked straight into Yao Mingyue''s eyes and seriously said, "If it''s about liking someone, then it''s also me liking Xu Musen." "..." What the fuck??! Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong both eximed a big "What the hell!" Is this really turning into a contest of snatching each other''s love interests? Lin Daiyu was also stunned; she didn''t expect this seemingly naive and a bit socially anxious girl to actually blurt out these words. She even began to reflect on herself, wondering if she''d been too reserved at the beginning. Shouldn''t she have pretended to suffer from heatstroke and throw herself into his arms on the first day of military training? At that moment, Xu Musen almost dropped his chopsticks to the floor, looking at the silly young girl in front of him. Did she know what she was saying? Yao Mingyue''s pupils shrank to slits, like a wild cat''s, as she stared intently at An Nuannuan. "What did you say? Liking? Do you even know what ''liking'' means?" Her emotions were a bit out of control, and each word seemed to be squeezed out between her teeth. An Nuannuan blinked, and then, holding out her clean little fingers, she counted out, "Of course I know. I like that Xu Musen takes me out for food, I like that he rubs my legs for me, I also like that he carries me home when I''m alone, I like that he doesn''t find me bothersome and is willing to be friends with me..." She exined item by item, not the bold confession people expected, but a different kind of rification. Yet the sincerity in her words made people suddenly realize. Yeah, ''liking'' doesn''t necessarily have to represent love. It can signify something much broader. Yao Mingyue''s emotions were also shaken at that moment. She pursed her lips and continued, "What I''m talking about is different from yours. What I mean by ''liking'' is the kind where you want to get married and be together in the future, do you understand that?" "Enough, Nuannuan, you don''t need to pay attention to her," Xu Musen put down his chopsticks, stood up, and was ready to take An Nuannuan away. But An Nuannuan kept her gaze on Yao Mingyue. "Then why did you reject his flowers before?" This one sentence referred to a past that only the three of them knew about. Yao Mingyue trembled, biting her lip: "I didn''t mean to reject him..." "But when he left with the flowers, to throw them away all by himself several times, it looked really pitiful," continued An Nuannuan, her tender lips moving, "When he takes me out to eat, I always eat a lot, a lot because I don''t want to waste his kindness, but you didn''t even know how to appreciate it." Yao Mingyue seemed to have been stabbed in the heart by these words, her voice trembled, "What do you know... I will make it up to him, as long as he''s with me, I will always be good to him!" "I don''t think that''s right," shook her head An Nuannuan, "If Xu Musen takes me out to eat, I''ll be very happy, but if he doesn''t, I won''t me him because he doesn''t owe me anything. I would first ask him why he doesn''t want to eat, and if possible, I would even take him to eat. Because he''s nice to me, I want to be nice to him. That''s why we are good friends. It''s not about being nice to him because of the status of being friends; otherwise, what''s the point of any status, no matter how impressive it is?" An Nuannuan''s words were gentle, almost childishly naive, but when they fell on Xu Musen''s heart, a warmth flowed through. Yes, it was just that simple. It reminded them of a song. Not because I''m lonely do I think of you, but because I think of you, I feel lonely... Many people get this order wrong, always feeling that they need an official status to be at ease. But in today''s society, even a marriage certificate can''t guarantee anything. Thew is just the lowest standard of morality. What truly determines two people''s rtionship is the two individuals themselves. Yao Mingyue''s body trembled, she had heard these words from both Xu Musen and her mother. But this time, they pierced her heart like a sharp knife. The people around were all dumbfounded, never expecting such profound words from this seemingly dazed and cute girl. Xu Musen silently watched Yao Mingyue, who was trembling with emotion. Without a word, he pushed An Nuannuan ahead and left first. ... In the canteen. The surrounding onlookers also quietly dispersed. Only Yao Mingyue remained seated at the table, silent, her whole body seemingly shrouded in chilliness, to the point where no one dared approach her. "That girl probably isn''t foolish at all; she''s really lost out this time," Lin Daiyu couldn''t help but click her tongue twice and left with Zhao Lianmai. Yao Mingyue sat alone at the table for a while. Two boys came over and sat down in front of her. One of them was the boy who had just invited her to have lunch together. "Ming Yue, eating alone? The cafeteria has released a mung bean ice shake that''s really refreshing. Why don''t you try it?" Chen Guangnian, wearing a pair of gold-rimmed sses, considerately ced a serving of mung bean ice shake in front of Yao Mingyue. Yao Mingyue''s gaze was fixed tightly on the bowl of mung bean ice shake in front of her, that greenishyer covering the top. It instantly ignited a rage in Yao Mingyue! "Go to hell!" She furiously grabbed the ice shake, mmed it onto the table, as if desperately wanting to break away from the invisible green hat on her head! Chen Guangnian was sshed with the ice shake all over his face. It was cold to the bone. Yao Mingyue''s mood finally found an outlet and gradually calmed down a lot. She quietly watched the direction Xu Musen had left. He took out a bill from his wallet and tossed it at Chen Guangnian in front of him. "Keep the change," she said indifferently, and then turned around to leave. Chen Guangnian looked at the red bill thatnded in front of him, only feeling a burning sensation on his face. He hade to hit on a girl, not to be a waiter! Chapter 114: Chapter 95: Are you just giving him a taste of sweetness? I escorted An Nuannuan to the dormitory building. All the way there, Xu Musen was thinking about the things that had just happened. He hadn''t expected An Nuannuan to say such words. The girl who usually seemed so goofy and dorky, turned out to have such a delicate mind. To be honest, the words she said earlier really touched Xu Musen''s heart. You are good to me, so I want to be good to you too, even without those "identities". This is what a true little fairy is! "Xu Musen, was I wrong just now?" An Nuannuan suddenly spoke up. "Hmm?" Xu Musen hadn''t reacted yet and looked down into her eyes. An Nuannuan pouted her lips. "Actually, I feel kind of sorry for Good Person Sister. She doesn''t seem to have many friends around, alwaysing and going alone." Xu Musen listened and reflected silently for a moment. Yes, Yao Mingyue''s strong aura and personality indeed made it hard for her to find friends. Maybe it didn''t matter to her, after all, she only had eyes for Xu Musen. But now, it seemed like she truly didn''t have any confidants by her side. However, unless she changed her ways, Xu Musen couldn''t gamble his life on her, otherwise, they would both be miserable. "It''s not your fault; it''s her own issues," he shook his head. An Nuannuan gave an "Oh," her big eyes swirling, her little brain seemingly pondering for quite a while before she spoke, "Xu Musen, do you really not like her anymore?" Xu Musen looked down at her upturned, snowy face, her clear eyes seeming somewhat moved. He slowly began, "Liking someone and being suitable for each other are not the same. I don''t like her personality as it is now." "Then what kind of personality do you like?" An Nuannuan continued to ask, like a curious baby. Xu Musen couldn''t help but look at her. An Nuannuan wasn''t as ostentatious or dazzling as Yao Mingyue when you first meet her. But her pretty face had an extraordinarilyforting effect. If Yao Mingyue was the unapproachable, aloof beauty of youth, Then An Nuannuan was the kind of cute and innocent girl, beautiful without awareness. Having been manipted by others in his past life, Xu Musen always wanted to find someone he could control. Looking at An Nuannuan''s harmless appearance, he smiled slightly and said, "I still prefer someone who is good-looking and will obediently listen to me, someone not too bright will do." "Oh~" An Nuannuan nodded, her intelligence obviously not modest. She was, after all, smart! "What about you? What kind of boy do you like?" asked Xu Musen, unable to help himself. An Nuannuan was startled for a moment, as if her little brain had never processed such aplex thought. After thinking for a long while without knowing how to answer, she finally looked up at Xu Musen, appearing somewhat troubled and aggrieved, "I just wanted to mooch a meal..." Xu Musen was taken aback, then couldn''t help butugh. "Forget it, let''s pretend I didn''t ask. Go back and have a good nap." With that, Xu Musen turned to leave, but An Nuannuan tugged at his sleeve. "What is it?" "Can you... take me for ice cream tonight?" An Nuannuan licked her pink lips, looking at him expectantly. "Of course." Xu Musen looked at this little foodie, and it seemed like in her heart, food probably rated higher than dating. Xu Musen couldn''t help but tap her forehead lightly. "Good afternoon." Xu Musen turned and left. An Nuannuan watched his retreating figure, her clear eyes stirring with ripples. "Eh~ You two are so sweet!" At that moment, her plump roommate Ge Jiayue and Jiang Jinfang had also juste back from eating, and they had witnessed the parting scene between the two. Ge Jiayue''s face was filled with a fangirl''s excitement, "Hehe, were you guys just exchanging some secret signals? Was it like in Journey to the West, secretly meeting him at midnight to learn magic that can make you grow big or small?" An Nuannuan blinked, her tone both joyful and boastful, "He said he''d take me for ice cream." The two nced at each other, their looks carrying hidden meanings. Typically, when a boy takes a girl out for ice cream, his intentions are not so innocent. Amon tactic for probing military secrets. Ge Jiayue blushed and leaned in closer. "Are youing back to the dorm today?" "Huh?" An Nuannuan blinked her clear, peach blossom eyes. "Never mind, as long as you''re safe going out anding in..." Seeing An Nuannuan''s oblivious expression, they didn''t have the heart to tease her further. Back in the dorm, An Nuannuan went to the balcony and took out the sketch she had drawn today. The drawing depicted Xu Musen during military training, seemingly smiling at her through her pencil at all times. An Nuannuan''s eyes sparkled as she continued to draw, focusing on the details of his body. But when she got to his arms, she felt dissatisfied with the muscle lines no matter what. Maybe just looking wasn''t enough to catch all the details; An Nuannuan thought for a bit, perhaps there was another way to appreciate the subtleties? By now, the other roommates had returned to the dorm as well. One of them excitedly said, "Hey! Have you heard? Apparently there was almost a fight in the cafeteria today over a boy!" "Really? We were at the cafeteria, howe we didn''t notice?" "Of course, it''s true. You might have been on a different floor. Someone even took pictures." "Let me see... But it''s all back shots; wait, this guy looks really familiar." Chapter 115: Chapter 95: Are you just giving him a taste of sweetness?_2 A few people looked on and suddenly felt a sense of familiarity, "Ah, isn''t that Nuannuan''s male friend?" "And that wheelchair beside him, it''s definitely An Nuannuan, that girl''s face is unclear but just looking at the photo I feel such a strong oppressive presence, can An Nuannuan really stand up to this kind of girl?" "Wa Qu, what was the end result?" "That guy personally escorted An Nuannuan back to the dorm, what do you guys think?" Ge Jiayue was thest to speak up. But the girls were still gossiping amongst themselves. "But I heard from others that this other girl is particrly beautiful, she''s even been rated as one of the school beauties on the school forum." "But An Nuannuan is pretty too, it''s also my first time seeing such a beautiful girl." "The problem is that girl''s approach is so fierce! She came on so strong right from the start, An Nuannuan may be beautiful, but she seems to bepletely naive when ites to rtionships." "Yeah, boys at this age are hardly able to resist temptation, if Nuannuan doesn''t step up her game, there''s a real risk that someone might steal her man." The girls went out to the balcony and peered out one by one, watching An Nuannuan focused on painting. Even though the figure in the drawing didn''t have facial features yet, it was still clear who she was painting. "What the heck, she clearly likes that guy, it''s just that neither of them wants to admit it." "Seriously, if I had Nuannuan''s pretty face and her big boobs, I would''ve made a move to conquer him already!" "Cough cough, Nuannuan?" Ge Jiayue called out, and saw that An Nuannuan immediately tried to cover up her drawing. "Hehe, we''ve all seen it already, you''re painting him, right?" An Nuannuan felt a little embarrassed. "What''s there to hide about, if you like someone, you have to be brave and go for it, how are things progressing with you two?" Ge Jiayue leaned in to ask. An Nuannuan pouted slightly and said, "We''re good friends, it''s purely tonic." "You can lie to yourself, but don''t lie to your sisters." The girls burst intoughter, "We all know about what happened at the restaurant today, Nuannuan, we absolutely support you!" "Exactly, you can''t always be so reserved as a girl, what if you let him slip away?" "Yes, I heard that the other girl is very assertive, if she really gets her way, won''t he end up being eaten up by her? Later on, he might even cut off all contact with you." At this, An Nuannuan''s hand, which was holding the painting brush, paused abruptly, Topletely cut off contact... That would mean, no more shopping together, eating together, watching movies, or going home together... An Nuannuan suddenly realized that her life had slowly started to revolve around him. If he suddenly disappeared, would she revert to her previous solitary existence? Her lips started to quiver, a small downturn showing her vexation. "No, he hasn''t treated me to ice cream yet..." An Nuannuan''s aggrieved expression instantly melted her roommates'' hearts. "Oh, don''t tease Nuannuan. Actually, chasing boys is pretty simple, especially those in their teens, you just need to give him a little sweetness from time to time." As they said this, they cast a nce over An Nuannuan''s figure. An Nuannuan''s skin was overbearingly beautiful; it seemed like water might drip out if it were pinched. Although An Nuannuan sat in a wheelchair, it didn''t detract from the slenderness and smoothness of her legs. She insisted on standing up and taking a few steps every day, appearing very petite and cute when sitting in her wheelchair. But once she stood up, she was nearly 170 centimeters tall. The proportions of her legs were simply incredible, but of course, the most prominent feature was her chest. At night, when they saw Nuannuan changing into her pajamas, they thought it was all just padded deception. But who would have expected them to be genuine national treasures! They all drooled at the sight, let alone the boys. An Nuannuan really didn''t get it, "Sweetness?" What does that mean? "Oh, it''s just... it means you can have more physical contact, like holding hands, or maybe a pinch on the face." Ge Jiayue blushed, actually a new driver who had never been truly tested, to her those were already things only couples would do. An Nuannuan blinked slowly, "So, does letting him touch my legs and pinch my feet count?" "???" The girls who had been chattering non-stop were instantly stunned. What what??!! Didn''t you say it was just a tonic friendship? And that you weren''t in a rtionship? Howe all of a sudden even feet are in the mix? For many girls, their feet can sometimes be more private than other parts of their body. And what kind of fetish is this, ignoring all of Nuannuan''s most obvious advantages and going for her feet instead? This is perversion, right? "Nuannuan, he... touched your feet?" The girls couldn''t help but look down, An Nuannuan usually likes to wear sandals, but her little feet are still white and tender. Honestly, there are research reports that suggest a girl''s feet metabolize faster, and once they sweat, the smell bes more... robust. It''s just that girls love cleanliness, changing their socks and shoes frequently, and soaking their feet daily. That''s why there is hardly any smell. But in the heat of summer, it''s inevitable that feet sweat, and they can''t im their feet don''t smell at all. Yet looking at Nuannuan''s little feet, so white and tender that one might almost see the pink veins, and without a trace of that thickened skinyer, they were soft as marshmallows. Huh? Did they all think that such little feet might actually taste sweet? Damn! Am I the pervert? The girls exchanged nces, then looked at Nuannuan''s na?ve demeanor, and suddenly felt as though they didn''t need to teach her anything. She achieves what''s an extreme for ordinary people without even trying. ... When Xu Musen returned to his dormitory, the other three were eagerly asking him who he was going to choose. Xu Musen ignored them. Hey on his bed to rest for a moment, and couldn''t shake the feeling that he could still smell Yao Mingyue''s fragrance on himself. Thinking about today''s events, his feelings wereplicated. Honestly, seeing Yao Mingyue end up like this didn''t bring him much pleasure. It''s just that the events of a past life were over. In this life, neither of them owed the other anything, and it was okay for them to part ways peacefully, to each live well. But he had somewhat underestimated the severity of that little ill-tempered girl''s condition. Today, however, An Nuannuan had inflicted real damage, and even with her ill-tempered character, she would probably be hurt for a while. As for whom to choose... The expression An Nuannuan had earlier shed through Xu Musen''s mind. She was a bit slow, but definitely not dumb. Xu Musen smiled, figured it was fine the way things were. He rolled over, burying his face in the pillow, ready to snooze face-down for a bit. But he kept feeling like it was even more fragrant this way, as though he was resting on Yao Mingyue''s thighs. "What''s this pillow made of, why does it feel a bit rough..." Xu Musen murmured, but the fatigue from military training made him too tired to ponder it further, and he fell asleep. Meanwhile, in the girls'' dormitory. Yao Mingyue was hugging her pillow, silently leaning against the headboard, and her roommates had also heard about the cafeteria incident. But they only exchanged nces, not daring to discuss it directly. Yao Mingyue hugged her pillow, her phoenix-like eyes showing a trace of red. That speech from An Nuannuan was like knives plunging into her heart, yet what she said seemed to be true. She had always been the pampered one since childhood, always needing to control everything, yet she overlooked one thing: she could be pampered because someone was willing to do so. Maybe she wasn''t special; it was Xu Musen''s affection that haloed her with a sacred light. Now that he wanted to withdraw, the one who would suffer most was her. But Yao Mingyue really couldn''t ept it; for whatever reason, she didn''t want Xu Musen to leave. Yet, she trulycked the ability to love someone earnestly. Whether it''s delivering water or meals, whatever she could do, other girls could do as well. Like that girl named... what was it, Daiyu or Green Tea Sister. That wasn''t special treatment. Yao Mingyue scored 700 on college entrance exams, but when it came to love, she was as nk as a sheet of paper. She clenched her teeth; but where could she learn about love? Is there something that would make Xu Musen obedient at first sight? Suddenly, an image of a knowledgeable and elegant figure appeared in Yao Mingyue''s mind. She picked up her phone and walked to the balcony. Although reluctant, she made the call. "Mom..." Chapter 116: Chapter 96: They Are the Experts! Night. Ever since the incident at the restaurant, Yao Mingyue hadn''t shown up to bring him water or anything of the sort. An Nuannuan, on the other hand, would still bring him mung bean soup, then stand by with her little face cradled in her hands watching Xu Musen during military training. The ssmates in their grade had almost all assumed the nature of the two''s rtionship. But the jealousy of the male students towards Xu Musen had not lessened one bit. On the school forum, the story about "Cafeteria face-off between two campus beauties vying for one man, childhood sweetheart bes the losing dog," had spread into countless versions within a short period of time. There were even derivations suggesting that it was the girl in the wheelchair who had injured her leg while trying to save the boy, and the boy chose to be with her out of gratitude. Or that the boy was two-timing and decisively chose this somewhat gullible girl after being caught, to prepare for continuing his search for a new love... In short, the stories were getting more and more outrageous. Luckily, the school was quiterge, and there was no direct naming and shaming. But ruining his reputation every day like this wouldn''t do, Xu Musen thought, sooner orter he''d blow up this campus forum. An Nuannuan''s roommates were devouring these stories with great interest, isn''t this better than following a romance drama? And one of the female leads was right beside them. Sometimes, for the sweeter versions, they even read them aloud to An Nuannuan. An Nuannuan, cradling her little face, would listen intently, and although she didn''t show much expression, her little sandal-d feet would involuntarily begin to fidget. Night fell, and Xu Musen fulfilled his promise to buy her ice cream. When he went downstairs to pick her up, he found An Nuannuan sitting in her wheelchair, looking at her phone. Her big eyes glittering, her pink lips seemingly curved in delight. "What are you looking at?" Xu Musen approached. He remembered that An Nuannuan very seldom yed with her phone. "Oh... nothing much." Once An Nuannuan saw Xu Musen''s arrival, she promptly turned off her phone. "You wanted to eat ice cream, right!" She had been looking forward to it for a long time. "Alright." Xu Musen nodded and pushed An Nuannuan away. And just as they had left, two surreptitious figures trailed behind them from the girls'' dormitory building. They were An Nuannuan''s two roommates. "They''re out on a date, why are we following them?" Jiang Jinfang said somewhat exasperatedly. "Ohe on, we''re not here to disturb them, just to watch. When we get back, we can advise Nuannuan," Ge Jiayue said with a face full of gossip, pulling her along to follow. ... The two arrived at the school''s milk tea shop, and Xu Musen asked, "What vor do you want?" "Strawberry!" An Nuannuan spoke up, then looked expectant, "Can I also have a cup of milk tea?" Xu Musen looked down at her delicate little face, clean and glowing, and he seriously worried that after military training, while others would turn darker and thinner, only An Nuannuan might end up a plumper little Xiao Xiang pig. "No, you have to pick one." "I want both." "I only brought enough money for one thing." "I''ll give you money, then you treat me, okay?" An Nuannuan indicated that money was no problem; she took out her little purse, which contained a thick stack of red banknotes. Xu Musen quickly covered it for her. She really didn''t understand the idea of keeping wealth hidden. The people queued up for milk tea turned their heads around curiously. Such a beautiful girl, if she told them she wanted milk tea, likely lots of guys would happily scamper off to buy it for her. But here you are, letting a goddess hand you money, and then you take her money to buy milk tea for her. Isn''t that like a goddess saying, "Come out and treat me to dinner, I''ll pay"? What kind of angel is this? There were a few guys in line buying milk tea to take to the girls. Not only did they have to pay out of their own pocket, but they also had to wait by the girls'' dorm for half a day, maybe even amodating the girls'' moods. Like, "Didn''t I say I didn''t want full sugar, why didn''t you buy me pearls? Didn''t I say no milk cap? You don''t care about me at all!" God, the more they thought about it, the more infuriating it became! The two roommates following behind exchanged a look and couldn''t help but sigh. An Nuannuan was too easily swayed. Spending her own money for him to woo her. The fear was that in the future, if Xu Musen wanted to sell her, she''d still na?vely strategize for him, wondering how to make herself sell for a higher price. In the end, Xu Musen bought her a low-sugar fruit tea, not as sweet as milk tea, but An Nuannuan was still very happy. Shining eyes, holding an ice cream, it had been so long since her family allowed her to eat these cold things. She stuck out her little tongue, about to lick it, but suddenly held back and offered it to Xu Musen: "You first." "You go ahead." Xu Musen shook his head. His adult stomach had lost interest in such sweet, cold treats long ago. "I haven''t licked it yet," An Nuannuan pouted, seemingly upset he was rejecting her offer. Nonsense, I won''t eat what you haven''t licked. Ahem, Xu Musen looked at her with that look and bit off a tiny bit from the top of the ice cream. Indeed, the strawberry vor was quite good. But after eating it, Xu Musen suddenly remembered, having just eaten, might the little girl take offense? "Nuannuan, should I buy you another one...?" He was about to suggest. When he saw An Nuannuan already happily licking where he had just bitten. Suddenly her eyes closed blissfully. "What were you saying?" An Nuannuan blinked as she asked him. "It''s nothing." Xu Musen said, pushing her towards the sports field for a stroll. Chapter 117: Chapter 96: They Are the Experts!_2 There''s always this indescribable feeling in my heart. Things like indirect kissing seem to be overly sensationalized by neon animations. Actually, it''s quite normal for friends to drink from the same cup, right? Between lips and lips, it''s just ayer of mucous membrane cells. If we look closer, it''s just twoyers of atomic structure, so even kissing isn''t truly touching. So to say that they have a purely tonic friendship is not wrong at all! The boys around were all drooling with envy. "Paying a guy to pamper herself? What kind of celestial being is this girl?" "Psh! Only one ice cream for two people, let''s go, no need to pity him!" "Exactly, I can eat two by myself, strawberry and matcha, switching between them! I''m gonna eat eat eat eat eat!!" ... The sports field. A few days of campus life had gotten the freshmen ustomed to university life. There were all sorts of activities happening on the field. Some were having a flea market, others were ying hoop toss, there were even girls doing manicures at a stall, and groups ying cards or board games, while in a corner of the field, someone was singing with a speaker... The carefree college life is definitely the purest and happiest time in one''s life. Xu Musen was guiding An Nuannuan past each. He yed hoop toss with her and bought someic books from the flea market. "Xu Musen, what''s a manicure?" An Nuannuan watched a few girls gathered around a table, sticking all sorts of shiny things on their nails, her eyes filled with curiosity. "It''s just adding little decorative items to the nails." "Oh~ Should I get one too?" Children seem to love shiny things by nature, as she raised her fair, tender little hand. Her fingers were as white as spring onions, nails round and pink, with adorable luns visible. Some say that the more prominent the luns, the healthier the person is; if a young mancks them, it''s usually a sign of weak kidneys. "You shouldn''t get one," Xu Musen said, looking at her nails and decisively speaking his mind. "Why not?" "Because your nails are already pretty. Putting those things on might contain some toxins, and it could be bad if you identally ingest them." "Oh." An Nuannuan nodded her head, but why would she inadvertently ingest them? She suddenly asked, "What about nails on the feet?" Xu Musen paused in his tracks, looked down at An Nuannuan''s tender little feet and cute toenails that shone in the night light. "Absolutely not." "Why?" "Because it''s easy to get nail fungus, and one infection could spread to two, you know? Besides, your toenails look fine as they are; you don''t need it," Xu Musen earnestly exined. An Nuannuan took a sip of her fruit tea, squinting her eyes and acknowledging with an "oh," and they continued walking. The two roommates also sneaked up from behind, also ncing at the shiny manicures at the stall. "Pah! This guy just knows how to sweet-talk Nuannuan. I get manicures all the time and never had nail fungus, he''s obviously just thinking it''d be inconvenient to hold hands after getting a manicure, and stuff about toenails, so perverted..." Ge Jiayue spat in disdain. Jiang Jinfang pondered as if struck by a thought, "Perhaps, the cunning one might be Nuannuan, you know?" "What? Nuannuan, cunning?" Ge Jiayueughed as if it were a joke. An Nuannuan always seemed a bit simple, though intelligent, her emotional intelligence seemed to be quitecking. It was Jiang Jinfang who initially wanted to steal Xu Musen away, but after interacting with him for a few days, and especially after knowing that another girl of school beauty level tried to seduce Xu Musen unsessfully, she stopped pursuing such thoughts. It was like handing her a spoon to dig a corner of the Great Wall. Simply not on the same level. Jiang Jinfang''s gaze lingered on the manicure booth before she said, "Who would do pedicures here? Yet she suddenly asked that question, which really means ''I showed you my feet, nowpliment me''." "Ah??" Ge Jiayue was stunned, still somewhat incredulous. She could understand that when in a rtionship, girls do dress in ways that highlight their figure and temperament. Beingplimented by a boyfriend could make one happy for a long time. But if that was the case, wouldn''t it seem like An Nuannuan was teaching Xu Musen step by step how to flirt with her? They continued walking. Seeing someone with a speaker ying guitar and singing, An Nuannuan listened intently. "Do you like listening to music?" "Yes, my mom used to love singing lubies to me." An Nuannuan said, suddenly looking up at Xu Musen, "Can you sing?" "Me? I''m alright," Xu Musen modestly nodded his head; actually, he was quite a good singer, his voice was quite decent after all. He remembered in his past life, holding a guitar under the girls'' dormitory, singing "The Moon Represents My Heart" to confess to Yao Mingyue, moving several girls to tears. "Could you sing for me then?" An Nuannuan looked up at him. Xu Musen cleared his throat, "Next time, maybe." "Oh." An Nuannuan nodded her head, and the two of them arrived at a quiet corner, watching the hustle and bustle of the sports field. Xu Musen looked down at An Nuannuan, sitting in the wheelchair, noticing her legs starting to sway slightly with the breeze. He asked, "How''s the recovery of your legs going?" As An Nuannuan licked her ice cream, she turned to look at him, "Xu Musen, it''s been a long time since you massaged me." Those clear,rge eyes seemed to tell him to drop the pretense. Chapter 118: Chapter 96: They Are the Experts!_3 ``` "Then shall I give you a massage?" ``` Xu Musen still politely asked. "Uh-huh." Xu Musen gently lifted her legs and ced them on his thighs, feeling that her legs were still as soft as water, yet within the softness, he could now sense the strength of the thighs. "It seems you''re recovering really well; you''ll be able to take care of yourself even when you''re on your own..." Xu Musen was also happy for her. Living in a wheelchair always came with its inconveniences, so naturally, it was best for her to recover. Just that once she was fully recovered, he wouldn''t have any excuses to massage her anymore, and she probably wouldn''t stick to him every day like she does now... Xu Musen looked up at the bright moon in the sky, feeling a sense of unexined mncholy. What if this cute little thing ran away in the future? Should he trick her now? But as Xu Musen was thinking this, he suddenly shook his head. Wasn''t this train of thought bing a bit too much like Yao Mingyue''s? That was terrifying. While Xu Musen was lost in thought, An Nuannuan suddenly moved her legs and pouted, "Didn''t we agree to be friends for life?" Xu Musen snapped back to reality and smiled wistfully, "Once your legs get better and with you being so beautiful, there will surely be lots of boys chasing after you. They''ll buy you milk tea, buy you ice cream, take you out to eat... By then, you probably won''tck a friend like me, right? What worries me is you; with so many bad people out there, I would be so sad if someone deceived you..." Xu Musen spoke in a tone that carried a sigh. As the saying goes, a crying child gets milk, and those who feign pity always find someone to feel sorry for them. And he was doing this for Nuannuan''s own good. Boys nowadays have nothing but dirty thoughts in their heads. What if An Nuannuan fell for the wrong person? His heart was truly breaking as her good friend. Two girls sitting not far away also had their lips twitching. "Typical scumbag, starting to PUA Nuannuan already. And he''s talking about the bad people out there; isn''t he the one on the prowl right now?" "Hehe, but the thing is, An Nuannuan is willing, isn''t she? If she didn''t like it, it would be maniption, but if there''s mutual affection, then it''s called love." The two whispered amongst themselves. Meanwhile, An Nuannuan earnestly looked at him as a breeze blew a leaf onto her foot. Her toes moved slightly, and her sandal identally dropped to the ground. "Xu Musen" "I know, I know." The warmth in Xu Musen''s voice was like the summer wind, as if he was doting on his little daughter. He reached out to pick up the fallen sandal, which looked as if it were a ss slipper straight out of a fairy tale. Holding it, Xu Musen gently supported her ankle, and Nuannuan''s delicate and exquisite feet shimmered under the lights, her crystal-clear toes like the finest jade. Xu Musen licked his lips, restraining some impulses. It wasn''t the first time he was helping her with her shoes. He caressed her small feet, only lightly dragging them into position. Having put the shoes on, he also fastened the buckles for her. "Xu Musen." "Hmm?" "I don''t know if I''ll have other friends in the future, but I do know that you''re the first person who was willing to be my friend and also the first one to treat me so well." "Even if my legs get better, all I want is to stay by your side because you''ve contributed to my recovery. Every step I take in the future will also partly be your doing." An Nuannuan lowered her head, watching Xu Musen carefully help her with her shoes, her voice slow and especially tender. Her legs were gently closed together, so pure in the night. She bent down slightly, reached out her little hand, and gently tugged at his clothes, her voice soft andced with dependency, "Xu Musen, with you around, nobody will deceive me." "What if I wanted to deceive you?" Xu Musen asked softly. "Then you just shouldn''t deceive me." Holding her milk tea, An Nuannuan''s request seemed more like a whimper. "What if I identally deceived you?" Xu Musen couldn''t help but smile. "Then I won''t let you squeeze my ''feet-feet'' anymore." "That would be too terrible." Xu Musen felt a shiver of dread but then suddenly paused, "Wait! I''ve never squeezed your feet!" An Nuannuan turned her head away, her fair cheeks heating up in waves. At that moment, Jiang Jinfang and Ge Jiayue, who were secretly watching from the side, looked at each other. How could he be so dense at such a moment? Nuannuan''s words meant she was telling you that you could ''squeeze'' her little feet. "I think... we don''t need to worry about Nuannuan anymore. They''re both ying PUA with each other," Ge Jiayue said with a profound sigh. That little speech of An Nuannuan''s would have floored any guy. Each step I take has your contribution... Isn''t that more powerful than any ''I love you''? Jiang Jinfang also stood there stunned for a long while before standing up and leaving. As if the two of them could actually offer advice to those two. Truly skilled hunters often disguise themselves as the most alluring prey... Chapter 119: Chapter 97: Military Training Talent, The Thoughts of the Girls. Military training continued. Yao Mingyue hadn''t appeared for the past couple of days. Actually, there was some distance between their dormitories, and the military training was not held in the same area. Unless it was intentional, it was really quite difficult to run into each other. Xu Musen''sputer and camera had also arrived. In this era,ptop performance still couldn''t keep up, so Xu Musen had set up a desktop in the dormitory. Next, as they would delve into APPs, he had to allocate part of it as a server; if he used aptop during this hot summer, he might as well perform the zing Fireball technique in the middle of the night. Xu Musen had just finished setting up hisputer when a few guys gathered around. "Yourputer''s specs look pretty good, does itg when you y CF?" "Lagging in CF has nothing to do with theputer; even if you moved the No. 1 Supeputer over to serve as your server, it would stillg if it''s supposed tog." Zhou Hangyu smirked lewdly, "Xu Musen, do you have any ''resources'' on yourputer? I like the Western ones." "Knock it off, myputer is for work purposes." Xu Musen ignored the two, turned on hisputer, and started downloading various software. In the dormitory, he had pulled an inte cable with a campus card. Everyone knows what campus inte is like, a few dozen megabits at best. But that should be enough for the early stages, handling just some order requests and responses from businesses. For meticulous big data vor rmendations, urate courier arrival times, and real-time location tracking - all of that was unnecessary. For now, serving the several thousand students on campus was sufficient. "Damn, using such a greatputer for programming?" Zhou Hangyumented with a frown. Ma Yaxing came over, looking enviously at the priceyputer. At this point in time, not every household had aputer. Many people now understood thatputer science was a hot field for future job prospects. Many who hadn''t really worked withputers at all still dove headfirst into theputer science department to secure a good job. "Xu Musen, how much did yourputer cost?" he asked. "Around ten thousand or so, mainly because I added a fewrge memory sticks for server use, which made it a bit more expensive." "That''s really expensive." Ma Yaxing clicked his tongue; his tuition for the year wasn''t even that much. "If it can create more value, then it''s not considered expensive. We''re from theputer science department after all, theputer is our paintbrush for drawing, it''s indispensable," Xu Musen shook his head and said. "I can''t afford something that expensive; I n to just use theputers in the school''sb first, then save up some money to buy a second-handptop," Ma Yaxing said. "How did you practice before? Studyingputer science without aputer is a big disadvantage." "Heh, I used to tinker with my cousin''sputer, I even won a prize in a high schoolpetition," Ma Yaxing said, scratching his head. After all, those able to attend Hu Hai University were definitely among the best students from their local areas; put aside emotional intelligence, but their IQs were certainly not low. Listening to this, Xu Musen''s eyes lit up, and he said to Ma Yaxing, "Have you studied those automatic response type ofmercial APPs?" Ma Yaxing, scratching his head, replied, "I''ve written a program for an automatic vending machine before, should be more or less the same, right?" "The underlying logic is the same. I just happen to want to write an APP like that. How about you write it with me? I''ll pay you a sry." Xu Musen said. The few were taken aback for a moment; writing programs was their specialty, but developing an APP was something new to them. "If you trust me, you don''t need to pay me; I''d be content just to get some practice on yourputer," Ma Yaxing promptly agreed. To him, the most important thing as aputer science major was the opportunity to work withputers, and such an opportunity was excellent. "This is a separate matter, this is a genuine piece of work. As long as you do it well, I won''t be stingy with how much I owe you," Xu Musen said. Regardless of what others thought, the rtionship based on money was actually the most stable. Getting paid means taking the work seriously, and it also signifies responsibility, allowing one to enter a proper working state. "Damn, that''s possible? Let us help too!" Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong also came over to offer their help. Xu Musen replied irritably, "You two would just create a mess; do you really think you could sit still and stare at aputer screen all day with your restless hearts?" It made sense; Zhou Hangyu wasn''t short on money, and Li Rundong was the kind of person who preferred doing jobs that looked good on the surface. They might be suitable for roles in publicity or sales. But steady, monotonous work like this was better left to Ma Yaxing. Xu Musen and Ma Yaxing discussed the rough framework of the APP together, both being excellent students, they naturally understood each other at once. The moreplex tasks were left to him. ... Military training continued. The training had already been going on for a week. In the evening, instead of practicing standing at attention, the freshmen from various departments gathered on the sports field, clustering in groups to pull up their team songs or showcase their talents. At this juncture, it was the time for the standout individuals from each ss to make an appearance. Good performance gave them a head start in gaining mating privileges. If they didn''t perform well, they would likely be nagged by their roommates for the entire four years of college. An Nuannuan now came almost every day to bring Xu Musen some mung bean soup and then sat in the shade of the trees watching Xu Musen train. It got to the point where the people in his ss almost began to think An Nuannuan was one of their own. This time, for the big assembly, pretty much all the sses from their campus were present. Chapter 120: Chapter 97: Military Training Talent, The Thoughts of the Girls. _2 Just about five or six meters away, An Nuannuan, sitting in a wheelchair, was very conspicuous in the crowd. Xu Musen saw her, and seeing that she was with several roommates, he felt relieved. Meanwhile, in another ss half a yground away, Yao Mingyue was also sitting on the grass at this moment. Her phoenix eyes seemed tock some luster as she searched the crowd for that familiar figure. "Ming Yue, is it ufortable sitting on the grass? Why don''t you sit on my clothes?" At this moment, a boy approached her. It was Chen Guangnian, who had been sshed in the face with mung bean smoothiest time and had gone back angry for a while. In the end, he still wiped his face, saying that the goddess still cared for him, knew it was hot, and specifically gave him a face mask to cool down. Chen Guangnian had also heard about Yao Mingyue''s situation with that boy, and although it made him feel quite annoyed, he still always felt that he had a chance. Moreover, a girl who had just experienced a setback in love was in a vulnerable statenow was the best time to make a move. At this moment, he was holding his military training jacket and bringing it over to Yao Mingyue. However, Yao Mingyue didn''t even look at him properly, ncing at it before continuing to look into the distance. "It''s okay, I have to wash my clothes when I get back anyway; feel free to sit on it," Chen Guangnian continued to say eagerly, his gaze involuntarily sweeping over Yao Mingyue''s curves that were clearly ahead of girls her age. Yao Mingyue frowned with impatience and said, "I''m not sitting on your clothes because they''re dirty!" Chen Guangnian: ... ... "Come on, does anyone in the ss have a talent to perform? Let''spete with the ss opposite!" The instructor called out, half-jokingly saying, "Don''t be shy, put yourselves forward. If no onees up, we''ll go back to standing in military posture!" Upon hearing this, the ss started shouting out. "Report! Ji Boxiao says he can drink a bottle of water in one second!" "Instructor, Bu Chijiu can do push-ups with three fingers!" "Wang Yanyan can dance, let her go for it!" sses around them were also starting to showcase their talents. Actually, most college students'' talent performances were singing or dancing. Those showier ones would bring a guitar or some other instrument to y. After a week of repressed military training life, today was finally an opportunity to express themselves. Slowly, more people started to muster the courage to go up. It wasn''t about how good or bad the talent was, as long as someone was brave enough to perform, the ssmates all gave the warmest apuse. "Instructor, I''ll do it," Lin Daiyu suddenly said at this moment. She stood up and walked to the center of the circle formed by the ss. Lin Daiyu was quite good-looking, probably a seven or eight out of ten, which was considered attractive by most standards. Even though she was a bit short, her body proportions were quite nice and she was very eye-catching in the crowd. sses nearby couldn''t help but turn to look at her. Lin Daiyu took a deep breath, her gazending briefly on Xu Musen among the crowd. "I''m going to perform the ssical dance ''Jian Jia.''" With a smile on her lips, she started dancing to the apuse from her ssmates. The dance of traditional Chinese style showcased the enchanting grace of the dancer, rather than just unting sexy figures. Even in a camouge uniform, that distinct atmospheric feeling of ady from the south of the Yangtze River was truly antique and picturesque. The poem "Jian Jia" itself, is about a woman''s ardent pursuit of the man she admires. The words were beautifully ornate but there always seemed to be an underlying sense of unfulfillment and helplessness. A feeling of love that couldn''t be attained, of withering and sprouting. Lin Daiyu disyed a beautiful dance, repeatedly ncing at Xu Musen. The ssmates, who knew about the situation between the two, all had expressions of ambiguity and empathy. "What a pity, Lin Daiyu is clearly beautiful and outstanding, but herpetition is just too extraordinary..." "Dammit, Xu Musen has be the one she can''t let go ofwhy couldn''t it be me?" Xu Musen was watching silently, and as Lin Daiyu slightly bowed, the surrounding apuse and cheers grew louder. Xu Musen also pped his hands. Themotion in the ss drew the attention of many others, and from a dozen meters away, Yao Mingyue''s ss also had many discussing. "This girl is pretty good too; her dance makes me not want to do morning exercises anymore." "Feels like she still falls a bit shortpared to Yao Mingyue. If Yao Mingyue danced, it would definitely be better." "Be satisfied; a girl like her would never dance for us to watch like this." Yao Mingyue''s presence had raised the bar for the boys in her ss. Yao Mingyue, when she saw Lin Daiyu, also had her sights locked immediately. Of course, not on Lin Daiyu, but on Xu Musen from her ss. For two or three days now, the two of them had almost no contact and had not seen each other. Yao Mingyue could fall asleep only by looking at Xu Musen''s photo every night. Her body was sorelycking the "Xu Musen" element now. Her gaze was intense, looking at Xu Musen as if she was a wild beast that had been starving for a long time. Right now, she desperately wanted to go over to him, lie in his arms, and take a deep breath where the "Musen scent" was strongest! But remembering what she had told her mother, she still felt she should hold back a little longer, just a little longer... After finishing her dance, Lin Daiyu naturally sat down next to Xu Musen. Another boy volunteered to perform and sing with his guitar. Lin Daiyu then whispered to Xu Musen, "How was my dance just now?" "My hands are almost sore from pping," Xu Musen replied with a smile. Lin Daiyu chuckled, then her expression turned a bit wistful and resigned: "Actually, I had quite a fondness for you before, but now I''vee to recognize my own limits." Chapter 121: Chapter 97: Military Training Talent, The Thoughts of the Girls. _3 Xu Musen listened to her direct speech and naturally had no reason to act pretentious. "Actually, Linssmate, you''re really outstanding, it''s my fault." "You don''t need tofort me. After all, the girls that appear beside you are unbelievably excellent. But I''m also very curious, which one do you really like?" Lin Daiyu asked with a smile. "These kinds of things can''t be determined by me alone, let''s leave it to fate, sometimes fate is the most unreasonable." Xu Musen answered with a smile. "Anyway, it looks like this fate doesn''t include me." Lin Daiyu smirked self-mockingly, "But it''s also my first time feeling what it''s like to be dumped, it''s quite a rare experience. We can still be friends in the future, right?" "Of course, if there''s one thing I really like, it''s making friends." Xu Musenughed heartily. Lin Daiyu pursed her lipsfriends? I''m afraid there''s only one "female friend" that''s important in your heart. At this moment, Xu Musen''s gaze was fixed in the direction of An Nuannuan''s ss. At the same time, An Nuannuan was somewhat bored, thinking that activities like this were not as good as having Xu Musen massage her legs. "Nuannuan, I''ve already checked. Theputer science sses are right next door. Your boyfriend might be watching you from there." Ge Jiayue saw that An Nuannuan seemed distracted and knew she must be thinking about Xu Musen again. An Nuannuan''s eyes shone even brighter as she searched through the crowd, not even noticing the subtle change in her wording. However, it''s not easy to find someone from afar on the night field, where everyone was sitting on the ground, and she''s a bit nearsighted. Ge Jiayue rolled her eyes and said, "Nuannuan, I bet I can make him stand up voluntarily, do you believe me?" "How can you do that?" An Nuannuan asked, blinking her big eyes, a little expectant. "Give me your hand." Ge Jiayue pulled out a bottle of red nail polish from her bosom. Looking at An Nuannuan''s stretched out pale, delicate hand, and her pink fingernails. She cleared her throat on purpose and raised her voice, "Nuannuan, I''m putting nail polish on you!" Meanwhile, Xu Musen indeed was sitting on the ground, watching An Nuannuan look around, obviously searching for him. Quite adorably klutzy. Xu Musen watched her, a little entranced, and also remembered the words An Nuannuan had said to him that day. His heart, which he had sealed off with concrete, was starting to thaw little by little from a warm current. Completely oblivious to the instructor''s call. "Does anyone else want to show off their talent? Normally you all love to perform, right? Hurry up and stand up voluntarily, otherwise, we''ll all stand in a military pose!" ssmates were still discussing who should perform while Xu Musen saw An Nuannuan stretch out her hand, and a plump roommate was holding a bottle of nail polish, wanting to paint An Nuannuan''s nails. Nail polish is made of chemicals, so what if Xu Musen gets a mouth ulcer from it... What if it damages Nuannuan''s beautiful fingernails? Immediately, he stood up, ready to sneak over. But as soon as he stood up, the instructor caught him. "Alright, Xu Musen, is it? Since you''re so eager to perform,e on up!" The instructor had a deep impression of Xu Musen. After all, it''s not often that a few girls vie to bring water at the start of military training. "Come on, one by one!" The ssmates also began to jeer. "Actually, I just wanted to go to the bathroom." Xu Musen coughed dryly. The instructor, who had already taken a dislike to him, said, Letting you get chased by girls every day. He walked over and patted his shoulder: "A young man of eighteen or neen, with a dder that can''t even hold a little water? Hurry up and perform, or else we''ll punish you by making you stand an extra hour in a military pose tomorrow!" The entire ss immediately wailed. "Xu Musen, show us what you''ve got!" "Yeah,e on,e on!" Lin Daiyu was even leading the chant. The sound spread forth, attracting the attention of those around. An Nuannuan''s eyes alsonded on Xu Musen now standing up, suddenly sparkling. Ge Jiayue also silently put away the nail polish. As expected, I guessed right. He''s just that freakish, not even in a confirmed rtionship yet. And he already treats An Nuannuan''s body like it''s his own property. That was just for fingernails, what if it were her feet? Wouldn''t he go nuts? At that moment, Xu Musen also met An Nuannuan''s bright and expectant eyes. Suddenly he remembered what this little cutie had said to him during theirst walk. The jeers from the crowd blended into his ears. Well, it seems today I can''t avoid putting on an act. Xu Musen stretched out his hand toward the boy who had just been on stage and asked, "ssmate, may I borrow your guitar?" "Here you go!" The boy was very enthusiastic about handing over the guitar. Xu Musen, after receiving the guitar, strummed it a few times. It felt good in his hands. In his past life as the toy boy of a wealthy woman, he had learned various instruments, and the guitar was one of the easiest. "Damn! He really can y!" "Shit, he''s putting on an act again, another girl''s going to be stolen away from us!" Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong howled. On the other side, Yao Mingyue was also staring nkly at him, Xu Musen in the crowd now seemed truly dazzling. Xu Musen slowly made his way to the center of the circle, cleared his throat, and had already decided on what he wanted to sing. "I have a friend from Sichuan and Chongqing; the ce she wants to go the most is there, she loves Sichuan hotpot the most, and the person she loves the most... This song ''Chengdu'', I dedicate to her." Xu Musen''s gaze met An Nuannuan''s from afar. He gently plucked at the guitar strings, and the unique melody that was smoky and a bit mncholic resonated out. "What makes me shed tears isn''t just the wine fromst night. What makes me reluctant to leave, isn''t just your tenderness..." Chapter 134: Chapter 102: You and her, are really childhood sweethearts, huh?_2 In fact, if Yao Mingyue knew that Xu Musen''s impressive crab peeling skills were solely developed to serve her in a past life, she would probably be so angry that she''d flip the table on the spot upon seeing him perform this for another girl now. "But to me, it''s really amazing. If it weren''t for you today, I might not even know what the inside of a crab looks like." An Nuannuan giggled, looking even more naive, but it gave Xu Musen an inexplicable sense of achievement. Actually, the best thing a girl can offer a guy is emotional value. Given the same financial conditions, a man will definitely choose someone with a gentler personality. "Go ahead and eat." "Actually, I don''t really like eating crab." "Then why were you in such a hurry to nibble on it just now?" "That''s because you said you wanted to eat it, and I also wanted to help you get the crab meat. But I don''t know how to crack a crab open... I think I''m really a bit clumsy." An Nuannuan blushed slightly and took a sip of her milk tea with sincere simplicity. At this moment, even the mother-daughter pair was momentarily stunned. Am I clumsy? Then are we all fools! It''s all about peeling crabs. Especially Liu Rushuang, as a bystander, saw things most clearly. The feeling her darling daughter gave to Xu Musen was like "you can''t manage without me." Yet this little girl called An Nuannuan was more like "I can''t manage without you." Honestly speaking, if she were a man, she would feel pressured by the former, even a sense of defeat as if unable to lift his head in front of his own woman. But with thetter... even if a man were in a difficult situation, he could still find that sense of achievement from being needed and relied upon. ording to Maslow''s hierarchy of needs, Physiological Safety Social needs Esteem Self-actualization. A wealthy woman who can financially support you can at most satisfy your physiological and safety needs. But a girl who encourages you, understands you, and allows you to feel recognized and needed already fulfills the highest levels of esteem and self-actualization. Chinese parents often work themselves to death for their children, precisely because of the sense of validation from being needed by their offspring. This sense of achievement is the most solid psychological shield. Liu Rushuang couldn''t help but draw a sharp breath. Looking at the naive girl in front of her, she finally understood where her daughter had fallen short. Meanwhile, Yao Mingyue watched as the two flirted with each other as if no one else existed, her eyes growing hollow. Xu Musen also felt the temperature at the dining table drop a few degrees. He nced at the two girls and then looked down at the two tes in front of him. Yao Mingyue was staring intensely, still clutching the tool for extracting crab meat in her hand. It seemed as if the first bite Xu Musen took wasn''t from the crab she peeled, she was ready to peel him instead! The situation was getting heated. Xu Musen''s gaze inadvertently caught that of Liu Rushuang. Heh, you love to fan the mes so much, now there''s really a fire burning! I''m sorry, Aunt Liu! Xu Musen smiled brilliantly, carrying his peeled crab over to her. "Aunt Liu, you''ve had a busy day at work and came to see us. You should eat the crab first." As he said this, Xu Musen ced the te in front of her. In that moment, Yao Mingyue''s gaze also shifted, and seeing her mother, she couldn''t help but pout her lips. Liu Rushuang, seeing Xu Musen''s radiant smile, also inwardly marveled at how the rascal had grown up, deftly pulling such a move. Then she turned to her daughter, who was eyeing the crab meat that Xu Musen had peeled, and thought how pitiful she looked... "Xiaosen has grown up. You know how to be considerate now, not letting me see you as my son for nothing." Liu Rushuang responded with a beaming smile. "I''ve always regarded you as my elder too." Xu Musen was also all smiles. A perfect picture of maternal affection and filial piety. Liu Rushuang casually handed the te of crab meat to her daughter. Only then did Yao Mingyue''s expression soften significantly. Without haste, Liu Rushuang continued to speak, still smiling: "Speaking of which, when you two were children, a betrothal was arranged between you and Ming Yue. There might really be a chance in the future..." Huh? Everyone looked up simultaneously, Yao Mingyue and Xu Musen catching each other''s gaze. Sure enough, given the past rtionship between the two families, a childhood betrothal wasn''t out of the question. An Nuannuan listened to the term, muttered it to herself, and looked at them with a slightly different emotion in her peach blossom eyes. "Aunt Liu, actually Ming Yue and I are quite happy with our current rtionship. I have no ns for dating or anything of the sort," Xu Musen admitted without directly offending Liu Rushuang, but saying so to the woman was sufficiently face-pping. Yao Mingyue clenched the small tweezers in her hand as if she wanted to snap the silver instrument in two. Her dark eyes bored into him. Liu Rushuang paused for a moment, yet her smile didn''t falter: "Auntie understands, matters of the heart all depend on fate. Are you and Nuannuan in a romantic rtionship?" Suddenly, the direction of the conversation shifted. Xu Musen was taken aback, turning to meet An Nuannuan''s clear and bright gaze. An Nuannuan blinked, her pretty face slightly flushed, but she said not a word. As if leaving the decision up to him. In his heart, Xu Musen certainly had a good impression of An Nuannuan, and to say he liked her wouldn''t be an overstatement, as she ticked all of Xu Musen''s boxes. Having not experienced a proper romance in his past life, he truly enjoyed this current phase. As for defining their rtionship, he really wasn''t in any rush. Chapter 135: Chapter 102: You and her, are you really childhood sweethearts?_3 ``` Thest touch would render everything dull, after all, it''s the process that matters most. Besides, confirming someone''s identity must ultimately be approved by the person themself. "Nuannuan and I are of course innocent now." "Well, that''s good then. You get along so well with Nuannuan as friends. You and Ming Yue have been childhood friends, so you should strive to maintain a good rtionship, too. You are all the family I have left..." Liu Rushuang''s voice held a tinge of sorrow as she spoke these words. In her eyes, she truly liked Xu Musen. However, she had been absent from home for many years. Now that she finally had some stability and time, she didn''t expect the rtionship between the two to be somewhat strained. Xu Musen was silent for a moment. After all, being reborn was not the same as soul traveling; he was still Xu Musen. The matters between him and Yao Mingyue were nobody else''s business. Xu Musen slowly began to speak, "If Ming Yue encounters any troubles in the future, I will step in and help. You can rest assured about that, Auntie." But that was the extent of it. Yao Mingyue remained silent, the bitterness in her heart seeming to surge like a flood, yet she didn''t know how to fill the void. "That''s enough. Auntie believes that you two will gradually get along better." Liu Rushuang nodded, her face once again brightening with a smile. Since no one had pierced through thisyer of paper, there was still room to maneuver. Perhaps it was a case of not achieving a breakthrough without breaking the old. Just then, a figure suddenly entered through the door. Bai Xin, in a professional suit, walked in. The counselor? Xu Musen was taken aback. Perhaps she knew about him skipping out on military training early? Liu Rushuang also immediately stood up, saying with a smile, "Let me introduce her. This is my old university ssmate, also my best friend. You can just call her Aunt Bai. This is my daughter Ming Yue, and this young girl is called An Nuannuan. As for Xiaosen, he needs no introduction, right?" Upon hearing this, Yao Mingyue''s gaze momentarily settled on the mature woman who had suddenly appeared. Especially as she wore a white shirt, the buttons straining across her chest... Yao Mingyue silently looked around and contemted how to describe the situation. It was as if, amidst a range of towering mountains, she herself had be a mere hill. Although she also had curves, she really could not ept it, especially considering that An Nuannuan, who was her age, was so advantaged! "My name is Bai Xin. I''m a teacher at Hu Hai University and Xu Musen''s counselor. I remember holding you both when you had just started elementary school. It''s been over a decade now." Bai Xin looked at Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue, also feeling a sense of fondness for the younger generation. No wonder she felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity when she first met Xu Musen; he was the son of an old acquaintance. "Hello, Aunt Bai." Now aware of the connection, Yao Mingyue temporarily set aside her worries and greeted with a polite demeanor. "Xiaoyue is getting more and more beautiful. The university''s beauty forum is controversial every year, but I''m afraid there''s nothing to fight over this year." Bai Xin couldn''t help but praise Yao Mingyue as she looked at her. "Don''t tter her too much. Look how high her tail''s wagging." Liu Rushuang teased. "When a child is excellent, they deserve praise. Xu Musen, you''ve been quite poprtely, too; your singing is very good." Bai Xin said with a meaningful tone. Xu Musen coughed and said, "You''re too kind, Teacher Bai." Bai Xin then turned her gaze to An Nuannuan, who sat obediently beside Xu Musen like a demure bride-to-be. This girl often came to the ss to bring water to Xu Musen, something she hadn''t paid much attention to before. But looking at the current atmosphere... Sigh, matters of the heart are indeed tooplicated. "Nuannuan, if you have any issues at school, you cane to the teacher for help." Bai Xin said courteously. "Yes, yes, thank you, Teacher." An Nuannuan nodded in response. The arrival of Bai Xin made the atmosphere at the dinner pleasant and rxed once more. Nighttime. Xu Musen wheeled An Nuannuan along the campus paths, on their way back to the dormitory. They were both somewhat silent, and the evening breeze was soothing. All of a sudden, An Nuannuan looked up with her big, clear eyes and stared at Xu Musen earnestly for a good while. "Xu Musen..." "What''s wrong?" "You and her, you really were childhood sweethearts, huh..." An Nuannuan''s voice carried a rare emotion. It was unclear whether it was apprehension, nervousness, or a mix of hope and disappointment. In any case, it was like the night wind: cool, yet wrapped with a touch of heat. Yes, it was an emotion called fear of gain and loss... Chapter 136: Chapter 103: The girl is still young; its illegal. Regarding the childhood marriage promises, Xu Musen felt they definitely existed. When he was a kid, he heard his parents joke about it, but such promises were usually just verbal and taken as jokes. It wasmon for close friends to sit together, drink, brag, and on a whim be sworn brothers or promise their children to each other in jest. Unless there was some written documentation, there wasn''t much to it. However, in this day and age, those so-called childhood marriage promises were long gone. "It was all just childhood jokes. When I was a kid, I even said I wanted to marry Wang Zuxian, but matters of the heart are best figured out on one''s own," Xu Musen said with a smile, shaking his head. An Nuannuan gave an ''oh'', with a slightly brighter tone, blinked, and then spoke again. "I heard from my grandparents that they were paired up through a childhood marriage promise, and they''re still living happily together," An Nuannuan said, nodding at him. "The past and the present are not the same. People back then didn''t meet a lot of others, and it was considered lucky to meet just one, but today people have a multitude of choices in this colorful world," Xu Musen said slowly. An Nuannuan pondered, as if remembering something, "Oh, is that like those people on the inte who ''eat from the bowl and look into the pot'' or those who have multiple rtionships at the same time?" "...I just like making friends," Xu Musen coughed dryly, having seen those outrageous headlines himself. He hadn''t even done anything yet, so how had he bebeled a yboy? "I wasn''t talking about you," An Nuannuan curved her lips into a smile. "..." "I mean I have a friend, He Qiang, you know him, right? He really likes making friends," Xu Musen hastily threw his good buddy under the bus. "Hmph." An Nuannuan didn''t believe him. The two arrived at the dormitory building. An Nuannuan suddenly tugged on Xu Musen''s sleeve, her pretty face hesitating slightly, perhaps a bit tipsy from the red wine, as if she had finally made up her mind. "Xu Musen, could you perhaps not always be... fooling around with friends?" Xu Musen looked down and smilingly asked, "Why?" "Because Aunt Xiang said that there are many bad people out there, and boys like you who... tter too much can easily be deceived," An Nuannuan quickly exined, changing the subject. But Xu Musen''s lip twitched, you mean ''simp'', right? Could he ever shake off thisbel? Xu Musen felt a tearless grief as he looked down at An Nuannuan''s expectant eyes and her fair face flushed with a tipsy redness. She was as enchanting as the ss of red wine she drank today. At that moment, a gentle breeze blew, warming the space between them like the summer wind. "If I never fool around with friends, what am I going to do if no girl likes me, and I end up a bachelor?" An Nuannuan had no expression on her face, but her little hands subconsciously clenched her skirt. "I can introduce you to someone," "You will introduce me? Do you know many friends? I bet the girl you''re most familiar with is your younger sister, right?" Xu Musen couldn''t help butugh as he asked her. This naive girl didn''t have any friends around her, if he waited for her to introduce him, Xu Musen was afraid he''d truly remain a bachelor for life. However, An Nuannuan quickly shook her head, "Nannan is still very young." That would be illegal. "..." Xu Musen was at a loss for words. He was no lolicon! What''s so good about little girls who neither have curves nor are mature? As a mature man, he actually preferred the mature ''older sister'' type, at the very least in terms of figure. Xu Musen looked at An Nuannuan. Her legs had healed a lot by now. They had seemed a bit too skinny before, but now they had be slightly more plump. And An Nuannuan''s me pocket on her chest was really nice. Nannan was still young, but her sister was just right! "So, what should I do? How about you be my backup?" The evening breeze was pleasant, and riding on the momentum of the wine he''d drunk, Xu Musen unconsciously made the suggestion. An Nuannuan''s big eyes blinked, seemingly not quite understanding the meaning of his words. The air seemed to grow a little quieter. Xu Musen suddenly felt like he recaptured the foolish feeling he had when he unsessfully chased Yao Mingyue in his previous life. Sorry, I got carried away again... He looked up at the streetlight, thinking that the light bulb was really too damned bright! "Xu Musen." "Yeah?" "Would you apany me to meet my parents this weekend, please?" "Huh?" Xu Musen snapped back to reality and met An Nuannuan''s slightly reddened face. Wait a minute, aren''t you moving too fast? Skip dating and go straight to meeting the parents? "My grandparents want to see you, to thank you for taking care of me," "I see." Xu Musen couldn''t tell whether he was more relieved or disappointed, but he ended up smiling, "Alright, I''ll apany you then." "Mhmm!" An Nuannuan was very happy, and Xu Musen continued to push her along. But An Nuannuan''s gaze stayed on Xu Musen, her clear peach-blossom eyes rippling. She wasn''t sure if it was the alcohol, but she felt as if Xu Musen was now seen through a filter in her eyes. They arrived at the dormitory building. Under each tree beside the girls'' dormitory stood a couple, holding each other and unwilling to part. This was also one of the characteristics of college life. Xu Musen had never had a proper rtionship throughout his university years. Yao Mingyue was too dominant, and he could hardly experience the sweet and sour back-and-forth of a rtionship. As for An Nuannuan, she was too naive, and Xu Musen didn''t even know how to start a rtionship with her. Was he going to spend another year of college alone? Chapter 125: Chapter 99: You wouldnt compete with my daughter for a man, right? Hu Hai University, military training was still in full swing. At the university entrance, a red Bentley gently came to a stop. The security guard stood at the entrance, walked to the car window, and said, "Hello, cars from outside the university are not allowed inside without permission." As the window rolled down, inside was a mature and intellectual face of stunning beauty. It was none other than Liu Rushuang. Her smooth and fair cheeks showed no trace of age, her willow eyebrows were slender, her phoenix eyes sparkled, her high and shapely nose bridge, and her rosy lips always held a smile. She was dressed in a light red cheongsam, and her curvy figure was perceptible even through the car window. The guard found himself a bit parched at the sight. Hu Hai University was not short of beauties, but they were, after all, young students. Men of a certain age actually prefer mature, fuller-figured women like her. Cuteness ultimately stood no chance against sexiness. "I''m Liu Rushuang, I''ve already notified Professor Bai today," she said with a smile. "Oh, oh... let me check." The guard came back to his senses, went into the security room to check, and then came out to let her in. "Pleasee in." "Thank you." Liu Rushuang drove her car into the campus. As the red Bentley disappeared, the guard swallowed hard again and popped a piece of betel nut into his mouth. "No idea what kind of man is so lucky to be with her..." The guard shook his head, fully aware that a woman like her waspletely out of his league. Sitting back in the security room, he picked up his phone and looked at "The Frivolous Campus Guard...," asionally shing a satisfied smile full of self-indulgence. ... In the past few days, Xu Musen and Ma Yaxing had nearly finished coding the on-campus delivery app. It had to be said, Ma Yaxing did have some talent, and although he usually kept quiet, he was genuinely hardworking. While Xu Musen was already asleep in the middle of the night, Ma Yaxing would still be fixing bugs and reviewing the code. After a trial run, there were basically no problems anymore. However, as the number of merchants and user requests would increase, oneputer would certainly not be enough. It was necessary to find a ce for a dedicated office, and to recruit delivery staff, it was essential to have a fixed location for paying sries and holding motivational meetings. You couldn''t possibly cram everyone into a dorm room. Xu Musen had also prepared a detailed introduction page, printed it on business cards and flyers. During military training, the students were so tired that they didn''t want to leave their beds once they returned to their dormsit was the perfect opportunity to identify pain points for marketing. Xu Musen stretched his arms, feeling ready to take the big leap into action. He took an envelope from his chest and handed it directly to Ma Yaxing in the presence of Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong. Enjoy reading at m,v le "What''s this?" Ma Yaxing pinched the envelope, opened it, and found three thousand yuan inside. He couldn''t help but exim, "Holy shit!" "This is..." "As I said before, if you help me with the programming, I will pay you a sry," Xu Musen said, prompting Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong to look over. "It''s just ssmates helping each other out." "When I say I''ll pay, I''ll definitely do so. This is what you deserve," said Xu Musen, who was never stingy with people who helped him. "But isn''t this too much?" Ma Yaxing looked at the money; his monthly allowance wasn''t even a thousand yuan. Just a few days of helping with programming and he received three thousand yuanit felt like a pie falling from the sky. "It''s not too much," replied Xu Musen with a smile, patting him on the shoulder. "Besides, I''m not asking you to take it for nothing. In the future, someone needs to keep an eye on these programs, and from now on, you''ll be my security officer." Ma Yaxing felt touched like never before; this was the first time in his life he had earned such a substantial amount by himself. "Musen, you''re a true friend. From now on, I''m all in with you!" "Holy crap! This much? Brother Musen, are you still recruiting? I want to join you too!" Zhou Hangyu''s eyes lit up at the sight of the three thousand yuan. Even though his family was somewhat wealthy, the pocket money he received was limited, not nearly enough for impromptu trips to nightclubs. Li Rundong also jumped in, "I want in too! If the sry is good, Brother Musen, I''m down for whatever!" "Get lost, get lost. With your personalities, could you calmly stare at code every day?" Musen disdainfully retorted. Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong clicked their tongues, eyeing the hefty stack of red banknotes in Ma Yaxing''s hands with envy. "You''re just a rich man who doesn''t know a poor man''s troubles. You don''t need to work hard to be kept by a richdy, but we do." The two stared longingly at the red bills, incessantly nagging Xu Musen for a chance. "Fine, fine, since you''re both so keen, I do have a task you should be able to handle," said Xu Musen with a troubled look, casually taking out a stack of leaflets and business cards he had prepared earlier from the drawer. Since you two are willing to volunteer as leeks, I won''t hold back. "You help me promote our service at the canteen windows around the school. For each merchant you get to sign up, I''ll give you a hundred yuanmission. How does that sound?" Honestly, Xu Musen was offering a good deal. The shops in the school were concentrated and rtively easy to talk to. With three canteens plus other tea shops, cafes, and small supermarkets, there were close to two hundred merchants. If the pair could secure them all, it would be a hefty sum. Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong were exactly the type to have the gift of the gab, making them perfect for field sales. For this kind of promotion, being talkative was secondary; having the courage to speak was what mattered most. Chapter 126: Chapter 99: You wouldnt compete with my daughter for a man, right?_2 Anyway, I don''t expect them to win over everyone; as long as they can get half on board and run things for a while, the rest of the vendors will figure out a way to join on their own. "Think it over; I''ve got some errands to run." After saying this, Xu Musen left the dorm room first. University entrepreneurship does get special funding support, and Xu Musen still had money, but it would be silly not to take advantage of the avable resources. The application form needed to be obtained from the counselor. Thinking of that "big sister" counselor, she was usually elusive. But she always liked to hand off tasks to him, like taking attendance or delivering materials. She almost treated Xu Musen like her little messenger boy. Although Xu Musen grumbled inside, he always ran over with a smile, ready to serve. After all, some people would kill for this kind of opportunity. Xu Musen made his way to her office and knocked on the door. "Come in." Bai Xin''s voice had azy quality to it. |le|mp|yr Xu Musen pushed the door open and saw Bai Xin still dressed in a professionaldies'' suit, her voluptuous figure indeed seemed fitting for nurturing minds. "Teacher Bai, here''s the freshman military training psychological analysis report you asked me to sort out." "Mm, just put it on the desk." Bai Xin nodded, and when she saw Xu Musen enter, she lowered herptop screen slightly. Xu Musen nced at her desk, which now held some half-eaten bread and snacks. It was already lunchtime. The school provided a faculty cafeteria, but it seemed Teacher Bai was not too keen on ces like that. "Teacher, you''re just having that for lunch?" "The cafeteria is too crowded at noon; I just settled for a quick bite." "You work so hard every day, Teacher; you have to eat properly. If you''d told me earlier, I could have brought you something from the restaurant." Xu Musen wore an expression of genuine concern for his teacher. But Bai Xin just looked up at him and said with a smirk, "Enough with the beating around the bush and buttering up. What do you want to talk about?" "You truly are perceptive, Teacher." Xu Musen, grinning ear to ear, didn''t beat around the bush anymore, "Actually, I want to apply for the university entrepreneurship fund." "Entrepreneurship?" Bai Xin adjusted her sses, her cool and mature face moving slightly: "Generally, the university''s entrepreneurship fund is only avable for application starting in sophomore year. The department won''t approve funds for you while you''re still in military training." "The funds can wait, but can I apply in advance for the university''s entrepreneurship green channel and get approval for something like an activity ssroom?" Xu Musen spoke, having never really expected to get the funds directly. The university entrepreneurship fund was meant to be a positive thing, supporting many students to start their own businesses, and even some student projects received specialmendations from the city. It''s a great way to enhance the university''s reputation, and that''s why the school invests a lot of money in it every year. But this led to many people applying for the fund and then cking off, pocketing the money to squander on themselves. As a result, the university started setting up various thresholds. Thus, it has be increasingly difficult to apply for the university entrepreneurship fund. Xu Musen wasn''t in a hurry for money right now, but he really wanted a ce to work, and for a model that would affect the canteen''s economy like his to take off, he definitely needed to give the leaders a heads-up and pay his respects to the right people. Only with their approval could he move forward freely. Bai Xin looked at him, fully prepared, and said, "Did you bring your business n?" "Of course." Xu Musen took out a USB drive and approached Bai Xin''sputer: "My project proposal is all in here." Bai Xin took it, subconsciously opening herptop screen a bit more. But as she did, theputer''s sleep mode ended, and the paused video resumed yback. "Take a walk with me on the streets of Chengdu..." The melody filled the air, and Xu Musen paused, struck by the familiar sound. On theputer screen was a video of him singing, with a ring title that read "Hu Hai University guy captivates the hearts of many youngdies with just his voice." Xu Musen:... "Ahem." Bai Xin cleared her throat and closed the video page, her fair cheeks maintaining a businesslike demeanor: "I''m merely concerned about the psychological health of our students. Study should be your main focus since you''ve just started university." "Teacher, I understand your curiosity, really." Xu Musen no longer wanted to deal with those ridiculous clickbait headlines. Despite their serious facades, teachers at the university were actually quite fond of gossiping about their students in private. Which department had the prettiest girls, who was dating who, or which dorm staged a candlelight confessionalthough they looked serious when dealing with it, they cackled with glee behind closed doors. Bai Xin gave him a sidelong nce, holding the USB drive with Xu Musen''s meticulously prepared nning document and a backup of the app''s operations. Xu Musen began to exin his ideas. Listening, Bai Xin went from skeptical to gradually epting, then admiring, and finally was surprised by Xu Musen''sprehensive thoughts. This type of delivery service had great future potential. Watching Xu Musen''s enthusiastic presentation, Bai Xin asked with interest, "You''re just starting university and you''re already thinking about starting a business? You don''t look like someone who''scking money." "Mainly I want to contribute to the nation''s economy. How can I rest easy while our country isn''t yet prosperous and strong?" Chapter 127: Chapter 99: You wouldnt compete with my daughter for a man, right?_3 "Talk human." "I want to make money to buy a house, a car, and marry a beautiful wife." Xu Musen said with a chuckle, feeling quite rxed around this beautiful counselor. Bai Xinughed softly, sipping her coffee, "I thought you were going to take the idol debut route, considering all those videos of you singing on the school forum these past few days." "The idol route would take at least a couple of years to get off the ground; I can''t wait that long." "Haha, so you''re nning to earn your dowry within two years?" "After all, no oneins about having too much money; it''s always good to save up a bit more." Save up a bit more? So you''re nning to marry several wives and bring them home? It seems the forum was right, this young man is probably a yboy. Bai Xin nced out of the corner of her eye, she popped out a USB drive and handed it to him, then stood up and found an application form from the box behind her. "Fill this out first, I''ll submit it for youter." "Sure thing." Xu Musen happily filled in the information and then left. Bai Xin looked at thepleted application form, gaining a new appreciation for Xu Musen, the young man. She picked up a pen, ready to write her own rmendation. Shortly after, there was a knock at the door. "Come in." As her words fell, Xu Musen reappeared with a beaming smile. "What are you doing back here?" "Bringing some sweet treats for the hardworking teacher before lunch." Xu Musen was holding a cup of milk tea and some cake desserts in his hands. He walked over and ced them directly on her desk. Bai Xin looked at these little treats that young girls would like, her eyes teasing him, "Is it because you tried to give them to some other girl and she didn''t ept it that you''re giving them to me?" "No way, I bought them especially for you, don''t look down on it." Xu Musen put down the treats and quickly took off. Bai Xin didn''t even get the chance to refuse. "This young man" Bai Xin shook her head with a smile, looking at the milk tea and desserts on her desk. She couldn''t remember thest time she had had these treats. Once a woman reaches a certain age, she always bes a bit anxious about her figure, cutting out sugar and oil and making sure to do the right amount of yoga exercises. That''s how you keep belly fat at bay and maintain a good shape for your bust and hips. It''s not about pleasing others, it''s just that she also thinks it looks good. Every day, she watches her students exchange milk tea and sweets. This is the first time a student has ever given her milk tea. Looking at these calorie bombs in front of her. Bai Xin actually felt a bit tempted. She took a bite of the little cake, and sipped on the milk tea. Sweet, indeed, it brought an unexpectedly pleasant sweetness to a hot summer day. Not bad at all. Is this what it''s like for young people in love these days? The ringtone of the cellphone went off. "Big Bai Frost" Seeing this contact name, her somewhat chilly face suddenly revealed a girlish anticipation. She picked up the call, speaking, "Well, look who''s calling, why have you decided to give me a call all of a sudden?" "Of course, to visit my precious daughter at the university, and to check on you, a lonesome old maid." On the other end of the phone, a knowledgeable and graceful voice came through, and the two chatted for a while. Momentster, the office door was pushed open. The person who came in was none other than Liu Rushuang, dressed in a light red cheongsam. "Little Bai, long time no see." Liu Rushuang entered and immediately gave Bai Xin a warm hug. The balls collided, a spectacr sight. Throughout history, it''s always been the left side that wins in a match of curves. Overall, Liu Rushuang still had the upper hand. The two exchanged pleasantries for a while. "You''re saying Ming Yue got into Hu Hai University too? Why didn''t you tell me earlier? I probably wouldn''t even recognize her now." Bai Xin brewed a cup of tea for her, speaking with a hint of nostalgia as it had been many years since theyst met. "I''ve just been so busy recently. School has started for so many days, and this is the first time I finally had time toe take a look. How about you? I thought you didn''t eat sugar; why are you suddenly in the mood for milk tea now?" Liu Rushuang couldn''t help asking while looking at the milk tea and desserts ced on her table. "A student brought it to me." "A student? Male or female?" Liu Rushuang also showed a gossipy expression. Bai Xin didn''t answer, but Liu Rushuang covered her mouth,ughing with interest, "Xiao Bai, you''re not finallying around and nning to date, are you? But isn''t going after your own student a bit too desperate?" "Go on, you always tease me like this. What about you? Are you still single after all these years?" Liu Rushuang smiled and nodded, "I got used to being alone. Now, I just want to take care of my daughter and, by the way, secure my future son-inw early." "Son-inw? Is it that little boy who always followed Ming Yue around that you mentioned before?" Bai Xin remembered seeing him once, many years ago. "Yes, he''s at Hu Hai University now too. I''ll introduce you to him sometime." "That''s nice. Hard to believe our kids are grown up enough to be talking about marriage. Seems like we really are getting old." Bai Xin nodded and sighed, took another sip of her milk tea, and looked at her well-maintained figure. Always admiring herself, there was an inevitable sense of loneliness sometimes. "Xiao Bai, with your figure and charm, you''re at the most perfect age for a woman When you were a trainee teacher, there were always young boys confessing to you. If you ask me, you shouldn''t stay singlefind a young guy; they''re full of vigor, and who knows, it might make you feel young again." Liu Rushuang joked. "Come on, stop being so improper." Bai Xin''s cheeks turned a slight red; the verbal exchanges between women could be as fierce as those between men. "You had so many admirers before that the snacks they sent daily could have stocked a small store, and this is the first time I''ve seen you ept a young man''s milk tea. You should be careful; young people easily get carried away. By epting his milk tea, they''ll think you''re acknowledging their actions. These young guys can be quite persistent." Liu Rushuang spoke with a grin, after all, her best friend''s figure, looks, and charm were always the center of attention anywhere she went. When she first became a teacher, there were always a few young boys who confessed to her every year, some of which were quite impulsive and extreme cases. Bai Xin, however, shook the milk tea in her hand and showed a smile. "This boy won''t." "Why not?" Liu Rushuang asked curiously. "Because he could be a yboy; he''s used to giving milk tea to girls." "???" Liu Rushuang was momentarily stunned, thenughed, "For you to call him a yboy, this young man must be quite something." "He is quite something. Sometimes, the way he talks makes me feel like he''s my peer, and I feel quite relieved handing over matters to him. Just now he came to apply for the university''s entrepreneurial fund, iming he wants to save up to get a wife." Bai Xin stood up to prepare a cup of coffee from the machine, continuing, "He''s been quite the talk of the campus recently, the school forum is full of posts about him." She was turned away from Liu Rushuang and making coffee, not noticing the sudden shift in Liu Rushuang''s gaze. A moment ago, she had been yfully advocating the benefits of a young love interest to her best friend. And now, this young man turns out to be her future son-inw? Isn''t this like putting a green hat on her own daughter''s head? This is the young man she had reared from a young age, surely her own best friend couldn''t snatch him away. Otherwise, what would they call it in the future? "I call you sister; do you call me mom?" Liu Rushuang suddenly had a wary look akin to Yao Ming Yue''s. "Bai Xin." "Hmm?" Bai Xin lifted the coffee to test the temperature. "You wouldn''t fall for a man younger than yourself, right?" "???" Chapter 128: Chapter 100: Best Friends VS Childhood Sweethearts! The military training continued. After a week of continuous training, almost no one with fair skin could be seen on the parade ground. Xu Musen got several shades darker, but a handsome guy is still a handsome guy, even with a tan. Zhao Lianmai didn''t care as she naturally had wheat-colored skin. With everyone else tanned, her attractiveness seemed to increase by a notch. Of course, there were exceptions. An Nuannuan woulde to find Xu Musen every day but always stayed under the shade of a tree. She remained fair and clear, sipping her milk tea with gusto every day. She would also go out for hot pot with Xu Musen at night without any worries. But her weight remained unchanged, only her pretty face seemed more lustrous. Xu Musen seriously suspected whether An Nuannuan was the fire dragon from "The Dragon Maid of the Xiao Lin Household," with two me sacs on her chest capable of storing magma. Otherwise, he had no idea where all the calories went. The afternoon military training was about to end, and the instructor let everyone rest and wait. Yao Mingyue sat in the shade of the tree, her fair face slightly reddened after several days of exposure to the sun. She resembled the saying "fair skin with a rosy glow," making her look like she was constantly in a light state of blush. It added a more enchanting quality to her appearance. This was coupled with her not seeking Xu Musen during these days. She seemed like a fish out of water, listless without "Musen''s essence," wilted. She looked more like a woman pining for her husband. The boys in the ss couldn''t help but stare at her. They gnashed their teeth in envy! They really didn''t understand how someone could resist such a beautiful, wealthy girl. Yao Mingyue''s excellence, even among the numerous talents and beauties of Hu Hai University, was still top-tier. They couldn''t imagine a girl prettier than her. Perhaps the only one who could surpass Yao Mingyue would be a more queenly version of herself when she grew up. In the crowd, Chen Guangnian looked at Yao Mingyue, water bottle in hand, wanting to approach her, but then remembered the past rejections. And after she used him, she straight-up blocked him, which really made him angry. He became theughingstock of the dorm. Every time they met, they called him "Staircase Bro." Chen Guangnian had sworn to himself. Never again would he publicly y the fawning admirer. At most he would care for her in secret. He was thinking about how to act when suddenly he heard exmations. "Wow is that a teacher from the school? She''s incredibly beautiful!" "That figure is unbeatable, and she''s wearing a cheongsam!" Chen Guangnian was internally scoffing as he heard thements. Could she be more beautiful than Yao Mingyue? And what''s so good about an old woman... He hadn''t finished his inner monologue when he looked up and was struck dumb at the sight of the tall figure approaching from afar. Liu Rushuang, in a light red cheongsam, walked across the field, her high heels clicking crisply on the ground. Her voluptuous figure stretched the cheongsam into stunning curves that seemed to heat up the already warm summer. At that moment, the boys'' eyes were glued to her while the girls looked from her to their own chests, sumbing to an eerie silence. "She''s so beautiful, and that body... it''s true, cuteness stands no chance against sexiness." "What''s the big deal? In a few years, after we''ve developed a bit more, we might not lose to her" "The most fatal thing is her aura! She looks exactly like a wealthy madam; university professors can''t possibly have this kind of demeanor, right?" Perhaps they could console themselves with their youth, which is their asset. But then they saw Liu Rushuang''s mature yet no less youthfully exquisite face. They suddenly felt the world was profoundly unfair. Moreover, they realized this impably maintained beautiful woman was heading straight towards their ss. "Hey, hey, it looks like she''sing our way!" "Oh my, could she be one of those wealthy womening to pick a male college student as a gigolo? I volunteer! I volunteer!" "I have a n for snagging a wealthy woman! You guys buy a dumbbell and only workout the middle finger" "Put away your petty schemes! If you ask me, it''s all about heart. Let me warm the wealthydy''s empty heart!" The boys, who had held back their energy during the military training, were now all feeling restless. Chen Guangnian looked at the beautiful woman in front of him and felt she looked familiar. Especially those phoenix eyes Suddenly he paused, then his eyes widened, and he turned his gaze towards the girls. At this moment, Yao Mingyue''s idle mind was also disturbed by themotion, and she felt the sporadic sunlight in front of her eyes blocked by two rich, stic objects. The familiar scent arrived, along with the sound of those high heels. Yao Mingyue raised her head and, after a moment of shock, her phoenix eyes instantly brightened. "Mom?" "Mom?" The second call was an involuntary reaction from some ssmates. They incredulously stared at the woman before them, who they had guessed to be in her thirties at most. But if she was the parent of a college student, she was at least close to forty, right? To maintain such a youthful appearance at that age seemed utterly unfair! "Mom, why did you suddenlye here?" Yao Mingyue stood up, surprised. Her mother had previously mentioned she would visit, but she hadn''t expected her to show up so suddenly. Chapter 129: Chapter 100: Best Friends VS Childhood Sweethearts! _2 "Of course I came to see my precious daughter. Let me see, have you gotten a tan?" Aunt Liu cradled Yao Mingyue''s face in her hands, looking at her affectionately. "As expected, a beautiful daughter means a beautiful mother." "I originally thought Yao Mingyue was already peerless, but who knew her mother would be even more beautiful." The ssmates'' murmuring grew louder. Especially Yao Mingyue''s roommate, who observed Liu Rushuang, who had great demeanor, figure, and maintenance. It seemed that Yao Mingyue''s family was truly wealthy. This demeanor couldn''t be matched by any nouveau riche or kept socialites. With every smile and gesture, although very amiable, there was always an invisible pressure from a person of high status. "I''ve been too busy to visit you these days and I''ve negleted you. Come on, let''s go have dinner tonight with Xiaosen." Liu Rushuang had already noticed her daughter''s somewhat listless expression and spoke with concern. When Yao Mingyue heard news about Xu Musen, the emptiness in her eyes suddenly lit up. Liu Rushuang turned and said to the instructor with a smile, "I am Yao Mingyue''s parent, and I have something I need to take care of that requires the student to leave with me for a while." The instructor cleared his throat and said, "No problem." After all, they were about to be dismissed. And yet, the instructor felt a strong pressure when talking to this elegant and gentle-lookingdy. "Thank you." Liu Rushuang smiled and nodded, then turned around and linked arms with Yao Mingyue, the two of them chatting andughing as they walked in a different direction. "Is this a mother and daughter or best friends? Clearly they look like sisters!" "Rich people really are different; such age-defying beauty. I bet Yao Mingyue will turn out the same way too, slurp..." "Who needs little girls when you have an auntie with suchsting charm!" Everyone whispered among themselves. Chen Guangnian, however, was watching the direction in which they left; he remembered that direction led to the ssroom of that guy named Xu Musen. Childhood friends, huh... Hot! ... At that moment, Xu Musen was also sitting with eyes closed on the yground, waiting for the dismissal order. He would go out for a walk and eat hotpot with An Nuannuan in the evening. An Nuannuan always got so happy when eating that she would kick up her feet. Xu Musen would then happily pinch her feet. Suddenly, there was amotion in the crowd. "Holy cow, a gorgeous big sister! That little cheongsam could take my life!" "Wait a minute, isn''t there someone following her... Holy moly!" Li Rundong squinted his eyes and finally recognized the person. He quickly shook Xu Musen awake: "Wake up, your little rich girl hase again, and she''s bringing a richdy straight towards you!" What''s that about? Xu Musen opened his eyes and sat up, and at the next moment, his eyes widened. "Aunt Liu?" Xu Musen stood up. "Xiaosen!" Liu Rushuang waved her hand with a smile from a few meters away and even quickened her pace, pulling Yao Mingyue with her. Then, under the shocked gazes of the whole ss, Liu Rushuang briskly stepped forward and instinctively cupped Xu Musen''s face, affectionately giving him a gentle hug. On this hot summer day, the subtle fragrance from Liu Rushuang instantly refreshed Xu Musen. "Holy moly! How does Xu Musen always attract rich women throwing themselves at him wherever he goes?" "It''s just too much, I can''t stand it. Being with him every day is too damn depressing!" "Her skin is so nice, and her body too... I wouldn''t even dare dream I could have such a figure..." The male and female students all buzzed with discussion. Only Yao Mingyue and An Nuannuan, who was sitting under the shade of a tree, watched this scene with slightly open mouths in astonishment. Such a familiar embrace, neither of them had experienced it yet... "Aunt Liu, why are you here?" Xu Musen took a small step back. "Of course, I missed you both, and I wanted to see how you and Xiaoyue have been getting along each day." Liu Rushuang smiled warmly, reaching out to wipe the sweat from Xu Musen''s forehead. "Xiaosen is bing more and more manly, and a bit of tanning makes you even more handsome. No wonder Ming Yue has been talking about you every day on the phone with me recently." Her voice carried, reaching the ears of her ssmates. At once, they all looked toward Yao Mingyue, the girl whom they naturally remembered well. ``` Liu Rushuang''s few sentences contained a sizeable amount of information, almost like expressing a certain attitude. It was as if a mother-inw was sizing up her son-inw. Yao Mingyue stood behind, with the corners of her mouth slightly upturned. Meanwhile, under the tree, An Nuannuan, holding her bubble tea, took a sip but felt it wasn''t as sweet as before. "Aunt Liu, we are all doing quite well on our own," Xu Musen''s words seemed to draw distinct boundaries. However, Liu Rushuang still smiled warmly, "It''s been a long time, let''s go. Auntie will take you out for dinner today." Going out for dinner was, of course, no problem. Especially when it was an elder extending the invitation. Xu Musen''s gaze shifted to Yao Mingyue standing behind him, not avoiding anything. He couldn''t believe that this girl had managed to refrain from seeking him out for so many days, uncertain whether she was brewing something bigger or genuinely thought that Xu Musen and An Nuannuan were together, thus feeling defiantly stubborn. But none of that was his concern anymore. The dinner was purely to catch up with an elder. At this moment, Yao Mingyue was extraordinarily quiet, yet her gaze subtly fixed on the figure seated in the wheelchair under the tree. Her lips still carried a slight curve, no matter what, the unique rtionship of being childhood sweethearts between our two families was iparable! Just as Xu Musen was about to nod, he suddenly remembered something. He looked towards An Nuannuan, who was now gazing at them with wide, expectant eyes, like a little kitten about to be abandoned. "Auntie, wait for me a moment," Xu Musen said, then approached An Nuannuan, and speaking in a soft voice, he said, "Nuannuan, I have to go out tonight, so you''ll eat on your own first. I''ll take you out tomorrow." An Nuannuan blinked her eyes, holding her bubble tea with suddenly no mood to drink it, herrge eyes showing a hint of disappointment. "Oh" She obediently nodded her head, but there was an indescribable sense of loss on her fair pretty face. "How about I bring you something delicious when Ie back?" "Then how long will you be back?" An Nuannuan didn''t seem too cheered by the prospect of something tasty, rather looking forward more to the moment Xu Musen would bring her something to eat. "Yah, is this youngdy a friend of Xiaosen? She''s really pretty," At this moment, Liu Rushuang came over. Looking at the girl in the wheelchair, her eyes glinted as she surreptitiously sized her up. She inwardly took a deep breath. Her appearance was on par with her own daughter''s. But as for figure, her daughter''s proportions were clearly perfect. Huh?!! Her gaze suddenly froze on a particrly prominent curve. What was going on here? Were all the nutrients being sucked away by this ce? The impact this could have on young boys was immeasurable! Liu Rushuang''s gaze stealthily shifted back to Xu Musen. She remembered how this boy used to always chase after milk when he was little. He couldn''t possibly be into this sort... But fortunately, this little girl seemed simple and naive. She shouldn''t be too difficult to deal with, and it was always important to help her daughter win over this formidable rival! Liu Rushuang spoke up with a smile, taking the initiative to greet her. Xu Musen hadn''t gotten the chance to introduce them yet. But An Nuannuan suddenly lifted her head and spoke earnestly, "Hello beautiful Auntie, my name is An Nuannuan, I am a good friend of Xu Musen, the very best kind." An Nuannuan''s tone wasn''t overly assertive, but it was extremely earnest. "Oh, is that so? Xiaosen has good taste, always liking to befriend pretty girls. Since he was little, he loved ying with my Mingyue," Liu Rushuang said with a smile, her words carrying an implicit meaning. An Nuannuan lifted her head and locked eyes with Yao Mingyue for a moment. One pair of phoenix eyes carried a natural aristocratic bearing and an oppressive air. The other pair of peach blossom eyes, bright and fluttering, carried a sense of adorableness mixed with a touch of tenderness. The best friend VS childhood sweetheart. There seemed to be an invisible tension filling the air. "Why doesn''t Nuannuan join us for dinner? How does that sound?" Liu Rushuang was smiling cheerfully. Ready to stir the pot! ``` Chapter 130: Chapter 101 If Ming Yue Cant, Mom Will Do It Herself! Faced with Liu Rushuang''s invitation, An Nuannuan looked at her sophisticated and elegant smile, as well as Yao Mingyue''s flickering eyes. Without a doubt, this was a setup. But to not go would be like admitting defeat. However, An Nuannuan just slowly blinked her eyes, "I''ll listen to Xu Musen." She neither refused nor agreed directly, instead passing the decision to Xu Musen. If Liu Rushuang and Yao Mingyue''s aim today was to ostentatiously dere ownership and tell everyone "Xu Musen is mine!" Then An Nuannuan was like a marshmallow, dodging these attacks and letting everyone know "I am Xu Musen''s." At this moment, a man''s pride was greatly satisfied! What about "I''d rather cry in a BMW thanugh on a bicycle." This was a little rich girl driving a Rolls-Royce! Who needs a bicycle? A normal person would definitely choose tough in a Rolls-Royce! If it weren''t for the crowd, Xu Musen would surely have pinched her cheek. Liu Rushuang didn''t expect this young girl to announce such provocative words without blushing or skipping a beat. She looked at her daughter, who was grinding her teeth, and then back at the na?ve-looking An Nuannuan. Suddenly, she understood why her precious daughter had been so close to tears a few days ago. A formidable rival indeed. The more this was the case, the more Liu Rushuang felt it was necessary to teach her daughter how to be both soft and hard. "Aunt Liu, An Nuannuan, she has a bit of social anxiety. Maybe we shouldn''t..." "Social anxiety is all the more reason to make more friends. We are all very kind. That''s settled then, I''ll take Ming Yue to change clothes, and we''ll meetter at the school gate!" Liu Rushuang didn''t give them an opportunity to refuse, smiling as she took Yao Mingyue and left directly. Dismissal time had arrived. Xu Musen looked at An Nuannuan and whispered, "Nuannuan, if you don''t want to go, don''t force yourself." "Don''t you want me to go?" An Nuannuan looked up at him. "It''s not about not wanting you to go, I''m just worried that you won''t be used to the way they talk." "The kind sister and beautiful aunt seem really nice to me." "Nuannuan, you need to understand that some people may appear nice but are not to be taken at face value," Xu Musen particrly referred to that little sickly sweet. An Nuannuan nodded thoughtfully, her gaze fixed on Xu Musen, "But you would back me up, right?" "Of course." "Then I''m not afraid. Don''t worry, I''ll talk less and eat more!" An Nuannuan showed an obedient expression. Xu Musen couldn''t help butugh, "You little glutton" An Nuannuan gently shook her head, her peach blossom eyes twinkling, "It''s not for the food. I think they are very important to you, and I don''t want to cause you difort before them. Plus I also want to understand you more." Xu Musen often visited her at her house, but she didn''t know much about his family. By the end of it, her fair, pretty face even carried a slightly rosy hue. Xu Musen stayed silent for a moment, looking into her clear eyes, feeling a warmth in his heart. If you keep flirting with me like this from time to time, this pure and simple friendship might really start to change! "Alright." Xu Musen took a deep breath. Just a mother and daughter to deal with, right? Watch me take them on two at a time! Xu Musen pushed An Nuannuan back first; they both needed to change clothes. The ssmates behind were already numb. What on earth was going on? A rich heiress showing up with another little heiress to fight over a man with another na?ve heiress? They wouldn''t dare dream of such a scenario. "Damn, this must be the life of a male protagonist from a wish-fulfillment novel, right? With every step, a rich woman; with every meal, a cushy life, Xu Musen you bastard!" Zhou Hangyu waspletely numb. He had been unting his local status, But ever since he met Xu Musen, he felt like he was the one getting pped in the face. Li Rundong also wished he could slither darkly on the ground, "Beast, oh beast, to have both a mother and daughter..." ... On the other side, Liu Rushuang and Yao Mingyue had arrived at the dormitory. Liu Rushuang had especially prepared some new clothes for her today. Yao Mingyue opened her wardrobe and selected her clothes. Liu Rushuang, on the other hand, said, "No need for those long dresses. Mom gave you such a good figure, you should wear it boldly! I think this crop top looks great~" "That''s too revealing" Yao Mingyue looked at the white tank top and denim hotpants in her mother''s hand. She could wear those clothes alone for him to see. But she didn''t want other boys to see her belly button and tummy. "How did I raise such a fuddy-duddy? When your mother and father were dating, the slits in my cheongsam went almost down to my shoulders. You just need to drape a coat over it, right?" Liu Rushuang joked with her daughter. Yao Mingyue nced at the two pieces as well and then slightly lifted the edge of her own clothes. In the mirror, her own fair and smooth tummy with a hint of abs and the delicate navel appeared particrly shy. That guy Xu Musen, although he acted tough, would always quickly show some extraordinary reactions whenever they got close. As if he was already very familiar with her. After thinking it over, Yao Mingyue suddenly remembered something. She took out a red lightweight trench coat from the wardrobe, pairing it with a light-colored blouse and a ck short skirt underneath. She also found a pair of red high heels. Her long snow-white legs fully showcased the charm of the trench coat and high-heeled shoes. She tousled her hair a bit, making it a side-parted style, and her whole persona was transformed. Chapter 131: Chapter 101 If Ming Yue Cant, Mom Will Do It Herself!_2 From a charming college girl, she transformed into a woman exuding the aura of a capable CEO. Liu Rushuang''s eyes lit up at the sight of her daughter dressed in this manner. "Ah, this outfit isn''t half bad. Has Xiaosen started to like mature styles now?" Yao Mingyue''s gaze shifted from her mother''s curvaceous figure in the cheongsam to her own body. Although she was also quite curvy, catching up to her mother was still a far cry. This must be the difference between a cantaloupe and a watermelon. Liking mature "I dressed this way to please myself, not for anyone else," Yao Mingyue said with a hint of sourness in her voice. "You''ve always been too guarded. If I were you, I would have already" "Mom, why did you invite her to go out with us?" Yao Mingyue cut off her speech. Liu Rushuang smiled as she spoke, "This little girl named An Nuannuan is your love rival, isn''t she?" "She''s not any love rival" Yao Mingyue was reluctant to entertain the idea of having a love rival. He was supposed to belong only to her! "You, you have always been stubborn and impulsive. Xiaosen used to indulge and appease you endlessly, so whatever you did, you''d receive hisplete response. But now it''s different. Xiaosen seems to have really changed..." Liu Rushuang remembered the application for the university entrepreneurship fund and the business n Xu Musen had submitted today at the office. As a businesswoman, she had a keen business instinct. Xu Musen''s prepared home delivery service had great potential, and his business n was indeed very detailed. He considered all the risks and preliminary preparations. It could be said that if this business n were to be leaked to otherrgepanies, they would definitely assemble a professional department overnight to kickstart the project. Liu Rushuang had already discussed with Bai Xin to keep the business n confidential. If it were leaked, all the hard work Xu Musen put into these ns could be stolen by others. Many things Xu Musen still couldn''t register or patent because he didn''t have a sizablepany yet. Liu Rushuang nned to support him first so that his efforts wouldn''t fall into others'' hands. Listening to her mother''s words, Yao Mingyue bit her lip unwillingly. She was the one who felt Xu Musen''s changes the most deeply. "Okay, today we''ll go with mom''s n. Little Xiaosen, I promise it''ll be a cinch," Liu Rushuang patted her daughter''s head with a smile. ... On the other side, Xu Musen changed into casual clothes and went to pick up An Nuannuan from the girls'' dormitory. An Nuannuan was wearing a white dress adorned with daisy prints, her long hair blowing in the wind, her stunning cheeks dazzling the youth of many. In her arms, she held several cups of milk tea. Seeing her made Xu Musen feel veryfortable. Not for any other reason, Xu Musen was simply a sucker for good looks. "Why did you buy so much milk tea?" "It''s for kind sister and pretty auntie," she said. "They might not like to drink this," Xu Musenughed, knowing that Yao Mingyue was picky and conscious about her body, rarely indulging in such "junk food." "Howe? It''s really tasty," An Nuannuan couldn''t understand; sweet things were so good. "Then let''s give it to themter, and let''s get going." "Okay," Xu Musen pushed her along as they walked down the campus streets, the evening breeze feeling delightful. They were about to reach the campus gate when Xu Musen stopped and gently tapped An Nuannuan''s head. "Remember, if they ask you something you don''t want to answer, just y dumb," he advised. "How do I y dumb?" "Just act like you usually do." "...Xu Musen, you''re picking on me." An Nuannuan pouted her lips; she might be na?ve, but she wasn''t stupid. "I''d rather it be me picking on you than someone else," Xu Musen whispered softly. At the campus gate, a red Bentley stood out conspicuously. Liu Rushuang rolled down the window, waving at Xu Musen with a smile. Yao Mingyue made eye contact with Xu Musen from inside the car. Her attire seemed to stun Xu Musen for a moment. A glint of triumph shed in Yao Mingyue''s eyes. "Hello, Little Nuannuan," Liu Rushuang greeted her warmly, getting out of the car and helping to assist her in. "Pretty auntie, this is for you," An Nuannuan offered the milk tea she had prepared. "Thank you," Liu Rushuang was momentarily taken aback but graciously epted it. Yao Mingyue remained seated in the car. But when she saw Xu Musen preparing to help An Nuannuan into the car, she became so anxious that she got out herself. "Let me help!" Yao Mingyue gritted her teeth and helped An Nuannuan into the car. "Thank you, kind sister," An Nuannuan thanked Yao Mingyue earnestly, and she even gave Xu Musen a look that seemed to say, see, kind sister is actually quite nice. Xu Musen held his forehead. He knew this ''tsundere'' simply didn''t want him to carry An Nuannuan. This was someone who could even be jealous of his own mother. Yao Mingyue inwardly seethed, ncing at An Nuannuan''s pristine cheeks, and could only muster a tight smile, "You''re wee" Suddenly, she understood how Chen Guangnian, the guy from ss, felt when he filmed Xu Musen singing for her. Oh Yang Yang, put some effort into pushing... I''ll endure! Liu Rushuang took in the whole scene. She thought to herself that her daughter had always been too self-confident from a young age, a trait that could lead to difficulties in society. Chapter 132: Chapter 101 If Ming Yue Cant, Mom Will Do It Herself!_3 ``` Perhaps it could also be an opportunity to temper her a bit. She drove to the location on the Bund. Here, various star-rated restaurants were densely packed, but Liu Rushuang drove into an alley. There was a small house without even a signboard, and ady with a good temperament stood at the door as the greeter. "My surname is Liu, I''ve reserved the Flower Sea private room." Liu Rushuang said as she spoke, and the greeter immediately nodded, "Please follow me." Once the small door was opened, there was a very tasteful Suzhou garden design inside, which led them to a room where most of the walls were floor-to-ceiling windows. The night view of the Bund was just opposite. The glitzy lights reflected on the river surface, dazzling like a sea of flowers. In her past life, Liu Rushuang also liked to take them out for meals. A private room like this one would cost several thousand at the minimum. There''s also a fifteen percent service charge, which is basically for watching the waiter open a bottle of wine and recite some spiel about the so-called effects and background of the dishes. Xu Musen would rather give the guys in the dorm three-yuan roujiamo sandwiches, and they''d be so moved they''d yell out "foster father." This is the life of the rich. On Liu Rushuang did not like having people around when eating, so she let the waiter leave after setting down the dishes. "Let''s all have some red wine today, it''s good to relieve fatigue." Liu Rushuang said, picking up the red wine that had been aerated in advance and pouring for everyone. "Nuannuan doesn''t need any, right?" Xu Musen looked at An Nuannuan, this little girl probably didn''t drink alcohol. "Yeah, little kids really shouldn''t drink, milk tea is pretty good." Yao Mingyue elegantly swirled her wine ss; she was dressed maturely today, in stark contrast to An Nuannuan''s cute long dress. Meanwhile, An Nuannuan ced her milk tea against her chest as if she couldn''t hear the implied meaning in those words. "I can also drink a little. The doctor said that moderate red wine can stimte recovery, thank you, kind big sister, for caring." An Nuannuan thanked Yao Mingyue with a nod, her milk tea slightly shaking with the movement of her head. But it remained securely in ce. Yao Mingyue clenched her teeth, her rosy lips pursed slightly: "You''re wee" Liu Rushuang, watching this scene, roughly understood what kind of subtle dynamic was at y here. "Little friend An Nuannuan, I hear you also attend Zheng City No. 4 Middle School?" Liu Rushuang took the initiative to speak. "Yes, yes, Yao Mingyue, Xu Musen and I are all ssmates," "Is that so, what a coincidence." Liu Rushuang chuckled lightly, but her eyes shifted to Xu Musen and her daughter: "Speaking of which, Mingyue and Xiaosen have been together since kindergarten, through primary school, middle school, high school, and now college." Actually, this statement was a clear message to her: you''re just high school ssmates, that''s all. My precious daughter, she''s his childhood sweetheart, they grew up together, naked bottoms and all! This near-twenty-year bond, what do you have topare with that? At this moment, cocoa blush tinged Yao Mingyue''s stunning cheeks, mirroring the red wine in her hand. Her phoenix eyes were dark and deep as they gazed at An Nuannuanas if to say this was her natural advantage. Twenty years ofpanionship, something no one could just toss away; in the end, he''s still hers. And you? You''re just a passer-by. Xu Musen felt uneasy inside; though there was no open hostility at the table, the undertone in their words was slightly off. If An Nuannuan took it the wrong way, it wouldn''t be good. However, An Nuannuan was marveling in astonishment, earnestly nodding: "That''s amazing, so Yao Mingyue and Xu Musen must have always had a great rtionship, right?" Yao Mingyue:... It was as if she had been struck on the forehead with Garen''s great sword in a silent big "Q." Remembering the way Xu Musen had been treating her recently, her chest felt as if it had been smashed by a heavy hammer! Liu Rushuang was momentarily at a loss for words. ``` Ever since that incident, she was the one who had to shoulder the burden of both the family and thepany, and indeed, there was less guidance regarding her daughter''s personality. Thinking of her daughter''s obstinate and willful character, Xu Musen really spoiled her too much in the past. The game started with a heavenly starting hand of two kings and two bombs, yet she was trumped by a single three yed by someone else. No, she had to continue and add some strong spice to make it work. "Nuannuan, have something to drink." Xu Musen did not want to make the atmosphere weird. "Hehe, Nuannuan, you''re quite amusing as a little friend. In the past, Xiaosen always had some little girls who liked to y with him, but in the end, only Ming Yue remained. I sometimes worry whether Xiaosen is unable to make friends with others." Liu Rushuang chuckled, her words signaling a clear message. Little girls like you, I''ve seen plenty, but in the end, you will ultimately be defeated by Yao Mingyue. You are just a passer-by. He and my precious daughter are a match made in heaven! Liu Rushuang''s words were a direct shot. Had it been any other girl, she probably would have kept silent and soon found an excuse to leave. Sure enough, An Nuannuan blinked and looked at Xu Musen, her peach-blossom eyes conveying emotions that seemed a little forlorn. "Is that so, I see" She muttered to herself, her good-looking eyebrows furrowed together. Yes, that''s how to deal with it! If you''re sensible, just concede defeat! Kee kee kee~ Liu Rushuang was smug in her thoughts. But Yao Mingyue had a feeling something wasn''t quite right. The next moment, An Nuannuan leaned slightly towards Xu Musen, gently tugging on his sleeve, "So you also have as few friends as me." "Huh?" Xu Musen was dumbfounded. Yet An Nuannuan, clever beyond her years, turned her head towards Liu Rushuang and said, "Pretty auntie, I get it, don''t worry. I won''t be like those fickle, double-dealing people. I''m going to be good friends with Xu Musen for a lifetime!" An Nuannuan was very serious as she spoke, even cing one hand on her chest. It had the vibe of a sworn brotherhood found in gangster movies. You could tell her determination from the strength of her shake. It was full of sincerity. And there seemed to be another meaning behind her words, between the lines. Liu Rushuang: ...?y? Yao Mingyue: ...?y? Xu Musen: What I meant was for you to take the hint and leave! How did you hear it as encouraging you and Xu Musen to be inseparable?! At this moment, she felt like she was punching cotton. Usually, when she was out socializing, everyone was shrewd, understanding the meaning behind a single sentence. But in front of this little girl, it was as if all her schemes were futile. Is she really na?ve or just pretending to be? Was my surreptitious hint for her to take a hint and leave transformed into a solemn oath by her? What a fierce rival! Liu Rushuang''spetitive spirit was aroused! If my daughter can''t make it, I will take matters into my own hands! And Yao Mingyue, observing from the side, had already anticipated that things would turn out this way. An Nuannuan just thinks differently from everyone else. Seeing her mother getting a bit carried away, she was inwardly eximing. Mom, please rein in your powers! Chapter 133: Chapter 102: You and her, are really childhood sweethearts, huh? Time to eat. The atmosphere at the dinner table was still a bit odd. Yao Mingyue and her mother were sharpening their knives, figuratively speaking, against Nuannuan. However, An Nuannuan was like a breath of spring air, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at all the delicious food on the table. The two recent exchanges saw An Nuannuan emerging victorious without a fight, even turning the situation to her advantage. She profoundly practiced the great theory of "No guns, no cannons, the enemy will supply us." Now, the mother-daughter pair became somewhat cautious with their moves. Yao Mingyue exchanged a quiet nce with her mother. The gist was, "Mom, are you really up to this?" "Of course, after all, I''ve been through this. I''ve raised you both, and love affairs are easily handled." "...didn''t you only date my dad?" "That''s still better than being a single dog like you!" The mother and daughter criticized each other, their matching phoenix eyes and eyebrows nearly fighting. "Auntie, what''s wrong with your and Good Sister''s eyes?" An Nuannuan tilted her head from across the table. Their current squinting and winking resembled the elderly man from the next hospital room who had suffered a stroke and struggled with his left and right hands during her rehabilitation sessions at the hospital. "Cough... it''s nothing, the dishes are served, eat up. Xiaosen, don''t you love eating crabs? This restaurant''s crabs are famous far and wide. Let Mingyue help you get the meat." Liu Rushuang diverted the topic while subtly nudging her daughter with her arm. Yao Mingyue quickly understood, picked up a crab, and with the crab-eating tools beside her, prepared to crack one open for Xu Musen. "No trouble, I can do it myself." Xu Musen reached to take one himself, but Liu Rushuang passed him a small bowl of lotus seed soup with a smiling face. "No rush, try this lotus seed soup first. Military training must have made you overheated, drink some to cool down." She was buying time for her precious daughter. With the mother''s assistance, Xu Musen looked at Yao Mingyue''s ten fair fingers. Those hands were perfect for ying the piano, but not for these greasy and detailed tasks. The little princess had always been spoiled and pampered; eating crabs had always meant Xu Musen peeling them for her. Now, she struggled a bit as she picked at the crab meat, and the sharp shell asionally pricked her hand, causing her to frown slightly. If this had been before, she would have crushed the crab in anger by now. But now, she patiently and carefully extracted the meat piece by piece. Xu Musen watched silently, aware that Yao Mingyue was trying to provoke An Nuannuan in this way. But he couldn''t deny that she had changed quite a bit. In the past, she would never have condescended to peel a crab for him. "Done!" Yao Mingyue proudly ced the peeled crab meat before Xu Musen. It was actually just the roe and the meat from the belly; she''d thrown away the legs. Eating leg meat was such a hassle. Bad habits had to change, and one could get full just as easily on crab roe! The sight caused a pang in the heart of the waiter serving the table; that crab was worth two or three hundred yuan. Yao Mingyue ced the te in front of Xu Musen, the corners of her mouth curved slightly upward. This was the first time she had peeled a crab for someone. Her phoenix eyes saw the flicker ofplexity in Xu Musen''s eyes just a moment earlier. She held her chin even higher, as if to say, "Just ept defeat to thisdy." Without me, you can''t even eat a crab properly. Honestly, Xu Musen didn''t expect Yao Mingyue to peel a crab for him proactively. But... the appearance of the crab meat she peeled was really not too appealing. Yellow crab roe smeared on greenish crab meat... it kind of had a vibe of Indian street food, so clean and hygienic, brothers! What a waste of food. "Huff... huff..." An Nuannuan from beside him let out panting sounds again. Xu Musen turned his head and immediately felt she was of even greater concern. An Nuannuan had been cared for meticulously since a young age. In high school, even the shrimp she ate were peeled for her. Crabs were no exception. She fumbled with it, unable to even crack open the most basic shell, and when she tried biting it, she pricked her mouth. Her soft lips turned red, and she looked at Xu Musen with a pitiful expression. "I''ll do it." Xu Musen casually took the crab from her te and started skillfully separating the roe and meat, as well as the crab legs, using the crab-eating tools. The te was neatly arranged. His proficient movements made even the server pause in amazement. The technique seemed even more professional than theirs. They also stared a bit spellbound at Xu Musen''s skills. Liu Rushuang became even more convinced in her heart. They say a man should have "a mighty heart but be gentle enough to smell the roses." A man who could peel a crab for a girl with such care would definitely y a warm-hearted role in a marriage. Yao Mingyue had always been a stronger character, and Xu Musen''s attentiveness would bnce her well. Such a couple would be the most harmonious. The more she looked, the more satisfied she became. She must snatch him up decisively! "Done." Xu Musen quickly finished peeling a whole crab. Not a bit of meat was wasted, it all sat neatly on the te. Yao Mingyuepared the neatly appetizing crab meat in Xu Musen''s hand to what she had peeled. She suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of defeat. Was she really less delicate than a man? "Wow, Xu Musen, you''re so amazing!" An Nuannuan''s eyes shone brightly, her face full of admiration. "It''s just peeling a crab, what''s so impressive about that," Xu Musen said, though his expression still showed he was pleased. Chapter 134: Chapter 102: You and her, are really childhood sweethearts, huh?_2 In fact, if Yao Mingyue knew that Xu Musen''s impressive crab peeling skills were solely developed to serve her in a past life, she would probably be so angry that she''d flip the table on the spot upon seeing him perform this for another girl now. "But to me, it''s really amazing. If it weren''t for you today, I might not even know what the inside of a crab looks like." An Nuannuan giggled, looking even more naive, but it gave Xu Musen an inexplicable sense of achievement. Actually, the best thing a girl can offer a guy is emotional value. Given the same financial conditions, a man will definitely choose someone with a gentler personality. "Go ahead and eat." "Actually, I don''t really like eating crab." "Then why were you in such a hurry to nibble on it just now?" "That''s because you said you wanted to eat it, and I also wanted to help you get the crab meat. But I don''t know how to crack a crab open... I think I''m really a bit clumsy." An Nuannuan blushed slightly and took a sip of her milk tea with sincere simplicity. At this moment, even the mother-daughter pair was momentarily stunned. Am I clumsy? Then are we all fools! It''s all about peeling crabs. Especially Liu Rushuang, as a bystander, saw things most clearly. The feeling her darling daughter gave to Xu Musen was like "you can''t manage without me." Yet this little girl called An Nuannuan was more like "I can''t manage without you." Honestly speaking, if she were a man, she would feel pressured by the former, even a sense of defeat as if unable to lift his head in front of his own woman. But with thetter... even if a man were in a difficult situation, he could still find that sense of achievement from being needed and relied upon. ording to Maslow''s hierarchy of needs, Physiological Safety Social needs Esteem Self-actualization. A wealthy woman who can financially support you can at most satisfy your physiological and safety needs. But a girl who encourages you, understands you, and allows you to feel recognized and needed already fulfills the highest levels of esteem and self-actualization. Chinese parents often work themselves to death for their children, precisely because of the sense of validation from being needed by their offspring. This sense of achievement is the most solid psychological shield. Liu Rushuang couldn''t help but draw a sharp breath. Looking at the naive girl in front of her, she finally understood where her daughter had fallen short. Meanwhile, Yao Mingyue watched as the two flirted with each other as if no one else existed, her eyes growing hollow. Xu Musen also felt the temperature at the dining table drop a few degrees. He nced at the two girls and then looked down at the two tes in front of him. Yao Mingyue was staring intensely, still clutching the tool for extracting crab meat in her hand. It seemed as if the first bite Xu Musen took wasn''t from the crab she peeled, she was ready to peel him instead! The situation was getting heated. Xu Musen''s gaze inadvertently caught that of Liu Rushuang. Heh, you love to fan the mes so much, now there''s really a fire burning! I''m sorry, Aunt Liu! Xu Musen smiled brilliantly, carrying his peeled crab over to her. "Aunt Liu, you''ve had a busy day at work and came to see us. You should eat the crab first." As he said this, Xu Musen ced the te in front of her. In that moment, Yao Mingyue''s gaze also shifted, and seeing her mother, she couldn''t help but pout her lips. Liu Rushuang, seeing Xu Musen''s radiant smile, also inwardly marveled at how the rascal had grown up, deftly pulling such a move. Then she turned to her daughter, who was eyeing the crab meat that Xu Musen had peeled, and thought how pitiful she looked... "Xiaosen has grown up. You know how to be considerate now, not letting me see you as my son for nothing." Liu Rushuang responded with a beaming smile. "I''ve always regarded you as my elder too." Xu Musen was also all smiles. A perfect picture of maternal affection and filial piety. Liu Rushuang casually handed the te of crab meat to her daughter. Only then did Yao Mingyue''s expression soften significantly. Without haste, Liu Rushuang continued to speak, still smiling: "Speaking of which, when you two were children, a betrothal was arranged between you and Ming Yue. There might really be a chance in the future..." Huh? Everyone looked up simultaneously, Yao Mingyue and Xu Musen catching each other''s gaze. Sure enough, given the past rtionship between the two families, a childhood betrothal wasn''t out of the question. An Nuannuan listened to the term, muttered it to herself, and looked at them with a slightly different emotion in her peach blossom eyes. "Aunt Liu, actually Ming Yue and I are quite happy with our current rtionship. I have no ns for dating or anything of the sort," Xu Musen admitted without directly offending Liu Rushuang, but saying so to the woman was sufficiently face-pping. Yao Mingyue clenched the small tweezers in her hand as if she wanted to snap the silver instrument in two. Her dark eyes bored into him. Liu Rushuang paused for a moment, yet her smile didn''t falter: "Auntie understands, matters of the heart all depend on fate. Are you and Nuannuan in a romantic rtionship?" Suddenly, the direction of the conversation shifted. Xu Musen was taken aback, turning to meet An Nuannuan''s clear and bright gaze. An Nuannuan blinked, her pretty face slightly flushed, but she said not a word. As if leaving the decision up to him. In his heart, Xu Musen certainly had a good impression of An Nuannuan, and to say he liked her wouldn''t be an overstatement, as she ticked all of Xu Musen''s boxes. Having not experienced a proper romance in his past life, he truly enjoyed this current phase. As for defining their rtionship, he really wasn''t in any rush. Chapter 135: Chapter 102: You and her, are you really childhood sweethearts?_3 ``` Thest touch would render everything dull, after all, it''s the process that matters most. Besides, confirming someone''s identity must ultimately be approved by the person themself. "Nuannuan and I are of course innocent now." "Well, that''s good then. You get along so well with Nuannuan as friends. You and Ming Yue have been childhood friends, so you should strive to maintain a good rtionship, too. You are all the family I have left..." Liu Rushuang''s voice held a tinge of sorrow as she spoke these words. In her eyes, she truly liked Xu Musen. However, she had been absent from home for many years. Now that she finally had some stability and time, she didn''t expect the rtionship between the two to be somewhat strained. Xu Musen was silent for a moment. After all, being reborn was not the same as soul traveling; he was still Xu Musen. The matters between him and Yao Mingyue were nobody else''s business. Xu Musen slowly began to speak, "If Ming Yue encounters any troubles in the future, I will step in and help. You can rest assured about that, Auntie." But that was the extent of it. Yao Mingyue remained silent, the bitterness in her heart seeming to surge like a flood, yet she didn''t know how to fill the void. "That''s enough. Auntie believes that you two will gradually get along better." Liu Rushuang nodded, her face once again brightening with a smile. Since no one had pierced through thisyer of paper, there was still room to maneuver. Perhaps it was a case of not achieving a breakthrough without breaking the old. Just then, a figure suddenly entered through the door. Bai Xin, in a professional suit, walked in. The counselor? Xu Musen was taken aback. Perhaps she knew about him skipping out on military training early? Liu Rushuang also immediately stood up, saying with a smile, "Let me introduce her. This is my old university ssmate, also my best friend. You can just call her Aunt Bai. This is my daughter Ming Yue, and this young girl is called An Nuannuan. As for Xiaosen, he needs no introduction, right?" Upon hearing this, Yao Mingyue''s gaze momentarily settled on the mature woman who had suddenly appeared. Especially as she wore a white shirt, the buttons straining across her chest... Yao Mingyue silently looked around and contemted how to describe the situation. It was as if, amidst a range of towering mountains, she herself had be a mere hill. Although she also had curves, she really could not ept it, especially considering that An Nuannuan, who was her age, was so advantaged! "My name is Bai Xin. I''m a teacher at Hu Hai University and Xu Musen''s counselor. I remember holding you both when you had just started elementary school. It''s been over a decade now." Bai Xin looked at Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue, also feeling a sense of fondness for the younger generation. No wonder she felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity when she first met Xu Musen; he was the son of an old acquaintance. "Hello, Aunt Bai." Now aware of the connection, Yao Mingyue temporarily set aside her worries and greeted with a polite demeanor. "Xiaoyue is getting more and more beautiful. The university''s beauty forum is controversial every year, but I''m afraid there''s nothing to fight over this year." Bai Xin couldn''t help but praise Yao Mingyue as she looked at her. "Don''t tter her too much. Look how high her tail''s wagging." Liu Rushuang teased. "When a child is excellent, they deserve praise. Xu Musen, you''ve been quite poprtely, too; your singing is very good." Bai Xin said with a meaningful tone. Xu Musen coughed and said, "You''re too kind, Teacher Bai." Bai Xin then turned her gaze to An Nuannuan, who sat obediently beside Xu Musen like a demure bride-to-be. This girl often came to the ss to bring water to Xu Musen, something she hadn''t paid much attention to before. But looking at the current atmosphere... Sigh, matters of the heart are indeed tooplicated. "Nuannuan, if you have any issues at school, you cane to the teacher for help." Bai Xin said courteously. "Yes, yes, thank you, Teacher." An Nuannuan nodded in response. The arrival of Bai Xin made the atmosphere at the dinner pleasant and rxed once more. Nighttime. Xu Musen wheeled An Nuannuan along the campus paths, on their way back to the dormitory. They were both somewhat silent, and the evening breeze was soothing. All of a sudden, An Nuannuan looked up with her big, clear eyes and stared at Xu Musen earnestly for a good while. "Xu Musen..." "What''s wrong?" "You and her, you really were childhood sweethearts, huh..." An Nuannuan''s voice carried a rare emotion. It was unclear whether it was apprehension, nervousness, or a mix of hope and disappointment. In any case, it was like the night wind: cool, yet wrapped with a touch of heat. Yes, it was an emotion called fear of gain and loss... Chapter 136: Chapter 103: The girl is still young; its illegal. Regarding the childhood marriage promises, Xu Musen felt they definitely existed. When he was a kid, he heard his parents joke about it, but such promises were usually just verbal and taken as jokes. It wasmon for close friends to sit together, drink, brag, and on a whim be sworn brothers or promise their children to each other in jest. Unless there was some written documentation, there wasn''t much to it. However, in this day and age, those so-called childhood marriage promises were long gone. "It was all just childhood jokes. When I was a kid, I even said I wanted to marry Wang Zuxian, but matters of the heart are best figured out on one''s own," Xu Musen said with a smile, shaking his head. An Nuannuan gave an ''oh'', with a slightly brighter tone, blinked, and then spoke again. "I heard from my grandparents that they were paired up through a childhood marriage promise, and they''re still living happily together," An Nuannuan said, nodding at him. "The past and the present are not the same. People back then didn''t meet a lot of others, and it was considered lucky to meet just one, but today people have a multitude of choices in this colorful world," Xu Musen said slowly. An Nuannuan pondered, as if remembering something, "Oh, is that like those people on the inte who ''eat from the bowl and look into the pot'' or those who have multiple rtionships at the same time?" "...I just like making friends," Xu Musen coughed dryly, having seen those outrageous headlines himself. He hadn''t even done anything yet, so how had he bebeled a yboy? "I wasn''t talking about you," An Nuannuan curved her lips into a smile. "..." "I mean I have a friend, He Qiang, you know him, right? He really likes making friends," Xu Musen hastily threw his good buddy under the bus. "Hmph." An Nuannuan didn''t believe him. The two arrived at the dormitory building. An Nuannuan suddenly tugged on Xu Musen''s sleeve, her pretty face hesitating slightly, perhaps a bit tipsy from the red wine, as if she had finally made up her mind. "Xu Musen, could you perhaps not always be... fooling around with friends?" Xu Musen looked down and smilingly asked, "Why?" "Because Aunt Xiang said that there are many bad people out there, and boys like you who... tter too much can easily be deceived," An Nuannuan quickly exined, changing the subject. But Xu Musen''s lip twitched, you mean ''simp'', right? Could he ever shake off thisbel? Xu Musen felt a tearless grief as he looked down at An Nuannuan''s expectant eyes and her fair face flushed with a tipsy redness. She was as enchanting as the ss of red wine she drank today. At that moment, a gentle breeze blew, warming the space between them like the summer wind. "If I never fool around with friends, what am I going to do if no girl likes me, and I end up a bachelor?" An Nuannuan had no expression on her face, but her little hands subconsciously clenched her skirt. "I can introduce you to someone," "You will introduce me? Do you know many friends? I bet the girl you''re most familiar with is your younger sister, right?" Xu Musen couldn''t help butugh as he asked her. This naive girl didn''t have any friends around her, if he waited for her to introduce him, Xu Musen was afraid he''d truly remain a bachelor for life. However, An Nuannuan quickly shook her head, "Nannan is still very young." That would be illegal. "..." Xu Musen was at a loss for words. He was no lolicon! What''s so good about little girls who neither have curves nor are mature? As a mature man, he actually preferred the mature ''older sister'' type, at the very least in terms of figure. Xu Musen looked at An Nuannuan. Her legs had healed a lot by now. They had seemed a bit too skinny before, but now they had be slightly more plump. And An Nuannuan''s me pocket on her chest was really nice. Nannan was still young, but her sister was just right! "So, what should I do? How about you be my backup?" The evening breeze was pleasant, and riding on the momentum of the wine he''d drunk, Xu Musen unconsciously made the suggestion. An Nuannuan''s big eyes blinked, seemingly not quite understanding the meaning of his words. The air seemed to grow a little quieter. Xu Musen suddenly felt like he recaptured the foolish feeling he had when he unsessfully chased Yao Mingyue in his previous life. Sorry, I got carried away again... He looked up at the streetlight, thinking that the light bulb was really too damned bright! "Xu Musen." "Yeah?" "Would you apany me to meet my parents this weekend, please?" "Huh?" Xu Musen snapped back to reality and met An Nuannuan''s slightly reddened face. Wait a minute, aren''t you moving too fast? Skip dating and go straight to meeting the parents? "My grandparents want to see you, to thank you for taking care of me," "I see." Xu Musen couldn''t tell whether he was more relieved or disappointed, but he ended up smiling, "Alright, I''ll apany you then." "Mhmm!" An Nuannuan was very happy, and Xu Musen continued to push her along. But An Nuannuan''s gaze stayed on Xu Musen, her clear peach-blossom eyes rippling. She wasn''t sure if it was the alcohol, but she felt as if Xu Musen was now seen through a filter in her eyes. They arrived at the dormitory building. Under each tree beside the girls'' dormitory stood a couple, holding each other and unwilling to part. This was also one of the characteristics of college life. Xu Musen had never had a proper rtionship throughout his university years. Yao Mingyue was too dominant, and he could hardly experience the sweet and sour back-and-forth of a rtionship. As for An Nuannuan, she was too naive, and Xu Musen didn''t even know how to start a rtionship with her. Was he going to spend another year of college alone? Chapter 137: Chapter 103: The child is still young, it is illegal. _2 There was a hint of mncholy. "Alright, head back and rest early." Xu Musen looked at her pale face with a hint of blush, unable to resist the urge to pinch it, thinking of turning around to leave. But An Nuannuan suddenly tugged at his sleeve, "Xu Musen..." "Alright, alright, I promise you, I''ll give you a heads up before I look for a girlfriend, okay?" Xu Musen coaxed her, "Head back early, see you tomorrow." After Xu Musen finished speaking, he turned to leave. But just as he took a step, he heard the sound of footsteps crushing leaves behind him, and the sound of a wheelchair dragging on the ground. Creak... apanied by the sound ofbored breathing. "Xu Musen..." Xu Musen''s ears twitched, and he turned around. This girl, who had always been in a wheelchair, was now standing up with great effort under the night lights. She looked like a white swan about to spread its wings for the first time, her legs trembling slightly, merely standing up already exhausts all her strength. She was a bit wobbly, her silly little face reddened, now also carrying a hint of joy. As her steps faltered, the wheelchair wasn''t pushed steadily, and she staggered. Xu Musen hurriedly stepped forward, holding An Nuannuan''s arm, as the girl''s tender body leaned against Xu Musen''s shoulder. "Why did you suddenly stand up? It''s so dangerous." Xu Musen nned to help her sit back down properly. But An Nuannuan showed a rare silly smile. Under the night lights, she looked exceptionally pure and charming. "Xu Musen." She called out softly again, the two of them leaning on each other for support, as An Nuannuan lifted her head to look at Xu Musen from such a close distance. "When I can truly stand up and walk by myself, can I give you a surprise then?" The two were so close; they could smell the faint milky scent on the girl and the sweet aroma simr to fruit. "What surprise?" Xu Musen swallowed, looking at the pretty face that was so close to him; her tender lips were even gleaming under the light. "If I say it, it won''te true." An Nuannuan quietly shifted her gaze, otherwise her heart felt like it was pounding thunderously with the rush of blood. "Alright then." Xu Musen paused for a moment, chuckled, and nodded. He gently ced An Nuannuan back in the wheelchair. It always felt like An Nuannuan, who had drunk a bit of wine, seemed more cheerful than usual. There was a kind of naive cuteness mixed with a bit of wits about her. Xu Musen couldn''t resist stretching out his hand to stroke her head; the girl''s soft hair was as gentle as a kitten''s. An Nuannuan also really liked being stroked, squinting her eyes to look at him. "I suddenly feel like I''m petting a cat," Xu Musen couldn''t help butugh. "Cats are very cute though, I like fluffy animals the most," An Nuannuan fluttered her eyshes, "but what does petting a cat mean?" "It means... to rub and knead." "Oh~" An Nuannuan looked like she learned something new, lifting her pale little face expectantly towards Xu Musen. Those little eyes seemed just like a kitten insinuating crazily for a stroke in exchange for a treat. Xu Musen reached out and pinched her soft cheek. "Let''s go back." "Hmm, good night~" ... On the other side. Yao Mingyue and Liu Rushuang were holding wine sses, still looking at the night view over the Bund. Yao Mingyue had already drunk two sses, her cool and aloof face now showing a bit of flush, but her eyes were somewhat vacant. "Mom, why did you bring up that matter today..." She was naturally referring to her mother bringing up the arranged marriage and asking if he was dating An Nuannuan. As soon as she said this, it gave Xu Musen a reason to retort. If Xu Musen really didn''t care about saving face, perhaps they wouldn''t be able to meet again after this meal. Liu Rushuang put down her wine ss and sighed softly at her daughter''s face, "Even if I didn''t say it, your current rtionship is like a frog being boiled in warm water; it is merely a slow suicide. It might be better to juste out with something shocking, as nothing will change unless it is broken. Maybe then there would still be a chance." "I''ve tried being nice to him too... but he never appreciates it!" Yao Mingyue bit her lip, the more she thought about it, the more wronged and angry she became. "How have you been nice to him?" Liu Rushuang asked. Yao Mingyue recounted how she prepared the bed, washed clothes, and brought water and breakfast for Xu Musen. Liu Rushuang listened, thinking that if these things were done for a boy, he would definitely be touched to tears. But the problem lies precisely there. "Ming Yue, you really shouldn''t have done that." "Is it wrong for me to be good to him too?" "Being good to him isn''t wrong, but the way you''re doing it is." Liu Rushuang analyzed, "Were you trying to show the people around him your rtionship with him through these methods?" Yao Mingyue nodded silently. Ever since Xu Musen became increasingly cold to her, she could only use these methods to warn off those little vixens who wanted to get close to him. "I don''t know exactly what happened between you two, but I can feel that Musen seems particrly averse to the feeling of being controlled. The more you press on, the more he will resent it." Liu Rushuang hit the nail on the head. Indeed, Yao Mingyue had also felt it, but she was aplete novice in matters of the heart. Moreover, An Nuannuan''s appearance disrupted all her original ns, and she could only proceed in this manner. "Actually, what you''ve done isn''t meaningless. When you peeled the crab for Musen today, I saw a change in the way Musen looked at you." Chapter 138: Chapter 103: The girl is still young, its illegal. _3 Liu Rushuang spoke slowly, "Your biggest problem right now is that anything you give seems like it needs to receive some kind of reward." This puts an invisible pressure on people; they always feel there might be an unexpected cost involved, so they subconsciously reject your kindness. Over time, this bes a vicious cycle. That girl today, An Nuannuan, although she appears clueless, her repeated "showing weakness" actually gives boys a sense of achievement. That''s exactly the opposite of what you do. You need to remember that many things, when you seek no repayment, will yield the greatest return." Yao Mingyue was well aware of this; she bit her lip, "So, should I y dumb like her?" "Of course not." Liu Rushuang smiled as she looked at her daughter. "In fact, actions like washing clothes, delivering water, and bringing breakfast, any girl can do. Your mistake was considering yourself just an ordinary girl." Liu Rushuang reached out and stroked her daughter''s head, "My girl has always been the brightest one, you have your own charm, a charm no other girl can ever replicate." You need to think of another way, a way to help him, a way he can''t refuse. Remember, a boy will always remember the person who delivers coal in snowy weather. You can continue to be good to him, and do so without expecting anything in return. I understand Xiaosen; the more you do this, the more he will keep your shadow in his heart." Yao Mingyue listened, and a sense of rity dawned in her mind. Her eyes sparkled, and after a long time, she nodded gently. "Mom, I get it..." Liu Rushuang touched her daughter''s cheek again, her heart filled withplex emotions. She could provide her daughter with the best material conditions, but when it came to emotions, her daughter was far toocking. It was a situation she would have to face sooner orter. It was good to experience a bit more. ... The next day. Xu Musen eagerly went to the counselor, Bai Xin, at noon. It has to be said, having connections really makes things easier. After the dinner partyst night, Musen started calling the counselor "Auntie Bai," and after she rewrote his rmendation letter vouching for him personally, the department approved the project immediately. Upon entering the office, Xu Musen cheerfully greeted her, "Auntie Bai!" Bai Xin was wearing a casual, white outfit today. Her long legs were entuated by the pencil pants, making them look slim and straight, with spotless white heels on her feet. She exuded the vibe of a gentle and intelligent big sister as she sipped her coffee. "I''ve said it before; in the school, you should address me by my official title." "But this feels more intimate, doesn''t it?" Musen chuckled merrily and rubbed his hands together, "About my application..." "First make me a cup of coffee." Now that Bai Xin knew Xu Musen was a friend''s junior, she felt even less guilty about ordering him around. She handed him the mug she had in her hands. Musen took the mug; he was now the one asking for a favor, so naturally, heplied. "Alright, hand-brewed coffee is my specialty." Musen went to the coffee machine, started selecting beans, roasted them slightly, ground them into powder and slowly controlled the temperature to brew a cup of coffee. The unique aroma of coffee filled the room. "Please enjoy." It wasn''t long before Xu Musen brought over the coffee. Bai Xin tasted it and found it to be quite good. She nodded her approval, "I think you could open a coffee shop. It would be quite profitable on campus." "For those words, once I have the money, I''ll definitely open one, and it''ll be free forever for you, Auntie Bai." "Tsk, don''t try to butter me up. I don''t fall for that." Bai Xin was now aware of this kid''s, her best friend''s daughter''s, and another girl''s tangled web of love and hatred. So young, yet already showing signs of a Casanova. Fortunately, she was already a mature woman who had seen her fair share of the world. Well, even though she didn''t even know how many years it had been since she was single... Chapter 139 : 104: Fake Heatstroke and Genuine Illness. "The school has approved a 50,000 yuan entrepreneurial fund and a green entrepreneurial channel for you." "Huh? Aren''t first-year students not granted entrepreneurial funds?" Bai Xin sipped her hot coffee and said leisurely, "It''s backed by me." Upon hearing this, Xu Musen suddenly felt so moved he was almost in tears. Alright, once again, he was shamelessly relying on someone else''s support! "Auntie Bai, you''re really kind, but I heard that the entrepreneurial fund is supposed to be 100,000 yuan?" Bai Xin gave him a look and said, "This 50,000 yuan is only approved because of me, and it''s paid out in installments each month." "It''s enough, more than enough, thank you, Auntie Bai." Xu Musen nodded, even a mosquito''s leg is meat; having some is better than none. The right time and ce for starting a business were now all aligned. All that was missing was people. Xu Musen had already experienced the hard-working spirit cultivated by military training in his past life. The military training period is when all the first-year students are most concentrated, and the traffic is at its peak. This is the best time to do promotions because the effort pays off double. The negotiations with the cafeteria stores didn''t go as well as Xu Musen had hoped. The main reason was that this type of food delivery service wasn''t popr yet. Plus, with only two or three cafeterias on campus, students didn''t have many options, so many shop owners were reluctant to give up even a sliver of profit. Xu Musen was in no hurry. This world is driven byzy people. It''s said that people in the past were hardworking because they had no other choice. Just like how he remembered his mother always insisted that clothes weren''t clean unless they were hand-washed instead of machine-washed. But after the automatic washing machine was bought, she never mentioned hand-washing again. Ordering takeout is the same. Once people enjoy the convenience of having their meals delivered right to their mouths and it bes a habit, the rest is easy. When ites to running errands, Li Rundong and Zhou Hangyu stillcked a bit, so he would have to take charge himself. "Auntie Bai, may I ask for one more thing from you?" "Speak." Bai Xin looked at him, with his thick brows and handsome features, but why did she always feel it was a bit sleazy whenever he talked about making money? "Well, about the military training, you see if you can perhaps..." "I can''t help with that." Bai Xin shook her head decisively. Military training counted for credits, and of course, for some people, it didn''t matter. But without a good reason, the college couldn''t justify it either. She looked at Xu Musen, recalling what Liu Rushuang had mentioned the other day. It was clear that her best friend truly regarded this young man as a future son-inw. It''s just that this guy spent every day with another girl named An Nuannuan. The romantic rtionships of these young people seem so much richer than hers. She took a sip of coffee, her eyes and brows shifted slightly as she slowly began, "The school has a policy that unless it''s for medical reasons, such as a disability or frequent heat strokes due to frail health, one can apply to postpone military training." Xu Musen listened, exchanged a look with Bai Xin, and said, "Auntie Bai, I understand!" "Go on." Bai Xin handed him the school''s approval documents, waved him off, and motioned for him to leave. Xu Musen returned to his dorm all the way. He shared his ambitions to start apany at the university. The three guys listened with great interest C boys of this age nevercked the energy to crowd around something exciting. "But none of us have any experience; what if we mess it up..." Ma Yaxing scratched his head in worry, and Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong were also a bit nervous. "No problem, nobody is born a genius. We all start somewhere," Xu Musen said with a smile. As the saying goes, a single tree does not make a forest. Xu Musen''s energy was finite, and although the three guys in the dorm were a bit offbeat, they each had their strengths. Ma Yaxing was reliable and well-suited for behind-the-scenes work. Li Rundong''s family had connections in the system. Although he tended to be subservient, he was usually meticulous in his work. As for Zhou Hangyu, despite his yboy demeanor, he could mix well wherever he went. His family was in business, and he had been exposed to that environment since childhood, making him well-suited for running errands. Xu Musen listed their strengths, and while doing so, he painted a tantalizing picture. The three of them were left somewhat floating on cloud nine. "There''s no such thing as garbage in this world, only resources that are in the wrong ce. If three cobblers get together, they''ll amount to a Zhuge Liang," Xu Musen chuckled as he patted their shoulders. "When you put it that way, I feel like I could really do something... wait a minute, who the hell are you calling a cobbler?" "I''ve always felt like you''re mocking me!" Li Rundong and Zhou Hangyu said, hopping mad. "Haha, don''t sweat the small stuff. Just trust me, if you work hard during this period, forget everything else; you''ll each have your own fancy car before you graduate from university. Hell, you might even have enough for a wife and a house." Xu Musen expertly resumed painting his alluring picture. "In a ce as expensive as Hu Hai, I dare not dream of buying a house, just earning some pocket money to live a bitvishly would be enough." "At the very least, if I find a girlfriend in the future, I won''t have to go begging at home for money to rent a hotel room." "Heh, I actually just want to buy aputer first..." "That''s all the ambition you have." Zhou Hangyu lit a cigarette, already lost in his future fantasies: "In the future, we''ll be calling the shots at Hu Hai University. I''ll be known as Hu Hai''s Daniel Wu!" "I''ll be the Nicky Wu of the Central ins, then!" "I''m the Jiao Enjun of Henan." "You look more like Jiao Enjun''s watchdog Rhubarb, hahaha." Listening to their banter, Xu Musen couldn''t help butugh, "I do know abo that suits you guys perfectly. Why don''t you guys call yourselves ''Gan, Wen, Cui''?" Chapter 140: Chapter 104: Fake Heatstroke and Genuine Illness. _2 "Screw that, do you really think I don''t watch cartoons?" "Don''t ask the old man, the old man doesn''t know." Xu Musenughed out loud, "Right, during this afternoon''s military training, I need you guys to work with me..." ... The afternoon military training started again. After standing at attention for an hour, it was break time. Xu Musen vigorously rubbed his face and eyes, making his handsome face a bit red and giving his eyes a slightly bloodshot appearance. He leaned against a tree, radiating a somewhat listless vibe. "I always feel like you''re not looking so well," Lin Daiyu approached him and said, holding a bottle of water in her hand. "I might have caught a cold from taking a cold shower yesterday," Xu Musen nodded. "Then you should drink more water," Lin Daiyu said, pushing the bottle of water into his hand. Xu Musen didn''t refuse and said, "I''ll pay you back next time." Lin Daiyu pouted her lips; she sat down next to Xu Musen and fiddled with a strand of hair beside her ear, whispering, "You don''t have to keep your distance from me anymore, I''ve already decided not to pursue you." Xu Musen almost choked on his water and looked at Lin Daiyu''s profile, "Cough, actually, you''re really pretty good." Lin Daiyuughed a bit helplessly, "That''s what I used to say tofort others. I never expected to experience it myself now. It''s really annoying." "Actually, I think your straightforward personality is rather nice," Xu Musen said with a smile. "That''s just because I''m good at consoling myself," she replied. Lin Daiyu rolled her eyes, looking at Xu Musen''s somewhat red cheeks. She couldn''t deny that his face was indeed handsome. After so many days of military training, it was inevitable to get a bit tanned, but some people looked like they were from Africa. Yet Xu Musen seemed to be even more manly. In fact, most girls prefer the big, wolf-like guys over the puppy-like ones. The kind that''s overly sweet and cloying, just looking at them is nauseating. Another pair of figures popped into her mind, and her resolve to seal away her feelings solidified further. "Xu Musen, speaking of which, what exactly is your rtionship with that girl now?" Lin Daiyu couldn''t help but ask. Of course, she was referring to An Nuannuan, who had been bringing Xu Musen mung bean soup every day. When the two of them were together, acting all lovey-dovey, the sweetness was unbearable. "Friends," Xu Musen responded sinctly. "Tch, friends, huh? We are friends too, and you''re making such a fuss over a bottle of water. But you drink everyst drop of the mung bean soup she gives you," Lin Daiyu muttered. Xu Musen chuckled. Liking and not liking, it''s all very clear. "But she really is pretty, just a bit simple-minded. Aren''t you afraid that other guys will chase after her if you don''t confirm your rtionship with her soon?" "When two people are attracted to each other, things like dating should just happen naturally," Xu Musen said leisurely. He remembered how, just yesterday, she suddenly asked him to back her up. It made him feel a certain awkwardness. Was this girl truly naive or just ying dumb? And this demeanor of his, in Lin Daiyu''s eyes, seemed like the confident poise of someone with everything under control. "So, what you''re saying is, she''s already yours and you''re not worried she might slip away, right?" "???" Are college girls nowadays learning all sorts of messy jargon? Meanwhile, Li Rundong, seeing Xu Musen chatting cozily with Lin Daiyu, felt a sourness in his heart. "Damn it, we agreed to get things done today, yet he''s still flirting. Just wait till he pretends to faint, I''ll pinch his philtrum so hard!" "Ha, I say go for the throat!" Military training continued. Two to three in the afternoon was the hottest time of day when quite a few students suffered mild heatstroke every day. The school''s medical room was even more packed than an inte caf outside. "Next, twenty minutes of squatting position, ready, squat down!" The instructor ordered them to practice squatting, which was the most torturous part. If they sweated or felt an itch anywhere on their body, they needed to report it before scratching. Xu Musen coughed lightly, and the three guys next to him perked up. As the squatting ended and the instructor shouted themand, Xu Musen closed his eyes and gentlyid down on the ground. "Instructor! Someone has fainted!" "Xu Musen, wake up~ He seems to have heatstroke!" Li Rundong and Zhou Hangyu''s acting was a bit over the top, as if they were about to cry for Xu Musen right then and there. The corner of the instructor''s mouth twitched. After so many days, he was well aware of the condition of everyone in ss. Xu Musen was definitely in the best physical shape, heatstroke? Nonsense. Every year some students pretended to have heatstroke, he was used to it. "Heatstroke, right? Let me check," he said as he walked over, looked at Xu Musen lying on the ground, and pinched his philtrum. Xu Musen felt a stab of pain at that point, but thinking of his big ns for the future, he endured. The instructor inwardly praised, thinking thed had good tolerance. "Instructor, Xu Musen said he caught a cold from a cold shower yesterday. We better take him to the medical room," Lin Daiyu intervened, seeking mercy for Xu Musen still lying on the ground. "Alright, you two take him to the medical room to get checked out, and hurry back in ten minutes," the instructor said, not caring whether it was an act or not as long as he wasn''t causing trouble for the ss. "Roger that." Li Rundong and Zhou Hangyu picked Xu Musen up and started walking toward the medical room. Along the way. "Xu Musen, cut the act, you''re really tough. Such a pinch and you didn''t even flinch." Chapter 141: Chapter 104: Fake Heatstroke and Genuine Illness. _3 Li Rundong shook Xu Musen. Xu Musen also opened his eyes and touched the area between his nose and upper lip, feeling it was already swollen. That bastard''s quite underhanded. "To aplish great things, this bit of suffering is nothing. To act you must y the full part. Later, you guys lift me up to the medical room and we''ll talk when the counselor arrives." "Why do I feel like our beautiful female counselor gives you special attention? Is there something between you two that no one knows about?" Zhou Hangyu clicked his tongue. The counselor is quite a beauty herself; a couple of days ago, I even saw her driving a BMW and carrying a bag worth fifty or sixty thousand a LV. She''s definitely a wealthydy. "Children shouldn''t concern themselves with adults'' matters. Do you guys still want your paychecks or not?" Xu Musen nced at them. After all, he is a boss now. "Alright alright, moneybags, you''re the boss! Let''s go!" The two continued to support Xu Musen to the medical room. There were quite a few people in the medical room. The school doctor looked at Xu Musen, sighed, and shook his head: "What a fine young man, why is he so weak? Today''s youth are just showy but hollow inside. Let him lie down, and I''ll bring some Huoxiang Zhengqi Water in a bit." The two helped Xu Musen onto a bed in the corner. Xu Musen slightly opened his eyes and gave them a look, signaling them to go back directly. Hey therefortably, as the air conditioning in the medical room was really quite pleasant. He simplyy there waiting for Bai Xin toe. On the bed next to him, a short-haired girl had just brought a friend who was suffering from a slight heat stroke. If Xu Musen had opened his eyes and looked, he would have recognized that this girl was Yao Mingyue''s roommate. She turned to leave when her gaze suddenly caught sight of Xu Musen lying on the bed. She paused in surprise, eh? Isn''t this the guy rumored to be Yao Mingyue''s boyfriend? Seeing him lying on the sickbed, he must have heatstroke, she thought, looking at his reddened philtrum, it seemed quite serious. Her eyes flickered, and she walked out of the medical room. At this moment, on the yground, during a short break. Yao Mingyue leaned against a tree alone, her phoenix eyes calmly gazing into the distance as she quietly daydreamed. In fact, when Xu Musen wasn''t by her side, she always acted this way, so aloof that even other girls didn''t dare to approach her easily. In a sense, she was the truly lonely one. "Ming Yue, I have something to tell you." The short-haired girl had juste back. Seeing Yao Mingyue''s daydreaming expression, she still approached her. "Hmm?" Yao Mingyue turned her head to look at her. The girl leaned in, sat down next to her hesitantly, and said, "It''s just that, I was taking someone to the medical room just now, and I saw that guy." "Who?" Yao Mingyue frowned. "Your childhood friend, he seems to have gotten heatstroke. It looks quite serious..." She had not finished speaking, when she saw Yao Mingyue''s eyes suddenly tighten, and she stood up immediately, without hesitation, heading in the direction of the medical room. "Gather up!" At that moment, the instructor blew the whistle to regroup, and everyone hurried back from under the trees to line up. Yao Mingyue''s figure going against the crowd stood out exceptionally. "Hey! Regroup now!" The instructor called out. But Yao Mingyue didn''t stop for a moment. The instructor stepped in front of her: "Didn''t you hear the call to gather?" "I need to go to the medical room." Yao Mingyue spoke calmly, facing the instructor''s intimidating gaze without a trace of a student''s timidity. "If you''re not injured or suffering from heatstroke, why go to the medical room? Hurry up and join your team!" The instructormanded, and if it weren''t for recognizing that this youngdy was pretty, he would haveshed out as he would with a boy. Yao Mingyue looked at him, then suddenly extended her hand and pped it hard against the tree next to her. "You..." The instructor was startled, and the surrounding students were dumbfounded. Looking at Yao Mingyue''s fair arm, now with several prominent red marks. She really didn''t hold back... But Yao Mingyue was expressionless as she held up her arm with the abrasions. "Instructor, may I go to the medical room now?" The instructor was seeing a girl this tough on herself for the first time. Could she have some psychological issues? Yao Mingyue didn''t waste any words and walked past him, leaving behind a cool silhouette for everyone to see. The girl who had given her the news stood there stunned for quite some time before she murmured to herself. "How deep must her love be..." Chapter 142: Chapter 105: The Little Sickly Sweethearts Grand Performance. (Subscribe please!) Infirmary. Xu Musen wasn''t panicked at all. Bai Xin would soon get the news and hurry over, and he would be able to legitimately apply to postpone his military training. The infirmary was quite cool. After training for most of the day, he actually felt like taking a nap as hey on the bed, and soon, he began to doze off. At this moment, a figure walked anxiously into the doorway of the infirmary. Yao Mingyue''s gaze swept across the room and immediately locked onto Xu Musen, lying on a corner bed. Xu Musen had deliberately rubbed his face beforeing to the infirmary. It looked quite serious with its red and ck bruises and the slightly swollen philtrum as if it had been pinched harshly. Yao Mingyue was momentarily stunned; she hurried forward. "ssmate, what happened to you?" The doctor, seeing the scrapes on Yao Mingyue''s arm, thought that most girls would''ve been unable to bear the pain if they were hurt like that. "I''m fine," Yao Mingyue shook her head. She pointed in Xu Musen''s direction, her voice trembling slightly, "What happened to him?" "He might have heatstroke. I had him lie down and drink some Huoxiang Zhengqi water." The doctor brought some iodine, Huoxiang Zhengqi water, and a wet towel. "Let me do it," Yao Mingyue said as she took the items from his hand and also grabbed a small ice pack. "ssmate, you should treat your wounds first." "It''s nothing." Yao Mingyue nced at her arm. The normally fair arm now had a few bloody streaks, not severe, but some skin had been scraped. But right now, all she could think about was Xu Musen. The doctor watched her turn and leave, murmuring in his heart. The infirmary was full of girls suffering from heatstroke, with the boys running back and forth bringing water and medicine. It was rare to see a girl voluntarily taking care of a boy. Yao Mingyue approached Xu Musen''s bed and felt more at ease seeing his steady breathing. She sat gently by the bed and looked at Xu Musen''s cheeks. He had darkened a bit these days, but his features had be more defined. Every part of his face was what Yao Mingyue yearned for in the depths of her being. The defenseless Xu Musen stirred an impulse in Yao Mingyue to hide him away forever. She looked at him somewhat foolishly, thinking that perhaps he was rightshe really couldn''t distinguish what was possession and what was love. But her determination to be with him for a lifetime never wavered for a moment. Her care and fondness for him wouldn''t change whether he seeded or failed. In fact, there were many pursuers around her, some with better prospects than Xu Musen, but in Yao Mingyue''s heart, none of thembined were worth a hair on Xu Musen''s body. After all, on that deste rainy night, it was he who stayed by her side He had also said he would be with her for a lifetime. Yao Mingyue looked at his cheek, her chest feeling a bit sour. She couldn''t resist reaching out to gently touch his cheek. The texture was slightly rougher than a girl''s but felt very firm to the touch, sending a sensation through Yao Mingyue''s heart. The repressed desire for possession in her heart began to haunt her again; she really wanted to have a little bit more. Anything topensate for her long-standing deficit. His cheeks, eyebrows, nose, lips Yao Mingyue leaned lower and closer, staring at Xu Musen''s sharply defined lips. Her phoenix eyes sparkled with a somewhat unhealthy luster at the moment. Just steal a quick kiss now; there shouldn''t be any problems, right? After all, they did have a childhood engagement... Yao Mingyue could hardly contain her urge any longer. She slowly lowered her head, but her scattered hair gently fell on Xu Musen''s face. A tickling sensation. Xu Musen subconsciously furrowed his brow and moved his nose, while the guilty-minded Yao Mingyue startled and lifted her head. Her cool, beautiful face was now veiled in a blush, her heart thumping wildly. Previously, when she was with Xu Musen, she always felt he would never leave her, so she never had such sneaky thoughts. But now, she suddenly felt an extra thrill... Maybe it''s true that what one cannot have is the most alluring of all. "To learn how to love someone properly, to have a proper romance..." Yao Mingyue murmured to herself, gaining a new understanding of this feeling of affection. She had never experienced it before. She looked at Xu Musen''s cheek and finally couldn''t resist the temptation to sneak a treat. After all, there was plenty of time in the future, and one day she would surely be able to savor this favorite feast of hers to the fullest. Her lips curved into a smile as she took the towel, wrapped it around the ice, and gently ced it on Xu Musen''s forehead. She then prepared the Huoxiang Zhengqi water, opened the packet, and nned to feed it to Xu Musen. She reached out and gently grasped Xu Musen''s chin, her neat white teeth below his lips. The pinched area in the philtrum was a bit swollen, which made Yao Mingyue feel a pang of distresswhat kind of brute had been so heavy-handed She gently supported Xu Musen''s head, slowly tilting the bottle of Huoxiang Zhengqi water towards his lips. Yao Mingyue felt envious looking at it, the wretched little bottletoday it got my man''s first kiss even before I did! At that moment, thefortably sleeping Xu Musen suddenly felt a cold touch on his forehead, as if a warm, soft hand was at the back of his head. It was as though someone was taking care of him attentively. He suddenly remembered that he hadn''t told An Nuannuan about his feigned fainting today. Could it be that An Nuannuan had learned of his copse when she came to deliver mung bean soup and was now taking care of him? Chapter 143: Chapter 105: The Little Sickly Sweethearts Grand Performance. (Subscribe please!)_2 But the scent on the other person seemed a bit off. An Nuannuan''s scent was that of a milky sweetnessbined with fruit. Yet, the scent he was smelling now was a very familiar floral fragrance. The same as Yao Mingyue''s... He slowly opened his eyes to see a graceful figure before him, her long hair tied into a ponytail, and those phoenix-like eyes. Wait a minute! Xu Musen instantly became alert, and it really was Yao Mingyue! "You..." Xu Musen was just about to speak when he saw And at that moment, Yao Mingyue was gently holding the back of his head and had already stuffed a small bottle into his mouth, the bitter taste of herbal medicine flooding his taste buds. "Take the medicine first." Seeing him awake, Yao Mingyue finally let go of her concern, her previously flustered expression now returning to its usual coolness. Xu Musen subconsciously remembered that in his past life, after drinking a ss of red wine she gave him, he never woke up again. This time she came directly to feed him medicine? Xu Musen faintly heard a sequence of voices. Elder brother, it''s time for your medicine~ Xu Musen grunted, and a bottle of Huoxiang Zhengqi liquid was downed, the bitterness causing his brows to furrow. Xu Musen sat up and coughed once. He looked at Yao Mingyue with a bit of wariness, "Why are you here?" Yao Mingyue pursed her lips and silently put away the Huoxiang Zhengqi bottle. "What happened to your arm?" Xu Musen''s gaze fell on the several scratches on her fair arm. Although not severe, they stood out strikingly on her wless arm. "This youngdy came straight here to find you, ignoring her own injuries, and took care of you throughout. Such a good girl is hard toe by." The doctor came over to check on Xu Musen upon seeing him awake and remarked with a sigh. He handed over a cotton swab soaked in iodine, giving him a suggestive look. Xu Musen paused, his gaze returning to Yao Mingyue''s expressionless face. He remained silent for a moment, feeling somewhatplicated. Although the possessiveness of a sickly lover can be suffocating. On the other hand, a sickly lover can provide all-around, wless protection for the person they admire. Xu Musen looked at her familiar face and asked in a voice that only they could hear, "Did you inflict those wounds on your arm yourself?" Yao Mingyue was not one to self-harm, but she might indeed do something extreme for Xu Musen. Yao Mingyue did not respond, simply looking down in silence, "I''m fine." That somewhat aggrieved yet stubborn look gave Xu Musen a glimpse of a side of her he had not seen before. "Give me your hand." "Huh?" Yao Mingyue was taken aback. Xu Musen didn''t waste words, reaching out to grasp her soft wrist directly, taking the iodine, dabbed the cotton swab and gently touched her wounds. "Hiss..." Yao Mingyue couldn''t help but cringe slightly, yet her gaze, fixed on his hand holding her wrist, shone with a special light. "Yao Mingyue, no matter what happens between us, don''t do this in the future, not just for yourself but also for Aunt Liu to consider. She has only you for a daughter." "But I think, perhaps my mom would prefer a son-inw." Finally, Yao Mingyue spoke, her gaze burning bright, without a hint of avoidance or shyness. Xu Musen ignored her, meticulously cleaning her wounds with iodine. One good turn deserves another, and that was that. "Xu Musen... Ming Yue? You are both here." Right then, Bai Xin also hurried over to the infirmary. She was surprised to see the two sitting together. "Oh, Ming Yue, what happened to your arm?" Bai Xin noticed her injured arm and immediately came over with concern. "I''m fine, Miss Bai, I just fell down by ident," Yao Mingyue shook her head. "You''re such a careless child, and besides, I''m not your counselor, just call me Aunt Bai." Bai Xin caressed her head with concern. Xu Musen rolled his eyes to the side, wasn''t it agreed to call each other by their titles at school? "Teacher, I have heatstroke, I feel like I can''t hold on, can I apply for a temporary suspension of military training?" Xu Musen also hurriedly pretended to be out of breath. Bai Xin looked at his feigned weakness, and even though she knew he would pull a stunt like this, she was there specifically to deal with it today. "Alright, I''ll apply for you, and Ming Yue doesn''t need to participate in military training today either. I''ll talk to your counselor, and you two should go back to your dormitory to rest first, Xu Musen, you can take Ming Yue backter." Bai Xin whispered the instructions, touched Yao Mingyue''s head once more, offered a few words offort, and then went to find a doctor for a certificate. Having achieved his goal, Xu Musen naturally didn''t need to keep up the pretense. Yao Mingyue was also starting to see through the tricks, looking at Xu Musen, she pursed her lips. Xu Musen felt a bit embarrassed, and although it wasn''t his fault, Yao Mingyue did get hurt in a rush because of him. "Cough, actually" "It''s fine." Yao Mingyue shook her head, stood up, quietly gazed at Xu Musen, and her lips parted slightly, "As long as you''re okay, I don''t mind." Xu Musen: ... For some reason, even though he knew she might be acting, the more she behaved like this, the more guilty he actually felt. "Forget it, I''ll take you back first." Xu Musen scratched his head and stood up. "If you''re busy with something else, just go ahead, you don''t need to worry about me." Yao Mingyue shook her head again. Xu Musen rubbed his temples, "Enough already, if we don''t go now, I really won''t take you." "I know, no need to be so fierce" Yao Mingyue, with her lips pursed, had a somewhat wronged expression which made all the other college students who were just feeling dizzy from heatstroke wish they could stand up and punch Xu Musen, the ungrateful jerk. A beautiful girl is taking care of you without regard for her own health, and yet you''re not appreciative? Xu Musenmented in his heart, every girl is truly born with the talent for acting; he turned and headed for the door. Better to get her back quickly and end this karma. And Yao Mingyue, following behind, saw his helpless figure, but couldn''t help a slight smile on her lips. Indeed, sometimes changing the approach yields greater results. The best offense is perhaps a proactive surrender? ... During the break on the sports field, An Nuannuan had already arrived to deliver green bean soup to Xu Musen. However, upon reaching the ss, she still hadn''t spotted Xu Musen. "Eh eh, that big, careless girl hase looking for Xu Musen again." The ssmates all turned to look. It was then Lin Daiyu stood up, approached An Nuannuan, and came to her side. "Are you looking for Xu Musen?" "Yeah, yeah, do you know where he is?" An Nuannuan asked her, holding the green bean soup in her hands. "He felt a bit unwell just now, he should still be in the infirmary, uh..." Lin Daiyu didn''t finish her sentence, and An Nuannuan''s typically dull, cute face now unusually showed a sign of nervousness. She hurried towards the exit in her wheelchair, but after going a bit of a distance, she realized she didn''t know where the infirmary was. She could onlye back, tugged at the hem of Lin Daiyu''s clothes, and her cute, bewildered face now wore a look of anxious pleading, "Can you... take me to find him?" Lin Daiyu looking at her little expression felt her heart melting. Xu Musen, that scoundrel, if he doesn''t sweet-talk her into being his girlfriend after this, then it''s truly against all reason. Chapter 144: Chapter 106: Exposure! The Magical Small Cloth under the Pillow. Underneath Yao Mingyue''s dormitory building. In hisst life, when Xu Musen yed the role of a devoted admirer, he frequented this spot beneath the girls'' dormitory even more often than he would sneak through the underdecks during CF transport ship missions. Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue walked alongside each other on the campus roads in silence. Xu Musen used to fantasize about walking shoulder to shoulder with Yao Mingyue on the school paths. Bathing in the envy of those around them, reveling in the sour smell of romance. Now, it seemed like he had achieved it. All the way, Yao Mingyue maintained a somewhat ambiguous distance from him, asionally brushing their clothes together. The scorching heat of military training seemed to have little effect on the beautiful girl. Yao Mingyue''s skin was still fair, and the days of training seemed to make her already slender figure appear even more valiant and spirited. If the school had a beauty ranking, Yao Mingyue would certainly be at the very top. Both of them were dressed in military training uniforms. The paths were now filled with sophomores and juniors. When they saw Yao Mingyue and Xu Musen, they couldn''t help but take several nces. Comments such as "good cabbage has been taken by a pig" and "why isn''t there such a handsome pig to go after me?" or "they''re a perfect match of talent and beauty, who are you, an ugly freak, to object?" were made. The ambiguous nces from those around her pleased Yao Mingyue, and she would asionally look up at Xu Musen. Although Xu Musen kept his eyes straight ahead, he could still feel the attention from the people around and Yao Mingyue. Xu Musen stopped and turned to face Yao Mingyue, "Go upstairs, get some good rest." Yao Mingyue stood still, gazing at him with her phoenix eyes, and suddenly smiled, "There''s nobody in my room right now, do you want toe up for a drink first?" Xu Musen''s lips twitched, wasn''t that line simr to the clich a guy uses to coax a girl into his house? "I guess your next line is, ''My cat can do backflips,'' right?" "Take good care of yourself in the future, don''t worry Aunt Liu." Thinking of today''s events and seeing the injury on her arm, Xu Musen couldn''t bring himself to be too harsh with Yao Mingyue. "Then, would you worry about me?" Yao Mingyue did not seem to care about the injury on her body at all and instead asked him with a smile. "Better to love oneself than to love someone else, goodbye." Leaving behind those words, Xu Musen turned and left. Yao Mingyue watched his departing figure before finally lowering her head to look at the wound on her arm. If it were any other girl, she would surely be upset about such an unsightly wound. But Ming Yue''s lips curled into a smilethe wound hardly mattered, given that this was the first time he took the initiative to escort her back to her dormitory building since college began. The injury was worth it. ... Meanwhile, Lin Daiyu and An Nuannuan had arrived at the infirmary. An Nuannuan looked at the people lying on the beds, each with a pained expression and red faces groaning in difort. Some were so severe that they would vomit and faint, listless and depleted. An Nuannuan''s small face immediately became worriedeveryone here was in such a state, surely Xu Musen must be suffering too. "Xu Musen..." She rushed to search for him, but after scanning the area and not seeing his figure, her heart grew even more anxious. She called out his name over and over, holding a jar of mung bean soup as she checked each bed. "Don''t panic just yet, maybe Xu Musen has already recovered and gone back," Lin Daiyu suggested, seeing An Nuannuan''s frantic search, like a kitten that can''t find its owner, meowing repeatedly in a way that tugged heartstrings. "Are you looking for Xu Musen?" asked a doctor making his rounds upon hearing the name brought up. "Yes, yes, do you know where he went?" Lin Daiyu asked eagerly. "He woke up a while ago, seems like a case of recurrent heatstroke, his counselor let him take a break from military training and go back to his dormitory to rest; he left with a girl." "With a girl..." Lin Daiyu muttered to herself, although she recalled that it was his roommates who had helped him get there. Her eyes paused. Suddenly, she remembered that tall figure with the phoenix eyes. "That girl, does she happen to be very tall and have a pair of phoenix eyes?" she inquired tentatively, but then she realized that An Nuannuan was standing right next to her. "Yes, a very pretty girl. The two of them must be boyfriend and girlfriend, as the girl was taking care of him the whole time," the doctor replied, nodding. Beautiful people always leave a strong impression. Lin Daiyu froze for a moment. The moment Xu Musen fainted, she rushed to the infirmary to take care of himit seemed too much of a coincidence. If it wasn''t just a coincidence, did that mean Xu Musen was still entangled with his childhood sweetheart, secretly meeting up here? Lin Daiyu took a deep breath and looked down at An Nuannuan. The girl had been enduring the intense sun every day in a wheelchair, bringing him mung bean soup. Could she really cope with this? Sure enough, An Nuannuan sat quietly in her wheelchair, looking zoned out for quite some time. "Um, Nuannuan," Lin Daiyu began, unable to stop herself from wanting tofort her. But An Nuannuan was looking at the doctor and asked, "Does Xu Musen need medicine? I''ll go buy it for him." Both the doctor and Lin Daiyu were taken aback. Looking at this na?ve and somewhat dazed girl before them. Lin Daiyu inwardly sighedwhat kind of magic did this yboy possess to have led her on like this? "No need for medicine; it''s just a normal case of heatstroke. He''ll be fine with some herbal drinks like Huoxiang Zhengqi water," the doctor exined. "Would mung bean soup be okay?" Chapter 145: Chapter 106: Exposure! The Magical Small Cloth under the Pillow._2 "Of course, you can. Mung bean soup is also good for relieving heat and replenishing fluids." "Oh, thank you." An Nuannuan nodded, her peach blossom eyes suddenly lighting up. She hugged the mung bean soup in her arms and pushed the wheelchair out. Lin Daiyu chased after her and asked, "Hey, where are you going?" An Nuannuan, with a serious face, holding the mung bean soup, said, "I''m taking him the mung bean soup. The doctor said it can cure his illness." Lin Daiyu paused mid-sentence, looking at the girl with the serious face before her. Shouldn''t a normal girl be very angry and confront him? Instead, she was thinking of taking him mung bean soup. If it had been Lin Daiyu herself in this situation, she would have been pleased just not to send a bottle of rat poison. "Nuannuan, you must have heard what the doctor said just now, aren''t you... angry at all?" An Nuannuan blinked, her peach blossom eyes like a deep pool, showing no emotions; finally, she shook her head. "All I know is he needs my mung bean soup right now." Lin Daiyu fell silent for a moment, then sighed, "Alright, I''ll go with you." It was then that she finally began to understand what Zhao Lianmai meant when she said love felt like this. Too frightening. She still knew where the boys'' dormitory was. In college, regardless of life or death, boys couldn''t enter the girls'' dormitory. But it wasn''t so strict for girls entering the boys'' dormitory. At worst, they''d have to take responsibility for the consequences. "Nuannuan, how about I take it up there for you? He lives on the fifth floor." Lin Daiyu looked up, realizing that there was hardly anyone in the dormitory building at this time. But for An Nuannuan in a wheelchair, the fifth floor would definitely be a difficult climb. However, An Nuannuan shook her head, "I want to take it up to him myself. I want to see how he is." With that, she propped herself up on the wheelchair, stretching one arm out to grasp the staircase with effort and slowly stood up, while still holding the mung bean soup in her other hand. Just the act of standing up made her slender legs tremble slightly. Yet her pale, earnest face remained serious as she clung to the staircase and struggled step by step to climb upwards. Lin Daiyu quickly went up to support her, but just a few stairster, An Nuannuan was already gasping for breath. Her tender face was now a shade of red, her legs shaking persistently, fine sweat on her forehead, and her soft hair sticking to her cheeks evoking a feeling ofpassion in anyone who saw her. After reaching the first floor, An Nuannuan almost couldn''t go onpletely, even though she had managed by supporting herself with her arms inch by inch. But after so many years without truly walking, she had now almost reached her limit. Her hand slipped, and a bit of the mung bean soup spilled,nding on her sandals and trickling between the toes of her pale feet. "Nuannuan, rest for a while, you can''t go on like this," said Lin Daiyu, her heart aching for her. But An Nuannuan shook her head, her clear eyes filled with earnestness: "He used to carry me home, walking a long, long way. I didn''t realize it was so tiring..." "You''re not the same as him..." "He was good to me, and I want to be good to him too. Otherwise, how could we be considered good friends?" An Nuannuan mentioned the word ''friends,'' and it seemed to ignite some strength in her eyes, as she nned to continue climbing. But her trembling legs were bing very difficult to move. It was only then that Lin Daiyu suddenly remembered. Right, she had a phone! She quickly took out her phone, and dialed Xu Musen''s number. "Dudu dudu..." There was no answer for a good while. "This scumbag, why isn''t he answering the phone at a time like this?" Lin Daiyu dialed again. Meanwhile, Xu Musen had returned to his dormitory, changed out of his military training clothes, and had taken a cold shower in the bathroom. With foam on his head, he was washing his hair: "I''m washing ya, washing ya..." Humming to himself, after rinsing his head, he finally heard his phone ringing. No one else was in the dorm, so he wrapped himself in shorts and walked out of the bathroom to the bedside, picking up the phone to find three or four missed calls already. And they were all from the same unfamiliar number. "Ring..." The phone rang again, and Xu Musen, wiping his head, answered it. "Hello, who is it?" "Xu Scumbag! Hurry up ande downstairs!" The voice on the other end was familiar, and Xu Musen thought for a moment: "Lin Daiyu? Is the instructor looking for me?" "What bloody instructor? It''s your little girlfriend, An Nuannuan. She found out you had a heatstroke, insisted on bringing you mung bean soup upstairs! I couldn''t stop her; she''s already climbed up one floor..." "Beep beep." Before she could finish, the call had been hung up. Soon after, she heard a burst of hasty footsteps from the top floor. In less than half a minute, Xu Musen''s figure sprinted downstairs. "Xu Musen, you..." Lin Daiyu was about to exin the situation when she suddenly cried out, her almond eyes widening. She seemed to have seen something extremely shocking. Xu Musen, upon hearing An Nuannuan wasing up, had dropped the phone and ran straight here. Wearing only a pair of shorts and flip-flops on his feet, his upper body bare, his well-defined muscles fully exposed. Lin Daiyu, for a moment, wanted to cover her eyes with her hands but the gaps between her fingers were bigger than her eyes. Those must be abs, right? So big... She couldn''t help swallowing at the sight of his toned six-pack, her gaze fixated. At that moment, Xu Musen saw An Nuannuan clinging to the stair railing, holding the mung bean soup, her entire body trembling. He stepped forward, gently supported her, and extended a leg as a support so she could sit down on hisp first. "Xu Musen, here''s your mung bean soup." Chapter 146: Chapter 106: Exposure! The Magical Small Cloth under the Pillow._3 An Nuannuan looked at him and he didn''t seem sick at all. Her worried expression also finally rxed. She lifted the mung bean soup she had been holding all along, brandishing it like a precious treasure before his eyes. Watching An Nuannuan''s fair and pretty face turnpletely red at this moment, with some sweat dampening her hair, her silly appearance struck Xu Musen''s heart like a bolt of lightning. "Silly girl, who let youe up here like this? It''s so dangerous." Xu Musen wiped the sweat from her forehead. "The doctor said you had a heatstroke, and mung bean soup can relieve the heat." "That doesn''t mean you should climb up here. What if you fell and got hurt?" "Even if I fell, you wouldn''t ignore me, right?" An Nuannuan trusted Xu Musen a lot, and this trust seemed to have been there for a very long time. "Alright, let me take you up top to rest for a bit." Xu Musen said, and supporting her, he lifted An Nuannuan into a princess carry right into his arms. An Nuannuan''s little face was pressed right against Xu Musen''s chest. The strong heartbeat and the feel of his pectoral muscles made An Nuannuan''s already flushed face turn even redder. His gaze then turned to Lin Daiyu, who had been staring at him all this while. Although her gaze had a somewhat crazed feeling, Xu Musen, a big guy, didn''t mind these things. He addressed her, "Thank you, ssmate Lin, I''ll thank you properlyter. I''m going to take Nuannuan up now." "Oh Okay, you guys go ahead. Be careful." Lin Daiyu waved her hand, watching as Xu Musen held An Nuannuan in his arms, this scene truly resembled a domineering CEO spoiling his cute little wife from an anime. The muscles Xu Musen showed off were like a strong dose of hormones. Lin Daiyu suddenly felt that An Nuannuan''s hard climb up the stairs seemed truly worth it at this moment. ... Xu Musen carried An Nuannuan, starting to ascend the stairs steadily. He carried An Nuannuan, and An Nuannuan held the mung bean soup she brought for him. Feeling each step he took, and the undisguised physical contact, elerated the heart of the pure and innocent, yet also boldly sprouting young girl, even more. Xu Musen held her, this girl who usually ate quite a lot, but was still very light, especially her legs, which were still very frail. If she really had climbed up to the fifth floor by herself, she might have ended up making herself sick. "Nuannuan, don''t ever push yourself like this again, you hear? It''s too dangerous." Xu Musen was speaking, but An Nuannuan interrupted him in a soft voice. "Xu Musen, am I very heavy?" "How could you be? I even think you''ve gotten a bit thinner." "That''s just as well." "Just as well for what?" "If you''re not tired holding me, then why would Iin about holding a mung bean soup?" An Nuannuan''s voice was soft, yet very serious, as she looked at Xu Musen''s cheek, her until now tense heart finally settled down. "Xu Musen, I was really worried about you just now" She softly spoke these words, and Xu Musen''s heart skipped a beat. He was silent for a moment, recalling how upon fainting that one time, Yao Mingyue had rushed to see him despite hurting herself. An Nuannuan, too, had insisted on climbing the stairs to bring him mung bean soup, despite her weak condition. Xu Musen kept asking himself whether perhaps the heavens felt that he had died too unfairly in his past life, and that''s why he was being given such a grand gift package in this one. "Sorry, I made you worry," Xu Musen said softly as he held her even tighter. Once back in the dorm room, Xu Musen had An Nuannuan sit on his bed first. Watching her panting, he took a towel and wiped the sweat from her face. "You drink first. The doctor said mung bean soup can relieve heat, and you can''t leave a single drop!" An Nuannuan held the mung bean soup in her arms, her soft and cute voice also carrying a hint of firmness. She was determined to see Xu Musen finish the entire pot of mung bean soup before she could rest easy. "Okay, okay, I''ll drink." Xu Musen took it and immediately downed it in one go, the sweet and slightly gritty soup leaving not a single drop behind. Putting down the small pot, he noticed some traces of mung bean soup on her shoes and little foot. Xu Musenmented, "Nuannuan, your foot..." "You don''t need to lick this off, it''s not hygienic, and you''re still sick," An Nuannuan quickly shook her head, her bare, delicate feet retracting a little under her sandals. "..." Xu Musen was at a loss for words and wanted tough. Wait, do Ie off as that kind of pervert to you now? And you mean to say, as long as I''m well, I''m permitted to... lick? "Nuannuan, what I mean is, I''ll help you clean your shoes, and you should also take the chance to soak your feet. You haven''t walked in a while; doing too much all at once could be hard on your feet." "Oh..." An Nuannuan nodded her head, watching Xu Musen as he got ready to fetch her slippers. It was clear she nced a few times at her own feet. Indeed, he was just like what her sister had said, one of those perverts who are into girls'' small feet... But she didn''t dislike it because when she was lying in Xu Musen''s arms earlier, for some reason, she couldn''t help but touch his muscles repeatedly. Suddenly feeling her face heat up, she thought she might be a bit of a pervert herself. Xu Musen turned away to get a basin, intending to fetch some hot water. An Nuannuan sat barefoot on Xu Musen''s bed, curiously surveying the room. So this was a boy''s dorm room, huh? It seemed so in; they didn''t even have what you''d call bed curtains. And all these boys'' beds were a mess. Xu Musen was indeed a rough and tumble guy. The nket and pillow were all in disarray, so An Nuannuan started tidying them herself, rolling up the nket. She also arranged the toilet paper and other things that were scattered by the pillow. As she was trying to straighten the pillow, she suddenly noticed a small ck corner peeping out from the inside of the pillow''s zipper at the back. Curiosity getting the better of her, she flipped it over and slowly unzipped the pillowcase, then a small, exquisitely made piece of fabric withce edges slowly revealed itself... Chapter 147: Chapter 107: Those Who Fail to Turn White Cant Be Friends. This small piece of triangle-shapedce fabric... An Nuannuan looked at it, why did it look so familiar? She reached out and pulled it out, looking at its shape, she silentlypared it to the area between her own legs. This... boys shouldn''t be wearing this, right? Even the type she wore wasn''t so... bold. She suddenly remembered that the first time Xu Musen took her back to the dormitory, he always couldn''t help but look around everywhere. It was as if he was always on the verge of going on a shopping spree. Could he really be a pervert? An Nuannuan''s little face couldn''t help but turn red, and she instinctively looked down at her chest. This pillow doesn''t seem like it could hide it, oh~ Suddenly, her little brain had another thought. No, the most important question now is, how could this thing be in his pillow? And he sleeps with it every day? An Nuannuan looked again at the little fabric decorated with delicatece. She suddenly thought of a tall figure. That good sister seemed to like wearing long dresses with somece trimmings. Could it be... She also remembered what the doctor said in the infirmary just now. When Xu Musen fainted, it was she who had been taking care of him all the time. An Nuannuan''s big eyes suddenly shimmered with an indescribable emotion. Just now, her mind was full of concern for Xu Musen, but now that she was relieved, this issue upied her thoughts. Xu Musen walked in from outside with a basin in his hands. An Nuannuan was startled for a moment but quickly pressed the little piece of fabric under the pillow. "Nuannuan, the water is here." Xu Musen put the basin on the ground and seeing An Nuannuan looking a bit flustered, he asked, "What''s wrong?" "I''ve made up your bed for you..." "I''m used to being rough, no need to bother, you try the water temperature first," Xu Musen said with a smile as he ced the basin at her feet. "Okay, okay." An Nuannuan nodded and tried to lift her leg, but running up the stairs earlier had left herpletely out of strength. "Xu Musen, I don''t have any energy left." An Nuannuan was once again experiencing the feeling of her legs being disconnected from her body, her little face looking pitiful. "It''s okay, a good friend is your left arm and right arm." Xu Musen patted his chest and eagerly extended his hands. He gently grabbed An Nuannuan''s ankle, soft and delicate, with a cute little ankle bone, Xu Musen slowly cradled her small feet. The girl''s feet were really incredible, even though they weren''t the exaggerated size of three-inch golden lotuses. But they could fit entirely in the palm of Xu Musen''s hand, his pole bone and her arch fitting together perfectly without limit. And An Nuannuan''s feet hardly ever touched the ground, even her heels felt not the slightest bit calloused. They were as tender as little hands. Moreover, her little feet felt even plumper than her hands, soft and fluffy like cotton candy. Ah, ten fingers interlocked, the affection of hands and feet! "Xu Musen, it tickles..." An Nuannuan''s soft voice came through. "This is a new foot massage technique I''ve researched; you can''t skip a good massage after walking such a long way for the first time," Xu Musen stated seriously. An Nuannuan looked at him, her pretty face still blushing, "Did you go for another internship at Hong Langman?" "...Weren''t we supposed to forget about that?" Xu Musen mentally cursed He Qiang again; that kid really besmirched his reputation! An Nuannuan noted his energetic appearance, which didn''t seem at all like someone who had suffered from heatstroke. "Xu Musen, were you really sick just now?" "Actually, I was faking it." "What?" "I applied for the entrepreneurship fund from the university, and I''m nning to make some money during this time, so I pretended to faint to postpone the military training. I didn''t have time to tell you." As he spoke, Xu Musen gently massaged her feet, which were still trembling slightly. She was just starting to recover a bit. If it weren''t for Lin Daiyu watching over her, making her climb up to the fifth floor would have probably resulted in serious illness. And she exerted herself to this extent just to bring him a bowl of mung bean soup. Xu Musen''s heart warmed at the thought, looking at the silly girl in front of him, his voice softened. "Sorry for making you worry, and for making you rush up here. Are you mad at me?" An Nuannuan shook her head, "I''m not mad. As long as you''re okay, I''m very happy. I know how it feels to be sick, it''s very ufortable. It''s best that you''re not sick." An Nuannuan''s voice was always so gentle, although it always seemed a bit emotionally detached. Yet, each and every word could find its way into one''s heart. "Nuannuan, can''t you just be a little mad at me?" Hearing her words, Xu Musen felt even more remorseful. "Why should I be mad at you?" "Because it would make me feel a little better." An Nuannuan looked at his sincere face, her little feet moving slightly, her big eyes sparkling, "My sister said, there''s a type of pervert who likes being hit and scolded, what''s it called ''Do M'' or something." "..." Xu Musen fell silent for quite a while, then earnestly said, "Nuannuan, when you go back, you should let Nannan spend less time on the inte!" What on earth was that little girl seeing while surfing the web every day? Meanwhile in a vintage western-style building in Hu Hai''s city center, An Nannan was scrolling through various trending news on her phone. She quickly came across a video titled "Hu Hai University''s Guitar God, his voice made all the campus girls cry." Hu Hai University, that was where her sister went to university, right? An Nannan curiously clicked into the video. Although the footage was not clear, the voice and silhouette felt more and more familiar the more she watched. Chapter 148: Chapter 107: Those Who Fail to Turn White Cant Be Friends. _2 And this song is really good to listen to. "It seems to be that guy..." An Nannan muttered to herself, as she was already about to start middle school, and the school was not far from Hu Hai University. After the family finished the formalities, she could sneak out and have some fun whenever she had the chance. That guy was also in the same school as her sister, this was definitely not a coincidence! To prevent that guy from coaxing her sister with tasty treats, she would definitelye up with a way to help her sister resist the temptation! ... In the dormitory, Xu Musen finished washing An Nuannuan''s feet. Holding a towel, he dried her little feet and with the soft fabric, the touch seemed to be even better. Xu Musen had a hard time letting go, and he started to massage her legs again. The two of them had stopped talking, but the physical contact was quiet in their dormitory, fostering a peculiar feeling in their hearts. "Xu Musen, back in the infirmary, was it Good Person Sister who took care of you?" An Nuannuan suddenly couldn''t help but ask. Xu Musen looked up at An Nuannuan and didn''t avoid the question, "Yeah, I don''t know how she found out about it, but she came over and gave me some Pogostemon patchouli water to drink." "I see." An Nuannuan nodded, so he hadn''t told Good Person Sister either. She suddenly felt a bit more bnced in her heart. "But Good Person Sister also cares about you a lot." "Yeah, I guess." Xu Musen paused, Yao Mingyue did care about him, but it was just too much "care." The kind of breath-taking feeling was not something ordinary people could endure. "Xu Musen, do you still like her?" An Nuannuan suddenly asked. This was the first time she asked such a direct question. Xu Musen thought for a moment and shook his head with a smile, "Actually, my feelings for her in the past can''t really be called pure liking. Back then, I didn''t even know what it really meant to like someone." In this aspect, actually, Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue were the same. Their affection had a significant innate element, as if they were meant to be together from birth. Childhood sweethearts, with a marriage agreement from a young age. And they did have affection for each other. But it was precisely because everything seemed too predestined. That they felt itcked something that love should inherently have, the most precious thing. That is the process of gaining each other''s liking. "So do you know what liking someone is now?" An Nuannuan''s peach blossom eyes twinkled slightly. "I''m not quite sure, but I think the premise of liking someone is that two people together should feel more rxed and happier than when alone; that would be a healthy rtionship." "Oh." An Nuannuan nodded her head, watching Xu Musen''s serious massaging movements, her heart felt as if it was being gently caressed by a pair of hands. "Like how we are now?" After she spoke, Xu Musen was momentarily stunned. The two of them looked at each other for a moment. An Nuannuan nced away slightly, "I mean the kind between friends..." Completelycking confidence. Xu Musen also felt a kind of hit at that moment, as he looked at An Nuannuan''s stunning face that was in no way inferior to Yao Mingyue''s. Xu Musen had to admit that he was a sucker for good looks. It was something etched in his genes, like how animals in the wild are attracted to the opposite sex''s magnificent fur or feathers. Humans also have a natural fondness for attractive members of the opposite sex. "Actually, I think our rtionship right now is quite good." Xu Musenughed, the slight air of romance between the two was still rich enough to be palpable. Being with An Nuannuan, he always felt especially at ease. Perhaps in a past life, he was worn out from constantly being on his toes in a battle of wits with a spoiled and sickly girl. In this life, he met An Nuannuan, the na?ve and adorably foolish girl. Even though sometimes her words hit right in the gut, that pure and straightforward feeling was truly missed. "But I think she still cares a lot about you, and at the very least you are still good friends." An Nuannuan remembered how, when they had eaten together a few days ago, she sat at the table but felt like the only outsider. Xu Musen shook his head and chuckled, "The oues of confessing are only two: you either be lovers or strangers; there''s no third option." Looking at An Nuannuan''s puzzled pretty face, he continued massaging her calf, Xu Musen slowly said, "Nuannuan, what if, I mean what if, I confessed to you and you rejected me, do you think we could still be friends afterwards?" Facing this question, An Nuannuan''s little brain seemed to crash. She thought about it for a while, confused, nodding and then shaking her head, as if her CPU was about to burn out. "See, after a failed confession it''s not even possible to remain friends, so confessing is risky, and you have to be cautious before you speak up." Xu Musen spoke with a smile, relieved internally that he hadn''t blurted out anything impulsive just now. Otherwise, if he had been rejected again, he would have made a fool of himself. "It''s not that." An Nuannuan shook her head, "I was just thinking, why would I reject you?" "Hmm?" Now it was Xu Musen''s turn to be taken aback. An Nuannuan lifted her clear eyes and stared without blinking at Xu Musen. "Because I really like being with you. We go shopping together, eat together, go for walks, you also treat me to milk tea and ice cream, you apany me in my training, there are so many things I like doing with you. If you wanted to confess, you must have your reasons and I would definitely take your confession seriously." Chapter 149: Chapter 107: Those Who Fail to Turn White Cant Be Friends. _3 So, did I get rejected or encouraged? Musen couldn''t help but ask, "What if I confess to you now?" "I''m not listening." Nuannuan replied crisply and directly. "..." You just agreed to give a serious answer, didn''t you? "My grandma said that in one''s lifetime, you can only follow one person and you must be cautious. You just mentioned that you don''t know what liking someone means, and now you want to confess? You must be trying to trick meI''m not stupid." Nuannuan raised her fair and pretty face, her girlish voice imbued with soul, proud as if she had uncovered Musen''s prank. Musen was speechless for a moment, somewhat baffled. Was he being manipted? This seemingly na?ve little girl was actually very smart at times. Forget it, their rtionship as it stands is quite good too. "I''ll take you back first. Otherwise, it might be difficult to send you away once their military training ends," Musen said standing up to fetch her sandals and put them on for her. "Mm..." Nuannuan nodded her head, but her eyes nced at his pillow; her lips pursing as if she''d made up her mind about something. "Musen." "Hm?" "If you really like those things, you can tell me." Nuannuan''srge eyes dodged slightlyshe had seen news reports about perverts who steal women''s underwear from college dorms every year. Once caught, the consequences are severe. She couldn''t stand by and watch her only friend stray off the path. "Huh?" Musen didn''t understand what she meant. Nuannuan, too, found it difficult to articte her thoughts clearly but was determined to help hime out of it. She looked down at her own fair and delicate little feet. This guy really liked feet. Perhaps next time she could y Santa us and give him a sock or something Musen carried her downstairs, the thin fabric of his summer clothes slightly damp with sweat. Nuannuan''s figure was really intimidating. Musen dared not walk too fast downstairs. Otherwise, before Nuannuan could catch her breath, he himself would have trouble straightening his back! He dropped her off at the women''s dormitory entrance. Seeing the slight sweat on her forehead, Musen said, "Go back and rest well, I''ll take you out for dinner tonight." "Mm-hmm." Nuannuan nodded obediently. Musen waved goodbye and Nuannuan watched his figure disappear. Under the sunlight, her cheeks seemed to blush with a hint of red. "A confession, huh..." ... When Musen returned to his dormitory, he started busying himself with preparing for his entrepreneurial venture. He wrote out the action n, just waiting for Li Rundong, Zhou Hangyu, and Ma Yaxing toe back before getting started. As for He Qiang, of course, Musen hadn''t forgotten about this good brother. His school too was a piece of the pie he intended to gradually consume all of Hu Hai''s college-rted businesses. Musen stretched his bodyzily. Seeing there was still half an hour left before the military training ended, he decided to lie down and take a quick nap. He picked up his pillow and casually flipped it,fortably lying on top of it. But with this position, Musen suddenly felt a slightly odd sensation on his facesoft with a hint ofcealong with that familiar fragrance filling his nostrils. Huh? Musen opened his eyes, and what he saw in front of him made him stunned for a while. "Damn!!" Upon seeing the object before him, Musen jumped up as if he had seen a ghost. He scrutinized the shape andce trim... This he instantly knew whose it was. Yao Mingyue always liked this style. She had never changed it from a young age! No wonder he always felt he could smell the fragrance when sleeping. Pervert! Musen thought he was perverted enough, but who knew that Yao Mingyue was even more so! It went without saying that she must have put it in while making his bed. Only because the pillow''s zipper wasn''t open before, he hadn''t discovered it. Now that the zipper was open... Wait a minute! Suddenly, Musen remembered something else. "If you like those things, you can tell me..." Nuannuan''s words echoed in his ears, and Musen suddenly felt like he was a victim of misunderstanding; it was a messy situation whether it was true or not! Musen was so irritated that his lips twitched. He took out his phone and, for the first time since his rebirth, proactively made a call to Yao Mingyue! "Where the heck are you?" Chapter 150: Chapter 108 Yao Mingyue: That kind of thing, I only let you see it. Xu Musen really couldn''t hold back his anger anymore. He had actually been sleeping with this thing for so many days! No wonder he felt a familiar scent every night, but am I, Xu Musen, a pervert? Obviously not! This is outright malicious framing and nder! Last time He Qiang slipped him a VIP card for Red Romance secretly, which made An Nuannuan nag him even until now. Having this thing found now, he''s probably going to be lectured for a lifetime. Remembering her conflicted expression when she leftst time, it seemed she had already pegged him as the "underwear thief." She even nned to sacrifice herself heroically to satisfy his perverted little needs. How touching... ugh! I''m not a pervert, okay! The more Xu Musen thought, the angrier he became. He called Yao Mingyue, all his slight change of heart towards her in the infirmary just now utterly dissipated. A psycho is a psycho, with thought processes unlike those of normal people! What is this? Casting a spell on me? "Yao Mingyue, where the hell are you?" Xu Musen almost couldn''t help cursing out his ex-mother-inw. At this moment, Yao Mingyue had just finished bathing, and no one else was in her dorm. She changed into a fresh set of underwear andy on her bed, d in a ckce negligee. Her long, beautiful legs had just been moisturized, looking extra shiny as if a squeeze could wring out water. "Girls'' dormitory building one, third floor, room 302, the bed by the window, I''m alone right now,ing?" But when faced with Xu Musen''s voice, Yao Mingyue just smiled lightly, already having a rough idea of what was happening. Xu Musen''s mouth twitched at hearing these words. What kind of outrageous talk was this? Xu Musen took a breath to calm himself, "Yao Mingyue, how do you exin what''s under my pillow?" "What thing?" Yao Mingyue''s lips curled up in a smile. "You know damn well what it is. Up to today, you''re the only girl who has been to my bed. If not you, then who could it be?" "Even if there is something, you can''t say I put it there. Are you telling me you also know what style I wear?" Yao Mingyue was feigning toughness, but it was essentially an admission. Xu Musen didn''t want to waste words with her. He wanted to throw the thing away, but this was a boys'' dormitory, and if some pervert actually picked it up... Somehow, that thought was seriously bothering him! Damn, the base nature of men! "Get down here!" "Get down for what? Are you saying you''re fed up with the scent and want a fresh exchange?" "I''ll exchange for a stainless steel basin for you!" Xu Musen hung up the phone directly. Yao Mingyue, listening to his slightly frantic voice, couldn''t help but curve the corners of her mouth upward. After so long, she finally got to see this side of him. Yao Mingyue stretchednguidly, nced at the off-white underwear she had just put on, her graceful curves disyed perfectly. Yao Mingyue had always been satisfied with her figure, especially her legs, which she considered unmatched in beauty. "You got it cheap~" ... Xu Musen took out a stic bag and wrapped up the hot potato. He tucked it into his trouser pocket and headed to the base of Yao Mingyue''s dorm building. Along the way, there were still asional passersby. Some girls who saw Xu Musen looking fresh and sunny after a shower gave him second looks. "This guy is so handsome, it''s true that guys are essentially transformed after a shower." "Clean-cut handsome guy, huh? Suddenly I feel that men with a slight tan seem even more charming." Xu Musen stayed silent, standing behind a tree once again. To the several girls, this made him all the more alluring: "Look, look, he''s even shyly hiding. Just by looking, you can tell he''s a pure and young underssman who''s never dated..." Yes, people are often judged by their appearances but not their hearts. Some may look like a shy, sunny boy hiding behind a tree, but who would know that one is actually a pervert with a piece of magical cloth in his pocket? Soon, a tall figure emerged slowly from the girls'' dormitory building. Yao Mingyue wore a simple, loose white t-shirt, long enough to cover her rear, paired with denim shorts. Her freshly bathed long white legs shone in the sunlight, almost reflective. At first nce, it looked like Yao Mingyue wasn''t wearing shorts at all, but being around the girls'' dormitory, Xu Musen was the only one who would notice. Yao Mingyue let her long hair fall freely, still slightly damp, and without any makeup, her face was already so beautiful it was hard to look away. Long eyshes, a pair of phoenix eyes with a unique charm; when she arrived behind Xu Musen, the girls around, who had been somewhat eager, suddenly wilted. It was no contest; they were not in the same league. No wonder such a handsome guy was waiting downstairs for her. But when Xu Musen faced that enchanting face, all he could do was grit his teeth and speak in a low voice, "Yao Mingyue, you''re really something! Aren''t you afraid Aunt Liu will find out her darling daughter is actually a pervert?" However, Yao Mingyue couldn''t help but smile at the corners of her mouth, and with a yful look, she said, "What about you? Isn''t a person who sleeps with it even more of a pervert?" Xu Musen was tired of dealing with her. He quickly took the thing wrapped in a stic bag out of his pocket and shoved it into her hands, intending to bolt immediately. But Yao Mingyue suddenly reached out and grabbed Xu Musen''s hand tightly. "Let go." Xu Musen frowned, as their tugging attracted asional nces from the people around. In his hand was a hot potato, and if it got exposed, they''d both be famous, for sure. Chapter 151: Chapter 108 Yao Mingyue: That kind of thing, I only let you see it. _2 Yao Mingyue has never cared about others'' stares since she was young, but Xu Musen, this upright character, does care about his face! "Answer me one question, and I''ll let you go." But Yao Mingyue tightened her grip on him even more. "Speak." Xu Musen dared not make any big movements and could only endure. The light flickered in Yao Mingyue''s eyes as she began, "You said on the phone earlier that up until today, I''m the only one who''s been to your bed. So does that mean... she came to your dorm room to see you today?" Her sensitivity to catching cheating was always at its highest. Xu Musen looked at her jealous expression and remembered the scenes from theirst life where she dominated him. "The mung bean soup she brought over wasn''t as twisted as you." Xu Musen said mercilessly. Enjoy exclusive content froNovelBin "Mung bean soup?" Frowning, Yao Mingyue looked at Xu Musen''s smug face, biting her teeth, "Is my Huoxiang Zhengqi water not as tasty as hers?" "Honestly, you''re not as sweet as her." Xu Musen spoke indifferently. In fact, Yao Mingyue and An Nuannuan were really like the Huoxiang Zhengqi water and mung bean soup. Huoxiang Zhengqi water worked fastest and was most effective at relieving summer heat, but that bitter taste was really not something ordinary people could withstand. And mung bean soup, although not very medicinal, was very tasty, sweetly nourishing the body little by little. "You!" Yao Mingyue''s chest heaved with anger, her grip on Xu Musen''s hand tight, "So I ask you! If today both she and I got heatstroke, and you only had one bottle of Huoxiang Zhengqi water, who would you choose to give it to?" What is this ssic dilemma, like the one about choosing between your mother and me if we fell into a river? Xu Musen looked at the scabbing wounds on her arm and after a second''s silence, began. "Then let me ask you a question, if your mom and I both fell into a river at the same time, who would you save first?" "I I asked you first!" "If you won''t answer me, I won''t answer either." ying hardball is not unique; the master uses the enemy''s own tactics to outdo them. The glint in Yao Mingyue''s phoenix eyes shed as she said, "Then I would save you first." Xu Musen was stunned for a moment. You''re actually making a choice, filial piety will be the death of me. "Because my mom can swim, ah! When we were kids, it was my mom who taught us how to swim!" Yao Mingyue lifted her pretty face, a look of triumph on her face. Xu Musen remembered as a child, he used to go swimming in Yao Mingyue''s family''s private pool all the time. But whenever he saw Aunt Liu in a swimsuit, he felt a bit embarrassed. As a result, he didn''t learn to swim as well as Yao Mingyue did. "Now, it''s your turn to answer!" Yao Mingyue pressed him step by step. Xu Musen looked at her, no matter what this dutiful daughter was thinking, she truly loved him without limits. After pondering for a moment, Xu Musen looked at her, "Then I would give it to you first too." Yao Mingyue''s cool and pretty face brightened instantly, clouds parting for the sun. Hmph, childhood sweethearts will always be childhood sweethearts, after all. "That''s more like it" "Because An Nuannuan won''t participate in military training, she won''t get heatstroke in the first ce." Xu Musen used her own tactic to block her. The smile on Yao Mingyue''s face froze for a moment, "I said hypothetically!" "Then I''d go and cook her mung bean soup." Xu Musen said casually. Yao Mingyue''s chest heaved violently with anger. How dare you cook mung bean soup for another girl? Then next time you might as well serve me arsenic! Yao Mingyue was really going crazy. She stared at Xu Musen, truly thinking at that moment. Should she really spill the contents and have them both disgraced, binding them together for good? As she was thinking this, the words her mother had told her suddenly echoed in her mind. "You need to progress gradually, to advance by retreating, to flow steadily like a gentle stream..." She took deep breaths to calm herself. Thinking of what Xu Musen had just said. At least he still chose to give the most helpful Huoxiang Zhengqi water to her... She tried to find a bnce for herself, and looking at Xu Musen, a sinister smile reappeared on her face. Gently moving while holding Xu Musen''s hands, she said, "What do you think, if I shake this thing out right now, will you be a hot topic on the school forum?" Xu Musen''s mouth twitched. Other girls might be joking. But with this yandere, you can never be sure! Moreover, while Yao Mingyue was talking, her hands really began to slowly loosen their grip on the bag. At this moment, military training was graduallying to an end, and some male students happened to pass by. If this really came to light, her college life would effectively be over, and she might as well consider living on another. But the next moment, Yao Mingyue clenched the bag tightly and stuffed it into her pocket. She leaned forward slightly, her voice a whisper close to Xu Musen''s ear, "Don''t worry, I wouldn''t let other guys see this kind of stuff. I''ll just keep it for you." The faint scent of a girl fresh out of a bath filled his senses; her tone wasmanding yet filled with partiality. It was like something straight out of a domineering CEO drama. Before Xu Musen could react, Yao Mingyue smiled and said, "See you next time." After that, she moved her long legs and entered the girls'' dormitory, waving at him before cheerfully bounding up the stairs. Xu Musen was left standing there in a daze for a while, watching Yao Mingyue''s receding figure. He steadied his heart. The bowl of "soft rice" was sweet, but the price was too steep. ... Nighttime. Xu Musen took An Nuannuan to a restaurant for some rotating hotpot. Of course, they were there on official business. Xu Musen leaned in to chat with the owner. "You actually made it happen?" The owner was somewhat surprised, as he originally thought it was just some young man talking big. But seeing the app interface on Xu Musen''s mobile phone, he started to get interested. "Of course, it''s all about keeping one''s word. We''ve got the school''s approval for our entrepreneurship project, and we''re currently in the trial operation stage. What do you say to nomission fees for the first week if you sign up now, boss?" "For free?" The owner perked up at the mention of free, and seeing that they had the school''s approval, he knew they wouldn''t just abscond. Besides, even if the monk runs away, the temple won''t. This made them feel much more at ease. "Free. Right now we are losing money to make noise. Plus, you are the first merchant to support me. I wouldn''t be stingy. Think about it, boss?" said Xu Musen with a smile. "Look at you, young man, you do have a way with words. Alright, show me how to register," replied the owner, eager to follow the process and register. Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong were also making their rounds in three different restaurants to negotiate deals with merchants. Armed with the promise of nomission fees for the first week, they managed to gradually convince quite a few businesses to give it a try. Of course, after dealing with the merchants, they had to recruit delivery staff. Xu Musen had already started posting job recruitment notices on campus forums and various part-time job search groups. In the past few days, there was already a steady stream of people getting in touch. However, the problem was that there were plenty of male part-timers, but recruiting females was difficult. There was a high demand for delivery in the female dormitories during summer, but the dormitory supervisor Aunt Liu would not let any boy go upstairs. And typically, girls would not apply for a job that required running up and down all day and involved physical strength. Increasing the wage might lead toints from the male staff. It was a tough situation. "Xu Musen, what are you thinking about?" "Nothing important." "Tell me, maybe I can help," An Nuannuan really hoped she could be of assistance. "This is something you really can''t help with..." Xu Musen chuckled and shook his head, looking at An Nuannuan still sitting in a wheelchair, nearly losing half her life just climbing one floor, not to mention going up and down every day. If her grandparents found out, Xu Musen genuinely feared being tied up and thrown into ake. Unless someone came along to specifically take charge of the female side of the business and take the fall for him. As Xu Musen was pondering, a soft voice came through. "The shrimp paste you ordered." Zhao Lianmai ced a te of shrimp paste in front of An Nuannuan. Xu Musen looked at her, her skin a healthy tan. Even with military training, she still had the energy to work part-time. Her long legs clearly showed signs of frequent exercise, brimming with vitality. His eyes brightened, and he grinned. "Zhao, are you interested in a job that pays really well?" Under the brim of her hat, Zhao Lianmai''s eyes flickered, suddenly wary of a potential scoundrel. Had he finally set his sights on her? Chapter 152: Chapter 109: I must fully support my mans first business venture. Faced with the olive branch extended by Xu Musen, Zhao Lianmai was alert. After all, Xu Musen''s tone just now was like that of a pimp in TV dramas luring innocent women into shady business. Xu Musen knew this dark-skinned girl always held some inexplicable hostility towards him. He took out a flyer for recruiting campus delivery staff and handed it to her. "I know you have some misunderstandings about me, but don''t hold a grudge against money. The sry and benefits are described in detail here, definitely more than what you''re making part-time here, though it''s tougher work, the rewards are greater as well." Xu Musen spoke unhurriedly, valuing Zhao Lianmai''s willingness to endure hardship and her reliable nature. "Moreover, if you''re willing to work with me, I''ll appoint you as the person in charge of the female staff. Besides a cut from the delivery side, you''ll also get the profits from the business side. Think about it?" Xu Musen added, the main goal initially being to secure the customers and naturally, to increase the benefits for the riders to keep the staff on board. Zhao Lianmai didn''t really want to get involved with a yboy like Xu Musen. But looking at the sry information on the flyer, if she worked hard, she could indeed earn a decent amount each month. At least several times the ie from her current job. Her family indeed needed money. She clenched the flyer, pursed her lips slightly, yet eventually she gently shook her head and handed the flyer back to him. "Still not satisfied?" Xu Musen asked. He estimated that if Zhao Lianmai worked seriously, she could earn thousands each month. For a student, that was a considerable sum. Working part-time in the cafeteria, she would at most make a thousand or so a month. "It''s not about satisfaction, it''s that I promised the restaurant owner to work, and I can''t just quit on a whim." Zhao Lianmai''s voice was firm. Xu Musen paused for a moment, admiring Zhao Lianmai''s pretty, yet resilient face. She was as stubborn as wheat seedlings after the vernal equinox. As appreciation grew in Xu Musen''s heart, "The more you say that, the more I feel I must have you on the team. Don''t worry about your part-time job, I''ll speak with the boss. Just confidently follow me." Zhao Lianmai''s fingers twisted anxiously as she looked at Xu Musen and An Nuannuan, who was engrossed in stirring the boiling shrimp paste in the pot. Zhao Lianmai was self-aware. Xu Musen, the yboy, might be a fickle man. But she was not the type to catch his eye. She wasn''t worried about actually getting into any trouble. "Why must you choose me?" She raised her head, looking into Xu Musen''s eyes. "Because I admire your character. Spending a little extra to make a friend who excels in both academics and morals is well worth it." Xu Musen smiled. Ever since Zhao Lianmai insisted on paying her share of the meal out thest time, Xu Musen knew she was a person of strong principles. And today, she resisted the temptation of a high sry, still holding on to her sense of contract. Someone with principles, responsibility, and the capacity for hard work like her, Xu Musen thought, absolutely shouldn''t be missed! Zhao Lianmai thought for a while before she put away the flyer, "This is my own matter. I will talk to the boss myself. After it''s settled, I''ll give you an answer." "Alright, it''s a deal then." Xu Musen smiled and extended his hand. Zhao Lianmai looked at him, then turned and left. Xu Musen''s hand hung in midair, then with a click of his tongue, he withdrew it. These days, even as a boss, you get snubbed by employees. "Xu Musen, I think that sister is pretty cool," An Nuannuanmented, watching Zhao Lianmai''s retreating figure. "Yes, quite a personality," Xu Musen said, smiling and looking at An Nuannuan, "But she is a bit cold, not as likable as you, Nuannuan." An Nuannuan blinked, rarely blushing, but her pink lips still couldn''t help curving into a slight smile. She took the plumpest piece of shrimp paste from the pot and ced it in Xu Musen''s bowl. "For you." For An Nuannuan, food was as precious as He Qiang''s love for fishing rods. Giving it away proved someone''s significance. Xu Musen chuckled and took a bite. "It tastes good." After the meal, Xu Musen took An Nuannuan to buy milk tea. The milk tea shop on campus was actually doing pretty well. But there was still a "For Lease" sign hanging on the storefront. The only rooms approved by the school currently served as temporary ssrooms. There surely had to be a storefront in the future. The location of this milk tea shop seemed quite favorable. "Boss, one cup of fruit tea, one cup of lemon water, please." "Alrighty." The owner, recognizing Xu Musen and An Nuannuan, smiled and went off to prepare the drink. Enjoy exclusive chapters froNovelBin "Boss, I see your business is doing well. Why are you looking to sublet it?" Xu Musen casually struck up a conversation. "Sigh, the business is good, but so is the rent. Mainly there''s a warehouse thates with this storefront, if you want to lease the shop, you have to take the warehouse too. I just have this milk tea shop, so that big warehouse is a waste, just bleeding money." The owner said helplessly, shaking his head, "Plus, my kid is looking to get married and needs some money, and I can''t keep up with the work anymore. Better to go back home and run a small business." "I see. How much are you nning to sell the lease for?" Xu Musen inquired further. "There''s more than half a year left on the rent, as long as you can cover the transfer fee plus a little extra, I''d be satisfied with anything around eighty to a hundred thousand," the owner stated casually. Xu Musen nodded, finding the price reasonable, and after some thought, he said, "Boss, let me be straightforward with you, I''m actually interested in leasing this shop." Chapter 153 : 109: Supporting my mans first business venture, of course. _2 "You want to rent?" The boss looked at him in surprise, "I remember you''re a freshman this year, right?" He had seen many university students start businesses, but most of them had failed. Moreover, it was usually juniors or seniors who started businesses, so it was the first time he saw a freshman embarking on this path. "As the saying goes, make hay while the sun shines. I am serious about renting this shop. Boss, what''s the lowest price you can give? I can pay in cash all at once." Xu Musen didn''t beat around the bush with him, and since the boss was a straight shooter, it seemed like a perfect match. The boss looked at this young man and after thinking for a while, he said, "I think you should think it over carefully. Money does note easily. It''s great for a young person to want to start a business, but you should take it step by step." The boss started off with some heartfelt advice. Xu Musen smiled, "I have thought it through, everyone has to take a first step in life, and I believe in myself." The boss saw his confidence and decided not to say much else. After some thought he said, "The shop still has half a year left on the lease. Rent plus the transfer fee, I''ll let it go for... ny thousand." As the boss spoke, he watched the young man in front of him, and the girl sitting in a wheelchair behind him. The price he quoted was even lower than his initial expectation. Indeed, he was a decent person. He was fair, and so Xu Musen was even more so. "Let''s make it one hundred thousand, cash. I can sign the contract with you within the next few days." Xu Musen spoke with a smile, voluntarily raising the price. The boss was stunned, as this was the first time he''d seen someone voluntarily offer a higher price. Though his shop''s transfer price would normally be one hundred thousand, that amount in cash was no small figure. "Be sure you''ve thought this through," the boss finally said. Xu Musen nodded, "However, I have one more request. I need arge amount of lemonade these next few days, the cheapest kind will do. Could you help me make it in bulk? Whatever the price, I''ll settle it with you." "What do you need money for that? I''ve been wondering how to deal with all these raw materials with nowhere to go, so this is the perfect chance to clear out the stockroom. Lemonade is easy to make." The boss also spoke with augh, and the two discussed further and decided to finalize the contract in the uing days. With that, most of the preparations for the startup werepleted. "Here''s your fruit tea and lemonade, and I''ll throw in two strawberry ice creams." The boss smiled as he handed over the ice creams and didn''t even charge for the drinks. "Say thank you." Xu Musen looked at An Nuannuan who had bright, sparkling eyes next to him. "Thank you, boss!" An Nuannuan said her thanks in a funny way. The boss chuckled, "What a cute girl, is she your girlfriend?" "Not yet." Xu Musen handed the ice cream to An Nuannuan. They were still just friends. After all, they hadn''t even held hands yet! Chuckling, the boss watched the pair of youngsters, thinking that adolescence is sweet not just because of being in love. It''s actually the sweetest during the period before love, when both people harbor their own thoughts, carefully, and tentatively testing each other with affection and caution. Watching the two figures slowly walk away. The boss sighed, reminiscing about running under the setting sunthat too was the youth he''d once had. "Boss, a jasmine honey tea, please." "Coming right up~" ... The next day. Bright and early, Xu Musen scurried off to Bai Xin''s office. "Auntie Bai, could you do me another favor?" "What is it?" Bai Xin now felt a bit of a headache whenever she heard him say such things. This kid was definitely not afraid of troubling others. "You''re my business consultant now. I have a motivational meeting with the staffter, could youe and support it?" Xu Musen brazenly asked. Among the part-time errand runners recruited, there were still quite a few sophomores. Today was about finally meeting them and holding a pep talk, where Bai Xin''s presence would significantly boost the credibility. "Why should I help you?" Bai Xin rolled her eyes. "Because Auntie Bai, you''re not only beautiful and generous, but also kindhearted, caring for students, understanding of the younger generation, truly a beacon in my life, the helmsman of my dreams..." "Stop, just make me coffee every day. Bai Xin cut off his ttery. This kid was full of sweet talk, but he did have a good technique for making coffee. "No problem! Even if you didn''t agree, I would still love to make it for you!" Xu Musen patted his chest. There, he''d secured this mentor-level bigwig. Shortly after, Xu Musen and Bai Xin went to the activity ssroom, where over twenty people had already taken their seats for the part-time job. Only three were girls. When Xu Musen appeared, there was some whispering among the attendees, none of them expecting the boss they were about to work for to look so young. "Isn''t he too young? Moreover, we''ve never seen him before, could he be a freshman?" "How reliable is this? There''s been a freshman who started a business before, and it went bankrupt so fast they couldn''t even pay the wages." "Let''s wait and see..." People are like this; it''s hard to take orders from someone younger than themselves. Xu Musen had anticipated this kind of situation. As Bai Xin entered the room, the whispering quieted down immediately. With Bai Xin''s presence, even if she barely spoke, the students still had a lot of respect for teachers. Xu Musen used a PPT to exin the sry structure, some tips for taking orders, the assigned areas for each person, as well as some specific reward and punishment measures. Of course, he didn''t forget to entice them with promises. Like saying more work brings more earnings, with unlimited potential, but as everyone knows. Those who say sries range from three to eight thousand will definitely just start you at three thousand. Chapter 154 : 109: Supporting my mans first business venture is a must, of course. _3 But this job is after all quite liberating, and with ie settled daily, if you can endure the hardship, you can make a thousand or two thousand yuan a month. It''s already much better than most part-time jobs. Xu Musen had also designed a referral system. As long as the new rider signs up with your referral code, the new rider will get rewards afterpleting ten deliveries, a hundred deliveries, five hundred deliveries... and so on, with rewards at each milestone. This trick ismon in certain pink apps with various fruit names. You can''t deny, it''s quite effective. After the mobilization meeting ended, we returned to the office. Xu Musen made a cup of coffee for Bai Xin and casually ground one for himself as well. Bai Xin took a sip, finding that coffee, like alcohol, is hard to enjoy until a certain age. But Xu Musen''s technique was quite professional: the temperature, the proportion, and the sugar cubes were all spot on. Of course, what most impressed Bai Xin was the mobilization meeting Xu Musen had just eloquently conducted. The many details and business models; she found them all very enlightening. "Where did you learn all of that stuff you just talked about?" "I''m self-taught." "Pfft." Bai Xin gave him another look, but by now she also understood a lot about Xu Musen''s business process, including his ns to rent the milk tea shop by spending a sum of money. All these things added up; the costs alone were in the hundreds of thousands. "You must have nearly spent all your money, aren''t you afraid of taking too big a step all at once and possibly failing?" "The braver you are, the greater the yields. If you want to get rich, you have to learn to afford the losses." Xu Musen was rather open about it, not to mention confident that the delivery service model was bound to explode. Even if it failed, he had faith he could make aeback. At the very least, if the timeline of this world wasn''t wrong, he could ce a few bets on football or stockpile some Bitcoin; a few years of surreptitious growth could also do the trick. "You''re offering high sries and benefits right now; it''ll be hard to make money in the short term, won''t it?" "It''s normal to make concessions in the early stages, likeying the groundwork before fishing. But once a fish takes the bait, they all have to spit it out!" Xu Musen revealed a capitalist smile that could rival a streetmp. Bai Xin was taken aback and clicked her tongue, "You''re so young yet so scheming; I''ll have to tell Aunt Liu about this." Xu Musen chuckled, "Can''t help it. The world is like that; you be what you consume. So enduring hardship alone won''t make you a cut above. It''s all about eating..." Cough cough. Actually, the main thing is getting out of the ws of the wealthy; those who control the finances have the say. Bai Xin, observing his philosophical demeanor, couldn''t help but feel that despite his youth, he seemed old beyond his years. ... By lunchtime, Xu Musen had already set up a tent on the inevitable path where military training was dismissed. He had pulled up the prepared banner. [Kangaroo Delivery! No need to acknowledge a thief as your father; we''ll deliver gourmet food right to your bed!] [Cool off this summer, sign up for Kangaroo Delivery, and get your first cup of milk tea during military training for free!] An Nuannuan''s hand-drawn cute kangaroo mascot was very eye-catching. A few people volunteered to help at the mobilization meeting a while ago, and cup after cup of lemon water was brought over. A male student wiped the sweat from his forehead andined, "All this lemon water is being given away for free, but we haven''t started making money yet and are already at a loss." "That''s why you''re still just part-timing as a sophomore, while some as freshmen can start businesses; that''s vision for you." "Cut it out, I''m saving up to buy a YSL lipstick for my girlfriend." "Sigh, you''ve been living on instant noodles for half a month, while your girlfriend parties every night at the club. You guys just aren''t on the same page. Give it up." "Don''t be sour. What''s wrong with a college student having some fun once in a while? I love her, so I trust her. What''s the use of you hoarding so much money as a single dog?" "Heck, isn''t our little boss here a single dog too? He''s been busy all day and no one''se to keep himpany." While the two were talking, a tall figure appeared before them. Their conversation halted as they looked upon the girl who had just arrived and they swallowed their words. Because the girl was simply too beautiful. She wore a light white shirt with a light blue pleated skirt, and a delicate ck bow tie adorned her neckline, with her extraordinarily long legs drawing attention. Her perfectly arranged facial features held the most ideal proportions, and with a pair of phoenix eyes exuding elegance, it was almost intimidating to look her in the eye. Right then, she was looking at the flyers in their hands. "Could you give me one of those flyers, please?" "Oh, sure... here you go." The male student, nervously fumbling, handed over a flyer. Yao Mingyue took it and looked it over, her lips curving into a smile, "Is the boss of these flyers named Xu Musen?" "That''s right, seems that''s the name. You can still get a free lemon water if you go now," replied the male student. Yao Mingyue, however, was not paying attention to him anymore, a glint of light passing through her phoenix eyes. How long had it been since hest bought her milk tea? She put the flyer away, her lips turning up, "I have to support my man''s first business endeavor properly..." With that, she moved her long legs toward the direction of the tent. Leaving the two male students exchanging puzzled looks. Her... man? Watching Yao Mingyue''s perfect figure stirring the hearts of many youths. "There are girls this beautiful in the world." "Stop looking. Girls like that are out of our league. Just carry bricks, honest work, don''t you need to save money to buy your girlfriend that lipstick?" The male student grimaced, philosophically smacking his lips. Such a beautiful girl was willing to support her boyfriend in the heat of the day. Him, on the other hand, ving away with instant noodles every day, couldn''t even buy a lipstick without being scorned. It''s maddening topare; he sucked on his lips discontentedly... "I think, maybe this girlfriend isn''t mandatory..." Chapter 155: Chapter 110: Are You Running a Company or a Harem? "Boss, can I sign up for the software without getting a lemonade and choose something else?" The military training hadn''t finished yet, and Xu Musen was busying himself with his head down, arranging the items he would need soon, when suddenly a pleasant voice came from in front of the stall. Xu Musen replied enthusiastically without even thinking. "Of course you can, we have other vors of milk tea and desserts, what would you like?" "How about I have the boss''s wife, would that be possible?" "???" Xu Musen was utterly baffled, but the voice sounded so familiar. He lifted his head and met Yao Mingyue''s bright, beautiful eyes that were especially dazzling in the sunlight. With her arms crossed in front of her chest, her white shirt and pleated skirt made her look exceptionally youthful; the eighteen-year-old Yao Mingyue was like the most beautiful scenery in a youthful tale. The several senior students who were helping around felt a sour taste in their mouth watching the scene. Hu Hai University wasn''t short of beauties, but there were only a handful as pretty as her. And such a perfect beauty was flirting with you, wanting to be your boss''s wife. What the hell kind of wish-fulfillment plot is this? It''s a downright thrilling fantasy! But the moment Xu Musen saw her, he always remembered some unpleasant things. The warm smile he had just now turned instantly cool: "Only lemonade, take it or leave it." "How can you treat me this way when I''m your first customer?" Yao Mingyue chuckled while shaking her phone, scanning the QR code for registration: "I''ll dly take your first time." He had grown ustomed to her provocations. This was, after all, a freak who could casually stuff her underwear under his pillow. After scanning the code, Yao Mingyue shook her phone at him: "I don''t want anything else, how about you personally make me a cup of milk tea?" Behind Xu Musen were severalrge containers, all sent directly from the milk tea shop''s boss. Making milk tea was just a matter of mixing milk tea powder with purified water. Xu Musen looked at Yao Mingyue and, no matter what, she really was his first customer. A businessman, after all, should greet even a mortal enemy with a smile. Xu Musen had that mentality, so he turned around to start preparing the milk tea. Yao Mingyue did have a sweet tooth, but she rarely indulged to maintain her figure. In his past life, Xu Musen might as well have been her personal chef, perfectly tailoring every vor to her tastes. He knew all of her likes and dislikes by heart, even down to how many pearls she liked in her milk tea. He swiftly prepared a cup. "Here." "Thank you, Boss Xu~" Yao Mingyue watched as Xu Musen carefully made the milk tea for her, her phoenix eyes gleaming with pride like a girlfriend watching her boyfriend lovingly prepare a gift. She took a sip; she hadn''t had such a drink in a long time since nowadays milk tea was full of things like sharin. Too sweet and cloying. But the milk tea Xu Musen made for her felt just right, just like thest meal he cooked for her at home. It always perfectly suited her taste. There were so many details; he seemed familiar with her habits, and even physical contact always felt proficient... It was as if they had been living together for years, not as childhood sweethearts but rather like a married couple. Yao Mingyue found herself addicted to that feeling. She looked at Xu Musen, her beautiful eyes sparkling: "Xu Musen, why don''t you forget about starting a business? Just cook for me from now on, I''ll pay you a sry, guaranteeing you won''t have to worry about food or drink, how about that?" Yao Mingyue was very confident that once she gradually took over the family business, she would earn the money to provide for the household, and Xu Musen would just need to take care of her at home. My man, my prerogative to spoil. The moment she said this, several second-year students who were stillboriously doing grunt work couldn''t help but look over. My god, such an easy life of luxury served on a silver tter. If they had such a gorgeous girlfriend, they''d be overjoyed to break their own ribs to make her soup. But Xu Musen couldn''t stand this the most. That''s what she said in his previous life, and in the end, he didn''t have to work, nor was he short on spending money. But with lots of money and nowhere to spend it, such an easy life wasn''t really that easy. Unless he was the kind of simpleton who could eat his way to the top and not look back. Xu Musen expressed his nobleness. "If you''ve nothing else, then go back. Don''t disturb my business." "You''re really not considering it? I''m serious, maybe I should give you an advance?" Yao Mingyue looked at him with a smile on her lips. "See yourself out." Xu Museny back on the chair and covered his face with a fan, not looking at her anymore. Yao Mingyue, seeing his evasive manner, huffed softly. Such an ungrateful dog. She lowered her head to take another sip of the milk tea, the sweetness dispelling much of the bitterness in her heart. Alright, I won''t be mad at you today, considering you made me milk tea. Yao Mingyue looked over the stall''s poster and setup, picking up a couple of promotional flyers with a scheming grin on her lips before turning to leave. "Damn, he doesn''t know how good he has it, I wouldn''t struggle at all in his shoes!" "It''s injustice, how can he not want such a pretty and considerate girl? Heaven will punish the ungrateful, he''s doomed to live alone..." Two guys on the side were watching, murmuring to each other. Chapter 156: Chapter 110: Are you running a company or a harem?_2 At this moment, another soft and cute voice arose from behind them, "Is Xu Musen here?" The two of them turned around and saw a girl in a wheelchair, stunned once again by her otherworldly beauty. And unlike the aloof beauty from before, the girl in front of them had a pair of clear, peach-blossom eyes. Fair skin, casually draped long hair, and a somewhat dazed appearance all gave a rare sense of cuteness. "You''re also looking for Xu Musen?" The boy gulped again, "Are you here for a part-time job as well?" "No, but I''m here to help." An Nuannuan looked up and saw the tent in front of her; the cute kangaroo logo with a helmet was her own artwork. The two guys exchanged nces, first that cold beauty came to take care of the business, now another beautiful girl had arrived offering her help. Was he running apany or a harem here? "That one, are you and him..." "He''s my best guy friend!" An Nuannuan cut off the question with her answer, as if being Xu Musen''s best friend was a matter of pride. Best guy friend... isn''t that just another term for boyfriend! Fine fine fine, no wonder you''re unfazed by being a freeloader, turns out you''re fearless because you''re ying both sides. I''m filled with hatred! Meanwhile, An Nuannuan held a cup of mung bean soup, happily making her way under the tent. "Xu Musen~" An Nuannuan came beside him, looking at him using a fan to shield his face as he rested, and gently poked him with her hand before pulling out the mung bean soup, ready to give him a drink. "I said, in this lifetime I will never ept even a spoonful from you..." Xu Musen, thinking Yao Mingyue hadn''t left yet, was about to assert his principle of absolutely not epting handouts. But the moment he opened his eyes, he was met with An Nuannuan''s dazed and cute eyes. An Nuannuan''s lips were slightly pouted at that moment, her hand holding the mung bean soup paused A hint of a intive look appeared on her little face. "You don''t like mung bean soup anymore..." Xu Musen, seeing her like this, immediately sat up, "No no no, I was just talking in my nightmare, I love mung bean soup." As he spoke, Xu Musen took the mung bean soup from An Nuannuan''s hands, opened the lid, and took a sip. "It''s really sweet." An Nuannuan''s pouted lips gradually returned to normal, and seeing Xu Musen drinking heartily, her mood lifted. "Nuannuan, why did youe?" "I came to help you." An Nuannuan said a bit excitedly, herrge eyes blinking as she looked at the buckets of milk tea around her, resembling a little mouse that had fallen into a granary. "You''re here for the milk tea, aren''t you?" Xu Musen couldn''t help but smile. "I really came to help... I can hand out flyers too." An Nuannuan was dead serious, but then she giggled, "But after I finish helping, can you keep a cup for me?" "Sure, you''re easy to please, satisfied with just a cup of milk tea." Xu Musenughed and nodded his head, he was even paying those who helped today. And here was this little rich girl, riding in a Rolls-Royce, happy to do grunt work just for a cup of milk tea. "Mhm, I''m really easy to please." An Nuannuan looked at him, feeling the effort of working hard together, just as it had been when the two of them first got to know each other in high school. She really liked that feeling. Xu Musen naturally couldn''t bear to let her be out in the sun, and An Nuannuan was really cute, so she could totally be his mascot. Just sit here, hand out some milk teas, just like being a support in a dungeon raid ... "Damn, how could you trick such a cute girl into beingme." "Man, are there really girls in this world who can be won over with just a cup of milk tea? Why does my girlfriend call me a loser when I give her milk tea?" "Brother, instead of saving money to buy lipstick for your girlfriend, you should buy yourself a mirror to know the reason." As the two chatted, suddenly a faint voice came from behind. "Excuse me, which intersection is Xu Musen at?" The two turned around and their eyes lit up again. In front of them stood a girl wearing a duck cap and sporting a healthy wheat-tonedplexion. If we were to grade her based on her looks,pared to the previous two girls, she would score around a seven. To the average person, she would also be considered quite pretty. Besides, she had a pair of long legs with good proportions, which clearly indicated regr exercise, making them look especially even and straight. She also had a cool demeanor about her, which gave off a unique style. "You... are you also here looking for Xu Musen?" The boys were getting a bit numb to the fact that everyoneing to look for Xu Musen was a girl, and none of them seemed to becking in either looks or temperament. "Yeah." Zhao Lianmai nodded her head. The two guys looked at each other, one of them asked, "You''re not his... girl friend or something, are you?" Zhao Lianmai''s eyebrows slightly furrowed, "I''m just here for a part-time job." "Oh, is that so, but why didn''t we see you when you signed up yesterday?" "He invited me over." Zhao Lianmai said tly. "..." The two guys fell silent once more. Well, turns out she''s someone with a connection. They pointed towards where Xu Musen was, and after Zhao Lianmai nodded her thanks, she walked over. Xu Musen was also pleased to see Zhao Lianmai. "Did you talk to the cafeteria manager?" "Yeah." Zhao Lianmai nodded her head, she had already talked with the cafeteria manager and had given up all her wages for the next few days. Although the restaurant owner insisted on giving it to her, in the end, Zhao Lianmai didn''t take it, so they were even. Chapter 157: Chapter 110 Are You Running a Company or a Harem?_3 "Then congrattions on joining our Kangaroo Delivery. It''s no dream to get promoted, make a fortune, and reach the pinnacle of life in the future!" Xu Musen smiled and nodded, clearly appreciating such a principled girl who also possessed strong execution skills. This kind of person had the highest work efficiency and wouldn''tin about sry, and even when ill, would reluctantly take leave... wuwuwu, such an ideal worker. Xu Musen stretched out his hand, ready for the official handshake ceremony. Zhao Lianmai looked at him, pursing her lips slightly, before finally saying, "But let me be clear, I will definitelyplete the work given to me, but beyond that, you cannot interfere with my life." "Don''t worry about that, I also really dislike leaders who send messages during rest time. We are partners and friends," Xu Musen said with a sincere smile. Zhao Lianmai nodded, looked at his extended hand, paused for just a second, and then reached out her own hand. Xu Musen only politely touched the tips of her fingers before he began to assign her work. Zhao Lianmai was startled for a moment, looking at her own hand. Her fingers were long and aesthetically pleasing, though not as pale and delicate as those of other girls. She looked at An Nuannuan on the side, who was arranging milk teas and her fair skin. Indeed, boys do prefer fair-skinned girls. She suddenly felt a sense of unrequited affection and quickly dived into work mode. "Damn it... why do I feel this push and pull gives a kinda ying hard to get vibe?" "This isn''ting to look for a part-time job; this feels more likeing to be a secretary. As the saying goes, secretaries work when there''s work, and when there''s not..." The facial expressions of the two guys were almost uncontrobly jealous. "Hello, may I ask if the booth at the front belongs to Xu Musen?" Just then, a crisp voice came from behind them. Another one?? They werepletely numb by now; turning their heads, they saw yet another girl with a face worth more than seven points. Discover hidden content at m,v l''e-NovelBin She wasn''t very tall, but her body proportions were excellent, with her almond eyes exceptionally dewy; her whole persona exuded a charmingly tiny and delicate vibe. Also, with a face full of smiles, she seemed very lively. "You... you''re not Xu Musen''s girlfriend, are you?" The guys were utterly numb, unconsciously voicing out their inner thoughts. Lin Daiyu blushed faintly upon hearing this, but when she thought of the other two girls, especially An Nuannuan... In the end, she chuckled self-mockingly, shaking her head, "His girlfriend? How could I qualify for that? I''m just a friend showing some support..." As she spoke, Lin Daiyu spotted Xu Musen and Zhao Lianmai under the tent up front and waved to the two guys before heading over. The two guys watched her figure receding, feeling for a moment as if their worldview had shattered. This girl would easily be the most beautiful in any ssroom, yet in front of Xu Musen, she self-deprecatingly imed she wasn''t worthy. Besides, they remembered the celestial beauty of the first two girls... no lies, average girls really didn''t have anything on them. "Damn it, I can''t do this job anymore No wonder he started venturing into business just after freshman year. If I had that many ambiguous girlfriends, I''d be rushing to earn money to spend too!" "Damn, this kid is sure hard to tire out..." The guy was verbally sour, primarily because so many pretty girls were being so proactive and caring toward someone else. Then thinking back to his own girlfriend who just wanted lipsticks, cosmetics, and never sweetened the deal... Damn it! The more he thought about it, the angrier he got! Right then, his phone rang. It was his girlfriend calling. As soon as he answered, her somewhat affected voice came through, "It''s already noon; where the hell are you? Why haven''t you brought me food yet?" "Baby, I''m working a part-time job this afternoon. Don''t you want that lipstick? I''ll be able to..." "What does your part-time job have to do with me? My roommate''s boyfriend bought her whatever she asked for. He even delivered a cake to her just now, afraid she''d get tanned going downstairs. Why did I ever agree to be with you..." "..." Listening, a surge of nameless anger rose within him. Damn it, while rich girls woulde to help in the zing sun, youy around in your dorm, always wanting this and that. What gives you the right? "Hello? Are you listening, or are you deaf? I''m going to eat that ck Forest cake from the shop by the school gate in a while..." the girl on the other side started shouting again, having not heard him respond. But this alsopletely snapped the guy out of it. It''s not that girls are not proactive; they''re just not that into you. "Eat shit!" The guy had already been tired from working all morning, and now he finally exploded. "You dare curse at me? Believe it or not, I''ll break up with you!" "Let''s break up then! Do you really think you''re all that? No looks, no figure, all you do is eat from morning till night, hang out at night, and your big pig-face covered with lipstick looks like fucking Boogiepop! I was blind to fancy you!" After saying his piece, the guy hung up. Though he was now single, he felt incredibly liberated! The guy next to him was bbergasted but then gave him a thumbs up. Who says there aren''t great emperors among men? Without love, men have no weakness! Chapter 158: Chapter 111 Milk Tea Sister VS Ice Cream Goddess "Free lemonade? Really? What''s Kangaroo Delivery? Never heard of it." "Let''s just go and see. It''s not like it costs money." As military training ended, scores of thirsty students walked out from the drill field. Xu Musen had imed a prime spot on the main road,plete with an eye-catching banner. The word ''free'' instantly drew the attention of many. Zhou Hangyu and his two buddies also rushed over, seeing Xu Musen seriously setting up arge tent. Tables filled with lemonade were set up. "Damn, you really went all out for this." "Let me have a drink first, I''m dying of thirst." The three of them grabbed a cup of lemonade and took a sip, immediately letting out satisfied sighs. "No time to rest now. There are two more intersections nearbygo help me hand out flyers and direct everyone here. Ma Yaxing will keep an eye on the backend in the dorm." Xu Musen handed them the flyers. "What about you?" "Of course, I''ll be holding down the fort. Ever yed chess? Have you ever seen the ''general'' leave his post?" "Heh." Zhou Hangyu looked at Xu Musen with An Nuannuan on his left and Zhao Lianmai on his right. It was like the ''general'' nked by two ''guards,'' who were like personal maids sticking close by. Fine, let these two dark horses go into battle. "Good luck on your opening day, Boss Xu." Lin Daiyu came over, smiling at Xu Musen: "Can I scrounge a cup of lemonade?" "Of course, there are also snacks to munch on if you like." Xu Musen smiled and passed her a cup of lemonade. Looking at what was on the flyer, Lin Daiyu was quite curious about this delivery format. She also looked at Xu Musen, who was lively and vigorous, and instantly felt that yesterday''s fainting episode was absolutely faked. Indeed, no business without deceit. The crowd of onlookers grewrger. Xu Musen began to exin the process: just by registering sessfully, one could get a free cup of lemonade. And the backend would also give out a coupon for neers. It could be used as cash within three days. It was equivalent to treating them to a free meal, and under such a welfare system, the enthusiasm of those seeking freebies soared to unprecedented heights. It could be said that for every new user registered, Xu Musen was losing nearly ten yuan. In just one afternoon, the number of registrations broke through to four or five hundred people. Ma Yaxing was in the dormitory, monitoring the backend data, reporting the situation to Xu Musen in real time. "Didn''t expect this thing to burn money like this. Just this afternoon, you''ve sunk at least five or six thousand yuan into it, right?" "This is just the first afternoon. There will be more people in the afternoon. I estimate that Xu Musen will have put in at least ten to twenty thousand yuan today." "Damn, that''s half a year''s worth of part-time work for me" Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong finished distributing flyers and, seeing the still endless stream of people, couldn''t help but sigh. They also had a bit of admiration for Xu Musen: earning money could only relieve poverty. Those who are willing to lose money to pave the way are the ones who can really make a fortune. If it were them, before they even started making money, they would have already thrown in several tens of thousands. They truly didn''t have the guts for that. Noon passed, and things finally started winding down here. Xu Musen looked at the nearly emptyrge barrels. Almost a thousand cups of lemonade and milk tea had all been given out. An Nuannuan had been busy handing out milk tea and was so tired that her arms flopped onto the armrests of her wheelchair. Her fair face was also flushed from the heat. "Tired?" Xu Musen took out a wet wipe and helped her dab away the fine beads of sweat on her forehead. Her flushed, fair face looked rather tempting. "Yeah, my arms are so sore." "Then I''ll give you a massage in a bit." Xu Musen cared for his friends, looking at An Nuannuan''s pale and tender arms that seemed juicy enough to squeeze out water. Zhao Lianmai, listening from the side, nced unconsciously at Xu Musen and pursed her lips subtly. But Xu Musen also took the opportunity to show concern for her. "Zhao, you''ve worked hard too. Standing all afternoon, your legs must be sore, right?" "I''m not tired, I''m not sore, I don''t need it," Zhao Lianmai replied very quickly, as if just a second''s dy in answering would let some pervert take advantage of her. "..." It was time to start packing up. Xu Musen had saved a cup of milk tea with the most toppings especially for An Nuannuan. The little girl had been longing for it all afternoon. "I saved this especially for youit has pearls and passion fruit." "Yay!" An Nuannuan, already coveting it all noon, couldn''t wait to hold it in her hand and prepare to enjoy the fruits of herbor with a straw. "Excuse me, can I get a milk tea here too?" At that moment, a girl walked over, having just registered, and asked with anticipation. Xu Musen looked at the only cup of milk tea in An Nuannuan''s hand and apologised to the girl with a smile. "Sorry, we''re out of milk tea now. How about this, I give you two extra coupons for neers, how does that sound?" "Ah... it''s okay, it''s okay. I was just feeling thirsty and wanted a milk tea, but if there isn''t any, then never mind." The girl shook her head a bit disappointedly and was about to leave. At that moment, An Nuannuan, seeing her disappointed expression, looked down at her own milk tea and without any hesitation, "Wait a minute." She called out. As the girl turned back, she saw the cute girl in the wheelchair offering the milk tea that she hadn''t even had a chance to drink. "Here''s one more. Thank you for supporting us. This milk tea is on us!" Xu Musen was stunned for a moment, watching An Nuannuan raise the milk tea, ready to give it away without hesitation. Although it was just a cup of milk tea, for An Nuannuan, it represented a significant sacrifice. "Oh, thank you so much! I will definitely support you after I get back!" The girl, looking at the milk tea full of toppings, felt instantly better, thanked her with a smile, and left. Chapter 159: Chapter 111: Milk Tea Sister VS Ice Cream Goddess_2 An Nuannuan looked at the milk tea she had taken away and still felt a bit reluctant to part with it. "Nuannuan, if you wanted to drink it earlier, you could have, losing one or two customers is no big deal." Xu Musen walked up to her and, honestly, he hadn''t expected An Nuannuan to give away the milk tea that was already hers. An Nuannuan looked up at him. Although her clear,rge eyes held a hint of regret, there was a greater sense of joy in them. "But I finally got to help you, and even without drinking milk tea, my heart feels sweet." An Nuannuan''s voice wasn''t overly emotional and even had a naive touch, but the seriousness and purity in it left everyone around in a daze for quite a while. A momentter, everyone exchanged nces. Damn, the lemonade today is so freakin'' sour! Xu Musen looked at An Nuannuan and really understood that saying at that moment. Nuannuan''s thoughtfulness was truly heartwarming. "Don''t worry, I''ll make it up to you with an even better Ultimate Large Milk Tea!" Xu Musen couldn''t help but pinch her cheek. "Oh~ cut it out, you two! We haven''t had lunch all afternoon and here we are eating dog food." "Boss Xu, quite the lucky man~" Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong started to tease, and Xu Musen stood up and said to everyone around. "Ahem, everyone has worked hard this afternoon, let''s not go to the restaurantter, I''ll treat everyone to lunch outside." Xu Musen gestured grandly, eliciting cheers. "Alright, alright, after working all morning, let''s see how you can treat us well." "Let''s go, let''s eat quickly, we still have military training in the afternoon." The group began to walk out of the campus. Zhao Lianmai hesitated for a moment: "I''d better not go." Xu Musen knew that she was the type who wouldn''t even take the slightest advantage from others. He said with a smile, "I understand how you feel, but being overly scrupulous will make you seem out of ce. In the future, I want you to help me manage the girls, and acting like this won''t set a good example." Zhao Lianmai pursed her lips, knowing this was a problem for her. Due to her family''s financial situation, she had always avoided unnecessary social dining. Because to take from others meant to give back to others. She didn''t have enough money to maintain such things. This had led to her hardly having many friends, and she gradually got used to it. Xu Musen, pushing An Nuannuan, came over to her and said, "Actually, you don''t need to feel like you''re taking advantage of me. I''m generous with you all because I feel I can get more in return from you all, it''s a win-win." Xu Musen was very straightforward, suggesting you work hard to make up for any advantage taken, which is the proper mindset for a part-time worker. "Let''s go, there''ll be many more asions like this in the future. University life should be exciting, so you won''t have any regretster." Xu Musen, pushing the adorable An Nuannuan, walked off campus with the rest,ughing and talking. Zhao Lianmai stood still in thought for a while but ultimately took steps to follow them. ... Xu Musen led everyone to the same music restaurant for lunch. Meanwhile, on the same street, Yao Mingyue came out of a print shop and went into a wholesale market to look around. Eventually, she spotted a small ice cream cart. Inside, a woman was buying ice cream. "Prettydy, wanna buy some frozen treats?" The woman called out enthusiastically, seeing the girl looking toward her. Yao Mingyue''s eyes brightened at the sight of the portable ice cream cart, and she walked over. "Boss, how much ice cream do you have here?" The woman was taken aback; it sounded like she nned to buy it all? "I just set up shop at noon, I can make a thousand servings no problem. Want to try one?" The woman said with a cheerful smile. Yao Mingyue thought for a moment, then pulled out a stack of red bills, probably four or five thousand yuan, and ced it in front of the woman. "What is this... You''re nning to take it all? But you really don''t need this much." The woman was startled; the original-vored ice cream was just three yuan each, so she really nned to take over the ce? "No, I''m nning to rent this ice cream cart as well." Owner: "???" ... At this moment, in the heart of Hu Hai City, inside an independent old western-style house on Huanghe Road. Aunt Xiang brought over a bowl of freshly simmered rock sugar green bean soup, first pouring a cup for An Nuannuan''s grandmother. "Didn''t you take green bean soup to Nuannuan today?" the elderlydy asked. "Nuannuan sent a message at noon saying she went out to eat with that young man, celebrating their first sessful venture. I could hear the rare joy in her voice," Aunt Xiang replied with a smile. The olddy also smiled warmly as she held a document in her handit turned out to be the revised business proposal Xu Musen had submitted for the university entrepreneurship fund. Of course, it had been modified, and many of the key points were glossed over, but even a nce revealed the potential of the project. She had ess to this proposal because the An Family had profound connections with Hu Hai University. Secondly, the entrepreneurial fund in the university originally came from corporate sponsorship, and these proposals were essentially "assignments" submitted to these sponsors. Only those they perceived as promising would receive additional investment. After Xu Musen''s proposal was submitted to the department, Aunt Xiang had promptly taken it away. "This young man is extraordinary. At such a young age, his grasp of the overall situation and the various details is so precise andprehensive," the olddy remarked while nodding, acknowledging how thepany supports many university student businesses each year, keeping the corporate bloodline fresh and achieving mutual benefit. "Kangaroo Delivery... quite an ingenious concept." "Do you want to invest another sum in him?" Aunt Xiang inquired. The olddy shook her head with a smile, "No rush, that old man also wants to meet him, doesn''t he? We can discuss further after their weekend meeting." Meanwhile, Aunt Xiang''s gaze flickeredit almost felt like the two elders were treating this as a test and cultivation of a potential future grandson-inw? ... The afternoon military training ended. Xu Musen brought over severalrge buckets of lemon water to another intersection to continue the promotion, with an endless stream of people passing by. The school forum was also abuzz, with many people discussing the free lemon water event, attracting upperssmen to join the excitement as well. ording to estimates, at least fifteen hundred new users could be garnered that day, which was already quite impressive. After all, some people don''t like to follow the crowd, but with food delivery, as long as one person in a dormitory uses it, it''s only a matter of time before it spreads to every individual. If there were any more people, he doubted hisputer server and the current capacity of the software could handle the load. Just as everything was moving in a positive direction, Xu Musen suddenly received a call from Ma Yaxing. "Brother Sen, something seems off with the backend data!" "What''s wrong? Did we hit some bug?" Xu Musen asked. "No, it''s that the data is a little too good. We estimated fifteen hundred new users by the afternoon, but ever since a while ago, there''s been a continuous influx of new users. We''re nearing two thousand new users now, and the server almost couldn''t hold up." "Two thousand?" Xu Musen was taken aback, looking at the queue of people which, though massive, He had been counting the numbers, and at most, it could have been just over fifteen hundred new users. Definitely not two thousand. "Could it be someone maliciously inting our numbers?" Xu Musen thought of this possibility. "Doesn''t seem like it. These new users are registering with old mobile phone numbers from all over, and they''reing in steadily, not like bots." "Well, new users are a good thing, anyhow. Keep an eye on it and let me know promptly if there are any issues." "Got it." After hanging up, Xu Musen still pondered, holding his phonecould it be that the school forum promotion was yielding results? Indeed, as he checked the campus forum, various headlines came into view. "Hu Hai University''s guide to free lemon water pickup." "Hu Hai University''s Milk Tea Sister!" Many who queued up for milk tea were stunned by An Nuannuan''s extraordinary beauty, and affectionately gave her the nickname "Milk Tea Sister." As Xu Musen scrolled through, a new hot search suddenly popped up on the leaderboard. "Kangaroo Delivery''s peerless beauties: first Milk Tea Sister, followed by the Ice Cream Goddess." Xu Musen raised an eyebrow and clicked to see a picture on the adjacent road. An ice cream cart was there alongside a Kangaroo Delivery QR code promotion poster. At that moment, two figures were busy at the cart. One of them, a tall figure that instantly caught the eye, dressed in a white blouse, had ck, long hair styled into a youthful ponytail. Her fair skin glistened in the sunlight, and her phoenix eyes exuded a natural nobility, as she distributed ice cream to those passing by and registering for Kangaroo Delivery. Xu Musen''s pupils slightly narrowed. Yao Mingyue??! Chapter 160: Chapter 112: Human sentiment? Why not a lover? Under the scorching sun, Yao Mingyue, d in a white shirt, was distributing ice cream to each student who scanned the QR code to register for Kangaroo Delivery. Although Yao Mingyue''s expression was almost devoid of enthusiastic smiles throughout, it precisely created a sense of contrast. Many boys ran over from afar, not for a taste of the ice cream, but to catch a glimpse of the "Ice Cream Goddess" that had blown up on the forum. In the office, Bai Xin sipped her coffee while looking at the posts on the forum on herputer. Milk Tea Sister and Ice Cream Goddess. Two girls withpletely different personalities, but both with heavenly looks, were promoting Kangaroo Delivery. But Bai Xin knew that they were doing it all for the sake of one person: Xu Musen. "Sigh, what''s so great about this young guy..." Bai Xin sighed, yet from the standpoint of a good friend, she still rather hoped that Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue would end up together. Currently, there was still a sizable line beside the ice cream cart. Xu Musen arrived, standing under a tree, silently watching the somewhat flustered Yao Mingyue. This was probably Yao Mingyue''s first time doing such work, her white shirt dotted with a few spots of ice cream cream. The inside of the ice cream cart was stuffy and hot, and her fair forehead was damp with sweat. Yao Mingyue was a bit of a neat freak, and in the past, she would have gone to change her clothes by now, but she was still just bent over busily. Musen gazed at the promotional banners and posters beside her, which seemed to have been printed out just now. No matter what Yao Mingyue''s intentions were for doing this, after all, deeds speak louder than thoughts, and no one is saintly by thought alone. Musen sighed; it wasn''t just he who had changed, this little tsundere was also undergoing changes. As evening approached, the heat gradually faded away. The sun began to set, and the crowd queuing in front of the ice cream van also slowly dispersed. Yao Mingyue, holding a small fan, leaned against the edge of the ice cream cart, gently fanning herself. Her fair skin was lightly coated in a glistening sheen of sweat, looking all the more tender and rosy. "Hello... is there any ice cream left?" A few boys still in line asked. One mustered the courage toe forward and inquire. Yao Mingyue nced at him indifferently, shing a polite smile, "Sorry, there''s none left, but here are some flyers that you can take and distribute to your roommates and ssmates." The boy was taken aback, wondering wasn''t he there to mooch off the goddess''s ice cream? What''s this about distributing flyers? But staring at the flyer handed to him by Yao Mingyue, and that smile that went straight to his heart, he immediately reached out to take it. "Oh, okay, thank you." "You''re wee." The two seemed as if their roles had been reversed. The ice cream vendor, an older woman, had begun to prepare to pack up. She was overjoyed inside, as the day''s earnings had matched what she made in half a month previously. "Girl, you came to do business too, huh? It''s not often you see a girl who can work this hard." The vendor had understood what the youngdy intended to do after watching her all afternoon, as they had been continuously busy. Even she was ustomed to the work felt her hands and legs aching. "It''s not my business," Yao Mingyue shook her head, her gaze drifting in another direction. With a slightly sweaty, flushed cheek, she revealed a smile, "But it kind of is mine, too." After all, he would be hers in the future. Having said that, Yao Mingyue turned to help pack things up. The vendor eyed the beautiful youngdy, thinking to herself, it''s always the most outstanding girls who work the hardest. Whoever marries her in the future will surely be blessed. As she mused, another figure approached and stood silently in front of the cart. "I''m sorry, but there''s no ice cream left now." "I''m not here for the ice cream," Musen shook his head, his gaze firmly fixed on her. "Then what do you want..." The vendor looked at the young, handsome guy with an intense gaze. Oh no, could he be here for her? "Yao Mingyue." Musen called out. Yao Mingyue, who was turned away packing up, spun around at the sound of the familiar voice. Their eyes met in an instant. Yao Mingyue was briefly lost for words, her lips curling up slightly at the sight of Musen. "Want some ice cream? Others might not have any, but you''ll always have some... " ... Meanwhile, Nuannuan had also begun to close up for the day, considering it aplete victory. Everyone was so tired that their backs and legs ached. "Where did Musen run off to? Really acting like a boss who doesn''t need to lift a finger, huh?" Zhou Hangyuined, having been spoiled growing up in a big city, this was his first time doing so much physical work. "He said he was going out for a bit earlier, but it''s fine now, let''s sit and take a break," Li Rundong spoke, taking a seat by the roadside and resuming his browsing on his phone. The campus forum had exploded today with their free distribution of lemon water and the Kangaroo Delivery event. Nuannuan, with her adorable dazed expression and otherworldly beauty, was being hailed on the forum as "the Milk Tea Sister sweeter than milk tea." Moreover, surprisingly, the number of girls who liked Nuannuan seemed to outnumber the boys. Lin Daiyu also scrolled through the campus forum. Ever since she saw Nuannuan clinging to the stair rail, insistent on delivering mung bean soup to Musen, she actually admired this seemingly ditzy girl. She definitely couldn''t do the same if she were in that situation. Chapter 161: Chapter 112: Human sentiment? Why not a lover?_2 An Nuannuan and Xu Musen haven''t even confirmed their rtionship yet, but they can already share their deepest thoughts and feelings with each other. This kind of pure emotion makes people envious. She looked at the post, where many people werementing on the rtionship between Milk Tea Sister and the boy beside her. "What do you think the rtionship between Milk Tea Sister and the handsome guy next to her is?" "That guy is said to be the owner of Kangaroo Delivery. Milk Tea Sister must be thedy boss then." "What? My Milk Tea Sister is already in a rtionship?" "Hey, I''ve seen that guy always walking around with Milk Tea Sister in the evenings." "Wah, my Milk Tea Sister, to think she''s already taken. But I think the girl in ck next to her still has some charm..." Lin Daiyu looked at the screen full of gossip. The words dy boss" were especially frequent. Lin Daiyu was really into shipping the two of them and, as a spectator, was quite satisfied. She continued scrolling down and a new post shot up in poprity. [Kangaroo Delivery features two stunning brand ambassadors, Milk Tea Sister VS Ice Cream Goddess.] Lin Daiyu clicked in to look. There were numerous photos, one particrly noticeable ice cream cart, and beside it hung a QR code for Kangaroo Delivery''s registration. "Huh" She was curious. She wasn''t busy today, so she came to help out with Zhao Lianmai, having heard nothing about Xu Musen setting up a promotional stand at another intersection. She continued browsing the photos, and in the next moment, her eyes widened in shock. That tall and stunning figure in the photo, Lin Daiyu recognized her instantly. Yao Mingyue?! She checked the post''s timestamp, then considered the time Xu Musen had left. Could it be... She looked at An Nuannuan, who was staring nkly with a cup of milk tea in hand, waiting for Xu Musen to return, feeling a bit conflicted. Although in the past she had harbored feelings for Xu Musen, which made her a "former rival in love" with An Nuannuan... Now she hadpletely moved on, and somehow, she would rather lose to An Nuannuan than to the aloof and imposing Yao Mingyue. She thought for a moment, then moved closer to An Nuannuan. "Nuannuan, how far have you and Xu Musen progressed?" An Nuannuan blinked, looking at her. "You two spend so much time together every day, everyone thinks you''re going to end up together. You can''t keep dragging things on between a man and a woman. Love needs a bit of impulsive freshness, or else once the two of you be like buddies, it''s even harder to break through that barrier." Lin Daiyu wanted to give An Nuannuan a sense of urgency. But An Nuannuan just looked down at her legs and responded with a soft "Oh." Lin Daiyu didn''t know if An Nuannuan was overly confident or if she hadn''t understood. She went on, "Xu Musen is really an excellent guy. There are bound to be lots of girls who will like him. What if someone else beats you to him? If you meet someone with a strong possessive streak, they might even make Xu Musen cut off contact with other women." Lin Daiyu almost blurted out Yao Mingyue''s name. An Nuannuan slowly spoke up, "He won''t. I trust him." "Love is the most unpredictable thing..." Lin Daiyu shook her head. Perhaps other girls were no match for An Nuannuan, but Yao Mingyue, despite her annoying personality... One could not deny that, aside from her personality, everything else about her was top-notch. Most importantly, she was proactive. It''s said that for a woman to pursue a man is as easy as a veil fluttering in the wind, and they''ve known each other since childhood. It''s possible that one day a spark from Xu Musen will lead him to ept her offer. She sighed quietly to herself, "Although you''re very outstanding too, Nuannuan, sometimes a woman also needs to take initiative. Love needs both parties to maintain it, and mutual effort is best. If some girl uses other tactics, who knows, maybe she will really..." But An Nuannuan''s peach blossom eyes fluttered, and she held her cup of milk tea. Stay connected via m-v l|e''-NovelBin Mutual effort... There was a hint of confusion in her eyes, but also a flicker of realization. ... Meanwhile, Yao Mingyue scooped thest bit of ice cream into a small box and brought it to Xu Musen. "Want some? I scooped this ice cream for you." Yao Mingyue smiled and lifted her head to look at him. Xu Musen looked at the face that was so close to his, noting how her beautiful cheeks still had a hint of blush. A few strands of hair, slightly damp from sweat, were a bit messy as they stuck to the side of her ear. Her white shirt was stained with the colorful cream of the ice cream. Xu Musen felt a certain stirring inside. This princess, who never lifted a finger at home, had done so much for him. "You didn''t have to do this." Xu Musen''s tone wasplex. "I wanted to." Yao Mingyue smiled as she scooped a small spoonful of ice cream into her mouth, savoring the sweet taste melting on her tongue. After being busy all afternoon, this was her first taste of ice cream. Yao Mingyue squinted her eyes in enjoyment. "I suddenly discovered that ice cream eaten after a serious day of work tastes countless times better than ice cream bought on a whim." She spoke of ice cream, but her gaze never left Xu Musen. The owner of the ice cream cart had also packed up and, seeing the two chatting, waved with a smile, "After a busy afternoon, even I''m feeling tired. You guys should head back and rest soon too. If you don''t need me for anything else, I''ll be going now. Thank you for today, miss!" Yao Mingyue nodded to her, and the owner drove the cart away. Chapter 162: Chapter 112: Human sentiment? Why not a lover?_3 Xu Musen quietly watched Yao Mingyue, standing inside the cramped ice cream truck in this weather was almost like being in a steam room. Most boys couldn''t stand it, let alone Yao Mingyue who had been pampered since childhood. Her white shirt was also damp with sweat by now, and there were even traces of ice cream cream on it, making Yao Mingyue look like a whole block of delicious and sweet ice cream cake. "Even so, I won''t change my current attitude." Xu Musen still expressed his stance. Yao Mingyue seemed to have anticipated this, with a flicker of light in her eyes, but on the surface, she gave a bitter smile and said, "It doesn''t matter, all of this is voluntary, it''s just me being thick-faced and delusional." Her voice carried a hint of sarcasm. Xu Musen felt goosebumps all over: "Yao Mingyue, just don''t speak in that tone, you''re not that kind of person." "Then what kind of person should I be?" Yao Mingyue couldn''t suppress the smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. Xu Musen didn''t want to argue with her: "Anyway, consider that I owe you a favor, but only a favor." "A favor? How about a lover?" Yao Mingyueughed, taking another step closer, her beautiful fair face tinged with red,ing close to his. "As long as you agree..." Her bright phoenix eyes sparkled, and under the evening sun''s remaining light, her eyshes were tinged with gold, and beneath her white teeth, you could even see her tender little tongue. Her voice was as enchanting as that of a tempting mermaid siren. This was indeed an almost irresistible temptation. But Xu Musen acted as if he were facing a formidable enemy, stepping back with a wary look: "Yao Mingyue, please have some self-respect, what would Aunt Liu think if you talk like this?" "Her? She would love for me to marry you." Yao Mingyueughed: "Why don''t you ask Aunt Liu if she would be happy with me as her daughter-inw?" Xu Musen was at a loss for words, it was undeniable that the two families had a twenty-year friendship, with an experience of being betrothed as children, and knew each other inside out. If the two of them could be together, it would certainly be what everyone wanted. "My life isn''t for others to decide; today we''ll leave it at that, go back and rest early." Xu Musen was ready to leave. "Hey, you just said you owe me a favor, you wouldn''t deny it, right?" Yao Mingyue''s eyes were full of slyness. "I won''t, but I have veto power over any requests you make." Xu Musen looked at her to prevent her froming up with any more tricks. "Alright, then just have a meal with me." Yao Mingyue thought about it but made the simplest request. Yet Xu Musen felt a jolt in his heart. How was this exactly the same as the way she talked when she drugged him in their past life? "You wouldn''t refuse even such a small request, would you?" Yao Mingyue, seeing him in a daze, genuinely seemed a bit unhappy this time. Xu Musen came back to his senses, in the past the two of them at least were married at home. She probably wouldn''t go that far now, as long as he didn''t drink anything handed to him by her. Xu Musen nodded: "Okay." "Then it''s a deal." Yao Mingyue''s lips curved upwards in a smile, as if all the fatigue of the day had been smoothed away. Xu Musen, seeing her like this, for a moment seemed to see his former self. Whenever Yao Mingyue agreed to go out with him, he was just as uncontrobly happy. Unknowingly, the roles had reversed. Xu Musen turned and walked away. But having barely taken two steps, Yao Mingyue called out to him again. "Wait a moment." "What now..." Xu Musen turned around, mouth open about to ask, but suddenly felt a cool sensation in his mouth. Yao Mingyue, with smiling eyes, took a scoop of ice cream and swiftly pushed it into his mouth while he was speaking. The cool, sweet taste of vani ice cream melted deliciously in his mouth. "You..." Xu Musen hadn''t recovered yet. Yao Mingyue''sugh was filled with delight: "A taste for you; I''m not that stingy." Having said that, she unhesitatingly scooped another spoonful of ice cream and ced it into her own mouth without any reservations. This scene was like something straight out of a campus idol drama. Xu Musen actually felt a sense of being flirted with. Weirdo... Xu Musen left without a word, turning on his heel. But Yao Mingyue''s eyes sparkled brightly, feeling the ice cream in her mouth even sweeter than before. So this was what her mother meant by "the bitterness ends and the sweetness begins"? Indeed, the things you can''t have are the most amusing. "You, sooner orter, you won''t be able to escape~" Yao Mingyue murmured joyfully to herself, turning around, her long ponytail swaying freely in the summer breeze. Chapter 163: Chapter 113 Nuannuan, Lets Get Our Marriage Certificate! "Here is a hundred thousand dors in cashI''ll take over the shop." The next day, Xu Musen came to the milk tea shop with a hundred thousand dors in cash. The owner watched the thick stack of bills and nced at his milk tea shop, sighing with emotion. After all, he had worked here for so many yearsleaving suddenly was indeed a bit hard to bear. "Alright, I''ll contact a movingpany right now." The owner took out his phone, thinking he might still get some money for the milk tea equipment. "No need to call, actually, I would like to ask for your help with something." Xu Musen said, taking out another ten thousand yuan and cing it on top. "What''s this?" "Actually, I want to continue operating this milk tea shop. I''ve already applied for the business license, but it will take some time. During this period, I''d like to continue using your documents to run the business. I''ll take the milk tea equipment as wellwhat do you think?" Xu Musen said with a smile. The most profitable ventures for campus entrepreneurship include barber shops, convenience stores, milk tea shops, delivery stations... The warehouse behind the milk tea shop can be slightly remodeled and decorated to be arge office, capable of amodating forty or fifty people without a problem. This milk tea shop will keep operating. Xu Musen thought about several milk tea brands that had yet to appear; underneath those marketing gimmicks, there really was potential to make it big. Whether it''s delivery or selling milk tea, or even the short video tforms and online shopping tforms that he might want to expand intoter... they were all opportunities worth trying out. You shouldn''t put all your eggs in one basketnobody wouldin about having too much money. The owner tutted to himself; the equipment in the shop had cost him forty or fifty thousand yuan to start with. Though the resale value of catering equipment drops drastically. But selling them for over ten thousand yuan was still possible. Then again, he thought it would take more than a day or two to get new equipment. It might be better to just take the ten thousand yuan cash for peace of mind. The owner looked at Xu Musen, realizing that the young man had probably had his eye on the milk tea shop for quite some time, nning his moves strategically. He chuckled, "In the future, businesses like this will thrive in the hands of you young people. Fine, I''ll help you with this." "You''re generous, boss." They signed the contract. The transfer certificate for the shop requires a visit to the notary''s office. "I''ll drive; we can go together," the owner offered. Xu Musen nodded, "I also need to pick someone up toe with us." "Okay, I''ll wait for you at the school gate." The owner packed up the documents and left. Xu Musen took out his phone and sent An Nuannuan a message. "Come downstairs in a bit, we''re going to get a certificate together!" ... Meanwhile, An Nuannuan''s dormitory was buzzing with discussion. It was naturally about a post on the campus forum. The gossip about "Milk Tea Sister" and "Ice Cream Goddess" supposedly selflessly dedicating themselves to the same man had already spread. The others may not know, but as Nuannuan''s roommates, they were clear on the details. "Nuannuan, you and Xu Musen haven''t defined your rtionship yet?" "You can''t drag it any longer. The whole school almost knows you two are always together, they even say you''re his bossdy. If things don''t work out between you two, it would be bad for your reputation." "Exactly, I''ve been shipping you guys for so long, just get together already. We can''t wait to celebrate your confession!" The three girls chattered around An Nuannuan. But An Nuannuan seemed a bit lost in thought throughout. "Nuannuan, have you never been in a rtionship before, not sure what it feels like?" one of the girls asked, seeing her unmoved. "I know what it is. I''ve seen it in dramas; it''s when a man and a woman eat and live together, sleep on the same bed, and then have babies," An Nuannuan replied earnestly. What she said was technically right, almost like from a textbook, but the most thrilling part of the process of making babies was left out. "Actually, the biggest advantage of being in a rtionship is having a statusa status that rightfully allows you to be jealous and to dominate his life openly. Nuannuan, just think, if you were in a rtionship with him, he would only eat with you, shop with you, cuddle with you...how happy that would be." Ge Jiayue''s eyes sparkled as she envisioned the scenario. An Nuannuan gave it a serious thought and finally shook her head. "Ah? Why not? Don''t you like him?" "I really enjoy being with him, but I know being friends is different from confessing," An Nuannuan said. She remembered some scenes. Before Musen and the kind sister confessed their feelings, they were together every day. But after that confession failed, their rtionship seemed to change instantly. Musen once mentioned something simrafter a failed confession, you might not even be able to remain friends. "But now, there''s that girl who''s constantly eyeing him. What if..." The girl trailed off, also looking at An Nuannuan. The "Ice Cream Goddess" and An Nuannuan had twopletely different kinds of beauty. Moreover, Nuannuan was in a wheelchair, at a disadvantage in that regard. In terms of personality, that girl was more assertive and her pursuit of Xu Musen was quite intense. And there were rumors in the school cafeteria that she and Xu Musen were childhood friends, both families close to each other. It could be said that she had the advantage of time, location, and support. In truth, An Nuannuan was at a bit of a disadvantage. That''s where her strategizing roommates came into y. "Nuannuan, we''ll teach you how to turn passive into active!" "Yeah, guys actually like little surprises, too. You can start practicing knitting scarves, and when winteres, give one to him. He''ll be as touched as a turtle!" Chapter 164: Chapter 113 Nuannuan, Lets Get Our Marriage Certificate!_2 "Also, you can give him some couple''s clothes or matching shoes as a little hint," "You could make him a love-themed breakfast too, and in front of the whole ss, better yet feed it to him, unting your love fiercely!" "And and..." A few girls excitedly imparted all sorts of love secrets to An Nuannuan. An Nuannuan listened attentively, nodding in agreement from time to time. At that moment, her phone buzzed. She took it out to look. Instantly, her little feet under the wheelchair wiggled with joy as she took her little purse out of her desk, making sure to bring her ID card too. "Hey, Nuannuan, we''re not done yet, where are you going?" The three girls, still basking in the pleasure of ying love advisors, suddenly saw An Nuannuan ready to leave in her wheelchair. "Oh, Xu Musen is calling me out to get a certificate, I''ll learn more from you guys when Ie back," An Nuannuan hummed joyfully, pushing her wheelchair and heading out the door. Three girls:... That''s it, feeling like a clown now. The three singledies exchanged nces, were they just teaching her all excitedly? ... Downstairs, when Xu Musen saw hering down, he walked over to help push her wheelchair and asked, "Did you bring your ID card?" "Mhm, what kind of certificate are you taking me to get?" "You''ll find out when we get there." Xu Musen pushed her and walked towards the school gate with a smile. The passing girls overheard their conversation, their imaginations running wild. A university boy asking his girlfriend to bring her ID card, surely they weren''t going to book an overnight inte caf, right? And what kind of certificate could it be... a birth certificate for a baby due in ten months? At the school gate. The car owner was waiting, and when he saw Xu Musen pushing the young girl again, he guessed. Could it be this young man wanted to show off in front of his crush that he became a boss at such a young age, to win the girl''s heart? Still, he didn''t say much, got in the car, and they took off. They soon reached the notary office. They brought out the transfer documents. In the transferee column, Xu Musen called over An Nuannuan, who was waiting obediently. "Nuannuan, do you remember what I promised you yesterday?" "What was it?" "I said I wouldpensate you with a Milk Tea super gift pack, and from now on you''ll go from being Milk Tea Sister to the owner of the milk tea shop." Xu Musen smiled, pointing to the transferee column: "Sign here, and this milk tea shop is yours." Xu Musen had already allocated the shares in advance, An Nuannuan holding fifty-one percent, with Xu Musen retaining forty-nine percent. The bystander was taken aback, his mouth agape in shock. He had thought Xu Musen just wanted to impress the girl. But then he simply waved his hand and gifted her the entire shop? Others woo with milk tea and cakes, you straight up give away a milk tea shop? Is the cost of courting someone for young people these days really that high? Of course, Xu Musen didn''t give An Nuannuan the milk tea shop for no reason. During the summer, that sudden investment in his project by Anxin Group, Xu Musen had already guessed was actually from An Nuannuan''s family''spany. That hundred thousand, said to be investment, was practically the same as a giveaway. For An Nuannuan''s family, a hundred thousand might not mean much, but at that time, it was the genuine first bucket of gold for his entrepreneurial venture. Xu Musen might have the potential of a ruthless businessman, but when it came to gratitude, he didn''t y around. "Oh." An Nuannuan picked up the pen and signed without hesitation. "Aren''t you going to doubt me for a bit?" Xu Musen watched as she signed without even looking at the documents. If he tricked her into being the legal representative, andter if the milk tea shop went under and he took off, she would be left carrying the bag. "Would you deceive me?" "Of course not." "Then that''s fine." An Nuannuan said, her eyes sparkling, "So, does this mean I can add as many pearls and passion fruit as I like to my milk tea from now on?" "Yes, but you''re still limited to one cup per day." "Aw~" An Nuannuan''s little head drooped again, her eyes pleadingly on Xu Musen: "Doesn''t the boss''sdy get any special privileges?" "Okay then, I''ll let you have an extra ice cream." "Yippee~" There was a palpable scent of dog food in the air of the notary office. The owner watched the couple, inwardly thinking. Young people sure know how to y. Back at school. All the way, An Nuannuan looked at the "owner''sdy certificate" in her hand, delighted. What made her happy wasn''t the ownership of a milk tea shop. It was because on it, the names An Nuannuan and Xu Musen were closely ced one above the other. Just like in the cartoons she watched, it seemed like they had signed some sort of contract. Xu Musen took her to the milk tea store, where all raw materials had been delivered over thest couple of days, and it was temporarily closed for business. Xu Musen nned to renovate the shop over the next few days and hire a couple of part-timers to manage the daily operations of the milk tea store. Xu Musen and An Nuannuan walked into the milk tea store. This was the first time she had gotten to the back. She found that there were two rooms in the back, a bedroom and a small living area where they could cook, and there was a bathroom too. Indeed, small butplete in every detail. Xu Musen looked at the bedroom, where a big bed easily fit with room to spare, surely morefortable than living in the dorm. "Living here wouldn''t be bad, it''s much morefortable than the dormitory." Xu Musen looked around and couldn''t help nodding. An Nuannuan also curiously looked around: "Mhm, even the bathroom has room for a bathtub, and I couldn''t take baths in the dorm." Discover hidden tales at m,v l''e-NovelBin "Alright, I''ll have someonee over and renovate in the next few days. You cane over to take baths whenever, I''m actually quite skilled at giving scrubs." Chapter 165: Chapter 113 Nuannuan, Lets Get Our Marriage Certificate!_3 Xu Musen said with a chuckle. But he suddenly remembered a problem: now the shop was co-owned by two people, but there was only one bedroom. How should they divide it? "Nuannuan, do you want to live here in the future?" "Yeah, but I would be scared by myself." An Nuannuan huddled her shoulders and looked up at Xu Musen. "Then what do we do, there''s only one room here, we can''t possibly live together, can we?" Xu Musen said jokingly. But An Nuannuan suddenly blinked her big eyes; boys and girls living together... that could lead to babies... She felt her face grow hot, and her little feet under the wheelchair tangled and grabbed at each other before she finally hemmed and hawed, "I have to discuss it with grandpa and grandma first..." "... Please don''t! I was just kidding." Xu Musen was sweating. I was kidding, and you''re taking it seriously? If her grandparents knew he was trying to coax their precious granddaughter into sharing a bed, he estimated he''d be elevated to a giant spectacle by the Bund the next day. "Oh." An Nuannuan nodded, but her peach-blossom eyes were fluttering, seemingly... a little disappointed. Leaving the milk tea shop. Xu Musen escorted An Nuannuan back to her dormitory. "Xu Musen." An Nuannuan spoke up, a tad conflicted. "Hmm?" "Yesterday afternoon, didn''t you go to meet Good Person Sister?" An Nuannuan raised her head, ripples forming in her clear eyes. Xu Musen didn''t lie to her, nodded, and said, "Yeah, I found out from the forum that she was promoting my situation, but don''t believe everything online, it''s all fake, I don''t have those messy rtions with her." For some reason, Xu Musen always felt the need to exin things clearly to An Nuannuan. "I see... but online, they were calling me thedy boss, and now I really am thedy boss, huh." An Nuannuan held up the document bag, looking expectantly at Xu Musen. "Because you are that special one." Xu Musen smiled and gently pinched her cheek, "Being beautifules with special privileges, no need to be modest." An Nuannuan, feeling his slightly rough yet exceptionally warm fingers, thought about the words her roommate had said that day. "Then you lik..." She almost blurted it out subconsciously, but she couldn''t bring herself to say the rest of the word. "Like what?" Xu Musen asked her. "Hehe~" An Nuannuan tugged at the corners of her mouth, revealing a smile that was slightly "sleazy." Xu Musen cleared his throat, "Didn''t I tell you not to smile like that? Alright, you should go up and rest too." As Xu Musen turned to leave, An Nuannuan pulled at the hem of his shirt, "Wait a second." "What is it?" Xu Musen turned around, looking at An Nuannuan''s somewhat troubled little face, as if she had made up her mind. Stay tuned for updates on m-v -NovelBin An Nuannuan, with her fingers clenched, slowly unzipped her bag and reached inside. "Give me your hand." Xu Musen extended his hand without hesitation. Then, An Nuannuan quickly took something out of her bag and stuffed it into Xu Musen''s hand. "What''s this?" Xu Musen asked curiously. "It''s for you. I''m heading back now." After speaking, An Nuannuan''s face was a bit red, and she wheeled herself directly into the dorm building. Xu Musen was still puzzled when he felt the object in his hand, noting its delicate, soft feeling. He looked down and his pupils shrank instantly. In his hand was a pair of pristine white little socks... Xu Musen looked up, but An Nuannuan''s figure had already disappeared into the building. "..." Damn! I''m really not a pervert! Chapter 166: Chapter 114: Childhood Sweethearts? Im Still the Boss Lady! "Nuannuan, I have to seriously tell you, I''m not a pervert!" In the dormitory building, Xu Musen stood on the balcony making a phone call to An Nuannuan. "Do you not like socks?" An Nuannuan''s voice carried a hint of surprise as she looked down at her fair, tender feet. This guy always seemed to find an excuse to want to pinch her feet. Could it be that he liked that... An Nuannuan crossed her legs, still feeling somewhat embarrassed. "I''m not saying I dislike... Nuannuan, you''re a girl, you can''t just give these things away to anyone, you know?" Xu Musen nearly misspoke, speaking earnestly. "I won''t give them away to others, I''ll only give them to you." An Nuannuan replied seriously as well. This somehow made Xu Musen feel a surge of pleasure C what was that about? "Ahem, I just wanted to exin that the incident that day was an ident, she put it there herself." "So you like hers better?" An Nuannuan''s voice sounded a little downcast. "No... I just meant that kind of behavior is also unhygienic." "I wash my feet every day, and the socks I gave you were cleaned too." An Nuannuan said, pausing briefly. "Or do you prefer the unwashed ones?" "..." Xu Musen felt he couldn''t exin clearly, "Nuannuan, I just want you not to doubt my character." "Mhm, everyone''s preferences are their own freedom. When I was losing my baby teeth, my grandma would put a sock under my pillow, saying that the Tooth Fairy woulde and help me change my teeth!" An Nuannuan said earnestly. Xu Musen listened until his teeth hurt; at his age, he was only going to grow wisdom teeth. In the end, unable to help it, he hung up the phone, muttering Yao Mingyue''s name several times in his heart. She was the real pervert, after all! Upset, Xu Musen, with an aching tooth, went to his bed and ced An Nuannuan''s socks under his pillow. It was just for preventing tooth decay, what could be wrong with that? ... The military training was about to end, and the school organized a closing performance, which also served as the wee party for the new students. At this time, many social figures and entrepreneurs would be invited. Now was the most effective time to attract investments. Kangaroo Delivery''s business had already gone live. Of course, these past few days were just the free-rider phase, with every order ced causing Xu Musen to lose money. But starting from the third day, people gradually began to order takeaways. However, after all, delivery costs one or two yuan more than going downstairs, and students, who generally don''t have much money, could buy a drink with that one or two yuan. So Xu Musen quicklyunched a membership system, distributing six membership red packets each month for use. Firstly, it could increase customer loyalty, and secondly, it was a way to quickly recoup some capital. His ambitions weren''t limited to just one school; there were several other colleges nearby this university town, and Xu Musen nned to swiftly capture the market at Hu Hai University. Then he would slowly begin to expand into the city. He also nned for his good buddy He Qiang to grab the opportunity to manage one of the colleges. As for the delivery riders, thanks to the school''s unique system, aside from meal times, almost no one ordered takeaways, and the delivery destinations were fixed to dormitory buildings. So basically, two or three riders could take care of a whole building''s deliveries. Besides, college students had a high tolerance for longer wait times. Furthermore, dorm mates usually ordered takeaways together. So a rider could deliver five or six orders in one go, earning seven or eight yuan per trip. If one worked hard and made several dozen runs a day, monthly earnings of a few thousand yuan were not just a dream. For students, this was definitely a nice ie. With the membership system, the money Xu Musen had initially handed out came back almost instantly. No wonder so many hair salons and gyms liked the membership model. The business had just opened and had already recouped its costs; wait a bit until the "chives" were harvested, and then they would simply abscond, only to open up shop elsewhere. As for the milk tea business. The original owner was quite conscientious, informing Xu Musen of all the supply channels. It had to be said, milk tea was truly a cash cow. A box of milk tea ingredients cost only a few dozen yuan, but it could produce hundreds of cups of milk tea, making the cost almost negligible. The main expenses were then just rent andbor costs. And yet, this product remained incredibly popr, having be bound to essential dating activities like watching movies and shopping. Even in remote small towns, there would be a shop, where a bunch of spryds, by crowdfunding a cup of milk tea, could sit in the milk tea shop and use the inte all afternoon. The key was that it always managed to bring in girls C how aggravating. "Boss Xu, you''ve opened a milk tea shop too?" Lin Daiyu and a few other girls came to buy milk tea and noticed that the shop was installing a new sign while Xu Musen stood at the doorway directing. [Auntie from Shanghai] Leader in fruit milk tea, delicious, healthy, and won''t make you fat~ "Auntie from Shanghai... the name alone makes it sound like an established brand." "Healthy milk tea made with real fruit C if it really doesn''t make you gain weight, I can drink it with peace of mind." The girls gathered around; the only downside to drinking milk tea was that it was too sweet and could lead to weight gain. Health was secondary, but the promise of not getting fat was what the girls liked the most. Xu Musen was also quite pleased with the brand name; at this point in time, Auntie from Shanghai had not been registered, so he had pre-emptively imed it for himself. "The boss isn''t me; she''s the boss." Xu Musen smiled as he pointed towards An Nuannuan, who was beaming with joy watching box after box of milk tea ingredients being moved into the warehouse. She looked just like a pirate guarding her little treasure hoard. Chapter 167: Chapter 114: Childhood Sweethearts? Im Still the Boss Lady!_2 "Hehe, isn''t the boss''s wife none other than you, you heartless boss? Remember to give me a discount when Ie to buy milk tea in the future!" "I''m using you of nder." "Hahaha." Lin Daiyu now also really liked to hang out with An Nuannuan, perhaps feeling like she was joining a camp. And An Nuannuan indeed had a magical ability to get along with everyone; just a few days with her and you''d be won over, much like the animal kingdom''s "social butterfly," the capybara. Every day, looking rxed, harmless to humans and animals, as if she had a healing aura. Of course, the most important thing was that after Lin Daiyu found herself in the loser''s camp, she hoped every day to see that girl be a loser too. Let her show off every day! Xu Musen had brought in a lot of fruit and was preparing to start making high-end fruit tea lines. Never underestimate the purchasing power of college girls. Buying drinks. For five yuan, male college students would mostly opt for arge tub of iced ck tea and chug it down. But girls wouldn''t blink before spending over ten yuan on a cup of fruit tea. Continue reading at m|v-l''e -NovelBin Otherwise, there wouldn''t be consumer power statistics that go women > children > old people > dogs > men. Plus, college students in love don''t count the cost; if a girl wants to drink, swarms of dogs would rush to buy it for her. Xu Musen had put up another banner. "Romantic autumn, have you not given your beloved their first cup of milk tea of the season?" This kind of provocative banner instantly made many girls shine with excitement. Quite a few girls dragged their boyfriends over to join in the fun. Xu Musen sighed. The first cup of milk tea of autumn, that had been a smash hit on the inte in hisst life. You have to admit, although these marketing tactics are quite disgusting, they indeed work well. Making money, unshakably. Xu Musen had also made Ma Yaxing design an auto-posting software to post simr advertisements on the campus forum. By noon, there was a long queue outside the milk tea shop. The new staff were still a bit unskilled, so Xu Musen had to step in to help. An Nuannuan was responsible for collecting money and handing out milk teas; as the school''s "Milk Tea Sister," she was a veritable golden sign. Seeing An Nuannuan''s formidable curves front and center, many girls suddenly fancied a drink even more. Nuannuan''s brand milk tea, from childhood to adulthood! Completely exhausted by mid-afternoon. "Boss, a cup of fruit tea, please." At that moment, a tall and voluptuous figure walked over, herdy''s suit hugging her svelte figure, a pair of gold-rimmed sses adding a touch of delicate and elegant charm. "Teacher Bai?" Xu Musen looked up and saw Bai Xin standing before him. "You''re here for milk tea too?" "Someone didn''t make me coffee today, and just so happens I saw an advertisement for a new milk tea shop on the forum, so I decided to check it out." Bai Xin said, ncing over at An Nuannuan. These two are really starting to look more and more like a married couple going about their daily life. I always feel a bit uneasy about my best friend''s daughter... But then again, I don''t understand young people''s feelings. "Ahem, I was just about to go over there." Xu Musenughed as he exined. "Alright, give me a cup." Bai Xin looked at the fruit, which was very fresh, and ordered a cup too. "You got it!" Xu Musen made a cup, and An Nuannuan passed it to her. "Beautiful teacher, here''s your milk tea." An Nuannuan liked to address people with a key descriptor. Bai Xin couldn''t help but smile at this: "Thank you, Nuannuan student." Having met before during a meal, Bai Xin took a sip; it was sweet with a natural fruit aroma, truly quite nice. "By the way, your application for a separate inte line has been approved by the school. Also, with the military training performanceing up soon, if you still want to sponsor it, you''ll need to discuss it with the faculty. Find some time in the next few days to apany me to see the leaders." Bai Xin instructed him. "No problem, thanks Aunt Bai, just give me the word if you need anything in the future, even if it means running through fire and boiling water!" Xu Musen nodded happily, as more takeout customers meant the dormitory''s inte line was not enough, so he had applied for a dedicated fiber-optic line to build a server. Tsk. Bai Xin didn''t have much confidence in this young man''s sweet talk. She took out money for An Nuannuan, the young bossdy, but An Nuannuan shook her head: "No need to pay, beautiful teacher." "Why? Are you trying to bribe the teacher?" Bai Xin asked with augh. "Because you''ve helped Xu Musen with so much, and grandpa says that when you''re away from home, it''s important to show loyalty. You helping Xu Musen is helping me, so it''s only right for me to treat you to milk tea." An Nuannuan put on a facade, full of gangster-like swagger that made everyone around herugh. Bai Xin was tickled pink. She could now see why this seemingly simple-minded girl was so endearing. "Well then, do you call the shots in this store?" Bai Xin couldn''t resist teasing her. "She really does, because she''s actually the boss of this shop." Xu Musen chimed in at that moment. Bai Xin paused, her gaze shifting to Xu Musen, who was busy at work. The boss''s wife? Had the rtionship been confirmed already? "Cough cough, I''m currently just a waiter here, specialized in assisting the boss''s wife." Xu Musen exined, while An Nuannuan nodded vigorously, like a pecking hen. Their act was in perfect harmony. Bai Xin let out a ''heh,'' not buying it at all, and after a quick chat, she turned and left. The afternoon military training was about to start, and the milk tea shop was quiet. An Nuannuan happily counted the money they had earned that day in the cash boxthe fruits of her and Xu Musen''s joint efforts! Just nning to rest, another figure walked into the shop. Chapter 168: Chapter 114: Childhood Sweethearts? Im Still the Boss Lady!_3 "Boss, a cup of milk tea, please." The cold voice seemed to bring a waft of floral fragrance into the shop. Xu Musen looked up and immediately met those signature phoenix eyes. Yao Mingyue? How did this girl find her way here again? "Ah, it''s Good Person Sister." An Nuannuan also looked up, and the moment she saw Yao Mingyue, she blurted it out. Yao Mingyue nced at An Nuannuan, feeling like there was a green sheen over her head every time she heard the four words ''Good Person Sister''. "What are you doing here?" Xu Musen stood up. "Buying milk tea. You''re not starting to bully customers just because you''ve opened a shop, are you?" Yao Mingyue took a seat in the shop. Only then did Xu Musen notice she wasn''t wearing her military training uniform today, but instead, she was dressed in acy floral white chiffon coat and white shorts underneath. Her long white legs felt even more tempting than a towering ice cream cone. "Aren''t you going to military training?" "You think you''re the only one who can fake a heatstroke?" Yao Mingyue''s lips curled into a smile. Xu Musen was a bit speechless, "What would you like to drink?" "Whatever." "If it''s whatever, then go back and drink some herbal recovery drink." Xu Musen wasn''t indulging her bad habits at all. "Fine, if you feed it to me, I''ll drink it, just like the day I''ll feed you." Yao Mingyue wasn''t upset at all; on the contrary, she deliberately raised her voice a bit. Her gaze, however, glided towards An Nuannuan. And An Nuannuan, remembering that day''s event, felt ripples stirring in her clear eyes. A scent of gunpowder began to spread in the milk tea shop. Xu Musen thought about sending this cmity on her way quickly. He silently prepared a cup, his understanding of Yao Mingyue''s taste was very thorough. "Here." He ced the milk tea on the table in front of her. Yao Mingyue really liked this feeling of Xu Musen serving her, she took a sip of the milk tea. She let out a pleased murmur, "Xu Musen, you still remember my taste so well. I remember the first time I ever had milk tea was when you gave it to me when we were in elementary school. You said back then that you would always save the first bite of anything tasty for me." In Yao Mingyue''s phoenix eyes shimmered a thick slurry of emotion, like that of a teenage girl deep in love. Yet every word seemed to dere her sovereignty. It seemed as if she was telling An Nuannuan, what did it matter if you cling to him every day? All his first times will belong to me, Yao Mingyue! An Nuannuan''s counting of money paused, as if the bills weren''t that appealing anymore. "If you''ve bought your milk tea, then leave. Don''t get in the way of my business." "Don''t be in such a rush to shoo people away. Actually, I''ve been thinking of investing as well. How about I put in a hundred thousand for some shares?" Yao Mingyue definitely didn''tck money, but she was short on everything rted to Xu Musen. "Not for sale." "Two hundred thousand." "When I say not for sale, I mean it''s not for sale." "Three hundred thousand." The price had already far exceeded the value of the milk tea shop. Yao Mingyue naturally knew Xu Musen had invested a lot recently and needed cash. As long as he bowed his head, she''d be willing to give him any amount of money. But her expression brought back bad memories for Xu Musen. Shit, why wouldn''t he epted being kept by a woman, and here she was, chasing after him to spoon-feed him? Xu Musen couldn''t be bothered with her anymore. "Good Person Sister, if you like drinking milk tea, you can have it free every day from now on. This shop is not for sale." It was then that the always silent An Nuannuan suddenly spoke up. Yao Mingyue''s eyebrows twitched, and with a noble pressuring air emanating from her phoenix eyes, she chuckled, "Oh really? Is it you who gets to decide that about this shop?" An Nuannuan too lifted her clear, peach-blossom eyes, her face full of seriousness mixed with a hint of pride. "Of course, I get to decide, because I''m the actual boss here, the kind who is already married with a certificate to prove it!" Yao Mingyue: ??? Chapter 169: Chapter 115: Mom will kiss you every time she sees you! Getting a marriage license? His boss? Yao Mingyue repeated these two sentences, her pupils turning pitch ck. What''s going on? It had only been a few days since theyst ate together, had those two already turned raw rice into congee? "Xu Musen!" Yao Mingyue clenched her teeth, unable to maintain herposure any longer. They had always promised since childhood that they would stay together forever! Yao Mingyue''s eyes were vacant as she let out a chilling, cacklingugh while looking at An Nuannuan and Xu Musen. The pearl milk tea in her hand was nearly crushed. This little homewrecker... you like drinking milk tea, don''t you? I''ll stuff the tapioca pearls from the milk tea up your nostrils, and see if you can survive that! As for Xu Musen, you faithless jerk... No problem, scrub you with a steel wool pad and you can still be used! Yao Mingyue''s re was dangerous, and in the stifling noon heat, it suddenly felt like the temperature had dropped several degrees. "Use your brain, I''m only eighteen. Even if I wanted to get a marriage license, would they even grant it to me?" Xu Musen looked at her as if she was about to snap, speaking somewhat helplessly. If he didn''t exin, this yandere might just call his parents over in the night. This little yandere was usually very smart, but when it came to Xu Musen, she could be impulsively brainless. A single sentence stopped Yao Mingyue''s near-murderous movement. "What about the boss? What does that mean?" Yao Mingyue took a deep breath, her gaze still burning. "It''s just as it sounds, this milk tea shop is now hers." "So what? You can''t bear to give me a cup of milk tea but you can hand over an entire milk tea shop to her?" Yao Mingyue''s voice was grinding, as if she wanted to eat An Nuannuan alive. Xu Musen stood up, walked over to her, and shielded An Nuannuan behind himself, frowning: "If you have something to say, say it to me, don''t scare my friend." Xu Musen''s subconscious protective gesture struck Yao Mingyue like lightning. It used to be her who was protected behind him... It felt as though her chest was filled with overturned jars of vinegar. "Me? Scare her? Do you really think she''s some harmless little bunny?" Yao Mingyue felt a sourness in her eyes. Though An Nuannuan always acted silly, Yao Mingyue had seen through her. She was not foolish at all, she had said those words on purpose. "Compared to you, she is indeed harmless." Xu Musen said bluntly. After all, someone capable of drugging others, he had only seen Yao Mingyue do such a thing in his lifetime. "Xu Musen!" Yao Mingyue''s fists were tightly clenched, her eyes reddening. Then what am I to you? After all these years of being childhood friends, why does she have the right to upy so much of your space the moment she appears? However, she didn''t voice these thoughts, knowing that the more she said now, the more she would lose ground. As long as Xu Musen hadn''t beenpletely seduced by that maniptive woman, it was still within her bottom line. Yet, she could hardly control her emotions at this moment. Yao Mingyue nced at An Nuannuan sitting aside, and a movement flickered in her gaze before she suddenly raised her hand, pointing behind Xu Musen down the street. "He Qiang?" "?" Xu Musen paused, immediately turning his head to look, but the street behind him was empty. "Where''s He..." As Xu Musen turned back, Yao Mingyue took a step forward, and her fair face came up to him, a faint scent wafting around. Xu Musen couldn''t dodge in time as Yao Mingyue''s eyes, shining with a sickly gleam, wrapped around his neck. She bit into his neck like a vampire. Of course, rather than a real bite, it was more like a strong suck. In that moment, the entire milk tea shop fell silent. An Nuannuan''s mouth hung open, utterly unprepared for this scene. Xu Musen:... A warm sensation came from his neck, along with a bit of coolness, and some pain as well. "You''re crazy!" Xu Musen pushed her away, but as he did, he caught sight of her eyes, looking almost bloodshot and watery. "I''m not crazy, I like you and that''s it. We have a childhood promise, I''m yours, and what''s wrong with kissing my future husband?" Yao Mingyue''s eyes fixed on the hickey she had left on Xu Musen''s neck as if it were the mark of her staking a im. Xu Musen''s mouth twitched: "Get out!" Such an utter humiliation! He couldn''t hold back anymore. Xu Musen pushed her out of the milk tea shop, throwing the unfinished milk tea in her embrace and then turned to lock the door, hanging a "Closed" sign. Yao Mingyue stood at the door, her emotions still turbulent, her chest heaving with her breaths. She reached out to touch her lips lightly. The fleeting touch from before was intoxicating for Yao Mingyue, and she gently gnawed on her white teeth. If she had been a bit closer just now, what she kissed might not have been just a face. That feeling was unexpectedly thrilling. As for that little vixen An Nuannuan, she will return the cuckolding she has done, hat by hat! She looked at the closed sign, touched her flushed lips. Xu Musen, I''ll kiss you every time I see you from now on! Chapter 170: Chapter 115: Mom will kiss you every time she sees you! _2 Meanwhile, inside the milk tea shop. Xu Musen looked at the dazed An Nuannuan, both of them silent for quite a while. "Nuannuan, don''t overthink it, she''s just a lunatic." An Nuannuan looked at him, her clear eyes also showing a bit of indescribable emotion. She didn''t speak, only silently took out a small handkerchief from her bosom and handed it to him. Some milk tea had spilled onto Xu Musen''s hand earlier. "It''s okay, I''ll just wipe it off." Xu Musen wiped his hand and handed the handkerchief back to her. But An Nuannuan didn''t take it back, instead she lifted her head to look at his neck again. "Come here." An Nuannuan beckoned him with her hand. Xu Musen took the handkerchief and squatted in front of her: "What''s wrong?" An Nuannuan didn''t speak, but after taking the handkerchief, she also leaned forward gently and examined the red strawberry mark on Xu Musen''s neck. She suddenly leaned in closer, her stunningly dazed cheeks approaching as well, and her faint milk scent filled his nostrils. Wait! You wouldn''t want to do it too, would you? Xu Musen was so startled that he didn''t dare to move at all. A warm breath reached his nose. "Huh~" But it was just the sound of An Nuannuan exhaling gently; she exhaled and then gently rubbed the bruise on Xu Musen''s neck with the handkerchief. Maybe it was because she often drank milk tea, but the breath An Nuannuan exhaled was sweet with the fragrance of milk tea and fruit. It was as if she was remarking her territory with her scent on his neck. "I used to knock into things too, and my mom would help me by gently blowing on it and rubbing it, it would heal quickly." An Nuannuan watched as the mark on his neck started to fade a bit, then slowly stopped her hand. "Is that so." Xu Musen looked at her, but he always felt that when she said that, the tone of her voice seemed a bit airy. It was like there was a hint of jealousy. By the way, does An Nuannuan even know what jealousy is? It was then that An Nuannuan took back her handkerchief, then lowered her head and silently counted how much money she had earned today. Her emotions were a bit messy and hard to articte. For some reason, just thinking about him kissing her cheek made An Nuannuan''s heart feel tumultuous. It was like someone was trying to take away her most precious possession. A sour feeling flooded her heart, as if a pool of vinegar had spilled over. Xu Musen was also helpless. Though he was a single guy, why did he suddenly feel like he was two-timing? Explore more at m,v l''e-NovelBin An Nuannuan counted the money she had earned today, and after a while, she suddenly looked up at him: "Xu Musen, we can also earn a lot of money together. Can you not sell your body in the future, okay?" "..." Xu Musen was momentarily at a loss for words, remembering that Yao Mingyue had offered tens of thousands to buy shares might have upset her. But An Nuannuan clearly had no concept of her family''s wealth. Her financial resources would only be more than Yao Mingyue''s family, not less. And am I, Xu Musen, the kind of person who would sell my body for money? He always felt that the girl had misunderstood something serious. Yet watching her hopeful and sincere gaze, Xu Musen squatted in front of her and said with a smile, "Don''t worry, I won''t sell myself for money." "But you and she have a childhood engagement..." "A childhood engagement is not a servitude contract; who I want to marry is my own decision, and it has to be someone I like." "Then what kind of girl do you like?" An Nuannuan rarely popped out questions one by one like this, but today she was particrly concerned about the answer. Xu Musen looked at An Nuannuan, moved a stool over, and sat down with her. "My requirements are actually not that high: she should be over 165 centimeters tall, have a face that scores at least an eight or nine to match mine in looks, can''t be too skinny in terms of figure, and most importantly, she should have a good personality, not oppose me, not control my life with her wild imaginations every day. I''m not afraid of her being dumb, just afraid she''s too smart, quietly staying at home, eating and sleeping is enough if she''s beautiful." Xu Musen was detailing his requirements when, turning his head, he suddenly saw An Nuannuan taking notes in a small notebook. "Er, Nuannuan, what are you writing there?" "Human mating behavior research." "..." Xu Musen looked at her serious yet extremely earnest demeanor. Actually, An Nuannuan fit his criteria quite well. It''s just that right now, An Nuannuan seems to have no understanding of matters of the heart. Or perhaps she is confused about many rtionships, unable to distinguish friendship from love. Xu Musen thought that if he wanted to trick her, the sess rate would not be small. But if he did that, how would he be different from Yao Mingyue? Both would only be deceiving the other into being with oneself. A forced melon is not sweet; better to wait patiently for her to fully mature. ... In the afternoon, An Nuannuan returned to her dorm. The roommates arrived at the dorm to see An Nuannuan staring nkly at a small notebook. Curious, they gathered around and saw the contents written in An Nuannuan''s notebook. "Nuannuan, what have you written in your notebook?" An Nuannuan blinked and asked, "Do all boys like girls like these?" The girls looked closely at the content, exchanged nces, and looked back at An Nuannuan. They couldn''t help but burst intoughter. "What is this, isn''t everything written here just describing you, Nuannuan?" "Me?" An Nuannuan looked at the various requirements in the notebook with a puzzled expression. "Look, your height, Nuannuan, you must not realize how tall you are because you''re ustomed to sitting in a wheelchair, but you''re definitely over one meter sixty-five." Chapter 171: Chapter 115: Mom will kiss you every time she sees you! _3 And let''s talk about looks, his score has got to be too low, I''ve never seen any girl prettier than you. As for figure... A few girls simultaneously nced at An Nuannuan''s chest, an absolute undefeated figure. Plus, An Nuannuan always looks so naive, whenever Xu Musen asks her to do anything, she scurries off to do it right away. This isn''t Xu Musen setting conditions. This is like creating questions based on the answers! "Hey, you two should just get together already, all this beating around the bush is making me anxious," "Right? College life is beautiful, and dating is also one of the essential courses in college!" "Look, I just bought some romantic manga for girls, I''ll lend them to you, Nuannuan, to check out." Ge Jiayue took out several manga from her bookshelf. "The Overbearing CEO Falls for Me, The Dark Sweetheart''s Counterattack n!" "Reborn, I Became the Campus Heartthrob''s Soft and Cute Light of the Moon." "The Innocent Me Being Slowly Conquered by the Bad Boy Husband..." "Ay, you''re still reading this stuff? I stopped back in high school, haha." The roommates chuckled, but wasn''t it normal for girls in their adolescence to enjoy these things? And guys always like to read about the campus beauty''s personal expert or stories like the overbearing female CEO''s unrequited love C those wish-fulfillment novels. "I''m just trying to find some references for Nuannuan," Ge Jiayue''s face turned red, then she handed all the manga to An Nuannuan. "Nuannuan, just study these a bit, and soon you''ll get to experience that sweet and sour feeling of being in love!" An Nuannuan took the manga thoughtfully, looking at the male and female leads hugging on the cover, she felt like she had obtained some secret martial arts manual. She opened theic book, it was her first time reading such a romance manga, since her family would only let her read ssical literature or art collections. "Woman, you have sessfully caught my attention..." The first page of the opening was a scene where the male lead pinned the female lead against the wall with a wall m and kissed her on the chin. And during this period, the manga publishing supervision wasn''t as strict, so many scenes that would now be rated as restrictive were allowed. Watching the men and women entangled with each other, performing all kinds of bold actions inside, An Nuannuan couldn''t help but subconsciously imagine Xu Musen''s face on the male lead''s... An Nuannuan''s young and pure heart immediately felt the intense shock of a new world! ... In the evening, Xu Musen started a QQ group, as thepany was officially established and needed to ensure timelymunication. Enterprise WeChat and the like didn''t exist yet, so QQ groups were the most convenient means. Group name: "Flipping the World''s Top 500!" There weren''t many people in the group yet, just the three guys from the dorm, along with Zhao Lianmai and An Nuannuan. Xu Musen: [Everyone in the group, change your nickname to your own name and position.] Soon after, a flurry of nickname changes shed in the group. "Bald ProgrammerMa Yaxing." "Miserable SalesmanLi Rundong." "Bull-shitting ReceptionistZhou Hangyu." "Women''s Federation ChairwomanZhao Lianmai." Xu Musen: ... What the hell are these absurd titles? And how did we end up with a Women''s Federation Chairwoman? Xu Musen: "Can''t you guys think of anything better? What''s with these stupid nicknames?" Zhou Hangyu: "There are no outsiders in the group, and besides, isn''t that what our jobs are like?" Xu Musen: "Nonsense, it makes me look like I''m exploiting my workers. Change it now, or I''ll dock your pay!" All of them twitched the corners of their mouths, saying you were as stingy as Xu could be was still apliment! Then a consecutive string of messages popped up in the QQ group. "Technical Development DepartmentMa Yaxing." "Market Marketing DepartmentLi Rundong." "Public Rtions DepartmentZhou Hangyu." "Human Resources DepartmentZhao Lianmai." Xu Musen looked at them brandishing these fancy titles and nodded with satisfaction only then. Now this felt like a big business. Xu Musen also changed his nickname: "Kangaroo BOSS." Li Rundong: "Xu Musen, this name of yours is begging for attention, can you drop some serious coin?" Zhou Hangyu: "Just your name is extravagant. You might as well change it to Vampire BOSS. I have a feeling your future''s tied to a streetlightmpost!" Find more chapters on m_v l|e-NovelBin Zhao Lianmai: "+1" Xu Musen couldn''t be bothered with them and set down his phone to go relieve himself. At that moment, another message popped up. "Boss''s Wife An Nuannuan." A cute little rabbit avatar, the atmosphere in the group changed instantly. Seizing the opportunity, Zhou Hangyu teased, "ssmate An, the boss''s wife isn''t an actual position, change it quickly or Boss Xu will dock your pay." Li Rundong: "Hahaha." After spending so many days together, everyone had gotten to know each other. "Mmm... what should I change it to?" An Nuannuan asked. Ma Yaxing sincerely replied, "You just need to add a prefix before it, to indicate that you belong to a department." "Oh~" On the other side of the phone, An Nuannuan''s gaze shifted slightly, belonging to a department... Zhao Lianmai was typing on her phone, "An Nuannuan, don''t listen to them..." The next second, another message popped up in the QQ group. "Group Member, changed nickname to: Xu Musen''s Boss''s Wife An Nuannuan." There, now she had a department to belong to. Zhou Hangyu: ... Li Rundong: ... Ma Yaxing: 666 The initial idea was to tease An Nuannuan and get a rise out of Xu Musen, but what now? All they got was a face full of dog food! Zhao Lianmai, looking at the chat log, couldn''t help but reveal a small smile on her cool cheek. She quietly deleted the words she had typed out. Chapter 172: Chapter 116: Name your price for having me! Military training performances were already in preparation, and this was abined performance between several schools. This was a great opportunity to increase exposure. Xu Musen nned to eventually take over the entire food delivery business in Hu Hai University Town. Getting people familiar with his face now made it easy to build brand recognition. So, Xu Musen had a batch of uniforms custom-tailored again, a vest and cap emzoned with a kangaroo logo. These delivery guys were running around the school every day, constantly reinforcing the brand in people''s minds. Additionally, the day topete for sponsorship had arrived. Bai Xin helped him get in touch with school leaders. This time, with several schools joining forces for military training, there were many entrepreneurial students from each school, and thepetition was quite fierce. Xu Musen hurriedly went to find Bai Xin. Upon arriving at the office, Bai Xin nced at his casual attire and her expression seemed to say, "I thought so." Her gaze shifted, and there was an exquisite gift package on the chair. "Ming Yue''s mom has prepared a suit for you. Try it on to see if it fits," she said. "Aunt Liu?" "Without her, I wouldn''t know your size. She''s also heard about your entrepreneurial endeavors and asked me to cheer you on," Bai Xin said leisurely as she sipped her coffee. "I''ve known her for so long, and I''ve only seen her custom-tailor suits for two men: one is her husband, and the other is you." Bai Xin''s gaze lingered on Xu Musen. Xu Musen walked over and looked at the neatly arranged and very exquisite suit in the gift box, falling silent for a moment. He couldn''t deny that his former mother-inw had always treated him very well, ever since he was young. Her efforts to match him with her daughter were actually for Xu Musen''s own good. After all, in the eyes of others, apart from being a bit headstrong, Yao Mingyue was a good girl that was hard to find. If Xu Musen could end up with her daughter, it would actually be considered a bit of a step down for them. But she could never have expected her daughter to turn out so neurotically. One thing at a time. The watch on his wrist was also carefully selected and prepared a long time ago. Xu Musen might ignore Yao Mingyue, but he would never forget the kindness and care Aunt Liu had shown him growing up. "Aunt Liu is a good person," Xu Musen nodded, opening the gift box. Next to the suit was also a rose and a postcard. The card bore Liu Rushuang''s neat and elegant handwriting: "Xiaosen, do your best, Auntie is waiting for your good news!" There was also a drawing of a little emoji with a thumbs-up. Sometimes, it felt like Liu Rushuang had more of a girlish heart than Yao Mingyue. Xu Musen smiled and packed everything away. "Where should I change?" "There''s a room behind the door," Bai Xin said as she began sorting through documents, not even lifting her head. There was a small door inside the office, leading to a teacher''s rest room. Xu Musen acknowledged with an "Okay" and, taking the suit, pushed the door open. The room was small, just big enough for a bed and a desk. A faint scent filled the roomelegant and refreshing. However...the clothes were thrown all over the bed in disarray. Xu Musen caught a glimpse of a shirt, socks, and a pair of peeled-off ck stockings. Hmm? Was that a pair of oversized pilot goggles? "Wait a minute!" Bai Xin also suddenly remembered something and hurried over on her high heels, making rapid cking sounds. Her chest heaved, seemingly ready to burst the buttons of her white blouse. She shut the door at once. Her cheeks blushed, and her eyes behind the golden rim sses sparkled with a hint of threatening meaning. "I didn''t see anything, I know nothing," Xu Musen quickly said. Bai Xin, realizing he had indeed seen everything, gave him a sharp look. "Wait by the door!" "Yes!" Xu Musen stood by the door holding the clothes. Bai Xin then entered the room, and the sound of tidying up could be heard. Xu Musen reflected that many women, while appearing very meticulous when out, were quitezy at home. Due to the sheer number of things women wear, it takes patience to keep things orderly; otherwise, they end up just tossing stuff aside. Yao Mingyue, who was a bit of a cleanliness freak, usually didn''t like to tidy up clothes. It''s just when there are children at home, she would start to pay a bit more attention. Speaking of which... This Teacher Bai seems to have been living alone all this time. The door opened. Bai Xin nced at him, still flushed, feeling as if her teacher''s dignity waspromised. "Come out quickly once you are done changing," she instructed. "Yes!" Xu Musen yed dumb at the moment, walked into the room and began changing his clothes. Bai Xin, meanwhile, took another sip of her hot coffee, and a strange sense of awkwardness began to fade. Being so used to being alone, she had be a bit indolent, never expecting to be seen in such a state today. And this was by her best friend''s favored future son-inw... but, he was also her junior. It''s okay, maybe he doesn''t understand anything? As she thought this, the door opened. The moment Xu Musen, now wearing the suit, stepped out, Bai Xin''s eyes lit up with surprise. With Xu Musen''s 1.82-meter stature, and the additional height from his shoe heels, he looked like he was about 1.85 meters tall. The suit''s material was of excellent quality, light yet well-structured, and perfectly fitted Xu Musen''s body. The suit was a light blue, not as mature as a ck suit, with a cut that was a mix of casual and business styles. Chapter 173: Chapter 116: Name Your Price for the Deal!_2 It gives off the impression of a young, talented man at first sight. With an upright chest and broad shoulders, wearing cropped suit trousers that give a clean, refreshing look, his leg proportions seem even longer. Readtest stories on m_v-l''e|-NovelBin The pocket at the neckline with a white handkerchief as a stand-up cor makes it look moreyered. Xu Musen sported a fresh short haircut, his skin still had a bit of a healthy sun-kissed color, with thick eyebrows and bright eyes, the whole person exuded the vibe of a rich, elite scion who had returned from studying abroad. "Auntie Bai, does this look alright?" "Liu Rushuang''s taste has never been off, okay, let''s head out." Bai Xin withdrew her gaze, picked up her bag, stood up, and walked out of the office. Walking on the school grounds. Bai Xin, the beautiful counselor, was famously eye-catching, and she drew a lot of attention wherever she went. Today, Xu Musen behind her in a suit also became the focus of many, appearing even more mature and possessing a charm beyond his peers. "Damn, wearing a suit at school is really showing off." "But that suit is truly handsome, you can tell it''s not cheap at a nce." "Howe he''s walking with Teacher Bai? Could he be her man?" "Impossible, he looks so young." "That''s where you''re na?ve, just look at Xiao Yaxuan, as long as you have money, boyfriends are forever eighteen!" Xu Musen couldn''t hear these gossips, but just by looking at the expressions, he could guess quite a bit. After all, at this age, it would be strange not to engage in gossip. ... Arriving at the parking lot, Bai Xin''s ride was a white BMW, true to form for the affluent friend of an affluentdy. Bai Xin drove, and Xu Musen got into the passenger seat, finally shaking off the curious stares. Xu Musen heaved a sigh. "Why the sigh?" Bai Xin asked. "I''m just reflecting that being too attractive is not always good, being the subject of gossip wherever you go." Was that supposed to be apliment? Bai Xin buckled her seat belt and spoke nonchntly, "I''m already used to it. The minds of boys and girls in adolescence are filled with this stuff, gossip is endless day by day, ignoring it naturally makes it nonexistent." "With your experience, Auntie Bai, you surely had lots of boys chasing after you back then?" Bai Xin nced at Xu Musen, "I''m not interested in immature little boys." With that, Bai Xin floored the gas pedal, and the car shot forward, leaving the scene. Inside a hotel, the entrance was already crowded with parked cars. Today''s event was attended not just by school leaders but also by quite a few corporate representatives, showing significant interest in the military training performance. After all, college students are likely to stay and work locally after graduation, and making an impression on these students now means being able to recruit outstanding graduates into thepanyter. It also serves as an opportunity to enhance thepany''s image. "There are a lot of people here today, you are responsible for smiling and nodding, and don''t drink if you don''t have to. I wouldn''t want Liu Rushuang to say that I failed to take good care of her ''calf''." Bai Xin added another instruction. "Crystal clear." Xu Musen nodded, though in his previous life, apanying Yao Mingyue to many meetings, he wasn''t nervous at all. "What are you holding in your hand?" Bai Xin then noticed he, too, was carrying a briefcase. "A secret weapon." Xu Musen replied with a mysterious smile. Bai Xin gave him a look and walked straight into the hotel. Upon entering the designated private room, they found it already crowded with people, who warmly greeted "Teacher Bai" as they saw her enter. A few older guests also inquired. "Little Xin, how are Professor Bai and Professor Yang doing now?" "Very well, thank you for your concern, uncles." Bai Xin smiled and nodded politely. Xu Musen, standing by the side, could see that Teacher Bai came from an erudite family, probably full of educators. "And who''s this behind you..." They noticed Xu Musen, who, in his smart suit, looked handsome, sunny, and carried a steady demeanor that was quite eye-catching. "This is a student from my ss, also the child of a friend of mine; he''s here today for the military training performance''s advertising sponsorship. The Kangaroo Delivery service that''s recently popr in our school is his startup project." With one sentence, Bai Xin closely associated Xu Musen with herself, looking every bit the mentor bringing along a junior. "Oh, this young man looks quite impressive." "I''ve also heard about Kangaroo Delivery, quite a thoughtful idea from the young man, promoting part-time employment among the students, verymendable." Several people immediately started praising him. "Greetings, elders." Xu Musen also promptly greeted everyone humbly. But judging from the reactions, it seemed that the Bai family seniors held a respectable position in themunity. Great, it looked like he was surrounded by richdies. Soon, school leaders and corporate representatives started taking their seats one after another. There were several students at the event, apparently representative entrepreneurial college students from various schools. The moment for them to speak came towards the end of the gathering. "Distinguished leaders and bosses, I am Wang Wei from the University of Engineering, and this is the bracelet I designed. Just wearing it allows you to constantly monitor your heartbeat and provides exercise rmendations..." One by one, the students began presenting their startup projects. Some projects were quite forward-looking, but none so much that they made the attendees exim, "This is a project I, Wang Duoyu, will invest in." After all, many college students are proudly ambitious, always wanting toe up with high-tech creations. Such things require costs; the corporate attendees are there for the benefit of theirpanies. Having potential is not as good as having money. Chapter 174: Chapter 116: Name Your Price for the Deal!_3 Society is just so realistic. "Ladies and gentlemen, leaders, bosses, I am Zhu Yn from Hu Hai University." Then, a voice with a bit of the Hu Hai ent resounded, carrying a hint of confidence. Xu Musen lifted his head and looked up, his eyes brightening. She was a girl with looks that could score eight or nine out of ten, stunning in appearance. Dressed in a long white gown, she seemed tall and rather slim. Her entire attire spoke of a well-bred youngdy with a lot of ss. "I''veunched a recruitment software. Unlike a certain city''s method of posting and sending resumes, my slogan is to directlymunicate online, face-to-face with the boss, targeting small and micro businesses. This allows them to acquire the most matching resumes at the smallest cost..." The girl named Zhu Yn talked eloquently without showing any signs of stage fright, now many enterprises had be interested. They needed toe to schools to invest in recruitment, and their ultimate goal was to attract college students to join theirpanies. They spent quite a sum on this annually, and if there was such software, it did sound very promising indeed. And Xu Musen thought to himself, isn''t this just the "BOSS Zhipin" necessary for fresh graduates in his previous life? Not to mention, aside from a certain city''s tform, there really weren''t any decent rival software options. College students could only go to job fairs or through campus recruiting, and many small businesses couldn''t afford promotions. The essence of business is information disparity. Xu Musen observed the girl, thinking her idea was quitemendable indeed. And his own Kangaroo Takeout would eventually cover all major universities. Which meant having the big data from Hu Hai University at his fingertips; if he developed such software, he would have a tremendous advantage. Many of the corporate representatives present nodded in agreement. "Thank you, all leaders." The girl finished speaking, showing a confident expression on her face and bowed slightly before sitting down. So far, her idea was indeed the most appetizing one for the corporations. Now it was Xu Musen''s turn. He was calm because, so far, almost everyone had only presented their thoughts and ns. Explore more stories at m,v l''e-NovelBin But none had but forward any real achievements, results that could be quantified into numbers. "Ladies and gentlemen, bosses, I am Xu Musen from Hu Hai University. Before I start my presentation, I have prepared a spreadsheet for everyone to review." As he spoke, Xu Musen took out a stack of documents and distributed a copy to each person. The content was actually very simple, just the user activity and revenue stats from Kangaroo Takeout since itsunch. It was like a monthly financial statement for apany. "We achieved a turnover of fifty thousand within three days, which is quite impressive." "And user activity is at around one to two thousand people per day. For an in-campus software, this is quite astonishing." The many business leaders examining the report in their hands were now seriously considering the project as apany partnership for the first time. After all, they were better at selling pie in the sky than anyone else, but real data cannot lie. Fifty thousand in turnover might not be much for them, but amongst these college students, it was the only impressive report card. Suddenly, many business leaders started extending their olive branches, ready to talk further. At this moment, the university students in attendance exchanged looks; wasn''t this supposed to be just a boastful chat to attract sponsorship? Howe he actually came to show off his achievements? This was like them ying a three, and Xu Musen mming down a royal flush! What''s left there topete for? Zhu Yn also opened her mouth slightly in surprise, having not expected that her seemingly secure position would be instantly usurped by the sudden emergence of Xu Musen. Bai Xin looked up and gazed at Xu Musen. So this was the secret weapon he had prepared. Capital doesn''t look at effort, only value. All those grand promises from the college students mean nothing in the face of solid data. This little guy did indeed have a thing or two up his sleeve. And Xu Musen wasn''t worried about thesepanies stealing his project; after all, he hadn''t disclosed the core aspect. Moreover, in their eyes, his small project currently didn''t amount to much. It was like Xiao Yan just bing a first-level fighter, and the Hall of Souls immediately arriving with an army to obliterate him. Or like you just opened a tiny grocery store not even ten square meters big at the entrance of your vige, and Ma Yun ns to use business tactics to bankrupt you. It''s simply not worth the trouble. Xu Musen chatted with a few representatives. He took a break to go to the restroom. Humming a tune on his way back, he suddenly came around a corner and a tall, slender figure blocked his path. Xu Musen stopped in his tracks, and before him stood Zhu Yn, the same girl. "What''s up?" Zhu Yn looked at him with her arms folded across her chest and a slightly arrogant expression on her pretty face. "Your project, I want it. Name your price." "???" Chapter 175: Chapter 117 Aunt Bai, what if I want to chase you? Xu Musen hated most in his life was people opening and closing their mouths about wanting to keep him as a kept man. A life of luxury and dependence was something he would never lift again! The girl in front of him had an extraordinary air about her but seemed to carry a touch of arrogance. Currently, with her arms folded across her chest, she conveyed a somewhat lofty and dismissive attitude. Like a demanding youngdy of high status. "Sorry, if you''re looking for a gigolo go to Japan, I don''t offer such services." Xu Musen turned to leave. The girl stepped forward again, blocking his way, perhaps realizing her words had carried some ambiguity. Her slender face reddened slightly, "What I mean is, if you drop out of this investment invite, I just want the title of winning the bid. You can have all the reward money, and I''ll even give you an additional sum. How about that?" Zhu Yn was very confident. Wasn''t the purpose of starting a business all about money? But she was different, she wanted to prove to her family that she could achieve great things even without them! She never expected that what seemed like a sure victory would be challenged out of nowhere by some ''Kangaroo Delivery'' service. And the preparation from the other side was indeed very intimidating. If nothing went wrong, the boy before her was going to take away the investment bid. Tens of thousands of investment funds weren''t important to her, but the title from this bid was supposed to be her first honorary title on her entrepreneurial journey. Xu Musen looked at her and guessed her intentions. But Xu Musen also wanted the title from this investment bid, a rare opportunity to show his face before the representatives of major universities and businesses in Hu Hai. Leaving a good impression was his chance at future potential contacts. The value of these connections couldn''t be bought with just tens of thousands of yuan. If it had been any other entrepreneurial college student, they might have dly taken the money and walked away, but Xu Musen had grand ambitions. At the very least, he shouldn''t be so easily approached by someone waving tens of thousands of yuan wanting to keep him as a kept man in the future. Not even Yao Mingyue with her perverse generosity! "Sorry, I really want this opportunity as well, let''spete fairly." Xu Musen shook his head, not tempted in the slightest. "I''ll give you fifty thousand, and the investment money will be yours as well. If you miss this chance, there may not be another. Think about it." Zhu Yn presented an offer that no ordinary college student could refuse. An ordinary worker couldn''t earn tens of thousands in a year; fifty thousand plus the investment bonus was a considerable sum for an average family. "Not interested." Xu Musen waved his hand, "If there''s nothing else, I''ll be going." "Hey! I''m a girl, can''t you be a bit more chivalrous?" What kind of fairy from below you think you are, you wouldn''t be eptable even if you were an animal. "Chivalry doesn''t put food on the table, that''s not chivalry, that''s being pretentiously poor," Xu Musen said as he turned and walked away. "You! Don''t regret this! I..." Xu Musen had already pushed the door and entered the room. This was the first time Zhu Yn had ever been rejected by a guy. Was this guy blind? Even if it wasn''t for the money, he could have shown a better attitude for the sake of a beautiful woman like her, right? Zhu Yn stomped her foot angrily. She had never been so disrespected! This wasn''t over! ... Xu Musen had already forgotten about the incident. Lots ofpanies were extending invitations for further coboration. At social gatherings, it was inevitable to drink. Bai Xin would alwayse over to stop him. "Aunt Bai, actually I can drink a little," Xu Musen whispered to her side. "If you want to drink, you can drink by yourself at the next meeting. I won''t stop you. But this time, I promised Aunt Liu to look after you, so I won''t let you drink," Bai Xin said with a nce, although her words were straightforward, her actions still showed she looked after Xu Musen like a junior. When it was unavoidable to drink, Bai Xin helped him out by having a few cups. The banquetsted into the afternoon until all the leaders and representatives had been seen off. That girl, Zhu Yn, shot Xu Musen a deadly re before leaving. Then she boarded a ck Maybach and departed. Xu Musen looked at Bai Xin, who was flushed from the alcohol, a bit tipsy on her face. A neatly dressed man with a bookish appearance approached. "Miss Bai, let me drive you home," the man offered. The man was another teacher from the school, looking dutiful, which revealed him as a hopeless tterer. "No need," Bai Xin said, giving him a brief look and shaking her head. "You''ve had some drinks just now; you can''t drive. How about I drive you home and thene back myself?" The man had a cultivated smile, his gaze, however, lingered on Bai Xin''s voluptuous and tall figure. With a natural flush from the alcohol, Bai Xin looked like a perfectly ripe peach. "Aunt Bai, I can drive too. Let me take you," Xu Musen interjected with a bright smile. Stepping between them. Bai Xin looked at him, "Do you have a license?" Xu Musen took out a driver''s license from his briefcase, "Of course." It showed he had his license for less than a month. But Bai Xin turned around, opened the car door, and sat in the passenger seat. "Goodbye, teacher," Xu Musen said to the man, then opened the driver''s door and sat in the driver''s seat. For women, cars are an expression of personal territory. If the car is a man''s second home, Then for women, it''s their second bed. They rarely let someone else sit in the driver''s seat so easily. Chapter 176: Chapter 117 Aunt Bai, what if I want to chase you? _2 Xu Musen started off smoothly and drove away directly. Only leaving the male teacher staring in the direction they had left. A look somewhere between panic and indignation emerged on his refined face. Then he turned and walked away. "Auntie Bai, that guy just now seemed interested in you, was he a suitor of yours?" "There are plenty chasing me, but all that romance and love stuff is boring." Bai Xin, having had some drinks, spoke more casually. "Besides, that guy is no good. I heard that a few years ago, a female college student liked him, seems like there was something between them, and it caused quite a scene. In the end, the girl transferred schools." When Bai Xin talked about this, a look of disdain shed through her eyes. "Freshman girls, suddenly without parental constraints, can easily be swayed by the dazzling outside world. People gravitate towards strength, and it''s easy for girls to fall for someone who can take care of them or even dominate them. Every year there are cases of girls getting fooled by military drill instructors or teachers." Xu Musen sighed. Bai Xin looked at him with a smile, "You''re quite young but seem to know a lot. Boys are the same, though. Some young guys, I don''t know if they''re starved for love or what, but they also get tangled up with older women." "Becausepared to those young girls, the older sisters are indeed much better in character. They aren''t so affected, they know how to care for others, are well-read and reasonable, understanding, elegant in their manners, dignified and generous..." Xu Musen chuckled, but Bai Xin looked at him with an odd gaze, "Are you trying to butter me up, kid?" "You caught me." "Pfft, sweet talk doesn''t work on me anymore, save it to charm those young girls." Bai Xin stretched and yawned, feeling a bit dizzy. Xu Musen nced at her, she buckled her seatbelt, and it pressed against her chest, giving him a feeling as if it was plunging into a deep ravine. "Auntie Bai, may I be nosy and ask if you''re single right now?" "Do you have a problem with it?" "Of course not, just curious. With your beauty, Auntie Bai, there must be no shortage of people chasing you." The corners of Bai Xin''s mouth curved up as she looked at him, "I see there are plenty of girls around you too. Why don''t you date anyone?" "Cough cough, we''re all friends, the pure kind." "Heh." Bai Xin chuckled, seemingly hesitant yet eventually unable to hold back, "I don''t want to meddle in young people''s affairs, but Ming Yue is sort of my junior, a fool could see she likes you. What are your thoughts?" "Actually, being siblings with her is pretty good." "Childhood friends, huh? With so many years of feelings, can you really be content with just being siblings?" Bai Xin pressed further. Xu Musen fell silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled, looking earnestly at Bai Xin, "Miss Bai, what if I were to pursue you? Would you ept?" Bai Xin''szy posture stiffened for a second, her eyes fixed on Xu Musen, her face reddened more from the alcohol. She red at Xu Musen and pinched his ear, "Nonsense, you''re young and impertinent, I''m your auntie!" This kid really dared say it. If the two of them got together... How would she face her best friend? Am I to call you ''Aunt'' and you call me ''sister''? Enduring the pain in his ear, Xu Musen smiled helplessly, "You see? Good feelings aside, if it''s not suitable, it''s just not. Some people are better off as friends than lovers." Bai Xin red at him, "Are you deliberately saying this to shut me up?" "Just telling it like it is." Xu Musen chuckled. There are two quick ways to end a conversation with a woman: confession or asking for money. Instantly you''ll be branded as a "prawn" man, ensuring she won''t take the initiative to talk to you for a long time. "I can''t be bothered with you, ungrateful wretch." Bai Xin muttered under her breath, the rush of blood to her head from the alcohol making her feel dizzy. "Auntie Bai, shall I take you back to the campus or somewhere else?" "Dragon Mansion Gardens." Bai Xin said, as the effect of the alcohol slowly set in, leaning back in the car seat to rest for a while. Thisplex was rather famous in the area, and having lived there for many years in his past life, Xu Musen was very familiar with the roads of Hu Hai. Driving towards another road, he soon saw the Dragon Mansion Gardensplex, which was arge t residence. The house prices here were already over twenty thousand yuan, and in a few more years, when the prices skyrocketed, they could go up tenfold! It''s no wonder why the wealthy remain wealthy, Three generations could work themselves to death and make a couple million at best. But some buy a house, do nothing, and in a few years, its value increases by tens of millions. Money making money is truly terrifying. The security guards at the gate, all towering young men over 180 cm tall, started to salute from a distance when they saw the car approaching. He drove down to the underground garage. Bai Xin shook her dizzy head, pointing out the way to Xu Musen. Drinking in the summer and then driving isn''tfortable; Bai Xin was looking a little overwhelmed, her face turning red from the effort. Looks like her tolerance for alcohol isn''t that great either. "Auntie Bai, let me take you up." Xu Musen noted her wobbly walk and offered. "Okay." Bai Xin wasn''t too guarded against Xu Musen, after all, he was the man her best friend was interested in. Upon ascending in the elevator, the slight weightlessness made her dizziness worse. She rummaged through her bag, found her keys, and unlocked the door. Thisrge t was two to three hundred square meters, very spacious and warmly decorated, although the slippers at the entrance were haphazardly scattered about. Chapter 177: Chapter 117 Aunt Bai, what if I want to chase you?_3 And there were also some uneaten snacks lying around the room, with things like melon seed shells on the table... It was really messy, even Xu Musen couldn''t bear to look anymore. Bai Xin wasn''t in the mood to be embarrassed at this point, as the alcohol hit her, she trotted to the bathroom and hugged the toilet, dry heaving a few times. Xu Musen quickly went to the water dispenser to pour some hot water. He followed her to the bathroom and gently patted Bai Xin''s back. "Auntie Bai, you should''ve said you couldn''t handle your liquor earlier, actually, I can hold my drink pretty well," "If not for Ru Shuang asking me to take care of you, do you think I wanted to bother... blegh." Bai Xin hadn''t eaten anything, so after throwing up for a while, there wasn''t much toe out. Her stomach even made a couple of gurgling sounds. She took the cup of water, drank some hot water, and rinsed her mouth. It''s been a long time since shest drank, and she hadn''t expected her alcohol tolerance to be so poor now. Bai Xin rubbed her temples, so sleepy that all she wanted to do was sleep now. "Alright, you should head back early, I won''t see you out," Bai Xin opened the door to her bedroom, carelessly kicked off her high heels, and without even removing her stockings, she dived straight into bed. This really was trust in oneself... That made sense, after all, ording to what she said, when Xu Musen used to see Yao Mingyue, he was probably still wearing split-crotch pants. In her eyes, her impression of him was still that of a little child. Xu Musen silently closed the door behind him. As he turned to leave, he noticed the living room was a total mess. The upational disease of serving Yao Mingyue, the little princess sick with love, red up again, oh well, he thought, might as well clean up before leaving. While tidying up the sofa, Xu Musen pulled out a flesh-colored, transparent no-show sock from between the couch cushions. It was the kind used specifically for high heels, small and dainty like a little glove, and even had somece trim. There was an indescribably awkward feeling. Xu Musen:... He hastily flicked his hand, but the socknded precisely in the trash can. Xu Musen was worried about being mistakenlybeled a pervert, but now that the sock had fallen into the trash can and got a bit wet... never mind, he just threw it away with the rest of the trash. Half an hourter, the entire room was transformed. Xu Musen looked at the clean and tidy room with satisfaction, then he remembered how Bai Xin had hugged the toilet and yet hadn''t thrown up anything. Getting drunk without anything in your stomach only made it worse. Xu Musen opened the fridge to take a look, there was hardly any food, but luckily there were some greens, eggs, and some staples. Xu Musen thought about it and decided to make her a bowl of clear soup noodles. After being busy in the kitchen, Xu Musen preserved the bowl of clear soup noodles with cling film and left it on the table. Then he took the trash out of the room with him. ... Still in his suit, Xu Musen walked across the campus, attracting quite a bit of attention. Wearing a suit really does elevate one''s temperament and attractiveness significantly. Of course, a certain e-sports yer who snuck into his dad''s suit to walk the red carpet was an exception. Xu Musen nned to return to his dorm first, but on the way, he ran into Zhao Lianmai, who was delivering food. This girl was truly hardworking, and even though she was a small leader by now, she still ran around at the forefront every day. She had a peculiar fixation on money. "Hello, Zhao," Xu Musen greeted her. Zhao Lianmai looked up, the evening sunlight fell on Xu Musen, and at that moment, he truly appeared as though he had stepped out of aic book. Even though he might be a scumbag, Xu Musen''s handsomeness was real. Zhao Lianmai took an extra second to gaze at him, then nodded her head, "Mm." "Don''t work yourself to death, there''s a lot more to strive for in the future, go to the milk tea shop and drink some water if you''re free." "Alright." Zhao Lianmai nodded, then nced at him again, "Nuannuan is waiting for you in the shop." With that, she went back to delivering food. Xu Musen thought about it, looking so good in this outfit, how could he not show off a bit? So he headed to the milk tea shop first. The milk tea shop was still busy with a queue of customers. An Nuannuan was inside, helping out and seemingly enjoying herself. "Bossdy, there''s something odd about your milk tea!" "What''s odd about it?" An Nuannuan asked subconsciously, but when she looked up, she met Xu Musen''s smiling face. "The bossdy is strangely good-looking." Xu Musen spoke with a smile, his suit making him look like the leading man straight out of a CEO-boyfriendic. The girls in the queue for milk tea were all stunned, he was too outrageously handsome! The words might have sounded sleazy, buting from him, they seemed perfectly reasonable! An Nuannuan''s peach blossom eyes blinked, shimmering slightly. ... Evening. Bai Xin woke up groggily. When she awoke, she looked down at herself, her clothes untouched, having fallen asleep just like that. Explore stories at m,v l''e-NovelBin The afternoon''s events reyed in her mind, making Bai Xin blush and cover her face. She had actually brought her student home and, without any guard, went straight to bed in front of him. Although he was a junior, he was still a young man in the prime of his youth. And her alcohol tolerance was just too poor, thankfully nothing inappropriate had happened while she was drunk, otherwise where would her dignity as a teacher lie? She stood up, put on her slippers, and walked out of the room. But when she went into the living room, the lights were on, she walked over and her eyes widened instantly. There sat a somewhat white-haired but sturdy olddy with a pair of gold-framed sses, her eyes gleaming with wisdom. "Mom? How did you get here?" Bai Xin suddenly became alert. "I heard from those old guys that you drank today, so I came over to check on you, saw you were asleep and didn''t call you." Chapter 178: Chapter 117 Aunt Bai, what if I want to chase you?_4 Bai Xin''s mother wrote, which was what Professor Yang said. "Oh." Bai Xin nodded, "Nothing''s wrong, I''m just a bit sleepy." She saw a bowl of clear soup noodles wrapped in cling film on the table. The living room had also been tidied up and looked brand new; she thought it was her mother who had cleaned up for her. Her stomach growled, she was already hungry. She touched it and felt some warmth remaining, so she picked it up and heated it in the microwave. Professor Yang, watching her daughter who had lived alone for many years, kept her eyes on her. She felt something was off after she went into her room. She knew how sloppy her daughter was; every time she visited, her daughter''s room was aplete mess, but this time it was exceptionally clean and tidy. Moreover, she had never cooked before, so the bowl of clear soup noodles on the table must have been prepared by someone else. Yet, for so many years, her daughter had never been in contact with men, let alone brought one home. The microwave finished heating. Bai Xin brought the noodles back, took a bite with her chopsticks, and her eyes lit up. The vor was really good. "Mom, your cooking has improved this time; finally, you didn''t add sugar to it." Find exclusive stories on m_v l|e-NovelBin Professor Yang was an old-timer from Hu Hai, preferring a light taste in food and a bit on the sweeter side. Sometimes, Bai Xin really couldn''t stand it. The olddy watched her daughter and after a moment said, "Xiao Xin, tell mom, do you have a boyfriend now?" "Cough cough..." Bai Xin almost choked on her noodles, her face flushed: "Mom, what are you talking about?" "If you didn''t find a boyfriend, then who cleaned your room and who made this bowl of noodles?" Bai Xin was stunned for a moment before she realized, her room wasn''t cleaned by her mother? Who else could it be? No other men had been in her room, apart from her father... Wait, this afternoon... Xu Musen? It could only have been him who cleaned up. She hadn''t expected that a guy could clean up so well and even make this bowl of clear soup noodles. Although it was simple, the taste was really well-crafted, something hard to master if one didn''t cook often. Professor Yang, looking at her daughter who was no longer young, sighed: "You''ve always been single, it''s time to think about yourself. If you find a boyfriend, we certainly won''t object, as long as he''s a decent person." "Mom, you really misunderstood, I really don''t have a boyfriend." Bai Xin felt more and more awkward as she listened. "Then how do you exin all this?" "I... actually, it was the child of a friend who brought me home today, he might have cleaned up a bit casually." "A friend''s child?" "Ru Shuang''s family." "Ru Shuang ah... look at her, although she''s a few years older than you, her daughter is already in university, and look at you." Professor Yang obviously knew Liu Rushuang as well; after all, she was her former student. "Mom, I just think being alone is pretty good." Bai Xin was used to her mother''s nagging, but now she really wasn''t interested in love at all. "What''s so good about it? When it was just you before, the house was as messy as a pigsty, when you were sick or felt ufortable from drinking, don''t even think you''d have someone to make you a bowl of hot noodles..." Professor Yang spoke earnestly. Bai Xin didn''t refute anything; her gaze wandered around the room, taking in everything arranged neatlyit suddenly felt like a clean and tidy home. And this bowl of clear soup noodles, although simple, when you''re hungry, having such a bowl really brought a strong sense of happiness. In the evening, Professor Yang left after giving a few instructions. Bai Xin leaned on the sofa alone, looking at the clean living room; for the first time, the room felt a bit empty. She took out her phone, thought about it, and still called Xu Musen. "Hello, Auntie Bai, you''re awake?" "Mhm, did you clean the room and make the noodles?" "It was me; I saw it and cleaned up a bit. You didn''t eat all day, so I made something with the ingredients from the fridge. How''s my recipe? Not bad, right?" "It''s alright." Bai Xin said, but while looking at the bowl that had been emptied of a single drop of soup, she added softly, "But thanks for the trouble." "It''s nothing, Auntie Bai; you helped me with such a big favor, just a meal. If you don''t mind, I''ll make it for you whenever I have the time," Xu Musen said politely with a chuckle. "Sure." But Bai Xin suddenly said that. Xu Musen paused, not quite knowing how to respond, you really don''t stand on ceremony, do you? Bai Xinughed again: "You can just help me grind coffee every day." "Absolutely no problem!" Xu Musen responded with a smile. "By the way..." Bai Xin wanted to say something, but from the other end of the phone, a soft and cute voice came through. "Xu Musen, don''t move around, it''s all misaligned." "Staying in one position is a bit tiring, you know." "It''s only been a few minutes." "Alright, alright..." Xu Musen said, then picked up the phone again. "Aunt Bai, what were you saying?" "It''s nothing, you should also rest early tonight." "Sure thing." The phone call ended. Bai Xin sat quietly on the sofa for a while. What in the world was that noise from the other side? Suddenly she remembered something and looked under the sofa. Eh? Where had her socks, which she had taken off earlier, gone? ... Meanwhile, at the milk tea shop. An Nuannuan was holding a drawing board, using Xu Musen as a model to draw. Xu Musen posed with a suave hair-flicking gesture. His hand was going numb. After a while, An Nuannuan finally nodded in satisfaction. "That''s good." Xu Musen shook his arms, feeling relieved. "Nuannuan, howe you suddenly decided to drawics?" An Nuannuan paused, lifting her drawing board to shield her small face: "I wanted to try a different drawing method, to find some inspiration." "Is that so? What kind ofics are you drawing then?" "I''m not telling you." "Stingy, If you keep this up, I''m not going to be your free model anymore." "What if I give you another pair, would that be okay?" An Nuannuan blinked her eyes. "A pair of what...??" Xu Musen looked at her. Do you think it''s normal to pay people with socks? I''m not a pervert! "Xu Musen, can I draw one more pose, please?" An Nuannuan looked at him full of expectation. "What''s in it for me?" "Well, if I stand for a while, my feet might start to hurt, and I might need someone to help me massage them..." An Nuannuan didn''t finish speaking. Xu Musen rolled up his sleeves: "Let''s get started, not for anything else, just because I love art!" An Nuannuan lifted her peach-blossom eyes to look at him, her pink lips curving into a cute arc. And this pose was An Nuannuan slowly standing up against the wall, with Xu Musen supporting her with one hand and the other hand mming against the wall. The two were very, very close to each other. Xu Musen couldn''t help but ask, "Nuannuan, is thisic you''re drawing really legit?" An Nuannuan didn''t answer; she held the sketchbook close to him as if she was feeling something. Finally, she lifted her head, and ripples appeared in her peachy eyes. An Nuannuan pursed her lips, looking at Xu Musen in his suit, just like the overbearing CEOs in theics she had been reading over the past few days. And he even seemed a bit more handsome. "Xu Musen, can you say that line, ''You have sessfully gained my attention''?" "????" ... The next day was thest for submitting the tender and investment proposals. Xu Musen was already holding the prepared documents, ready to get Bai Xin''s signature. At that moment, at the entrance of Hu Hai University. A slender and tall figure appeared at the gate. Zhu Yn touched the bulging little bag at her waist and snorted. "I refuse to believe that I can''t bring you down..." Chapter 179: Chapter 118: Yao Mingyues Invitation, Waiting for You by the River. ssroom Building. Zhu Yn looked at the signboard of the ssroom Building all the way. She still remembered that yesterday Xu Musen had introduced himself, saying he was from this department. Moreover, the counselor Bai Xin who had brought him here was also a popr teacher at Hu Hai University; she had easily found the office location. Today was thest day to submit the application materials, so he would definitelye to find the counselor for a signature. She would just stake out here for him! ... At this moment, Xu Musen also brought his materials to the ssroom Building to find Bai Xin. As he passed by a staircase, a figure suddenly burst out in front of him. "Xu Musen, stop right there...ouch!" Zhu Yn wanted to jump out to intimidate him, but the staircase''s tiled floor was freshly mopped and appeared very wet. She slipped, and her whole body staggered and fell t on her back. What the heck? Xu Musen''s mind raced with thoughts. Is this some sort of standard Japanese animeedy beginning? Is the next moment where the female lead ends up on top of the male lead, apanied by an idental kiss? But who am I, Xu Musen? He was holding documents in one hand, and his other hand instinctively reached out at lightning speed. He meant to grab her shoulder, but as she was falling quickly, Xu Musen''s hand just ended up catching her fair and slender neck, his palm supporting her corbone and halting her fall. This scene looked like Xu Musen was choking her as he lifted her up. But at least he managed to steady her body. "Cough cough let go of me..." Zhu Yn''s throat was ufortable, and she coughed. Xu Musen quickly withdrew his hand, only then noticing her appearance. Wasn''t this the girl who was hispetitor yesterday? "Is it you?" "You, cough...couldn''t you have protected me just now?" Zhu Yn''s pretty face turned red from holding her breath, and as she looked at Xu Musen, her bright eyes were also turning red from choking. "If I hadn''t protected you, you''d already be one with the floor now." Xu Musen spoke without any courtesy, for this girl had definitely jumped out to scare him on purpose. "You!" Zhu Yn gently patted her chest; if she had been just a bit slower, Xu Musen''s hand wouldn''t have touched her corbone but her chest... Feeling her cheeks turn even redder, she thought to herself that even her corbone shouldn''t be casually touched by others! "Xu Musen, you did it on purpose, didn''t you!" Enjoy new adventures from m-v l''e|-NovelBin "What did I do on purpose?" Xu Musen felt bewildered. "You did it on purpose... taking advantage of me, you..." "Hahaha." Before she could finish her sentence, Xu Musen couldn''t help but burst intoughter. Zhu Yn gritted her teeth in anger: "What are youughing at?" "It''s good to have confidence, but you also should weigh your own worth first, shouldn''t you?" Xu Musen shook his head with a smile. His gaze casually swept over her chest. Heh, even if I wanted to take advantage, you''d need to offer a bit more substance. Wealthy people are indeed different, carrying around an airport with them. Why would I leave An Nuannuan''s big watermelon uneaten, to steal a taste from your tiny sesame seed? Although this girl has a face score of eight or nine points and is definitely school belle material at the university, in a long flowery dress, her long hair styled exquisitely, with delicate facial features and big, round eyes. A tall girl with a stern face can give off a very ssy feel. It''s just that Xu Musen has spent too much time around Yao Mingyue and An Nuannuan, and no matter how beautiful another girl might be, to him they are just so-so. Zhu Yn looked down at herself and hummed... she could see half her foot. That could barely pass for a first-year high school student''s level. She fell silent for a second or two, her pretty face suddenly turning a bit dark; she forcefully calmed her emotions. "Pervert!" "You''re the one who jumped out, who else can you me?" Xu Musen didn''t bother with her any longer, ready to continue upstairs. But Zhu Yn blocked him again, her eyes locking onto the documents in his hand. "Xu Musen, I''ll give you one more chance to think it over, hand me what you''ve got there, give up on this financing round, and I can give you a sum of money right now!" As she spoke, she pulled out her purse, opened a corner, and inside was a thick stack of red bills. It looked like about a hundred thousand. Turns out she really is a wealthy woman. "I''m not interested." Xu Musen only nced at it briefly, thinking she wanted to crush him with money? First be richer than Yao Mingyue, not to mention there''s still the adorable Nuannuan. "There''s a hundred thousand here! Even if you hit the jackpot with your investment, it''s only this much money, so why won''t you agree?" "If you have that much money, why do you still need this investment opportunity so badly?" "I''m different from you guys, I''m not doing this for the money, I''m doing it to prove toanyway, I''m set on this investment!" Zhu Yn said with determination. Xu Musen could guess a little; for wealthy second-generation entrepreneurs, it''s often about proving themselves to their families. In the movie "Police Story," the yboy Ah Zu was seeking thrills in the same way. But most wealthy second-generation entrepreneurs end up losing money. There''s a saying that fits: don''t fear a rich second generation living off their parents, fear them starting a business. There have been real-life examples of rich second-generations trying to prove themselves only to lose everything their ancestors worked for. But this startup was also very important to Xu Musen. This was his turning point to fire the first shot in proving he doesn''t live off others. There was no way he could give it up! "You have your reasons, I have mine, let''s see who''s got the skills." Xu Musen shook his head, but Zhu Yn stood at the staircase entrance, blocking him with every step he took. It was as if she wouldn''t leave today without ruling on this matter. Chapter 180: Chapter 118: Yao Mingyues Invitation, Waiting for You by the River._2 "Set your terms! As long as you pull out of this investment, I''ll agree to anything you want!" Zhu Yn crossed her arms, looking down at Xu Musen from on high. Xu Musen stroked his chin. Find more adventures on m-v|-NovelBin "Any conditions?" His gaze lingered on the girl, and although he felt a bit disappointed by the curves at her chest, her face was quite lovely, and she was tall too, her legs under the long skirt were fair and slender. He couldn''t shake the feeling that her EQ wasn''t quite there though. If An Nuannuan was a bit silly, then this girl was really quite, well, rough around the edges. "Of course, I''m Zhu Yn and I always keep my word!" Zhu Yn thought he was tempted and let out a haughty snort in her heart, feeling quite proud of herself. "Alright, then be my girlfriend." Xu Musen''s tone shifted suddenly, adopting an innocent smile. "I didn''t hear... What?!" Zhu Yn instinctively agreed, but then her eyes widened in shock the next instant! Her pretty face instantly turned as red as if it were dyed; she stepped back, her gaze filled with shock and wariness. "You, you can''t be serious; I''m not that kind of girl, I haven''t even had a... " Zhu Yn''s thoughts were in utter disarray as she continued to mutter. "If you can''t do it, then let''s not talk, goodbye." Xu Musen waved his hand dismissively and walked right past her. Indeed, the two ultimate moves in dealing with girls. Confessing, borrowing money. Works every time. Meanwhile, Zhu Yn stood rooted to the spot, stomping her foot in a tantrum as she watched his figure disappear around the corridor corner. "Rascal, jerk, scoundrel!" Xu Musen''s remark hadpletely thrown off all her preparations. Fuming, she turned on her heel and left. But as she passed the corner of the staircase, she almost bumped into a soft embrace. "Ah, I''m sorry..." Zhu Yn began to apologize, and the moment she looked up, she met a pair of dark, captivating phoenix eyes. Such a beautiful girl. Though Zhu Yn was quite proud of herself, she couldn''t help but admire the girl before her. Yao Mingyue said nothing but squinted her phoenix eyes and took in Zhu Yn from head to toe. Somehow, despite the summer heat, Zhu Yn felt a chill run down her spine. The darkness in Yao Mingyue''s eyes seemed to recede a bit after a nce at Zhu Yn''s chest. "Are you friends with the guy from before?" Yao Mingyue spoke faintly, but her gaze held an indefinable pressure. "Friends? I would never want to be friends with him!" Zhu Yn was still fuming at the memory of his words. Yao Mingyue nodded at this, but there remained a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes as she silently turned and walked away. "What a weirdo..." Zhu Yn stood still, puzzled by the departing figure. ... At that moment, in the office. "Was it you who cleaned my room yesterday?" Bai Xin was dressed in a light cyan dress that day, radiating a sisterly charm rather than her usual polished elegance. "It was me. You''re not suspecting me of stealing something, are you, Aunt Bai?" Xu Musen replied with a smile. Bai Xin rolled her eyes, realizing that she had indeed misced a pair of socks yesterday. But looking at Xu Musen, with his open and bright appearance, she doubted he was a fetishist. She said, "I just didn''t expect a guy to be so meticulous with housework, and you can cook too." "Multiple skills do not weigh one down." Xu Musen certainly wouldn''t admit that his skills had been honed by dealing with his past little "sickly darling." Many of the things he was doing now were actually to his advantage, thanks to the skills that Yao Mingyue had nurtured in him in his previous life. Otherwise, in hisst life, he would have just been a poor programmer, and by the age of thirty-five, both his job and his hairline would have been "optimized" away by thepany. Every coin has two sides, indeed. Bai Xin looked at him, silently set down her coffee cup, and signed his investment proposal. "You shouldn''t have any issues with the bidding this time, but you still need to pay attention to details and not be too arrogant. Plus, several students have quite good entrepreneurial proposals. The military training ceremony will be split into several events, and if you advertise everywhere, you''ll waste resources due to ovep. So, I suggest you make it mutually beneficial." Bai Xin shared her advice; the school wasrge and even if you secured sponsorship for advertising, you couldn''t possibly cover every ce. Firstly, it would be a waste of resources, and secondly, advertising costs moneythe sponsorship funds are only around a hundred thousand yuan, which isn''t enough to throw around without care. This was the time to bring others into the fold for advertising, setting the terms yourself. For instance, offering a finder''s fee, or requiring mention of yourpany when others advertise, which could reduce costs and boost visibility. It''s also good for making connections, which maye in handy if someone''spany takes off in the future. Xu Musen nodded; this was new to him. And then, he had an idea involving someone. Xu Musen, holding the document, went to submit the application form. In the office building, Xu Musen indeed encountered Zhu Yn again. But this time, Zhu Yn avoided him as soon as she saw him. Xu Musen, however, greeted her with a cheery approach. "Zhu, wait, don''t go! " "Tch! Give it up, you sleazebag, there''s no way I''ll agree to it!" Zhu Yn blushed at the sight of him, though it was out of anger. "I was just joking earlier. Actually, I thought about it, and as ssmates, we should help each other out. I''ve got an idea, do you wanna hear it?" Chapter 181: Chapter 118: Yao Mingyues Invitation, Waiting for You by the River. _3 Xu Musen came up to her and looked at her as if he was looking at a giant leek. "What?" Zhu Yn still looked at him warily. "I''ve been thinking, the school is so big, I can''t take care of everything by myself. If my sponsorship is sessful, I would still allow your advertisements to be disyed on campus. What do you think?" Zhu Yn''s eyes lit up, but looking at Xu Musen''s sincere expression, she couldn''t shake the feeling that he was up to no good. "You would be that kind-hearted?" "Of course! I''m actually very easy to talk to, and I keep my word." "Spill it, what do you really want?" Zhu Yn knew there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. She held her chest but still looked at him with suspicious eyes. Xu Musen looked at her gesture and couldn''t help but shake his head. Where dust settles on something that''s already empty? "This time, we need to prepare a lot of banners. As long as your banners have the kangaroo delivery logo and information, I will allow you to hang them." Zhu Yn thought about it. The school wasrge, especially the banners on the stage and the fans and drinks distributed during the event. The cost of all these wasn''t low. But money wasn''t a problem for her. In this way, they would be at most on equal footing, which wouldn''t be embarrassing. "Also, it''s going to be hot during the military training performance, and I was thinking of giving out lemonade for free. You should order a batch." "Can''t I just give you the money directly?" Zhu Yn, listening to all this, knew these were things money could solve, so why did she need to run the errand herself? "Talking about money is so sentimental. I know a milk tea shop, you can talk to thedy boss there, she''s really nice and will definitely give you the best price!" Xu Musen handed her the "Shanghai Auntie" business card with a big smile. Zhu Yn looked at it. The milk tea shop''s signboard was also hand-drawn by An Nuannuan. It seemed very exquisite. "That''s it?" "That''s it. Rest assured, I''m a man of my word," Xu Musen said, nodding. Zhu Yn put away the business card but still went in with her materials to submit them. Seems like she''s still not quite convinced... Xu Musen smiled and also submitted his materials. In the afternoon. Xu Musen leisurely made his way to the milk tea shop. There weren''t many takeout orders at this time. Zhao Lianmai was in the shop, not resting, but busy making milk tea, asionally chatting with An Nuannuan. You have to say she''s truly diligent, and not only that, she''s a top-tier paru who''s a "handmade" "transporter" "gatherer" "life-liver" in everything! An Nuannuan was alternating between minding the shop and drawingics, asionally stopping to look up bashfully, as if the plot in the drawing made her embarrassingly delighted. She was much like those authors who have never been in love but are keen on writing romance novels, Giggling foolishly when drawing the main characters doing intimate things. "Your man has arrived." Zhao Lianmai whispered to An Nuannuan. This girl, who rarely spoke much to anyone, asionally made jokes only with An Nuannuan. And yes, she also liked ''shipping'' An Nuannuan and Xu Musen. "Hello, bossdy, how''s business today?" Xu Musen approached An Nuannuan. An Nuannuan quickly closed her sketchbook and, raising her clear eyes, took out her small ledger. "Mhm, today we sold two hundred thirty-two cups of milk tea, and the ie was over two thousand~" An Nuannuan proudly boasted about today''s achievements, feeling a stronger sense of aplishment in working hard and earning money. "The military training performance is approaching, and lots of people areing to join the activities. We''ll definitely get many reservations then. You can''t miss out on this money-making opportunity." Xu Musen hinted at her with a smile. An Nuannuan seriously nodded, "So, I should be a conniving merchant and fleece the customers, right?" "How could that be called fleecing customers? It''s just a technical adjustment due to normal market fluctuations," Xu Musen taught her earnestly. Zhao Lianmai listened on the side in silence, really wanting to say, Nuannuan, please don''t learn this stuff from this jerk. Eventually, you''ll be a capitalist deserving themppost treatment. A perfectly nk sheet, now fully illustrated with the shape of Xu Musen. In the evening, the results of the sponsorship came out. Xu Musen unsurprisingly obtained the rights to the contract, and he immediately went to order arge number of banners, fans, and kangaroo delivery stickers to stick on the lemonade cups, reinforcing the brand in customers'' minds. Outside the milk tea shop. Zhu Yn, looking at the address on the business card, found the milk tea shop and raised her head to look at the sign. Shanghai Auntie... The avatar was drawn with simple lines, but with a mature and elegant female contour. She had seen many milk tea shops before, but this one indeed seemed pretty good. She walked over. "Wee, what may I get for you?" Zhao Lianmai greeted her. Zhu Yn looked around the shop and said, "Excuse me, is your... bossdy around?" "Yes!" An Nuannuan, who was drawing, now raised her head, seemingly proud of her title as the bossdy. Zhu Yn looked at this cute and na?ve-looking girl and couldn''t help but marvel. Another beautiful girl! Are there really that many beauties at Hu Hai University now? "Are you the bossdy?" Zhu Yn looked at her, and An Nuannuan, sitting in a wheelchair, appeared very petite, especially with her clear eyes which made you want to protect her. "Uh-huh, I am the bossdy, the certified kind!" An Nuannuan nodded quickly. Chapter 182: Chapter 118: Yao Mingyues Invitation, Waiting for You by the River._4 Zhu Yn couldn''t help but scream inside her head, "So cute, so cute!" At the same time, she remembered the Xu Musen who had asked her toe here to order lemonade. Maybe he was using this as a way to bring business to the young proprietress and take the opportunity to hit on girls? What a scheming man! "What do you want with me?" asked An Nuannuan, seeing that she remained silent, out of curiosity. "It''s like this, the military training performance ising up soon, and I want to order a batch of lemonade," Zhu Yn said. Zhao Lianmai''s eyes flickered at this; not long ago Xu Musen had mentioned that someone mighte to order arge amount of lemonade, and now someone indeed had. And, looking at the girl in front of her, who was quite pretty too, she couldn''t help thinking that this girl seemed to be no ordinary girl. No girl that guy knows seems to be simple... "Oh oh~ Got it, we have that, we have that," An Nuannuan brightened up, remembering what Xu Musen had told her. "Okay, then I''ll order a thousand cups to start with, they''re three bucks each, right?" Zhu Yn said while looking at the price list, getting ready to pay. But An Nuannuan took a brush and wrote on a piece of paper, then pped it onto the price list. "Lemonade, four yuan a cup!" Zhu Yn: ??? Raising prices on the spot!! And I''ve never seen someone so tant about doing it either! What happened to the promised ''adorable and clueless'' act? "You... why did it get more expensive?" "Because the consumption of lemons is too hightely, these are all from greenhouses, and I find them expensive myself," An Nuannuan spoke earnestly. Zhao Lianmai''s corners of the mouth twitched, and for some reason, she felt she could see Xu Musen''s shadow of a crafty businessman on An Nuannuan. Could this be the famed ''couple resemnce''? Zhu Yn was momentarily at a loss for words, recalling Xu Musen''s words to her, "The bossdy is very nice." I believed his nonsense! "...Alright, four yuan then, four yuan," Zhu Yn, not bothered about the money, pped down the cash and left quickly. An Nuannuan happily put the deposit into the cash register, watching Zhu Yn leave. Zhao Lianmai, through her interactions over the days, could tell that An Nuannuan''s family was probably not short on money either. Stay connected via m-v l|e''-NovelBin "Nuannuan, you probably don''tck money, right? Why do you seem to love making money so much?" she couldn''t help asking. "Because I feel great when I earn money through my own efforts, and also..." An Nuannuan paused, her fair little face filled with pleasure: "And Xu Musen always seems very keen on making money, I want to help him too." Zhao Lianmai listened, a warm current stirring in her heart. So innocent and pure. No wonder, he spoils her so much. As night fell, Xu Musen finally finished his work. He nned to find his adorable Nuannuan and go out for a hot pot dinner to celebrate. But his phone suddenly rang. Ming Yue. Xu Musen saw this note on his phone, and since thest incident at the milk tea shop, she had been quite quiet. Perhaps for this ''tsundere'', that day''s events had touched a certain bottom line. He hesitated for a second but still answered the call. "Hello." No response came from the other end of the phone, just the sound of the wind by the river. "Is there anything you need?" Xu Musen asked again. "Xu Musen." Yao Mingyue''s voice came through, though it sounded a little airy. Just like... "Have you been drinking?" Xu Musen frowned slightly. Yao Mingyue sometimes drank wine to relieve work stress, but she wasn''t one to drink alone. "Will youe out for a drink with me?" Yao Mingyue asked, her voice carrying a flutteringughter. "Where are you?" Xu Musen listened to the sound of the winding from the phone, indicating she was outside. "By the riverside on The Bund, I''m alone. Will youe?" "You went out to drink by yourselfte at night?" Xu Musen frowned, not keen on meddling with this ''tsundere'', but he couldn''t let her have an actual mishap. "Xu Musen, I want to have a proper talk with you, can youe over? Just consider it as repaying the favor you owe me fromst time." Yao Mingyue''s voice was fluttery and unusually serious, even a bit pleading... Xu Musen was silent for a second. "Location." On the other end of the phone, Yao Mingyue swayed the red wine in her hand as the river waves surged, feeling like the ocean under the night sky. Listening to Xu Musen''s voice, her rosy lips slightly curved up. "On The Bund by the riverside, under a blue parasol. I''ll wait for you..." Chapter 183: Chapter 119 Yao Mingyue: Lets Start Over. The Bund. The dazzling neon lights of the skyscrapers reflected off the river, creating a brilliant reflection. This was a holynd for many young people to date and check in. The river beach was piled into a sandy beach with sand, and at night the glittering waves really gave a sense of the ocean. Xu Musen arrived at The Bund, where there were plenty of tents and parasols, and at night, vendors woulde over to provide chairs and drinks. Xu Musen walked along the riverside, and after a while, he finally saw the blue parasol. It was quiet here, with no one around. And beneath the parasol, that graceful yet slightly lonely figure sat silently. Her long hair was as dark as ink, blending into the night, and her fair skin was as soft and tender as freshly fallen snow. She had been sitting there alone for who knows how long, with a few cocktail bottles scattered around. Xu Musen walked quietly on the sand, but Yao Mingyue still sensed him somehow, her delicate ears acting like the radar of a bat in the night. She turned her head, her beautiful cheeks flushed with drunkenness, looking less severe than usual, and more naive like a young girl. The river breeze gently brushed her long hair, which fluttered in the wind and hung by her ears and in front of her eyes, giving her a somewhat shattered beauty. "You really came, I thought you might keep avoiding me," she said. Yao Mingyue looked at him, her cheeks flushed, a smile appearing on them, her eyes reflecting the fragmented scenes of the river surface under the night sky. "You really are something,ing out to drink alone in the dead of night?" Xu Musen walked over and snatched the drink from her hand. But Yao Mingyue picked up another bottle, apparently having drunk quite a bit already,cking her usual aloofness and insteadughing somewhat heartlessly. "Because if I don''t drink, I''ll keep thinking about you," her gaze intense, she revealed a foolish smile, "but after I drink, I end up thinking about you even more." Experience exclusive tales on mvl Xu Musen looked at her, silently. Yao Mingyue''s feelings for him, though distorted, were definitely genuine. In their past life, Xu Musen could always endure her temper, because Yao Mingyue truly cared about him and truly loved him. If it hadn''t been for one incident after another, umting until the final straw broke the camel''s back, perhaps they would have continued on. But sickly emotions are a disease, and if not cured, will ultimately lead to an incurable end. Xu Musen didn''t want to be enemies with her, after all, they were once husband and wife, but he also had no wish to repeat the same mistakes. "Yao Mingyue..." Xu Musen wanted to say something, but Yao Mingyue shushed him. She extended a fair finger to her flushed lips, the gesture somewhat goofy. "I don''t want to hear you reason with me right now; I don''t like it. I called you out to apany me while I drink," she said. Yao Mingyue opened another cocktail and clinked it with the bottle Xu Musen had snatched. Xu Musen looked at her like this and then at the drink in his hand. Since she had already drunk half of it, he no longer worried it might be drugged. Xu Musen knew her temperament; he didn''t try to persuade her any further but instead took a sip from the bottle. The river breeze was gentle, the alcohol slowly stimting the brain, bringing an extraordinary peace to the moment. "Xu Musen, do you remember? At the beginning of senior high school, you said, after our college entrance exams, you would take me to see the sea together," Yao Mingyue recounted an old promise. Xu Musen nodded; people from the Central ins always yearned for the sea. "The Bund isn''t the sea," Xu Musen spoke, for this was only the Huangpu River. "Yes, The Bund isn''t the sea, but even so, you didn''t seem too willing to apany me here," Yao Mingyue said with a self-deprecating smile, gazing at Xu Musen without her usual dominance in her phoenix eyes. "It is indeed pretty," Xu Musen said, looking at the shimmering surface of the river. "It''s not the scenery that''s beautiful, but being with someone you like," Yao Mingyue moved closer to him, her phoenix eyes burning bright. "Don''t use the word ''like'' so casually," Xu Musen moved some distance away again. "One shouldn''t say ''like'' lightly, but can confessions be made so casually? Some people were more casual than me when they asked someone to be their girlfriend at lunch today," Yao Mingyue squinted her eyes. Xu Musen paused, naturally knowing she was talking about the girl named Zhu Yn. "Are you stalking me?" "I just happened to overhear," she replied. "..." Xu Musen fell silent for a moment, then looking at herposed expression, he said, "You should be able to tell that I said that just to avoid entanglement with her." "You don''t want to entangle with her, but what about that girl?" Yao Mingyue turned the conversation, supporting her wine-flushed cheek with one hand, intently looking at him. The image of An Nuannuan''s silly little face suddenly appeared in Xu Musen''s mind. For some reason, he always felt very rxed whenever he thought of the name An Nuannuan. "Xu Musen, do you like her?" Yao Mingyue observed every fleeting detail in his eyes. The softness that emerged in his eyes was like a little knife stabbing into her heart. All those tendernesses used to belong exclusively to her... "The word ''like'' can''t be said lightly, but I indeed have a good impression of her," Xu Musen didn''t conceal it, knowing the weight of the word ''like''. Before anything further developed between him and An Nuannuan, Xu Musen didn''t want to rashly say it out loud, potentially ruining their current atmosphere. Chapter 184: Chapter 119 Yao Mingyue: Lets Start Over._2 But after he said those words, Yao Mingyue bit her lip tightly, her emotions turning sour, something that not even an excess of alcohol could suppress. "You''ve only known her for a few months... What about all the years of feelings between us?" "Let''s leave the past in the past, isn''t it good the way things are now? There are so many people in the world, you don''t have to fixate on me." Your next read awaits at mvl Xu Musen took a sip of alcohol, the sting of the liquor seeming to neutralize the emotions welling up inside him. "That would have worked if you had said it to me a decade ago, but now, do you think it''s still possible? Can I really forget about you?" Ming Yue''s voice finally fluctuated a bit, its sincere and slightly bitter tone making it difficult for Musen to say something harsh in return. "We''re just not suitable for each other, really." "How can you know we''re not suitable without trying? We''ve been together for nearly twenty years, twenty years! If we''re not suitable, then what is?" Ming Yue spoke defiantly, word by word, sentence by sentence. "Some things have nothing to do with time; maybe we''re better off just as we are, just right." Right now is just right, not too much nor too little, still capable of forgetting... "But I don''t want just right, I want to be with you; I''ve wanted to be with you every day for these many years. I don''t care about anyone else!" Yao Mingyue reached out to grab onto Xu Musen''s sleeve, afraid he would run away without a trace again. "Xu Musen, dare you say you don''t like me? Look at me, I don''t believe I''m not in your eyes!" Ming Yue drew closer, her familiar face which he knew down to the bones, and her rosy lips tinted with the scent of alcohol. A pair of phoenix eyes also brimmed with a touch of moisture. Musen met her gaze for a moment. At the very least, in their previous life, the first two years of marriage were truly happy, but all the romance was torn to shreds by the life that followed. He silently shifted his gaze away. "Musen, you have me in your heart. If you''re angry about my past rejection of your confession, then I apologize to you, I can even confess to you in front of the whole school if it means you''ll treat me well again, like you used to..." Yao Mingyue clung to the hem of his clothes, the girl who had been proud for half her life now speaking somewhat humbly. "It has nothing to do with those things. My past confessions were actually quite naive. At that time, I didn''t even understand what liking someone meant; it might have been mostly just a momentary impulse." Xu Musen shook his head and took another sip of alcohol. Actually, when he confessed to Yao Mingyue in the past, he had indeed been spurred on by the asional teasing of people around them. And at that time, he didn''t understand what liking someone meant or whether it was just possessiveness at y. They had been together since they were young, but Yao Mingyue had be more and more outstanding, whether in her appearance, studies, personal abilities, or family background, gradually distancing herself from him, her childhood friend. He was afraid that one day Yao Mingyue would leave him. Deep down, Xu Musen had always been sensitive and insecure, frankly, he was not much better than Yao Mingyue before. His confession was also mixed with ulterior motives. "Liking someone''s face is love, liking someone''s personality is love, even liking someone''s money can be considered love. Who is purer than whom? All I know is that I like you. Ever since we were kids, I''ve only wanted to be with you." Yao Mingyue looked at him, her eyes slightly red from drinking. Indeed, Ming Yue was right, liking someone always starts with a reason, and humans are visual creatures; ny percent of people start by liking someone''s face. There''s no such thing as absolute purity in love; it always starts with a point and grows to epass more. Musen fell silent for a moment. Talking about his past life, he surmised no one would believe him, but this was also a good opportunity for a thorough chat. "Yao Mingyue, let''s assume for a moment, if we were together, would you really be happy?" Xu Musen suddenly changed his tone. Ming Yue''s eyes brightened, her flushed face revealing a trace of longing, "Of course..." After all, being together with someone brings more security; no one else could take him away. "You still don''t understand. A title cannot bring any security. Real securityes from mutual trust in each other''s hearts, from the fulfillment within oneself." Xu Musen shook his head, looking at Yao Mingyue: "Let''s assume again, we''ve announced our rtionship and I inevitably have to interact with other women for work, can you control yourself from making wild guesses?" Yao Mingyue was stunned for a moment, her first thought being that she couldn''t! Because he would be her boyfriend, making him her possession, and she would need to pay even more attention. But seeing Xu Musen''s expression, she found herself at a loss for words. "I, if we were together, you wouldn''t need to work, I could support you!" Ming Yue spoke very seriously. But Xu Musen just showed a ''that figures'' expression: "Yao Mingyue, I am a person, not a thoughtless piece of wood. I need my own work, my own career, and my own life. If I am with you now, not only will you not have any sense of security, but it will also increase your unease. What you need to learn is what it really means to like someone. It''s about giving more, being more amodating and trusting, not being more willful and demanding." Chapter 185: Chapter 119 Yao Mingyue: Lets Start Over._3 Xu Musen spoke with great patience, as childhood friends, as families who were closer than blood rtives. Xu Musen still hoped that Yao Mingyue would truly realize her own problems, otherwise, her future issues would only growrger. Aunt Liu only had one daughter, and if something happened to Yao Mingyue, Aunt Liu''sst psychological support might just copse. This was not what Xu Musen wanted to see. "But do you give me a chance?" Yao Mingyue lifted her head, clutching a bottle of alcohol, "You once told me to experience what it feels like to truly like someone, but what about you? You spend every day with that girl, avoiding me whenever you see me. Have you ever given me a chance to properly like you?" She swung the bottle, but the alcohol seemed like half a bottle of vinegar, its sour taste making it all the more unbearable. "Xu Musen, what''s so good about her? Whatever she can give you, I can give you too. Why can''t you continue to be good to me?" Xu Musen silently took a sip of alcohol, "It''s respect, understanding, freedom, that carefree purity." "She loves to eat snacks, but she always lets me have a bite first. She woulde over in the sun to bring me mung bean soup, insist on helping me upstairs to check on me if she thought I was suffering from heatstroke. I ask her to sign something, and she''d unconditionally trust me. The milk tea shop I gave her, yet she hands over all the money she earns to me..." Xu Musen listed one thing after another, but each one was like a knife stabbing into Yao Mingyue''s heart. "I can do all these things, too!" "You''re different." Xu Musen shook his head, "To me, you''re not like someone who likes me but like someone who likes a toy. You''d carefully wipe and maintain me every day, not allowing anyone to hurt me, but you''d never ask what I truly want or whether I am happy or not, because our rtionship has always been unequal." Right, toys are meant to make people happy, who cares whether a toy is happy or not?" Xu Musenughed, the bottle in his hand now empty, his tone light, but for Yao Mingyue, it was as if waves were crashing in her heart. In this moment, her heart echoed with his self-mocking words. She couldn''t argue, because for all these years, she had been ustomed to Xu Musen''s pampering. Yao Mingyue''s affection for Xu Musen was indeed like that for a favorite toy; she would care for him in every possible way, not allowing him to get hurt, giving him whatever he wanted, and she''d rather lock him up in her safe. But she had never once asked Xu Musen what he really liked or what kind of life he truly wanted. This was a one-sided emotion. "I..." Yao Mingyue opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She had realized something, but... it seemed a little toote. Xu Musen opened another bottle of alcohol and spoke, "That''s why I have feelings for her, because her kindness to me is simply wanting to be kind, without any pressure on me. Nowadays, many people misunderstand feelings, always thinking they need to establish a rtionship and a status before they can continue being nice to someone. Just like how people now want to get married, they must have a house, iming it to be the basic guarantee of happiness. But a house only secures a living, without emotional support, a haven can be a source of storms and strife. At that time, a house is no longer a home, but a cage that binds two people together." So-called status should be a natural turning point, a castle built together by two people to witness their love, not a cage that confines them." Xu Musen took a gulp of alcohol. In fact, in his previous life, he had been like a canary locked in a cage, meticulously cared for by Yao Mingyue, but never free. She loved his singing but overlooked that he too had feathers yearning for freedom. Yao Mingyue clutched the bottle, her heart sour, tears sparkling in her eyes as she looked at Xu Musen. "I know but I really can''t live without you, Xu Musen, you promised before, you''d always be with me, you can''t like someone else..." Yao Mingyue''s hand clutched his sleeve; she really panicked now. Because today Xu Musenid everything bare before her. The sharp knife of truth cuts the deepest. "I haven''t fallen for someone else, because I feel that I have never really understood how to like someone." Xu Musen looked at Yao Mingyue, his gaze softening a bit, looking at her, but in a daze, he saw more than ten years ago. On that stormy night, she wore the new dress her father had bought her, waiting outside the operating room, distraught. When the doctor announced the result. She cried until she could no longer shed tears. Xu Musen held her in his arms, and from that moment on. The fates of both were tightly bound together. Having lost her father while still a child, faced with her family''s bankruptcy crisis, her mother had to leave her alone for long periods to keep thepany going. Yao Mingyue lived alone in an empty room, unimaginable mental pressure for a child. So, Yao Mingyue feared loss, the scars in her heart leading to her obsessive possessive mentality. The arrival of Xu Musen became herst pir of support. At first, Yao Mingyue saw him as a dependency, as her final support. Chapter 186: Chapter 119 Yao Mingyue: Lets Start Over._4 But as both grew up, even childhood friends had boundaries that should not be crossed. Moreover, during the bloom of adolescence, some girls began to harbor crushes on Xu Musen. This gave rise to fear in Yao Mingyue''s heart; she was scared that one day Xu Musen might leave her. Time twisted this fear into something distorted, leaving her unable to distinguish whether their rtionship was friendship or a confusing love. This step by step nurtured her mentally unstable character... Xu Musen, looking into her tearful eyes, sighed and continued to speak, "Actually, I am also to me. When I confessed to you before, I was egged on by others in a moment of impulse. You really are outstanding. Ever since we were kids, there have been countless people who''ve confessed to you, especially when excellent guys came along. I felt a lot of pressure too; I worried whether you would leave with someone else. Plus, with the impulsiveness of youth, I thought dating you would add to my prestige, and besides, you were rich, which made me shamefully think I wouldn''t have to try too hard afterward." Xu Musen shook his head, "So, we both cared too much about what others thought and never really considered what we liked about each other. We didn''t get together because we truly liked each other, but to prevent others from taking what we liked." Xu Musenid bare both their weaknesses. Yao Mingyue clenched the hem of Xu Musen''s clothes, tears staining her cheeks, "What does it mean to like... All I know is, if it''s not you, I don''t want anyone else." "Still, if we were together, could you really be happy? Could you really stop the insecure and erratic thoughts? Having just an empty shell of me, is that truly what you want?" he asked her again. But this time, Yao Mingyue was stunned, her phoenix eyes almost bloodshot from entanglement. "Ever since that day, after Uncle Yao''s departure, Aunt Liu had to go out and struggle, you''ve always felt abandoned by the entire world. You see me as your only pir, but you''re scared, scared that I''ll leave you too. Therefore, you''ve never truly opened up to me, or rather, you don''t even trust yourself anymore; you''re afraid you''ll lose everything you cherish. That''s why you''re desperate to control everything in your grasp." Xu Musen looked at her, Yao Mingyue''s hand covering her chest, right where her heart was. She felt that this moment, the wounds deeply covered in her heart, had been revealed once again. Memories of a past life surfaced, making Xu Musen''s own heartplex. "If we really got together, even got married, you would be increasingly insecure, and the final oue would be that we both neglected the beauty we saw in each other at the start. You wouldn''t gain the security you wanted, and I wouldn''t find the love I was afterwe would both be losers in this rtionship. We shouldn''t let this tragedy happen again, while it''s still possible to avoid a point of no return." Xu Musen raised his hand and gently wiped the tear stains from Yao Mingyue''s eyes, "You and I grew up together. No matter what happens in the future, I hope that you can lead a normal life, truly experience the beauty of life, and truly understand what it feels like to like someone." The waves of the riverpped against the shore, apanied by the evening breeze, calming the soul. And yet, in the quiet night, one can always hear the truest voice from deep within. Yao Mingyue stared at him nkly. Indeed, it seemed they were both failures in love. It was like a math problem. The start wasn''t wrong, and the answer was certain. But there was a problem with the form used in between. Yao Mingyue extended her hand and grasped his, the one that had wiped away her tears. Her eyes held a careful hope, "Xu Musen... does that mean, if I can find the right way to truly like you, we can still be together?" Her voice was like that of a drowning person clutching at thest straw. Xu Musen looked at her, his expressionplex, "Why bother? There are better people than me in this world." "Xu Musen!" Yao Mingyue''s voice was choked with sobs, but she shouted with all her might. "You may not like me now, you can refuse my thoughts, but don''t push me away or deny my determination to seriously be with you! My way of liking you might be wrong, but my feelings for you will never change!" Yao Mingyue''s every word seemed to be shouted into Xu Musen''s heart. Xu Musen looked into her eyes, a rity and determination he had never seen before. If only in thest life I could have... Xu Musen fell silent for a long time, but sadly, in this world, there are no ifs. He gently freed his hand, "As childhood friends, I would be happy about your change, but as for our rtionship... let''s just leave it at that for now." In Xu Musen''s mind, the image of An Nuannuan always surfaced, he couldn''t forget the day when An Nuannuan, struggling painfully, clung to the staircase railing, determined to climb up and bring him mung bean soup. That pure affection was like a beam of light that had intruded into his life. Yao Mingyue looked at theplexity in his eyes, and she suddenly moved closer, and locked eyes with Xu Musen, "Just like that? Xu Musen, tell me, do you really want to watch me be with other guys in the future?" Her voice was earnest, and her phoenix eyes were filled with the reflection of Xu Musen. Xu Musen was also startled for a moment. The girl before him had been his childhood friend for nearly twenty years, his wife from a previous life for many years. If hepletely cut off all contact in this life, perhaps with time, Xu Musen would gradually forget her. But what about now... The fate of the two did not seem to have been easily severed. If there really was a day when Yao Mingyue would appear in front of him with another man... a surge of irritation suddenly rose in Xu Musen''s heart! He didn''t speak. But Yao Mingyue, seeing all the fleeting emotions in the depths of his eyes, smiled happily with tears in her eyes, "Xu Musen, actually, you''re just like me... you can''t bear to let go of me, but rest assured, in this life, I will only truly like you alone, forever." Xu Musen didn''t speak, he finished the drink in his hand, and finally said, "Yao Mingyue, I don''t want to be the person who deceives you, so I''m telling you now, right now my feelings for her are the strongest." Yao Mingyue''s eyes dimmed for a moment, but she also took a sip of the drink, choking until her face was painfully red, her tears still glimmering. "But what does that have to do with my liking you? I, Yao Mingyue, haven''t lost to anyone in my life. I just want to tell you, I still like you, and sooner orter, I will make you willinglye back to me." Yao Mingyue upheld her pride, but it was also the most earnest promise she made in her life. Xu Musen didn''t say anything; he had said all that needed to be said, and the rest was beyond his control. He stood up and picked up all the bottles on the ground, "Let''s go, I''ll take you home." Xu Musen walked a few steps and threw the bottles into the trash can. "Xu Musen!" Behind him was Yao Mingyue''s cry. Xu Musen turned his head, his pupils contracting! At this moment, Yao Mingyue, with a hint of drunkenness, had flushed cheeks and teary eyes, yet she unsteadily climbed up the handrail of the riverside stairs. Behind her was the river. "Yao Mingyue, what are you doing!" Xu Musen''s drunkenness instantly cleared. But Yao Mingyue justughed, the evening breeze blowing her hair, her eyes reddening but with a hint of a smile, her phoenix eyes reflecting the riverside''s brilliance. "Xu Musen, tell me, if she and I both fell into the river, whom would you save first?" "You''re crazy! Get down from there!" Xu Musen, in his haste, ran toward her, realizing he just couldn''t trust this mad girl. Yet, seeing his frantic look, Yao Mingyueughed even more joyously, her step light. "I''m not forcing you to choose me, but now I have my answer... I just want to tell you about my determination to like you." Yao Mingyue saw him approaching, her voice soft yet firm. "Let''s start over." With that, she leaned back slightly... Chapter 187: Chapter 120: Your Precious Daughter and Appointed Son-in-law Are Soaked. The Bund, riverside. A light breeze blew as Yao Mingyue stood on the shore''s railing, her steps unsteady from drunkenness. "Let''s, start over" Her figure leaned gently backward, and she fell into the darkness behind her. "Yao Mingyue!" Xu Musen''s pupils contracted in shock. What a crazy woman! If anything really happened to Yao Mingyue, he would indeed have no way to exin it to Aunt Liu. Even to his own family, he couldn''t justify it. In his lifetime, Yao Mingyue hasn''t done anything to wrong him. She was merely a somewhat stubborn and spoilt young girl. "Plop!" Xu Musen had already heard the sound of the water, and he jumped right after her, without any hesitation, onto the railing. "Plop!" Another ssh sounded as Xu Musen dived into the water. Guess what? His legs were numb! The water level beneath the railing was low due to the nighttime tide recession, at most a little over a meter deep. Xu Musen leapt straight down, nearly spraining his ankle in the process. Meanwhile, Yao Mingyue was soaked but standing in the water. Seeing Xu Musen jump down without hesitation, her cheeks, chilled by the river water, now bore a hint of a smile. "As expected, you can''t bear to let go of me." Xu Musen, seeing her still smiling, was so infuriated he could feel his liver ache, "Yao Mingyue! Are you out of your mind? This is a huge river, and you just jump in?!" Yao Mingyue looked at his angry face andughed without a care, taking a step towards Xu Musen in the water. "Because I know the water isn''t deep here, how could I bear my future husband getting hurt?" In the water, Yao Mingyue was soaked, her thin white shirt clinging to her body, revealing the outline of her pale blue undergarment to Xu Musen. Like an alluring nymph emerging from water, the river seemed to have be her bath. "Get up here!" Themotion had attracted some onlookers who were concerned about the situation in the water. Someone even threw down a swimming ring. Xu Musen waved his hand to indicate everything was fine. And then he started to pull Yao Mingyue towards the shore. "Mmm..." As Yao Mingyue walked, her steps were a bit staggering. She hid behind Xu Musen, clinging tightly to him. The night wind was cool against their skin, and even Xu Musen felt quite chilly. "Feeling cold now?" Xu Musen heard her take a breath. But his gaze fell on Yao Mingyue''s ankle, which had been scraped and was bleeding on the white, clean skin, making it particrly striking. Xu Musen frowned, this unlucky child, "Can you still walk?" "My foot is fine, but..." Yao Mingyue looked down at her clothes, with the shirt clinging to her body, making the outline of her bra visible. With many onlookers around, Yao Mingyue hid behind Xu Musen, not wanting to be seen. What a hassle... Xu Musen, seeing the crowd of onlookers grow and looking at Yao Mingyue''s hopeful gaze, at this moment, might have chosen to carry a beauty back home. Xu Musen''s gaze, however, settled on a lifebuoy nearby. He took it and ced it around her fittingly at a rather cunning spot. Xu Musen nodded in approval, feeling problem solved. Lucky it''s you; if it was An Nuannuan, this size lifebuoy certainly wouldn''t fit. Yao Mingyue: ... The surrounding onlookers were momentarily dumbfounded. They had seen those insensitive to affection, but never such a straight man! It''s one thing not to carry her, but what''s the meaning of using a swimming ring? Her entire outfit was truly striking. "You..." Yao Mingyue paused, momentarily stunned. Just when the emotional atmosphere was set, how could he suddenly pull this? "What are you looking at? Who told you to jump into the river? Hurry up and get back," Xu Musen spoke and started walking towards the street. Yao Mingyue took a deep breath, unable to deal with the constriction of the swimming ring. If she really went back wearing a swimming ring, she''d probably be famous on the campus forum the next day. She took off the swimming ring, covered her chest with one hand, and stayed close behind Xu Musen. She reached out and grabbed his sleeve, using his body as a shield. "Xu Musen, if you are not afraid of others seeing, then you don''t have to worry about me." Yao Mingyue did not make a demand, but it was as if she handed over the ownership of her body to him. Xu Musen watched the onlooking boys, each one looking at Yao Mingyue with envious eyes. Her wet, long hair was messily scattered over her fair, flushed cheeks, and her bright eyes shone even at night. At this moment, Yao Mingyue truly possessed a special kind of beauty. Xu Musen didn''t have much of a sense of possession, only... to protect Yao Mingyue, Aunt Liu''s precious daughter. "Let''s go." Xu Musen paced himself as he walked forward. Together, they moved along the riverside of the Bund, aiming for the main road. The school was still some distance away, and they nned to hail a cab to take her back once they reached the road. The river breeze gently stroked them as Yao Mingyue stayed close to Xu Musen, their bodies unavoidably brushing against each other slightly. The damp clothes transferred a sense of touch they usually wouldn''t feel on regr days. The two of them were silent all the way. A lot had happened that day, plus they had drunk quite a bit. Xu Musen felt a bit light-headed as he walked. "The Bund is really beautiful..." Yao Mingyue, from behind him, had a flush of drunk redness on her pretty face, which might have been intensified by contact with the water. "It would be even more beautiful without your wet chicken act," Xu Musenmented, but Yao Mingyue simplyughed in her drunken state. Chapter 188: Chapter 120: Your Beloved Daughter and Appointed Son-in-Law Are Soaked. _2 "I''ve always wanted to be with you like this, outside, looking at the mountains and seas. Do you think we still have a chance?" Xu Musen didn''t reply, feeling a weight on his shoulder. Yao Mingyue had already leaned on his shoulder, her whole body pressing close. Turning his head, Xu Musen saw her eyes closed, her long eyshes trembling slightly. Her little face was flushed from the alcohol, and her body was shivering slightly. She was drunk. Xu Musen hurried to support her, but Yao Mingyue was so hazy she couldn''t even walk anymore. "Troublesome" Xu Musen felt a headacheing on and had no choice but to squat a little, letting her lean on his back, their clothes both damp. It was as if they were in direct contact. Well, actually Yao Mingyue still had some strength in her. Even though she was too drunk to open her eyes, her arms naturally wrapped around his neck, like a kitten nuzzling a dog''s neck. She also rubbed her cheek against Xu Musen''s cheek and neck. "Musen~ hehe, mine hehe." She seemed to be having an indescribable dream, rubbing against Xu Musen while giggling in her sleep. Xu Musen felt as if his tofu was being eaten right in front of him and there was nothing he could do about it. However, turning his head to look at the now drunk Yao Mingyue, he saw that the oppressive feeling she often gave off was gone. In this moment, she was just an eighteen-year-old girl. Xu Musen carried her on his back to the main road, intending to hail a taxi to send her back to the school. But then he thought about the walk from the school gate to the girls'' dormitory, and at this hour, the dormitory wouldn''t allow him to go up. He didn''t have her roommate''s contact either. And in this state, going back without anyone to take care of her, she was likely to catch a cold from a bath. As he thought, he suddenly remembered. Auntie Bai''s home was nearby, Dragon Mansion Xu Musen''s gaze found a low-rise residential area not far away. Carrying Yao Mingyue, he walked over. Ten minutester, Xu Musen arrived at the bottom of the residential building. Discover exclusive tales on mvl The security guard at the gate eyed the young man carrying a drunken beauty with a mix of envy, jealousy, and resentment. "I''m here to see the owner of block eight." Xu Musen gave his information, and the guard made a phone call. "Hello?" "Auntie Bai, it''s me." "Xu Musen? Why are you here sote?" "It''s Ming Yue. She drank too much today, and her clothes are wet. We wanted to rest at your ce for a bit." "Ah? Thene in quick, I''lle down to meet you!" Auntie Bai knew immediately that something must have happened. The security guard saluted and let Xu Musen pass. This was a high-end residential area with very few people around, especially at night you''d hardly see anyone. Just as Xu Musen reached the foot of block eight, he heard the sound of hurried footsteps. In front of him, a tall and full-figured silhouette was rushing down from upstairs. Bai Xin was wearing a pale pink nightgown, which unexpectedly made her look cute. She wore cotton slippers, suggesting she was ready to rest before receiving the call and running down. Seeing both of them wet, she hurried over anxiously, "Why are you here? Why are you both soaking?" Xu Musen nced at Yao Mingyue, a bit dazed. "Let''s go inside first, don''t stay in the wind." Bai Xin didn''t keep asking, instead, she quickly led them inside the room. Once in the living room, Bai Xin rushed to the bathroom to get the water ready. Then she poured Xu Musen a cup of hot tea. "Auntie Bai, don''t worry about me, take Ming Yue for a bath first," said Xu Musen after taking a sip of hot water. "Okay." Bai Xin looked at the drunk Yao Mingyue and quickly helped her toward the bathroom. After that, she came out and tossed a bathrobe to him. Xu Musen caught it in his hands, a pink bathrobe that was very soft and carried a scent. "Your clothes are wet too, and I don''t have any men''s clothes at home. Make do with this so you don''t catch a cold," Bai Xin said before returning to the bathroom to take care of Yao Mingyue. Xu Musen looked at the bathrobe, which was likely Bai Xin''s. But at the moment his own clothes were damp and ufortable sticking to his skin. He went to the guest room and put on the bathrobe. It felt as soft as a nket, and he could smell a subtle fragrance. Xu Musen ced his wet clothes on the balcony and then looked at the living room, where a cup noodle container was left on the table, along with some snacks. Theptop was still on; it seemed that Bai Xin had been working just before. She hadn''t had a proper dinner that night. Having been busy all day, Xu Musen hadn''t eaten either. Surely Yao Mingyue would be hungry when she woke up, so he decided to cook something in the kitchen. Checking the ingredients, there were some seafood items, eggs, and tofu. A seafood porridge would do, apanied by Mapo tofu. Xu Musen started to get busy in the kitchen. In the bathroom, Bai Xin was taking off Yao Mingyue''s clothes, admiring the delicate whiteness of the skin, a fragility unique to young girls. Yao Mingyue also had a perfect body ratio, the kind where any more or less would seem regrettable. "Truly Ru Shuang''s daughter, good gics," Bai Xin sighed and was about to help her remove her underwear when Yao Mingyue subconsciously put up her hands to block. She was murmuring dreamily, "Musen, honey don''t be so eager" Bai Xin: ??? Her hand paused, what kind of lewd dream was this? Wait, weren''t they always not in a rtionship? Chapter 189: Chapter 120: Your Beloved Daughter and Appointed Son-in-Law Are Soaked. _3 Why even bring up ''husband'', and that move... Bai Xin wondered whether she should make a call to her best friend to talk about it. Maybe these two kids have already tasted the forbidden fruit or something. Bai Xin helped her slowly lie down in the bathtub; by now, Yao Mingyue was also gradually sobering up. Your next read awaits at mvl She looked at the bathroom in front of her and felt someone touching her body. A conclusion popped into her mind instantly. Could it be that she drank too much and Xu Musen brought her directly to a hotel room? Although she really didn''t want her first time to be in a hotel, as long as it was him... she would let him make it up to her properlyter. As she was wildly specting in her mind, her vision gradually cleared, and she turned her head, only to see Bai Xin''s face. "Bai, Aunt Bai?" "You''re finally awake. How much did you drink?" Bai Xin gently touched her forehead with concern; thankfully, there were no signs of a fever. "Aunt Bai... Where am I?" "At my ce. Xu Musen brought you here. I was so worried just now; both you and he were drenched when you arrived. What on earth happened?" Bai Xin asked softly. Yao Mingyue was startled for a moment and then started to exin slowly. "It''s nothing. I just felt upset and went out to drink by the Bund with him. I identally slipped..." Yao Mingyue spoke without raising any rms. Of course, Bai Xin knew what she said wasn''t true, but seeing her like this, she could only pat her head. "Okay, you soak in the bath, and I''ll get some clothes ready for you." "Mhm, thank you, Aunt Bai." Bai Xin stood up and left the bathroom. Once in the room, she took out her phone and called Liu Rushuang. "Hello, Xiao Bai, calling me in the middle of the night. Can''t sleep by yourself?" Liu Rushuang spoke teasingly. Bai Xin rolled her eyes; her house was quite lively now. "Your precious daughter and the son-inw you picked out both came to my house drenched today." "What? They got... in a predicament?" Liu Rushuang said, sounding shocked, but there wasn''t much opposition in her tone? "It''s drenched!" Bai Xin held her forehead; married women are indeed bold drivers. "They said they were in a bad mood and went to drink by the Bund together, but from the look of them, it seems like they went diving in the river instead." There was silence on the other end of the phone before the reply came: "Is that so." "Seriously, your daughter is soaking wet, and you aren''t concerned at all?" "With Xiaosen there, what do I have to worry about?" "..." Bai Xin thought about it and indeed, it was Xu Musen who had carried her all the way here. "Something might have happened between the two of them. I think you shoulde over and check on them when you have time." "I''m not afraid of them getting into trouble; what I fear is that they won''t have any. The fiercer they argue, the better it might actually be for the two of them. Just keep an eye on them for me." Liu Rushuang''s tone carried the confidence of someone who had been there and done that. Bai Xin sighed as she listened, "I really don''t understand you people; dating seems more exhausting than work..." ... Meanwhile, on the other side, Xu Musen also received a message. An Nuannuan: "Xu Musen, you''re noting back tonight?" Xu Musen picked up his phone and rang her immediately. The call connected quickly. "Nuannuan, I won''t be back for dinner today. I''ll be hometer. Cough... remember to eat, okay?" Xu Musen spoke, trying to restrain a cough; he had been exposed to the cold wind all the way, irritated by the alcohol, and alternating between sweating and chills from a quick jog. He felt a bit stuffy in the nose. "Xu Musen, are you not feeling well?" An Nuannuan could hear the dull tone in his voice. "It''s nothing, just a bit of a chill. You should also rest early." "Oh..." The call ended. At that moment, in Hu Hai University. An Nuannuan was still at the bubble tea shop. She counted the money they made today; they earned quite a lot. She was thinking of giving Xu Musen a surprise. But then she remembered the sound of Xu Musen''s coughing, and her peach blossom-like eyes flickered slightly. She tugged at Zhao Lianmai''s sleeve: "Sister Lianmai, do they sell cold medicine in the infirmary?" "They do." "Oh, then I''ll make a trip there." An Nuannuan nodded and started moving her wheelchair, preparing to head over. Zhao Lianmai had heard their conversation earlier. With this weather, catching a cold isn''t easy, and nasal congestion and such could likely be gone after a good sleep. But seeing the hopeful expression on An Nuannuan''s face, she nodded anyway. Yet, watching An Nuannuan push the wheelchair, moving alone on the dimly lit path, She couldn''t help but sigh. No cold remedy could match the thoughtfulness of Nuannuan. She locked the door to the bubble tea shop and followed her. Chapter 190: Chapter 121: Wart Frog? Call Me the Frog Prince! Xu Musen had finished making seafood porridge, mapo tofu, and a small bowl of noodle soup. Find your next adventure on mvl Yao Mingyue had changed into Bai Xin''s ck nightgown, having just finished her bath, she felt her whole body soft and tender. The flush from the alcohol hadn''tpletely faded as she sat face to face with Xu Musen. Bai Xin also sat down, looking at the table full of food and at the two younger ones, Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue. There really was a sense of family in this empty house. "Come on Ming Yue, eat a bit more to chase away the chill." Bai Xin served Yao Mingyue a small bowl of seafood porridge. "Thank you, Aunt Bai, I''m sorry to bother you sote," Yao Mingyue said as she stood up to take it. "You, child, Aunt Bai has always been alone, having you guys over really livens the ce up," Bai Xin stroked Yao Mingyue''s head, feeling sentimental. That little girl from before had now grown into a tall and graceful youngdy. Bai Xin didn''t ask much about what had happened between the two of them. Even Ming Yue''s mom was so reassured; as her aunt, she wouldn''t interfere with the progress of your rtionship now. During the meal, it was mostly Bai Xin and Yao Mingyue chatting. Yao Mingyue''s gaze continually fell on Xu Musen. He was still wearing Bai Xin''s bathrobe, which was slightly small for him, his chest partly exposed. He had a firm build, and the shape of his corbone was very stylish. Yao Mingyue couldn''t help but stare, devouring the tofu. The little guy, quite sexy... And having a meal face to face like this, it had been a long time since they had eaten together, and Xu Musen''s cooking really suited her taste. She rarely ate something as stimting as mapo tofu. But she found Xu Musen''s cooking particrly to her taste. Suddenly, she remembered something. It felt like Xu Musen was very familiar with Aunt Bai''s house, and cooking seemed like a routine to him too. From Bai Xin''s expression, it seemed like it wasn''t Xu Musen''s first time cooking here either. Yao Mingyue''s little expression started to look a bit off. She couldn''t help but sneak a peek at Aunt Bai. Aunt Bai was wearing a light pink silk nightgown. And Bai Xin''s figure was always well-maintained; you couldn''t see any hint of looseness in her nightgown, no b at all. Her skin was also moist and glossy, making her look no different from a woman in herte twenties. Women of her age had a fully matured charm paired with a hint of a young girl''s demeanor. The mature allure she emitted in every move was something these young girls just couldn''t learn. From time to time, Bai Xin wouldpliment Xu Musen, saying his cooking skills were truly good. Xu Musen responded with a cheerfulugh. The interaction between the two seemed even more natural than what she had with him now... After finishing a bowl of rice, Xu Musen thought about heading back. "Just leave the wet clothes here, I had the property management buy you a new set of clothes, they will be delivered soon. You might as well take a bath too," Bai Xin said. "Thank you, Aunt Bai. Sorry for the trouble," Xu Musen nodded, inwardly marveling at the difference between a woman and a girl. Everything was so well taken care of. How much worry could be saved if he had such a capable wife at home. Yao Mingyue caught every hint of Xu Musen''s fleeting sense of longing. After Xu Musen went to the bathroom, he didn''t use the bathtub but just took a quick shower. At the dining table, Bai Xin began to clean up. "Aunt Bai, I''ll help you," Yao Mingyue stood up and joined her in the kitchen to wash the dishes. "Aunt Bai, has... Xu Musen been here before?" Yao Mingyue couldn''t help asking. "Yeah,st time I took him out to discuss an investment, and I had drunk, so he drove me back." "I see..." Yao Mingyue nodded. Seeing her look somewhat distracted, Bai Xin couldn''t help but add, "You young people, although it''s normal to be a little wild sometimes, you still need to take care of your health, especially for girls. Don''t touch cold water; you might catch a disease if you''re not careful..." Bai Xin went on a bit, and Yao Mingyue kept nodding. Having finished his shower, the property management had delivered Xu Musen''s clothes. "Aunt Bai, I''ll head back first," Xu Musen, now dressed, prepared to leave. Yao Mingyue subconsciously thought of following him. Xu Musen reached out and poked her shoulder, "You just rest up at Aunt Bai''s ce." "I''m fine now," Yao Mingyue spoke, but her steps were obviously still light. Bai Xin came over and gently put her arm around her shoulder, "Ming Yue, stay here and rest tonight. There''s a room. It''s windy at night; you might catch a cold again." Yao Mingyue could only nod, then turned to Bai Xin, "Aunt Bai, I''ll walk him downstairs." "Okay." Bai Xin nodded, these young people. They would see each other the next day, yet every time they parted at night, they act as if they can''t bear to leave each other. Yao Mingyue followed Xu Musen out of the door. In the elevator, they were silent for a while. But their eyes kept gazing at the other''s reflection in the elevator doors. They walked out of the building together. It wasn''t until they were outside that Xu Musen turned around and looked at Yao Mingyue in her thin nightgown, "Go back inside." "Xu Musen." Yao Mingyue called out to him, her phoenix eyes shimmering, "I had a lot of fun today." Xu Musen''s mouth twitched, "Fun? You''ll see if I''ll still take care of you next time you jump or if your head hasn''t cleared of its water?" He couldn''t help but lose his politeness when he thought of the scene of her jumping without hesitation. But Yao Mingyue actuallyughed at being scolded like this, her cheeks then revealing a trace of wistfulness, "Xu Musen, I''d rather you scold me every time you see me, but please don''t ignore me in the future." Chapter 191: Chapter 121: Wart Frog? Call Me the Frog Prince!_2 Xu Musen looked at her and said, "I''ve said it, we can be childhood sweethearts, friends, neighbors, but just forget about romance, we''re not suited for that." Yao Mingyue listened, her smile unchanged, nostalgia in her eyes: "Do you still remember how others tried to dissuade you when you confessed to me, what you thought back then, I have the same thoughts now." Back then, Xu Musen was famously a lovestruck fool in the whole school; many advised him not to dream of a toad lusting after a swan''s flesh. But he was obsessed as if possessed by something, nothing could change his mind; a typical case of never turning back until hitting the south wall, no, not even if he died against it. "I''m the toad, you''re the white swan, don''t degrade yourself, there''s no future for us." Xu Musen shook his head, let bygones be bygones. But Yao Mingyue took a step forward, her eyes shimmering "But in my eyes, you''ve never been a toad. If anything, you are my most handsome Frog Prince." Now, it seems like the ck swan wants to eat the Frog Prince''s meat. Xu Musen looked at her, Yao Mingyue was wearing a ck nightgown, her fair neck shimmering under the light as she stood, hands behind her back. She truly resembled a tranquil ck swan. Xu Musen silently watched her for a few seconds. He waved his hand. And turned to leave. Yao Mingyue watched his receding figure, tilting her head to look at the sky, the wind picked up at night, swiftly scattering the clouds. The dark night sky with a few twinkling stars, passing clouds seeming to invite the moon... Parting the clouds to see the moon. Xu Musen took a taxi back to school. Walking on the campus road, he thought about the day''s events, his mind wasn''tpletely devoid of emotions. Yao Mingyue was all virtues, yet all overshadowed by a morbid possessiveness. If she could be like any ordinary girl, she indeed would be a great romantic partner. But Xu Musen no longer wanted to gamble on that probability, reborn in this life, he had many paths to explore. In his previous life, his entire college life was devoted to her, missing many beautifulndscapes without taking the time to appreciate them. Although romance is apulsory course in college, there are many more subjects waiting for him. What''s so fun about dating, make some money, travel when there''s nothing else to do, or just go to the Red Romance to wash my feet, aren''t all those more interesting than dating? Cough, spit! Not even thinking about dating! Xu Musen was musing when he reached the dormitory building. Just as he was about to go up, his gaze suddenly fell on a figure under a tree right below the dorm. The silhouette sitting in a wheelchair, waiting right there, holding a thermos in her arms; there were asional mosquitoes around the tree. It was gettingte, hardly anyone was around downstairs. She was alone, apparently having waited for quite some time, her little head nodding off now and then from drowsiness. An Nuannuan? Xu Musen hurried over. "Nuannuan, what are you doing here?" Xu Musen stretched out his hand to wave off the mosquitoes circling threateningly around her. An Nuannuan, hearing the familiar voice, promptly woke up. Her still somewhat groggyrge eyes cleared upon seeing Xu Musen''s face and instantly shone brightly. "You''re back." "Why are you staying here? Didn''t I tell you to go back and rest early?" Xu Musen looked at her almost asleep, clearly she had been waiting for a very long time. "I brought you medicine, your nasal voice is so heavy, do you have a cold?" An Nuannuan, listening to his muffled voice, hurriedly lifted the thermos in her hand. Xu Musen paused, looking at An Nuannuan''s clear ck-and-whiterge eyes, his heart skipped a beat. From the time he phoned An Nuannuan till now, almost an hour or two had passed. Which meant she had been waiting with the thermos here for nearly two hours. The autumn mosquitoes were particrly vicious, sitting in a wheelchair, it was hard for her to move around and fend off the mosquitoes. Xu Musen saw several small red welts on An Nuannuan''s fair arms. Xu Musen took a deep breath, took the thermos from An Nuannuan, and gently grabbed her fair arm, inspecting the mosquito bites. "Does it itch?" "A little bit." "Then why did you keep waiting under the tree, don''t you know mosquitoes love the blood of pale, plump little girls?" Xu Musen couldn''t help but pinch her cheek, relieved that her face had been spared from the mosquito bites. Otherwise, how could his own big mosquito self take a bite in the future? "Because it''s more noticeable here, I was afraid you wouldn''t see me when you came over." An Nuannuan''s words were muffled as her face was pinched: "And I''m not the least bit fat" Muttering, she tugged at his sleeve again: "Hurry up and take your medicine, it''s still warm." Xu Musen unscrewed the thermos, and indeed inside was brewed cold medicine. A unique sweet scent emanated from the granr medicine, which, to make it ptable for children, would often have some licorice added to it, giving it a sweet aroma. Looking at An Nuannuan''s concerned gaze, Xu Musen picked up the cup and downed the contents in one go. An Nuannuan even reached out and gently patted his stomach, as if she were petting a kitten''s belly. Xu Musen looked down at her, "Why are you doing this?" "I''m helping you rub-rub~" "Cough cough" Xu Musen almost sprayed out the medicine he had just swallowed. What kind of messed-up words were those? Discover more stories at mvl "The proper term is stroking!" "But you always said you liked stroking cats and such before." "...That''s a matter of grammar. You can''t use the same words for people." Xu Musen exined to her very seriously. Otherwise, if she ever said such a thing in front of his family, Xu Musen could probably expect to be ''sunk in theke'' the very next day. "Oh~" An Nuannuan nodded, but her hand still stroked his stomach a bit more. "When I used to take medicine in the past, my grandma liked to rub my stomach like this, saying it would help absorb the medicine better." An Nuannuan said seriously, but her little hands just kept stroking and lightly pinching. Xu Musen saw her speaking earnestly, yet he always felt she somewhat intended to touch his abs on purpose. And indeed, such a scene might look rather awkward to someone watching from behind. Xu Musen sealed the thermos cup, "Alright, I''ll take you back now, they''re going to lock the dormitory soon." "Mm-hmm." Seeing he had finished the medicine, An Nuannuan felt relieved. And pushed her back to the dormitory building. "You''re not allowed to wait for me like this again, got it?" Xu Musen said, looking at her. "Then don''t get sick," An Nuannuan looked up, responding in a somewhat grown-up tone. Xu Musen was taken aback for a moment, not expecting this little girl to be so stubborn. But his heart felt warmly content, "Alright, next time I get sick, I''ll tell Doctor An right away, okay?" An Nuannuan huffed through her little nose and pulled out a box of cold medicine from her embrace to give it to him. "Remember to drink a few more packets." "Yes, I shall heed Doctor An''s advice." Xu Musen said with a smile. An Nuannuan''s mouth also revealed a slightly silly smile. "Then you should get some rest early, I''m going back too, see you tomorrow." "Mm-hmm, you should rest early too." An Nuannuan left. Xu Musen stood still, watching her figure disappear before slowly turning around, only to find a slender and tall figure standing behind him. In the night, her wheat-colored long legs seemed to blend into the darkness. "Zhao Lianmai?" Xu Musen spoke, and Zhao Lianmai came over with two bottles of water in her hand. She handed one to him. Xu Musen epted it and took a drink to wash down the taste of medicine in his mouth. "What are you doing here?" "I was with Nuannuan," said Zhao Lianmai softly. She had been apanying An Nuannuan and had just gone to buy a bottle of water for her. But when she came back, she saw that Xu Musen had already returned. So she didn''t disturb them. Xu Musen could tell, Zhao Lianmai was a girl with strong principles, warm on the inside despite a cool exterior. "Thank you for staying with her." Xu Musen expressed his gratitude, his tone so natural, as if he already considered An Nuannuan one of his own. Zhao Lianmai looked at him, then finally spoke slowly, "Nuannuan is a good girl, her mind is very pure, I hope you won''t let her down." "Of course." Xu Musen looked down at the box of cold medicine in his hand, feeling a warmth in his heart. Zhao Lianmai said nothing more and turned to leave. Xu Musen took out the box of medicine she had given him, a brand called ''999''. "Nuannuan''s, very considerate." Nuannuan, truly very considerate. Chapter 192: Chapter 122: So He Prefers Socks More? It has been more than half a month since I came to school. Finally, Xu''s mother remembered she had a son and called to check in on him. "Stinky boy, military training is almost over, right? Do you have enough living expenses for this month?" "I''m short a few million to buy a car and a house, could you spare some?" "Haha, I suggest you find another mother." Xu''s mother said irritably, "The military training will be over soon, and it''ll be the National Day. If you have time, bring Ming Yue back for a visit." "We''ll see when the timees. How''s everything at home?" "Recently it''s not bad, many neighbors are hoping you coulde back to do some promotion. Your dad''spany has also been doing quite well." Xu''s mother was in a good mood talking about these things. "That''s good. Oh, and remember to remind my dad, if someone surnamed Huanges to talk to him about an investment, asking him to act as any sort of legal person, tell him not to agree, no matter how good it sounds." Xu Musen was very serious in giving these instructions. I remember in my past life, just when my family was starting to do well, this Huang scammed my dad into signing a transfer of legal representative contract. As a result, we got hit with a major setback, losing all the money we had scrimped and saved, leaving us unable to recover. One could say, if it weren''t for that Huang, I might not have ended up relying on Yao Mingyue. I must get my revenge eventually! Xu''s mother was somewhat baffled by his warning, but since her son spoke with such seriousness, she promised to pass the message. "By the way, how are you and Ming Yue doing now? Any progress?" Xu''s mother changed the subject, starting to worry about her son''s life events. Progress? The two of us are now good friends who have soaked in the Huangpu River together. "Mom, stop worrying. Ming Yue and I aren''t suitable for each other. If you really want a daughter-inw, I''ll bring back an even better one for youter." Xu Musen spoke. "Haha, with the carefree way you act every day, where will you find a girl better than Ming Yue?" "Don''t underestimate your son. Just wait, I''ll definitely bring someone home this year." After chatting for a while, the phone call ended. Putting down her phone, Xu''s mother muttered, "This kid, always refusing to listen to the wisdom of his elders and suffering for it" After all, she had watched Yao Mingyue grow up. The two families had even spoken about setting up a marriage agreement for the kids once they were born. Plus, Ming Yue had excellent qualities in all aspects, and as parents, they had to consider practical factors. Having a good daughter-inw could save decades of struggle. Someone with Ming Yue''s assets, whoever married her would save themselves a lifetime of toil. However, she also noticed the recent changes in the two kids. Although she didn''t know the specifics, Xu Musen had improved a lotpared to before. Academically improved and even started his own business, they didn''t have to worry about him finding a wife in the future. As parents, their ultimate goal was for their children to live better lives. If Xu Musen could live well on his own, then they had nothing to worry about. Let it be, children have their own fortunes... ... The military training performance began. Xu Musen led his group to set up promotional posters in various prominent ces around campus. Zhu Yn was also there, and as per Xu Musen''s instruction, her promotional posters also featured the logo of Kangaroo Delivery. "Not bad, keep up the good work." Xu Musen looked at her poster cements, which appeared to be very well-crafted and quite expensive to produce. Zhu Yn felt his praise, but it always seemed to carry the undertone of "dressing someone else for a wedding." That detestable kangaroo, unting itself right in front of her as if celebrating its own project! "Hmph, I don''t need your approval." Zhu Yn snorted. She still harbored some resentment about Xu Musen taking over her event. Turning around, she left to continue supervising the poster hanging. "Xu Musen, we''ve finished putting up posters here, now should we... eh?" Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong walked over, about to say something when they saw Xu Musen chatting cheerfully with a beautiful woman they had never seen before. That day, Zhu Yn was wearing a pale blue elegant long dress thatplemented her slender figure, giving her the aura ofing from a schrly family. The two of them looked at Zhu Yn. Her beauty was definitely on a campus belle level, not far behind An Nuannuan and Yao Mingyue. Although her figurecked in some areas, her long legs more than made up for it! The two had previously been discouraged, but now their enthusiasm for flirting was reignited. However, Zhu Yn had already turned to go on with her poster supervisions. "Wow, Musen, who''s that beauty?" Zhou Hangyu eagerly moved closer, rubbing his hands with a slightly sleazy look. "She''s not from our school, what are you plotting now?" Xu Musen eyed him, wondering if his friend''s old habits were kicking in again. "A beauty with such poise. You''ve got your wealthy childhood sweetheart and the bossdy, surely you''re not going topete with us brothers for this one, right?" "Go for it, if you wish." Xu Musen shook his head, having dealt with Zhu Yn twice, he could tell she was a high-maintenance princess. "This time it''s my turn! Last time I failed miserably, but this beauty looks so genteel and knowledgeable; maybe she can heal my wounded heart!" Li Rundong was also brimming with enthusiasm. "Tch! Why should I let you have all the fun? I''m still single too." The two good friends began to bicker again, ultimately deciding to y rock-paper-scissors to determine who would approach her first. Experience more content on mvl Zhou Hangyu won, and he swaggered a bit as he smoothed his hair back, "Watch and learn, I''ll charm her in no time!" Chapter 193: Chapter 122: So He Prefers Socks More?_2 Saying that, Zhou Hangyu walked over and stood in front of Zhu Yn, "Hello, beauty." Zhu Yn turned around to look at him, her gaze level with Zhou Hangyu''s, thinking he was there to learn about her project. A smile appeared on her face, "Are you interested in learning about our recruitment software?" "Uh well, I actually wanted to get to know you a little." Zhu Yn''s smile was still quite charming, and Zhou Hangyu coughed, taking out his phone. "So you came over to hit on me?" Zhu Yn saw his action and understood he wasn''t there for the project; her patience instantly vanished. "Uh, so can we exchange contact information?" Zhou Hangyu hadn''t expected the other party to be so direct, but with such a straightforward personality, exchanging contacts shouldn''t be a big problem, right? Zhu Yn nced at him silently, he was about the same height as herself, and she spoke indifferently, "Sorry, I don''t like to stoop to talk to people." With that, she turned her back on him and ignored him. Zhou Hangyu stood rooted to the spot for a while before realizing, damn it! Was he just mocked for his height? My god, are men under one meter eighty not considered human? Zhou Hangyu left defeated, and Li Rundong, seeing him downcast, couldn''t help but take pleasure in his misfortune. "Best to leave it to me!" Li Rundong strode over and arrived behind Zhu Yn, clearing his throat. "Hello there, fellow student." Zhu Yn turned around and nced at Li Rundong, "Are you here to flirt too?" "No, I''m here to learn about advertising. Do you have a business card or something, so I can have a serious look when I go back?" Li Rundong pressed forward by appearing to back off. Zhou Hangyu couldn''t help but curse inwardly, this guy really wasn''t cking off; he even knew this trick. Zhu Yn gave him another look and suddenly noticed the hat on his head with a cute kangaroo pattern. She hesitated for a moment before reaching for her business card, "You... work for Xu Musen?" Li Rundong was somewhat indignant, but right now, Xu Musen indeed was the object of many girls'' affections. Having such a good friend as a backbone made conversations with women more interesting. He coughed and straightened his back with pride, "I am also one of the persons in charge at Kangaroo Delivery, and Xu Musen is my roommate. We are iron brothers!" But Zhu Yn''s gaze shifted, looking over at the guy who had just tried to hit on her. So they all came from the same den; no wonder they all looked so sneaky! Moreover, out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly noticed a familiar figure. An Nuannuan pushed a wheelchair up to Xu Musen, also holding a cup of lemonade for him to drink. Hey? Isn''t that the boss of the bubble tea shop? Zhu Yn paused, and then it clicked for her; no wonder that guy insisted she go to that bubble tea shop to order lemonade. So this so-called "bossdy" was his girl? Great, using her own banner to advertise for him. And spending her own money to help him flirt and boost his performance! She felt like she was being manipted by him all along? The more Zhu Yn thought about it, the angrier she got, and she took back the business card she had taken out. She looked at this "iron brother" of Xu Musen''s. All tainted with the same muckscoundrels! "Ptui! Not a single good one among them!" Zhu Yn spat and turned away. Li Rundong stood there, stunned. Was this a Beijing Opera face change? Why did it seem like as soon as this girl heard Xu Musen''s name, it was like she had been scorned by Xu Musen? Damn it, Xu Musen, you''re killing me! Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong''s fragile psyches were struck yet another blow. They watched as Xu Musen and An Nuannuan were affectionately feeding each other lemonade. Their gazes started to resemble that of jilted, resentful women. ... "Xu Musen, why are they looking at you like that?" An Nuannuan, upon noticing their grievous eyes, asked curiously. "Probably because their courtship has failed again. You''ve seen Animal World, right?" Xu Musen replied with a bit of schadenfreude. "Oh~ It feels like those two are always in what Animal World calls the mating season~" An Nuannuan made a remark. Xu Musen couldn''t help but burst intoughter; Nuannuan''s analysis always managed to hit right where it hurts. Ring ring ring... The phone rang and Xu Musen nced at the caller ID. Yao Mingyue Xu Musen looked at An Nuannuan and then answered, "Hello?" "Xu Musen, the clothes you left at Auntie Bai''s house yesterday are washed. I''ve brought them over for you." "Sure, just leave it with the dorm supervisor downstairs; I''m not in the dorm right now," Find your next read at ?? Xu Musen said softly. "Oh." After Yao Mingyue had finished speaking, she paused for a moment, "Are youing back to watch the military training performance tonight?" "Of course." As Xu Musen spoke, it was the evening when the results would be reviewed, so he would certainly appear. "That''s good then." Yao Mingyue''s voice carried a hint of unexined emotion, and she hung up the phone. "Is that the nice older sister?" An Nuannuan watched him hang up the phone, herrge eyes twinkling. "How did you know?" "Because every time you talk to her, you''re a little different from when you talk to others." An Nuannuan spoke slowly, not quite able to pinpoint how it was different. Xu Musen thought about it carefully, different, huh... After all, they were once husband and wife in a past life, it''s not that easy to change so many little habits overnight. "Xu Musen, you and nice older sister actually have a good rtionship, right?" "What makes you say that?" "I don''t know, just a hunch. You guys, in the past... " An Nuannuan''srge eyes blinked as she seemed to want to say something but didn''t know how to say it. "The past is the past, now is now, my best friend has changed now," Xu Musen looked down at An Nuannuan. In the sunlight, Xu Musen''s smile was extraordinarily fresh and scorching. An Nuannuan slightly lowered her head, the sun was so strong, her cheeks were so hot~ ... Meanwhile, Yao Mingyue sat in Bai Xin''s car as they returned to school together. In her hand, she held a bag containing Xu Musen''sundered and dried clothes. She arrived beneath Xu Musen''s dormitory, initially wanting him toe down and get it, she looked at the dorm supervisor dozing off. She lowered her head to look at the bag in her hand once again. Instead of passing it to the supervisor, she silently chose to go upstairs. No one was in the dorm, she pushed the door open and entered. Her gaze fell on Xu Musen''s bed, and after confirming the room was empty, she threw herself onto his bed. Such a strong smell of Musen~ She hugged the pillow and took a few deep breaths, as if she wanted to embrace him as well. In the end, she managed to suppress her emotions one more time. She ced the bag with the clothes at the head of the bed. She smoothed out the bed she had messed up, put the crumpled pillow back in ce, but just then, a bunch of white things fell from the back of the pillow. Upon closer inspection... socks? And they were the type of cute cotton socks that only girls would wear. Yao Mingyue wouldn''t wear such childish socks; she looked down at her own legs, remembering her socks got soaked by the river water yesterday. Disliking the smell ofke water, she threw them away. So Bai Xin found her a pair of white stockings instead. Her slender and delicate legs, encased in white silk, with itscy patterns, added a youthful and lively charm. These socks... A vision of An Nuannuan''s seemingly innocent but possibly sly face shed through Yao Mingyue''s mind. It had to belong to her. A surge of jealousy washed over Yao Mingyue, almostpelling her to throw the socks away immediately. But then she thought, what if he couldn''t find his socks and asked her for some other piece of fabric? Yao Mingyue clenched her teeth, this pervert... She resented that he didn''t want her things, but instead kept a pair of socks? Could he be a foot fetishist? Yao Mingyue thought as she looked down at the white silk she was wearing. She locked the door from the inside. Then, she gently lifted the hem of her skirt and slowly took off the white stockings she was wearing. The sunlight fell on her pristine legs, dazzlingly white. The stockings came off, soft and white, a magical piece of fabric that was even more provocative than socks. She picked up that pair of socks and stuffed them in. Since you like them, I might as well give them to you. It seemed to be her way of expressing, no matter what you like right now, in the end, you''ll realize that you''ve never really left me... Chapter 194: Chapter 123 Wealthy Sisters Evening. The military training performance was about to begin. All the colleges in Hu Hai had sent student representatives to participate in this event. The number of participants was estimated to be no less than a thousand or two. It was like a small-scale solo concert. Xu Musen had hired many temporary workers again, asking them to wear kangaroo delivery vests and hats, and hand out lemonade to the arriving crowd. This kind of mobile live advertising was very effective. And the kangaroo delivery logo was quite cute and distinctive, easily leaving a deep impression on people. "Moriko!" As Xu Musen was standing at the school entrance overseeing everything, a high-pitched voice reached him. He looked up, and thought, what the heck, why is there an African person here? However, the "African person" excitedly ran over and gave Xu Musen a bear hug. Only then Xu Musen could see clearly: "He Qiang? How the hell did you get so tan?" Xu Musen looked at He Qiang, who was already quite dark, but after this period of military training, it felt like he was almost scorched. He Qiang chuckled and scratched his head: "I couldn''t resist sneaking out to fish during military training and the instructor found out, so I was punished to stand at attention under the sun every day. It nearly killed me." Xu Musen couldn''t helpughing; this guy really hadn''t changed. "So, this is the ''Mouse Delivery'' thing you''ve set up, huh? Looks quite impressive." He Qiang had seen the banners hanging all around as soon as he entered the school. "It''s Kangaroo Delivery. Can''t you pay a little attention? I was even thinking about making you responsible for your school''s branch," Xu Musenughed and punched him. "Ah, it''s Little ck," An Nuannuan said as she came over with a cup of lemonade, recognizing He Qiang at first nce. It''s just that the name didn''t seem to be quite right. "An Nuannuan, my name is He... Never mind," He Qiang said, feeling too weak to argue. Xu Musen took the lemonade from her hand and handed it to He Qiang. He Qiang took a sip of the water, ncing at An Nuannuan and Xu Musen. Looks like after half a month of military training, these two seemed to be even more inseparable. "Hey, how far have you two progressed? Have you done anything utterly shameless?" He Qiang teased Xu Musen with a wink. "Mind your own business about grown-up stuff," Xu Musen replied with a smile as he shook his head. "What about you? It''s been half a month since school started, have you taken a liking to any girls?" "What do I need that for? Fishing is more fun; nobody can tell me what to do," He Qiang said, clearly enjoying himself when suddenly a voice came from behind him. "He Qiang! Get back in line quickly, or I''ll tell the coach again!" A girl shouted. She was pretty and petite, but with a strong presence, hands on hips, embodying the fiery temper of a Sichuanese girl. "Here ites again, such a nag..." He Qiangined as soon as he saw her. Xu Musenughed: "Who is this?" Your next chapter is on ?? "Our ss monitor. She was the one who reported me sneaking out to go fishingst time; she''s always on my case," He Qiang said, clearly annoyed. Xu Musen took another curious look at the girl andughed: "She might as well be the first girl to take such a keen interest in you. She looks pretty too. Seize the opportunity!" "Pfft! I don''t like someone with such a temper," He Qiang scoffed. "He Qiang! I''m counting to three! If you don''te back now, don''t bothering back at all!" the girl shouted again, and even An Nuannuan couldn''t help but look over. Wow, she''s from the same hometown. Xu Musen also vaguely heard the ent of "I tell you from the mountains of Shu" in her voice. He Qiang sighed, nced at the dumbfounded An Nuannuan, and muttered: "We''re both Sichuan girls, how can there be such a big difference? Okay then, I''ll head back first." Xu Musen patted his shoulder: "Go on, we''ll catch upter if you''re free tonight." With that, He Qiang jogged back to his school''s formation. The girl seemed to be still nagging at He Qiang''s side, and he had a look of utter resignation. Xu Musen thought for a moment. As the saying goes, just because two people fight every day doesn''t mean their rtionship is bad. On the contrary, it''s those who are polite to each other at every meeting who are actually not close. He suddenly remembered what Yao Mingyue had said to him the night before. "I''d rather you scold me when you see me, than ignore me..." Indeed, there was some truth to it. "Xu Musen, are Little ck and that girl dating?" An Nuannuan now asked with curiosity. "Why do you ask?" An Nuannuan blinked: "Because my mom told me that back home, a girl only uses that tone of counting to three when she cares about someone." Perhaps this is what many girls mean when they say, "I only lose my temper with you because I care." Howe it sounds so ethereal? No wonder, in former times, when people mentioned girls from Sichuan and Chongqing, they''d think of ''ear-pulling''. "What about you? I don''t think I''ve ever heard you say anything about the mountain routes of Shu," Xu Musen looked down at An Nuannuan. An Nuannuan fumbled with the hem of her clothes: "Mom said girls should still be gentle, otherwise boys will be ''ear-pulled''. " "Is being ''ear-pulled'' so bad? They''re considerate and listen to their wives," Xu Musen chuckled. But An Nuannuan shook her head: "Boys should be the head of the family, to protect everyone. Chores and such are things girls are better at." An Nuannuan''s simple way of thinking, had it been in an era ruled by ''inte fairy girls'', would have probably been sted online withments like "Girls, we need to be independent, we marry to enjoy life, not to be nannies..." How ridiculous. Whether it''s work or housework, it''s about cooperation between spouses, a family doesn''t divide tasks based on each other. Chapter 195: Chapter 123 Wealthy Sisters~_2 And this feeling of being respected and depended on really made Xu Musen feel affirmed inside. Right, a man is the head of the household, and this sense of achievement is something one can never understand by living off others for a lifetime. "I see." Xu Musen nodded, looking at An Nuannuan, he was increasingly feeling she was quite suitable. "Xu Musen, do you like those really impressive girls?" An Nuannuan suddenly asked him again. Yao Mingyue''s image immediately surfaced in Xu Musen''s mind. "Of course not!" Stay tuned with ?? He immediately shook his head, "I still prefer gentle girls. In fact, I quite like taking care of others, a beautiful and somewhat silly girl who needs looking after is nice." "Is that so..." An Nuannuan nodded her head, but after a while, she suddenly tugged at him, "I''m not silly at all." Xu Musen looked down at her big eyes, the corners of his mouth curling up: "I didn''t say you were." "You were looking at me when you said that." "I wasn''t." "You were..." The two of them teased and argued. Off to the side, Zhao Lianmai, who was handing out small fans, watched the scene and shook her head with a sigh. Isn''t this the very picture of moulding yourselves after each other? Just get together already. ... The time reached the afternoon. The military training performance was about to begin, and loudspeakers kept calling sses to take their seats. Business leaders from outside the school had also arrived, and Xu Musen went to greet them, who were very enthusiastic when they saw him. Ever since they had entered the school, they had seen banners hanging everywhere, and there were also some very thoughtful details. Like the distributed lemon water and small fans, these items didn''t cost much, but they were ced in front of everyone, leaving a deep impression. Before making money, you have to learn how to spend it. However, for college entrepreneurs, it is difficult to have such courage and long-term vision. Many student entrepreneurs didn''t think about how much money they would make; they just nned to get some prize money and then run away. So, when they saw Xu Musen''s preparations, they became more optimistic about the future of Kangaroo Delivery. Moreover, among the visitors, there was a figure that was particrly conspicuous. It was a woman in a red evening gown, radiant with jewels, exuding an aura of elegance and nobility with every move. She appeared to be around thirty, with good skin and figure, her face always wearing a polite smile with a sense of subtle distance. Sitting in a corner, she seemed not to blend in much with the affairs here. She was also one of the investors this time. Xu Musen greeted each one in turn, and when he came to this woman, he nced at her name tag. "Zhu Xiann." Huh, why does this name sound familiar? And this woman was also examining Xu Musen carefully, her eyes brightening beneath her exquisite makeup. "You''re Xu Musen from Kangaroo Delivery, truly a young talent," the woman said while extending her hand. "Hello, you tter me." Xu Musen extended his hand, holding the tips of her fingers lightly before letting go. Meanwhile, Zhu Yn also arrived. Although she had failed at the bidding, there were still people interested in investing in her. Zhu Yn greeted each representative in turn, and when she saw Xu Musen, she huffed with a touch of indignation. But when she saw the woman opposite Xu Musen, her big eyes suddenly filled with hostility. "Why are you here?" Zhu Yn was instantly on guard. "Can''t Ie and see my dear younger sister?" The woman replied with a smile, looking at Zhu Yn. These two... sisters? Xu Musen nced to his left and right. Well, they did resemble each other and seemed toe from the same stock in terms of aura. In terms of stature, Zhu Yn was very tall but a bit too thin in ces where she could have afforded to be plumper. As for this Zhu Xiann, she was average in height, but her figure was quite appealing, with curves entuated by the expensive gown. If talking about looks, Zhu Yn, with more of a youthful air, naturally appeared a bit more beautiful. But Zhu Xiann had a mature femininity that was equally alluring. "Hmph, you''ve always looked down on college entrepreneurship, what are you doing here today?" "Of course, I came to see my ambitious little sister and check whether you can manage on your own." "I have already seeded... halfway! I don''t need your concern, take care of yourself!" Zhu Yn spoke without any courtesy, indicating that her rtionship with her sister wasn''t very friendly. "I am your sister; you should speak respectfully, you know?" But Zhu Xiann still kept her smile, walking up to her, facing off with her younger sister while having to tilt her head up. "Humph, I''m already taller than you; I will surpass you in many ways in the future!" Zhu Yn arrogantly lifted her head, boasting her only current advantage. The woman scanned Zhu Yn''s lofty stature, especially noting her front side, and couldn''t help but chuckle lightly: "My silly little sister, it''s such a waste to be so tall; is the air too thin up there, causing your brain to be a bit oxygen-deprived? I still hope that you could use a few centimeters of your height in other ces" Zhu Yn''s face froze for a few seconds, her cheeks turning red as she bit her white teeth and stepped back, covering the front of her body. "You! Don''t be smug Don''t bully a young girl just wait a few years!" Zhu Yn grew increasingly agitated as she spoke, and turned to leave. Zhu Xiann stood still and couldn''t help but giggle. Xu Musen listened from the side, feeling that the ways of the wealthy were indeed different, with siblings seemingly engaged in their own grand drama. Chapter 196: Chapter 123 Wealthy Sisters~_3 "I''ve made you witness a joke." Afterughing, Zhu Lanxiang said something to Xu Musen. "No... I think you two have a good rtionship," Xu Musen responded. Although the sisters teased each other quite a bit, it was all in jest, without any real anger. "I heard that you won over my sister in this round of business negotiations?" The woman looked at him with interest. "It was just luck, and now we are partners," Xu Musen said nonchntly. "Ah, this little sister of mine, she''s always liked topete with others, not satisfied with falling behind. But you know, brushing up against society''s walls might do her some good," Zhu Xiann said, looking at Xu Musen. "Could I trouble you with something?" "Please go ahead." "This is the first time my sister has started a business, and I''m afraid she might be too eager and get deceived by others. Since she has chosen to partner with you, I hope you can take care of her a bit. Making money is not important; I want her to really understand the process of entrepreneurship." As Zhu Xiann spoke, her gaze shifted, "Our family has some influence in Hu Hai, so if you ever need help, feel free to tell me." While saying this, she took out a business card from her blouse and handed it to Xu Musen. This offer seemed to be aboutworking, but Xu Musen still felt there was an ulterior motive. It seemed that this elder sister was very protective of her younger sibling. Xu Musen took the business card withposure and politely said, "We are ssmates, and I''ll help out any problems that arise." "That''s good to hear, I thank you on behalf of Yu Lan," the woman replied with a warm smile. ... Xu Musen casually pocketed the business card. Although he didn''t want to get involved with these wealthy people. However, if he wanted his business to grow, it would be good to be somewhat acquainted with localpanies. The military training performance started. The leaders gave speeches for half an hour, leaving everyone nearly dozing off. Finally, the performances began. The talents of current university students were actually more lively than the Spring Festival G. There was singing, dancing, ying instruments,ic skits, crosstalk, and even juggling and martial arts. Students from Hu Hai Arts University also came, and the artistic girls, fair-skinned, beautiful, and with long legs, swayed on stage and incited cheers from the audience! Xu Musen and An Nuannuan found a less crowded spot to watch the performances together. Xu Musen had seen many, but An Nuannuan was very interested, her big bright eyes gleaming as she watched the students pour out their youth on stage. Whenever someone sang a particrly good song, she would also p her small hands. "You really like listening to music, don''t you?" "Yeah, yeah." An Nuannuan nodded, looking at Xu Musen, "Xu Musen, the song you sangst time, could you sing it for me again?" An Nuannuan looked at him with eager eyes. Xu Musen almost forgot about it, but looking at An Nuannuan, he said, "I could, but what''s in it for me?" "I" An Nuannuan''s eyes wandered, and she nced down at her feet in sandals, a bit deted, "Xu Musen, I didn''t wear socks today, so I can''t offer you..." "You''d have to be a pervert to want socks!" Xu Musen said indignantly. An Nuannuan blinked, "But you still haven''t returned the socks I gave you." "I... I just forgot," Xu Musen coughed. Just then, Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong came over, messing around and disrupting the mood. "Musen, do you have any more lemonade? I''ll go and deliver some." "Wow, you two are so diligent today?" Xu Musen saw the two ckers, who seemed exceptionally eager to deliver water today. "Well, the girls from the Arts University are here, aren''t they? The uniforms and stockings from the Flight Attendant program are to die for. I''m going to take this chance to get QQ numbers andter share with..." Zhou Hangyu said excitedly, but thest part of his sentence got stuck when he noticed An Nuannuan next to Xu Musen. Xu Musen just smiled and said, "Go to the tea shop and get it, and also send some snacks." Experience new tales on ?? Indeed, the beautiful girls from the Flight Attendant program were numerous. If they were seen with his products, it would serve as a promotion. It''s like saying, "The goddesses like this, aren''t you rushing to buy it?" "Will do!" Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong scampered off. Those two guys... they seem like they''ve never left their rutting season. Meanwhile, at the back of the stage, a tall figure in a fluffy white dress stood, Looking like a pure dandelion, she quietly observed every part of the stage... Chapter 197: Chapter 124 Yao Mingyue, The Dandelion Promise. "This song, I''d like to dedicate to the girl I like, Zhou Qiunan I love you!" On stage, a boy finished singing and suddenly grabbed the microphone to start a heartfelt confession. There was a wave of uproar from the audience! Kiss her, kiss her, or someone shouting directly to marry him, marry him. These college performances are not so strict, and every year there are people who take advantage of the opportunity to confess. The school leaders would just smile and let it be. After all, colleges don''t forbid dating; they even have policies to encourage it. The country also encourages having two or three children. After all, if college students have children and register them locally, it helps retain talent. At suchrge evening events hosted by the school, people typically start sitting wherever they want halfway through. Generally, nearly half of the college students find a partner or someone they are flirting with during military training. Otherwise, it bes quite hard to find someer on. The lovebirds all begin sitting together, on the seats, thewn, behind the big trees, in the flower beds, the corridors, the staircases... Hugging and kissing, young people are truly impulsive in love. Honestly, Xu Musen kind of understands why Japanese people always like names like "Inoue", "Matsushita", or "Kishibe". Those are tantly crime scenes. Xu Musen and An Nuannuan were sitting in a corner of the backstage audience, originally thinking it would be quiet. But unexpectedly, right after the boy on stage confessed his love, he brought the girl he had just confessed to over their way. Xu Musen and An Nuannuan were seated on the upper level, and seeing that there was no one around, they immediately couldn''t resist hugging each other. As performances went on upon the stage, they hugged and started kissing each other. The boy''s hands started off conservative, but then slowly triggered his automatic path-finding system. Xu Musen was seated in a rtively high spot, and there was a corner that concealed them; the couple didn''t see them. Xu Musen felt somewhat embarrassed C wasn''t this corrupting the youth? And was that how a girl''s shoulder strap was supposed toe off? So unprofessional! Mutteringints to himself, Xu Musen suddenly remembered that An Nuannuan was by his side. He turned his head and saw An Nuannuan intently watching the young couple. Her delicate little mouth moved slightly as if she was learning something. Xu Musen reached out to cover her eyes. "What''s wrong?" An Nuannuan whispered to him. "Kids shouldn''t watch; it''s easy to be led astray." "Oh, it''s just kissing, right?" "You know about that?" Xu Musen always thought of her as a sheltered youngdy who was naive to worldly affairs. "I''ve seen it before." An Nuannuan recalled the manga she had been reading these days, where the male and female leads really liked to kiss as soon as they met. There were even other things. She also noticed that boys seemed to get restless with their hands once they start kissing. She subconsciously looked down at herself and then at Xu Musen''s hands... A blush momentarily colored her fair cheeks. Boys are so strange, she thought. She was weaned off at two years old, yet boys her age still couldn''t kick the habit... She didn''t see the appeal; it was usually just tiring on the shoulders, and it would get sweaty in the summer, among other things. "Xu Musen." "Hm?" "Is it... does dating always have to be like this?" An Nuannuan looked at the couple hugging below the stairs, then raised her head to gaze at Xu Musen. The boy had only just confessed to the girl. Facing her inquisitive eyes, Xu Musen cleared his throat. "Well, actually, it''s quite normal. When boys and girls are together, they will have youthful urges. It''s also a way to express love and want to get closer to each other." "Oh." An Nuannuan nodded her head. Wanting to get closer... "So is it not possible to just continue being friends?" "But there are some things that can''t be done as friends; they are exclusive to couples or spouses. Of course, you also have to take on the corresponding responsibilities, which is not as rxed as being friends." After Xu Musen spoke, An Nuannuan pondered for a while before once again asking, "Xu Musen, which do you think is better then, being friends or being a couple?" An Nuannuan lifted her bright eyes, staring unblinkingly at Xu Musen. Xu Musen also thought about it quite a bit. Which is better, being friends or being a couple? Each has its advantages, as well as unexpected limitations. He looked at An Nuannuan, always feeling that this young girl had been particrly interested in considering such matterstely. Could it be that she was indeed going through the teenage phase and bing interested in matters concerning the opposite sex? Honestly, Xu Musen felt veryfortable with An Nuannuan. She was a youngdy whose head seemed to be in the clouds usually, yet her thinking was uniquely clever. The greatest feeling Xu Musen got from her was that he could be entirely himself without any pretense or fabrication. It was rxed, pure. After being manipted too much in his past life, meeting such an easily hoodwinked girl in this life, Xu Musen had the illusion of a ve singing in triumph after turning the tables. But as for dating, Xu Musen honestly hadn''t made up his mind. Actually, both he and Yao Mingyue didn''t truly understand love when they had simply married and lived together. An Nuannuan was probably even more so. This young girl, who had been well protected since childhood, was most likely a nk te when it came to love. If he hoodwinked her into bing a couple just for those primal urges and possessiveness, Xu Musen felt it would make him no different from a lunatic. Chapter 198: Chapter 124 Yao Mingyue, The Dandelion Promise._2 ``` "There are advantages to each, it''s just that bing a couple raises the threshold. Some actions, like kissing and hugging, should be a natural expression of affection thates when the rtionship naturally progresses, rather than reasons to be a couple." Xu Musen spoke slowly, lowering his head to look at An Nuannuan, "In any case, the identity of a couple carries more weight in terms of responsibility. Friends can easily make up after a dispute, but once a couple breaks up, it''s basically impossible to reconcile. So, if you haven''t recognized true affection, it''s better not to cross that line too hastily." As Xu Musen spoke, he also felt a wave of mncholy in his heart. In his previous life, he and Yao Mingyue definitely had feelings for each other, but they both only stood from their own perspectives. They both ignored how the other felt. Maybe he had long confused the dependency and friendship of childhood sweethearts with love. An Nuannuan nodded vaguely as though half-asleep, half-awake. True affection... She didn''t know, but as she looked at Xu Musen, it seemed she could read someplex feelings in his eyes. She pursed her lips, her mind wandering to things from the distant past "Xu Musen, do you still like..." "Moriko!" At this moment, a figure ran over from the side. It was He Qiang, wearing a ck T-shirt, his tanned skin almost blending into the darkness as evening approached, his white teeth the only thing visible. "Ah!" The pair of startled young lovers, especially the girl who looked up to see a dark figure leaping from the edge of the field, Looked just like a member of an African cannibal tribe. He Qiang:... Damn, why do they look as if they''ve seen a ghost? "I was just passing by; carry on," he said. He Qiang gestured with his hand and then went to find Xu Musen. The mood of the young couple, now disturbed, turned their attention above and saw two other people; their faces flushed, they quickly left with the girl dragging the boy away. "Interrupting others'' good times, are we?" Xu Musen greeted He Qiang with augh. "Who told them to sneak around? An Nuannuan, hello," He Qiang said as he greeted her. "Hello," An Nuannuan nodded. He Qiang sat down next to Xu Musen and sighed, "The three of us sitting here really gives off the vibe of being back in high school''s backyard." "Yeah, we had just met back then," Xu Musen nodded in agreement. "I had just met Lil'' ck [He Qiang], but I knew you from before," An Nuannuan shook her head. Xu Musen was taken aback for a moment, figuring it must be because An Nuannuan always picked up the flowers whenever he confessed his love. There probably wasn''t anyone in the whole school who didn''t know him. "Hahaha, Moriko, you could say you''re a celebrity at our school. Who doesn''t know you?" He Qiang reveled in schadenfreude. Although he always felt it was a pity that his good brother had given up so easily on his wealthy childhood sweetheart, An Nuannuan was also wealthy, and besides, she seemed like a delicate beauty easy to fall for. Most guys still tend to prefer a somewhat frailer girl. They feel more important that way. Every man has a bit of that ''emperor'' mentality; it''s normal. But An Nuannuan merely pursed her lips slightly as if to say her ''knowing'' him wasn''t like that. "Cough, cough, let''s not bring up that dark past," Xu Musen was really not keen on recalling his days as a lovestruck fool. He Qiang looked at Xu Musen and An Nuannuan, who had known each other for two or three months now. While not a long time, in this era of fast-food-style rtionships, Being able to hold back from confessing for a month is considered patient enough. For most people, a couple of dates with mutual attraction is all it takes to establish a rtionship. At the very least, they''d act as a couple under the guise of friendship without dering it openly. Unfortunately for Yao Mingyue, Xu Musen''s childhood sweetheart and school beauty, She wasn''t inferior to An Nuannuan in terms of credentials, and the two of them hadpletely different temperaments and characters. He Qiang, having grown up with Xu Musen, knew the families'' situations of both Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue, as well as the rtionship between the two families. He had thought that it would be ideal if Xu Musen ended up with Yao Mingyue. But looking at the current situation, Xu Musen and An Nuannuan seemed to be drawing closer. Knowing his good friend well, He Qiang understood that at heart, Xu Musen was someone who treasured his rtionships deeply. Could he really just ignore his own childhood sweetheart? At that moment, The bright voice of the stage host traveled through the speakers. "Next, Yao Mingyue from the Business Administration Department will perform a song for us!" "Again with the singing, it''s so... Wait, who?!" He Qiang started to speak instinctively but suddenly paused. Xu Musen''s gaze stalled as well, his eyes swiftly turning toward the stage. An Nuannuan, upon hearing that name, quickly turned herrge eyes toward the stage. Yao Mingyue? Xu Musen''s brows twitched slightly. Yao Mingyue, who came from a family of privilege, was naturally skilled in music and dance. But she always disdained performing these talents in public. In her words, She pursued the arts for personal enjoyment, not to please others. Therefore, she seldom performed on stage. And certainly not at such trivial asions. Xu Musen suddenly remembered that Yao Mingyue had asked him if he''d be at today''s performance evening... Not only they were astonished, Lin Daiyu, Zhao Lianmai, as well as An Nuannuan''s roommates, and even Li Rundong, All turned their eyes toward the stage at that moment. ``` Chapter 199: Chapter 124 Yao Mingyue, The Dandelion Promise._3 Intuition told them that as soon as this girl appeared, things naturally wouldn''t be so simple. And now, with the night sky thinning, only a sliver of thest golden thread remained at the horizon, while a spotlight beamed down on the stage. From one side of the stage, a tall figure approached gracefully, dressed in a white gown, exquisite and elegant, shining under the lights like a noble white swan. Her perfect visage became even more saintly at this moment, her phoenix eyes radiating an aristocratic aura that seemed capable of bewitching souls. Upon her appearance, the entire venue fell silent for a second at the sight of such beauty, followed by a chorus of catcalls! "Damn! I told you the School of Business Administration has beauties! She''s definitely campus queen material!" "Such a great figure, and her skin too, God is so unfair..." Whether guys or girls, everyone''s eyes were captivated by Yao Mingyue''s dazzling appearance. Even Lin Daiyu, who had always felt slightly at odds, couldn''t help but smack her lips. One had to admit, she was indeed very beautiful, so beautiful that it was hard to feel envious. Because they were simply not on the same level. It''s like if your brother suddenly buys a Mercedes E300 for over half a million, you''d feel as if the sky had fallen in. But if Ma Yun spends a hundred million on a private jet, you would just find it normal. That''s the difference between heaven and earth. At this moment, at the teacher''s seat, Bai Xin took a sip of her coffee and looked at Yao Mingyue shining on the stage. Her gaze then shifted to the Kangaroo Delivery banner behind her, and she let out a slight sigh. These affairs between young people. Truly iprehensible. "This..." He Qiang swallowed his saliva, his eyes shifting towards Xu Musen and An Nuannuan. Yao Mingyue, standing under the spotlight, also cast her gaze across the crowd. She couldn''t see him, but if he were there, he would definitely see her. In the middle of the stage, a piano sat waiting. She walked over slowly, seating herself with grace. She caressed her body, her voice carried by the microphone. "This song, I want to dedicate to someone." Her voice carried an emotion not typically heard. But the crowd below erupted. "Damn! It''s not another confession, is it?" "Which lucky bastard gets a confession from such a beautiful goddess?" "Maybe it''s for a friend or something?" The voices below buzzed with spection. Only those in the know felt sour in their mouths. "Xu Musen, that damn cad, it''s definitely aimed at him!" Zhou Hangyu looked at Yao Mingyue on stage, as pure as a swan. He simply couldn''t understand how that guy could have remained unmoved by such a fair-skinned, beautiful, and tall rich girl''s pursuit. "Do you think Xu Musen has some sort of physical problem, to be able to resist..." Zhou Hangyuined. Li Rundong patted his shoulder and said, "We''ve been training for half a month now. Do you know the difference between you and Xu Musen?" "What?" "The difference is your underwear has a hole worn through in the back, while his is in the front." "???" Zhou Hangyu froze for a moment, his face turning a mix of ck and red, erupting in curse words. Damn! Can''t you recognize that essence lies in concentration? "Wait a minute, why the hell are you looking at our underwear? I''m definitely sleeping against the wall from now on!" "Scram, scram, scram!" The two bantered as usual. Lin Daiyu and Zhao Lianmai sat together, looking at Yao Mingyue on stage. Lin Daiyu also couldn''t help but murmur, "Although I don''t want to admit it, Nuannuan really puts the pressure on..." At this moment. Xu Musen silently watched the stage, his eyes seemingly meeting Yao Mingyue''s across the sea of people for a split second. The glittering girl was the one who had appeared countless times in his fantasies. Right then, Yao Mingyue, as if sensing something, ced her slender white fingers on the piano keys. "I''m sorry I couldn''t give you an answer back then. This "Dandelion''s Promise", I dedicate to you, to me, and to us." Her voice was soft, like a dandelion that would disperse with just a puff. Her fingers lightly pressed down, a few fortissimo notes, a single melody, like falling dandelions carrying regret... "The dandelions by the elementary school fence, are a scenery with taste in memory" Chapter 205: Chapter 126: Xu Musen, Can You Also Wait for Me... Yao Mingyue left the venue. But her singing and thest few words of her "deep confession" kept everyone talking incessantly. The videos of Yao Mingyue ying the piano and singing had already been uploaded to the campus forums by students from several universities. In an era where traffic was still precious, the number of video views kept soaring. Things like "Elegant rich beauty makes a heartfelt confession, but doesn''t dare to say the name, fearing to be PUA-ed by a scumbag" "Hu Hai University''s campus belle seemingly betrayed by a scumbag, everyone eagerly stepping forward to pick up the pieces..." ... Xu Musen didn''t have the energy for these gossipy distractions because he knew Yao Mingyue, but it was true that she had changed a bit today. Yao Mingyue had not given up on him, and it could even be said that her obsession had deepened, just like Xu Musen had once mentioned. It really seemed like she had started to truly feel what it was like to love someone. Only, her target was still him. She seemed to have changed, but in some ways, she hadn''t changed at all. It seemed like change... He Qiang wanted to say something, but then he nced at An Nuannuan by his side. He, a forever single guy who had never been in a rtionship, didn''t feel qualified to y the role of a military strategist. Anyway, no matter how his buddy chose in the end, as long as he was doing well, that was enough. Chapter Stay: Yao Mingyue, with a well-known and wealthy background, was too assertive in personality, but how many people were eagerly chasing yet never had this chance? An Nuannuan, also a mysterious little rich girl who seemed ditsy and cute, but appeared quite submissive towards Xu Musen. Guys, if all other things being equal, often choose a petite wife who can listen to them. "He Qiang! Come back!" At this moment, a bright voice rang out again, and one of He Qiang''s ssmates started looking for him in the crowd. It somewhat broke the slightly silent atmosphere among the three. "Here we go again." He Qiang felt a headacheing on as soon as he heard the voice. Xu Musenughed lightly, "I think this girl definitely has a thing for you, how did you pick her up?" "Pick up what? I was pretending to suffer from heatstroke to go fishing, and it turned out she got heatstroked too. I took her to the infirmary, and there was only one bottle of Huoxiang Zhengqi Water left. I didn''t want to drink it, so I gave it to her. But look at her now, acting all vengeful, stalking me every day!" He Qiang said with a look of resignation, adding, "You think it''s because Huoxiang Zhengqi Water tastes so bad that she''s trying to get back at me?" Xu Musen listened, then after a second of silence, he patted He Qiang''s shoulder. "Qiang Zi, your straight man''s brain isn''t as flexible as your fishing rod." The girl must have thought He Qiang endured the suffering of heatstroke to give her the medicine, probably feeling touched, and started to harbor feelings for him. But He Qiang, this guy probably won''t find love unless someone chases after him, or he''s doomed to a solitary life. "Enough, I won''t chat with you anymore, in case she goes back and reports to the counselor again." He Qiang pped his butt and stood up, patting his good buddy''s shoulderstly, "You better handle your own matters first." With that, He Qiang walked over. And said a few words to the girl. "Stop calling out for me like that in the future. It''s embarrassing me in front of my friends, you know?" "If you didn''t run off, why would I shout for you? Be careful, or the instructor will give you an earful..." Watching the two of them, both looking unconvinced, but at the same time, it felt like they matched well. Actually, this is what you experience in a rtionship. These are things Xu Musen had never felt before. Jumping straight into marriage without dating, the excitement and impulsiveness of romance seemed to have been smoothed out by the familiarity of being childhood sweethearts. It was a bit of a pity. Xu Musen smiled faintly, but then he felt his sleeve being gently tugged. He looked down, and it was An Nuannuan. Her clear,rge eyes reflected the night lights, like a brilliant starry sky asionally obscured by clouds. "What''s the matter?" Xu Musen asked her with a light smile. An Nuannuan pursed her lips, always dim-wittedly calm about everything. At that moment, herrge eyes carried emotions she had never shown before. "Xu Musen, about you and her, you guys, that is... do you want to be in a rtionship now?" An Nuannuan stammered through the question, winding her way through it. Xu Musen looked at her and for the first time saw a flicker of... panic in the girl''s eyes? After pondering for a moment, Xu Musen spoke softly, "I think dating isn''t matter of whether you want to or not, but rather, at a certain moment, you might suddenly feel like dating. That moment coulde tomorrow, or it might be a long, long time away, or maybe, ites after meeting a certain person or experiencing a particr event. But it has to be with someone I truly like." An Nuannuan listened, her little brain unable to analyze such convoluted data, but she could sense that there had been a subtle change in him as he spoke these words. She lowered her head to look at her own legs in the wheelchair, then raised her head to gaze at Xu Musen, stretching out a small hand to gently clutch his sleeve. "Xu Musen, can you also wait for me..." The breeze blew lightly, and the girl''s voice entered his ears. This waiting could have many interpretations. Xu Musen looked at her and reached out to gently stroke her head, chuckling softly. "I''m not going anywhere, unless thepany goes bankrupt and peoplee to collect debts." "I won''t let you go bankrupt, I''ll sell milk tea to support you," An Nuannuan said earnestly. Somehow, hearing "I''ll support you" this time didn''t sound as jarring. Chapter 206: Chapter 126 Xu Musen, Can You Also Wait for Me..._2 But Xu Musen still smiled and said, "That''s called sponsorship, not raising." "Aren''t they the same? I''m also being ''raised'' by my family." "...It sounds nicer that way." Xu Musen helplessly smiled, looking into her clear eyes, perhaps to her, the term "raising" was just that simple. It meant being kind to the other person without expecting anything in return. Actually, Xu Musen always found it quite strange that An Nuannuan seemed to trust him exceptionally. An Nuannuan looked naive, but she was not foolish at all; her thought process was just a bit different, or else her family wouldn''t feel at ease allowing her to study away from home alone. Moreover, An Nuannuan was quite guarded around others; bing friends with her was not an easy task. Zhao Lianmai had even told Xu Musen that she and An Nuannuan were very familiar, but if Zhao Lianmai offered her some snacks to eat, or gave her some hairpins or the like, An Nuannuan would always find a way to return the favor, or to offer money in exchange. Others found it not easy to get close to her either. An Nuannuan loved to eat, but when out shopping together, she wouldn''t ept anything given by shop owners without first getting Xu Musen''s consent. In Xu Musen''s mind, the first real interaction he had with An Nuannuan was that time in the square when she was selling the flowers he had thrown away. And ording to her, it was not the first time she had picked up his discarded flowers. Chapter Explore: Now that he understood An Nuannuan''s character, he was sure she did it on purpose, which means they probably had crossed paths before. "Nuannuan, did we know each other before?" Xu Musen suddenly asked. An Nuannuan blinked her big eyes and shook her head, "I knew you, but you probably didn''t know me." Xu Musen thought about it; the first time he sent Yao Mingyue a love letter was during his second year of high school, which ended up bing well-known throughout the school. "So you knew me before my senior year of high school?" "Even earlier than that." An Nuannuan''s eyes carefully observed Xu Musen''s face. "Then why didn''t you tell me earlier?" Xu Musen thought that she had known him since his junior year. An Nuannuan looked down at her legs, then slowly began to speak, "Back then, you were always with her every day..." Xu Musen exhaled. That was true; back in school, he only had eyes for Yao Mingyue, and aside from He Qiang, with whom he could share a few words, everyone else might as well have been invisible to him. "Looks like I missed out on many beautiful things in the past." Xu Musen smiled and turned his head to look at An Nuannuan, "You didn''t make fun of me back then, did you?" Back in the day, he was notoriously known as a sycophant, and thebel of "toad lusting after swan meat" stuck to him so firmly that Xu Musen couldn''t be bothered to argue it away. An Nuannuan hurriedly shook her head. "Of course not. I only knew that you really cared about her at that time, at least you were brave enough to express your feelings... It wasn''t your fault, it was just that you didn''t get a response." An Nuannuan raised her eyes to look at Xu Musen, her small hand slowly grasping the hem of his shirt, stopping at the position of his wrist. Herrge eyes seemed to speak. "I just don''t understand why some people, who obviously care about each other so much, always hesitate. My mom once told me, you can''t hide when you like someone, and you shouldn''t hide it, because sometimes, once you miss the chance, you might really never get it again..." An Nuannuan rarely said so much in one go; when she spoke of her mother, there was a hint of dimness in her eyes. Xu Musen listened, looking at the girl whose emotions had dipped slightly. He felt a wave of warmth in his heart. It turned out that when he faced rejection and mockery from the whole school, there was someone who would quietly feel sorry for him on the side. "You said you knew me a long time ago, did we have any other interactions before? Because I always feel... like you really trust me a lot." Xu Musen remained curious about her attitude towards him, even though he was quite handsome now. But An Nuannuan clearly wasn''t one of those girls who went brain-dead over good looks alone. An Nuannuan blinked, her hand gently holding Xu Musen''s wrist, "Didn''t we agree that in the next few days, you''d apany me to visit my grandparents? I''ll tell you then, okay? I have something to show you." The softness of the girl''s hand was like cotton candy, the dazed sound of her voice also carried a touch of anticipation. She had even learned to keep people in suspense. Xu Musen couldn''t help but tease her, "It''s not going to be your treasured sock collection, is it?" An Nuannuan''s lips shifted slightly, her face slightly flushed, "I actually don''t wear socks often, but I do have a lot of other things..." She said, lowering her head. Xu Musen was taken aback. Wait, are you seriously showing me? How generous and yet rich. "Nuannuan, you know, I''ve always respected the elderly and loved the young; I''m definitely going to visit the grandparents and the little ones, but as for the rest, you don''t need to bother, I''m not that kind of person." Xu Musen dered earnestly. Actually, as soon as he guessed that the investmentst time was from An Nuannuan''s family, Xu Musen had been looking for an opportunity to express his thanks. To them, a hundred thousand might not mean much, but for Xu Musen, it was like a timely rain on his first pot of gold, a significant difference. "Oh~" An Nuannuan observed his demeanor, but her mind was resolute because whenever he spoke with such a stern face, It was actually the grammar rule of "a double negative equals an affirmative." Not wanting it means wanting it. Chapter 207: Chapter 126: Xu Musen, Can You Also Wait for Me..._3 ... The night fell, and the performance ended. Xu Musen and Bai Xin saw off all the leaders together, and many corporate representatives left their business cards with Xu Musen, looking forward to future cooperation. Students from other schools who attended the event also showed great interest in the Kangaroo Delivery service. After all, some universities are quiterge, and some dormitories can be four or five hundred meters away from the cafeteria. It''s really tiring to make the trek in the scorching summer heat or snow, and if their own schools offered such a convenient delivery service, definitely many would be willing to give it a try. It seems today''s substantial advertising fee was not wasted, as not only all the students from the school, but also those from other schools took notice. The registration number for the Kangaroo Delivery tform has already broken through the 5,000 milestone. The originalputer was clearly not up to the task anymore. Xu Musen had already made preparations; he set up a section of the milk tea shop''s warehouse for servers after a simple renovation. Later, he nned to move in directly, and refurbish the room. After a busy day, Xu Musen returned to the milk tea shop to rest for a while, only for Zhu Yn to show up unexpectedly. Seeing Xu Musen and An Nuannuan in the milk tea shop, she showed an ''I knew it'' expression. "Yo, Zhu student, are you here to buy milk tea? I''ll give you a fifty percent discount," Xu Musen stood up and said with a cheerful grin. Zhu Yn rolled her eyes. She really wanted to call him a scheming man. But today''s advertising impact was indeed impressive, with many graduating university students and others looking for part-time work registering on the tform. The user count also skyrocketed to four digits in just one day. This bnced her mood somewhat. "I''m here to talk to you about further cooperation," said Zhu Yn, crossing her arms. "Cooperation on what? Ordering lemon water? For that, you should ask the bossdy," Xu Musen pointed to An Nuannuan. An Nuannuan also cooperatively held up a small sign that read "Honest merchant, fair to all ages." Zhu Yn was so annoyed, this pair of crafty businesspeople! She was practically turning into lemon water with frustration. "I''m serious. I know you jumped at sponsoring the joint performance because you want to expand your Kangaroo Delivery to other schools, right?" Xu Musen didn''t expect this missy to guess so urately. It seemed she wasn''t just a pretty vase born with a silver spoon. "Continue," Xu Musen said with a smile, weing discussions about serious matters. "It''s simple. I can promote your service in my school, and I can take care of all the paperwork and formalities. In return, you''ll help me continue promoting it in your school. What do you think of this proposal?" Zhu Yn put forth her idea, and Xu Musen nodded in agreement. The two of them weren''t on the same track and had no conflicting interests; in fact, theyplemented each other. Furthermore, establishing Kangaroo Delivery in another school would definitely not be as easy as it was in one''s own, with procedures alone presenting a significant hurdle. If she could help him take care of these things, it would indeed be beneficial. "No problem, I agree," Xu Musen nodded and then exchanged a nce with An Nuannuan. An Nuannuan promptly and astutely offered a cup of milk tea. Xu Musen passed it to her. "Consider this a gift tomemorate our coboration," he said. Zhu Yn looked at the milk tea, momentarily speechless; it felt like ying house as children, didn''t it? But Xu Musen cheerfully added, "This milk tea was personally made by the bossdy, something others couldn''t buy even with money." Hearing this, Zhu Yn nced at An Nuannuan again. In the end, she reached out and epted it, "Then remember what you said. I''ll let you know once everything is in ce." After saying this, Zhu Yn took the milk tea and turned to leave. Outside the campus, a red Lamborghini was parked at the intersection, where Zhu Xiann, a curvaceous figure in a ck dress, was waiting for her. "How did it go, was the talk sessful?" "Humph, of course there''s no issue when I''m involved," Zhu Yn said haughtily, tilting her head up. Zhu Xiannughingly shook her head, "This Xu Musen fellow is quite impressive. The delivery business he''s doing now has great potential. You should learn more from him." "Psh, it''s just good luck on his part. I''ll surpass him sooner orter!" Zhu Xiann couldn''t help butugh and reached out to pinch her chin, "Your mouth is quite soft, so why are you so stubborn when you speak?" Zhu Yn pulled away from her sister''s grasp and made a spitting noise. "Okay, I''ll take you back first," Zhu Xiann said as she got in the car. In fact, she had already had someone look into Kangaroo Delivery; although it was just a university student entrepreneurship project at the school, many patents and business protections had already been applied for. Clearly, there must be some major corporation''s influence behind this young man, constantly plugging the gaps for him. It wouldn''t be easy for her naive sister to surpass him. She nced in the rearview mirror and saw Zhu Yn holding the milk tea, taking a sip with a small smile on her lips. Well, she thought, let her have her fun. ... Meanwhile, inside the Hu Hai Center building. In the elegant CEO''s office, Liu Rushuang, d in a ckdies'' suit with her long, shapely legs in stockings unceremoniously slung over the office desk, swirled the red wine in her ss. Her gaze was fixed on theputer screen. On it was Yao Mingyue, resplendent in a white dress, performing magnificently. She had watched the clip several times, and after taking another sip of wine, her beautiful cheeks showed aplex expression that finally settled into a smile. "Well, my foolish daughter, everything''s still not toote..." Chapter 208: Chapter 127: Meeting the Parents, The Changed Yao Mingyue Night. Yao Mingyue returned to her dormitory. She was still wearing that white dress, a dress she had prepared for herself. The fluffy hem looked like a dandelion dancing in the wind. She came to the dormitory and looked at herself in the mirror. In fact, she had not expected to muster up such courage today, as the proud her of the past would never have done something so "embarrassing." But at this moment, her "confession" to Xu Musen in front of the whole school... Truly made her understand the feelings Xu Musen had when he confessed to her back in high school. Excitement, nervousness, unease, anticipation these emotions mixed together, creating an indescribable bittersweet taste. She had not experienced suchplex feelings in a long time. Before wishing to be loved, one must learn how to love someone else. Yao Mingyue finally understood this feeling. Although this was a one-sided confession, her empty heart felt a trace of fulfillment. It turned out that true security wasn''t about constantly receiving; sometimes giving your all could bring even more. The other three girls in the dormitory had also returned, and they saw Yao Mingyue in her spotless white dress. Like a noble white swan princess. Her presence that night had already be the focus of the school...actually, of all high schools in Hu Hai. A girl like Yao Mingyue, already so exceptional that it was difficult to feel jealous, did not give off a sense of "licking the dog" defeat with her bold confession today. Instead, the spectators in the school were now praising Yao Mingyue for her bold pursuit of love. At the same time, there was envy, jealousy, and resentment towards that mysterious "childhood sweetheart," with many wishing they could take his ce. As those who knew a bit of the inside story, they felt even more amazed. They looked at Yao Mingyue, who now seemed like a princess. An outstanding girl who could express love so boldly, her courage impressed them too. "Yao, you looked so beautiful today, and your singing was really good," said a girl with short hair, circling her with eyes full of admiration. Although Yao Mingyue usually seemed aloof, creating a sense of distance, they could still exchange a few words with her in the dormitory on a normal day. And since Yao Mingyue was really outstanding, people tended to be very tolerant of her. Yao Mingyue turned around, and her usually cool cheeks now wore a smile, "Thank you." The three girls exchanged looks, surprised. It was the first time they had seen her thank someone with such a pleasant demeanor. Could love really change her so much? "Um, are you really... going to pursue that guy?" the short-haired girl couldn''t help but ask, seeing that Yao Mingyue was in a good mood. Yao Mingyue turned to look at herself in the mirror. After all, from a young age, he always liked her best, didn''t he? "Of course, my manif I don''t pursue him, who will?" Yao Mingyue said with a smile, her tone confident without a doubt. The girls exchanged nces again, but they also knew that there was now another girl by that man''s side. What if she overtook Yao Mingyue with a shortcut and won him over? They didn''t dare to voice this thought, though, as the topic was too sharp. But Yao Mingyue seemed to see through their thoughts, standing in front of the mirror, looking at herself. The face he had always liked from her childhood. A faint smile appeared on Yao Mingyue''s lips. "We''re just having a disagreement, not that we stopped loving each other. As for others, at most, they can temporarily watch over him for me. He is still mine, he was in the past, and he will be in the future." There wasn''t a hint of dejection in Yao Mingyue''s voice; in fact, there was more confidence than ever. The three girls swallowed hard, as at that moment Yao Mingyue seemed like a domineering and wealthy CEO from a romance novel. It wasn''t just about guys anymoreeven girls could fall for her. Who could withstand this... ... The Artists'' Dormitory. At that moment, An Nuannuan was in the dormitory, supporting herself on a pair of crutches, slowly shuffling her feet back and forth on the balcony. Fine sweat coated her fair cheeks, yet she persisted in her training. Since returning from the military training performance that day, An Nuannuan had increased the intensity of her training. Her roommates watched as she was covered in a thinyer of sweat, her fair face flushing red, her legs shaking continuously. The process of recovery was painful, with each step being extremely difficult. "Nuannuan, take a break," said Ge Jiayue, approaching An Nuannuan and suggesting with concern upon seeing her condition. "I''ll just take a few more steps," An Nuannuan shook her head, herrge, innocent eyes filled with resolve. An Nuannuan leaned on her crutches, taking another slowp on the balcony. When she returned, her legspletely gave out. She nearly copsed on the ground, but the girls quickly supported her and sat her down on the bed. "Nuannuan, you should gradually increase your training intensity. You''re wearing yourself out by pushing too hard..." Ge Jiayue said. But they could guess some of the reasons. Seeing Yao Mingyue appear today really had an overwhelming effect, not just for Nuannuan and Xu Musen. Even the bystanders felt the force of this girl and her determination to achieve her goal. "Nuannuan, are you increasing your training because of... what happened at today''s military training performance?" Chapter 209: Chapter 127: Meeting the Parents, The Changed Yao Mingyue_2 A girl couldn''t help but ask. But Ge Jiayue just coughed dryly, "Ahem, what''s the big deal? It''s normal for girls to like Nuannuan''s boyfriend since he''s so outstanding. Right now, isn''t Nuannuan still stable?" Ge Jiayue was worried that An Nuannuan might overthink and affect her mood. But An Nuannuan was silent for a while before she gently shook her head, "Not a boyfriend..." Everyone in the dormitory was taken aback. Although they often said that the two of them were almost like a couple. Although they hadn''t confirmed their status, anyone could see that they were no different from some young couples. They were even starting to run a milk tea shop together, and they were almost like an old married couple. In the past, when he was referred to as Nuannuan''s boyfriend, An Nuannuan wouldn''t specifically object, but today was the first time she emphasized it. Could it be... there was a problem with their feelings? "Nuannuan, did you guys have a fight or something?" "No, not at all." "Then why do you say he''s not your..." "Because he''s not." An Nuannuan''s clear eyes blinked slightly, and it was hard to tell if her emotions were down or something else. She lowered her head, looking at her own legs, these slender legs that couldn''t stop trembling slightly. She stretched out her hand, gently pinching her leg. "I''m not good enough yet..." An Nuannuan muttered to herself. The three girls exchanged nces. "Eh? Nuannuan, you''re not good enough?" They didn''t know her that well, but from what they''d seen. An Nuannuan''s looks were by no means inferior to that girl named Yao Mingyue, and as for her figure... An Nuannuan''s legs were just not yet recovered, and besides, Nuannuan was outstanding in other areas! Moreover, although An Nuannuan stayed in the dorm, almost every other day people came to bring her things, judging by their smartly-dressed appearances. Clearly, An Nuannuan might well be the daughter of some family. And An Nuannuan''s personality was much better, and boys all like girls with good temperaments, right? "Nuannuan, you''re not... nning to pursue him too, are you?" Ge Jiayue asked, seeing her expression and suddenly thinking of this possibility. "Nuannuan, that means you''ve fallen for him, right?" They couldn''t help but inquire again. An Nuannuan''s pretty face became slightly flushed; she silently looked down at her legs, her mind flooded with many thoughts. "He''s a good person. I don''t want him to be sad alone anymore, I want to get closer to him... if possible..." An Nuannuan had some words that she ultimately found too shy to say, but the flicker of shyness in a young girl''s eyes said it all. Still, she seemed a little insecure when she said that sentence. And she seemed a bit confused about matters between men and women. "Oh Nuannuan, there''s definitely no problem with you. Once your leg is fully recovered, won''t you mesmerize him when you wear a skirt?" "Yeah, Nuannuan, you have to be confident. There''s only a thin veil between a woman chasing a man, and besides, you have the home-ground advantage. We support you!" "Hehe, or maybe I could help you massage your leg too?" Ge Jiayue said, but An Nuannuan immediately shook her head, "No, no need." An Nuannuan stretched out her hand to rub her own leg. The girls exchanged nces again. Xu Musen isn''t even your boyfriend yet and he can touch you freely, but we''re roommates and can''t touch you. And you say you don''t like him? Just looking at her like this, it felt as if she had been PUA''d, already taking on his shape. An Nuannuan''spetition was tough, and what if he was a scumbag? If An Nuannuan ended up used and discarded without even the status of a girlfriend, what would she do? No, they had to quickly teach An Nuannuan to secure a rtionship with Xu Musen as soon as possible, or better yet, just directly get married! At that moment, An Nuannuan''s phone pinged. After looking at it, her face, which had been somewhat cloudy, immediately revealed a joyful expression. Just like a little cat that has been stroked to its satisfaction. "What''s up, Nuannuan? Is it a message from Xu Musen?" asked Ge Jiayue curiously. "Yes, he wants to meet the parents with me tomorrow." An Nuannuan nodded happily. But the girls were all stunned. So while we''re still stuck on the boyfriend-girlfriend rtionship, you two are already going to meet the parents? The girls looked at each other and felt blown away once again. ... The military training performance was over, and so was the training itself. The school gave a two-day holiday. "Damn, it''s finally over; we must have a good meal tonight!" "I''m going to book a night at an inte cafe. I haven''t yed in half a month, and my bulletproof helmet and biohazard suit are about to expire." "If you ask me, a foot wash is a must! Standing military posture for a month, my soles have almost turned into iron. Watch me step into the foot spa city with a firm step!" The boys each had their own enjoyment project ready, while many of the girls were sobbing. Some lost control and cried as they chased after the instructors to send them off. Truthfully, this happens every year during military training, and boys really don''t quite understand it. Xu Musen was in the milk tea shop, watching Zhao Lianmai, who had changed out of her military uniform and put on her clothes, begin to deliver orders. A white short sleeve shirt, denim shorts beneath, and a pair of wheat-colored long legs that seemed to wear natural ck stockings. After a session of military training, most people got several shades darker, but Zhao Lianmai''s wheat-colored skin looked rather white. "The training just ended today; aren''t you taking a day off?" Xu Musen couldn''t help but marvel that this "ck Patloo" was indeed very capable. Chapter 210: Chapter 127: Meeting the Parents, The Changed Yao Mingyue_3 ``` "Now is the time to make money," Zhao Lianmai put on the Kangaroo Delivery sun-shading cap, with her long hair coiled behind her head, looking exceptionally capable and refreshing. The military training had just ended, and many would choose to sleep all day in their dorm rooms, not wanting to move a muscle. At this time, takeout orders would surge, and Xu Musen had also specifically set high pricing for holidays and hot-weather subsidies, among other incentives. It was tiring, but the earnings were higher. "Still, take care of your health. I definitely won''t be able to handle the school delivery business alone once it expands, and I''ll need you to keep an eye on things for me. We''re not just employer and employee, but also ssmates and friends. If you need help, just say so," Xu Musen didn''t try to convince her to rest anymore. Upon hearing these words, Zhao Lianmai raised her head and looked at Xu Musen. It took her a while before she slowly nodded: "Mm." After saying this, she carried a few cups of milk tea and went to deliver the orders. Xu Musen checked the time; he had agreed to visit Nuannuan''s grandparents in the afternoon and naturally couldn''t go empty-handed. It would be perfect to go shopping with Nuannuan. He picked up his phone, his chat list wasn''t long as he didn''t like to chat incessantly on the phone. He sent a message to An Nuannuan: "Are you ready?" "Mm-hmm!" "Then, see you downstairs in a while." With part-timers watching the store, Xu Musen grabbed a few cups of milk tea and left. He arrived at the girls'' dormitory building. Xu Musen saw her silhouette, sitting in a wheelchair, from afar. An Nuannuan was dressed in a white, daisy-print long dress today, her long hair done up in a pretty hairstyle, which made her face look even cuter. Beneath the long dress, her white ankles and a bit of her calf were visible, adorned with a pair of crystal sandals. The delicate little feet seemed to move from time to time in sync with their owner''s joyful mood. Under that big tree, sunlight filtered through the leaves and cast a beautiful pattern on her cheeks. Seeing her, Xu Musen felt his mood brighten. Xu Musen quietly moved behind her, and with two cups of milk tea in his hands blocking her line of sight, he teased, "Guess who?" "I guess it''s blueberry taro vor~" An Nuannuan''s unexpected reply, such a little foodie. Xu Musen smiled and came in front of her. The military training had just ended, and everyone at school was tanned, making An Nuannuan''s fairness umon. And today''s dress looked really pretty on her, cute and vibrant. Sweet Girl~ "Nuannuan looks very pretty today." An Nuannuan''s mouth curved up slightly as she looked at Xu Musen. Xu Musen also had picked out his outfit carefully today, not as formal as a suit, but still looked exquisite, giving off a more mature aura than his peers. His overall presence was especially refreshing and sunny. "You look good too." "Shouldn''t you say ''handsomely irresistible'' whenplimenting a guy?" "Handsome, sure, thetter part..." "Ahem, forget I said anything." Xu Musen, holding the milk tea, said: "Speaking of which, we are going to see your grandparentster. Why did you think of bringing milk tea back?" Considering grandparents at their age would likely be cutting down on sugar, right? "My grandparents also like sweets, and since this is my first time being a bossdy, I want them to try it as well," An Nuannuan took the milk tea from his hand, her eyes squinted happily. And these new fruit tea recipes were all researched by Xu Musen; she thought surely her grandparents would like them too. The two left the school. From another girls'' dormitory, Yao Mingyue also exited the school grounds. She had a trendy denim outfit on,plete with a hat and sunsses, looking like a star trying to dodge the paparazzi. She arrived at the campus entrance. A red Bentley had been waiting for some time, and she got into the car. Inside, Liu Rushuang looked at her treasured daughter with a smile. Their gazes slowly shifted toward the opposite side of the street. A momentter, Liu Rushuang spoke, "Have you made up your mind? Have you decided to take over?" Liu Rushuang had discussed it with her daughter the night before. Yao Mingyue suddenly expressed a desire to take over part of the family business. Although she said she wanted to gain experience and help alleviate some of her mother''s pressures, Liu Rushuang knew the truth. Her precious daughter actually despised the world ofmerce because her father had died on his way to a business deal. She had an inherent aversion to business, almost a fixation. Yet today, she suddenly brought up the matter, clearly because of Xu Musen. Yao Mingyue took off her sunsses, her phoenix eyes naturally exuding an elegant and noble air. A light smile crossed her lips as she spoke slowly, "I''ve made up my mind. Since he wants to do business, why can''t I? Only by doing this can I avoid being left further behind by him." Liu Rushuang sighed. As expected. However, looking at her daughter''s expression, it felt like thepetitive desire and determination that she hadn''t seen in many years had returned to her eyes. No matter what the future held, this was, for now, a good thing. She, too, would help uncover her daughter''s potential strengths. Xiaosen, this kid you better appreciate what you have. ``` Chapter 211: Chapter 128: Grandson-in-law Candidate? ``` Hu Hai, the top international metropolis in the domestic economy. Even without experiencing the crazy years of the domestic real estate market, the housing prices here still lead by a wide margin. Especially the preserved English-style houses in the central district, their prices are no different from the courtyard houses in the capital. Xu Musen and An Nuannuan didn''t rush over but nned to buy some gifts first. "Nuannuan, what do grandpa and grandma like?" Xu Musen thought about An Nuannuan''s grandparents'' status, guessing that the regr health supplements wouldn''t impress, and he wasn''t sure if something too expensive would be appropriate. An Nuannuan pondered for a moment, then pointed to herself: "Me and Nannan!" She seemed quite proud. Xu Musen was taken aback for a moment, then couldn''t help butugh: "You know grandma and grandpa like you and your sister the most, but I''m talking about things they like." An Nuannuan''s pretty face blushed, and she tugged at Xu Musen''s sleeve: "Actually, my grandparents are really nice. They said don''t bring any gifts, just going for a meal together would be good." During Xu Musen''sst visit, he met An Nuannuan''s grandma, a very elegant elderly woman who must have been quite a personality in her youth. Such a person must have seen everything, and bringing something too expensive might seem somewhat mercenary. Compared to gifts, sincerity is obviously more important. Xu Musen thought for a while and an idea came to mind. An hourter, in front of a garden house in the city center, Xu Musen and An Nuannuan got out of the car. In Xu Musen''s hand were several bags, not of gifts, but of groceries bought from the market. "This house is really beautiful." Xu Musen looked at the garden house, which seemed like a relic from the past with itsyout and decorations almost bing antiques in thisnd of gold. He guessed that this property must be worth hundreds of millions. "You like this kind of house?" An Nuannuan asked him. "No one wouldn''t like it, it''s just a matter of affordability." Xu Musen sighed, suddenly wondering if the things he brought today would be appreciated by the upants? For such a household, changing to a different five-star chef every day wouldn''t be a problem. "But I think it''s pretty boring here, not as fun as the milk tea shop at school." An Nuannuan shook her head. The house had many rooms, but usually, only grandma, Nannan, and Aunt Xiang lived there. It felt empty every day. It wasn''t as interesting as making money at the milk tea shop. "Those who don''t know they''re fortunate. How about I trade my other half of the milk tea shop shares for your ce?" Xu Musen joked. But An Nuannuan seriously considered it: "Grandma said only after I graduate from college can the house be mine, something about needing a certificate..." As An Nuannuan spoke, she lifted her big eyes to look at Xu Musen. A certificate that could split half of the house... was it not a marriage certificate? It''s amon method for family members to protect their granddaughter from being deceived by bad people. And from the sound of it, whoever marries An Nuannuan would be directly endowed with a mansion worth hundreds of millions as a dowry. How were the little fairies who talk about dowries of three hundred thousand and bring back only three sets of bedding as a dowry supposed to live? Of course, Xu Musen looking into An Nuannuan''s clear eyes had a feeling that she might be saying this on purpose. s, Yao Mingyue, that little tsundere, left such a strong psychological shadow on him; seeing anyone seems like they are ying little tricks. "Ahem, I still prefer to be self-sufficient." Xu Musen maintained his principle of not being a kept man. An Nuannuan watched for a while before slowly acknowledging with an oh. "Ding-dong~" The doorbell rang, and soon a whirlwind-like figure burst out of the garden. "Sister!" An Nannan''s crisp voice could be heard. Today she was dressed in a white Chinese-style short jacket simr to the one worn by Lady Tsunade from Naruto,plete with two adorable buns on her head. Her sparkling eyes, identical to An Nuannuan''s, twinkled, and her whole being radiated energy, giving off the vibe of a martial arts prodigy. The moment she saw Xu Musen, her cute little face instantly disyed a mix of wariness and anticipation. "Sister!" She called again, flinging herself into An Nuannuan''s arms and rubbing her little head against her sister''s chest. She took a deep breath, grinned mischievously, and said with full adolescent ir: "Replenishing my sister''s energy!" While saying it, her eyes stealthily nced at Xu Musen, as if unting something. Xu Musen''s lips curved up as he casually shook the milk tea in his hand. The little girl''s eyes immediately sparkled. Milk tea, considered junk food by most parents, was strictly forbidden at home. Even more so by her own grandparents. "Call me brother, and I''ll let you have some. Blueberry vor~" Xu Musen teased her with a smile. "I don''t want to!" An Nannan defiantly shook her head then turned to shake her sister''s arm: "Sister..." Seeing her sister''s eager little eyes, An Nuannuan reached out to pat her head: "These milk teas are made by him personally. He''s the boss." An Nannan seemed to get a hint of something. Hmm? Does he own a milk tea shop?? An Nannan swallowed hard. Could that mean this bad guy could provide an endless supply of... milk tea? "What do you think? Just say the word, and it''s yours to enjoy, blueberry vor~" The whisper from Xu Musen was like that of a tempting devil. An Nannan''s face turned red as she gazed at the enticing milk tea, swallowed hard, and in a voice as faint as a mosquito''s, said: "Bro-bro..." ``` Chapter 212: Chapter 128: Grandson-in-law Candidate?_2 "What? I can''t hear you." "Coo coo, guu..." An Nannan imitated the sound of a pigeon, showing herst bit of stubbornness. Xu Musen didn''t tease her any longer and handed her the milk tea. An Nannan''s face turned slightly red as she finally epted it with satisfaction. "Nuannuan, you guys are here." At that moment, Aunt Xiang also came out, greeted them, and walked with them towards the inside. Before reaching the room, they saw an elder dressed in white practice clothes practicing Tai Chi. The courtyard was also filled with wooden piles, some dummy targets, and even a weapon rack on one side, with several kinds of weapons disyed on it. Although they were clearly for show, which average household would have these things? "Grandpa." An Nuannuan called out. The elder stopped his Tai Chi movements. His precise age was indiscernible, though his temples were white; he was full of vigor, with a Tai Chi stance steadier than many young people. "Nuannuan is back, and this child must be the friend you''ve been mentioning, right?" The elder''s face showed a kind smile as he approached them, his goatee adding a bit of an immortal master''s aura. In a martial arts novel, he would probably be the character of a sweeping monk. "Grandpa, my name is Xu Musen." Xu Musen said with a slight bow. The old man walked over, circled around Xu Musen, nodded, and even patted his shoulder like an elder: "You have a good frame, excellent material. Don''t be reserved, once you''re here, you''re family. Hurry in." The old man seemed pretty warm, with all this patting and examining. It felt like he was at a market, selecting pigs or horses... Once they entered the living room. An Nuannuan''s grandmother had already brewed the tea. Although she was already a grandmother, one could tell she was someone who had lived a life of luxury over the years, with an elegance that no nouveau riche could match. Her silver hair glistened as she wore spectacles, smiling and inviting Xu Musen to sit. "Young man, long time no see." "Grandma, I''ve been wanting to visit for a while, and I finally got the chance today." "It''s not too far from your school. You shoulde by more often when you''re free." Grandmother said kindly. "These things..." At that moment, Aunt Xiang noticed the items Xu Musen brought, only to find out they were ingredients. Xu Musen stood up and exined: "It''s my first visit and I truly wasn''t sure what gift to bring, but I also didn''t want toe empty-handed, so I thought maybe I could cook a meal for you and grandpa." "How can we let you do that? You''re the guest." "It''s no trouble at all, actually. I quite enjoy cooking, and Nuannuan has already told me about everyone''s preferences. I''m pretty confident in my culinary skills." Xu Musen said, smiling as he began to unpack the groceries. "I''ll help you!" An Nuannuan eagerly offered to assist Xu Musen. "Okay." Xu Musen nodded. In the milk tea shop, the two of them would often make milk tea together when they had nothing else to do. Essentially, any "by-products" from cutting fruits were devoured by An Nuannuan, the fully automatic ssified glutton trash can. She just wanted to taste the very first bite. The two went to the kitchen, and through the transparent ss kitchen door, they worked in harmony. Xu Musen would always feed An Nuannuan the first bite of every dish with practised ease and indulgence. And the look on the granddaughter''s face, eyes squinting while chewing her foodsomething seemed a bit off. The elders looked at each other. "Old man, what do you think of this young man?" Grandma suddenly asked. "His physique is good, walks steadily, feet as firm as nails; clearly a well-established young man with child-like prowessa great martial arts prospect," praised the old man while stroking his beard in approval. Grandma listened with a bit of helplessness: "I''m asking you, if this young fellow were to be with Nuannuan, what would you think of it?" The old man pondered for a moment before he spoke, "What can we say about young people''s affairs? As long as... huh? You''re saying our granddaughter is in a rtionship with this boy?!" The old master finally realized it. Just like being a father, the moment he heard someone taking an interest in his family''s "precious cabbage," he immediately became excited. "Keep it down. It''s just that this is the first time Nuannuan has been so close to a boy. Plus, Nuannuan is at the age to date. We can''t control her forever, life is unpredictable," he said. Grandma sighed. Although they were in good health, they were old after all, and it was uncertain if they would live to see grandkids. "This young man seems decent, but Nuannuan has never had much contact with others. What if she gets cheated..." The old master''s initial approval instantly set a new standard, but before he could finish his sentence, Grandma handed him a document. He looked at it, and it was unmistakably a hospital admission signature form. "Yao Sheng, Xu Bianjun, seriously injured in a car ident, emergency department at Zheng University First Affiliate... What is this?" "Do you remember six years ago, Nuannuan also received treatment at this hospital? The night before her surgery, she suddenly received a cake. Nuannuan has always wanted to find the boy who sent her that cake," she exined. A glint appeared in the old man''s eyes: "Are you saying, the boy who sent Nuannuan the cake back then was this young man?" Grandma adjusted her sses and began, "I was actually checking this young man''s background to see how to invest in him appropriately. It turned out his family used to own apany too, but it went bankrupt suddenly six years ago. Following the investigation, I stumbled upon this car ident. Moreover, that day was the birthday of a girl named Yao Mingyue, and the timing fits perfectly." "This..." "And Nuannuan suddenly transferring to Zheng City No.4 Middle School might also be because she knew something. Otherwise, given her personality, she wouldn''t get close to someone so quickly, especially after what happened with her mom..." Upon reaching this point, Grandma couldn''t help but sigh. The old master also looked towards the kitchen, where An Nuannuan, though not much help, thoroughly enjoyed tagging along with Xu Musen. He sighed silently to himself. Girls grow up and won''t stay with you forever, the day wille eventually. Xu Musen cooked quite a few dishes. In his previous life, he had lived with Yao Mingyue in Hu Hai for a long time and had a good grasp of Hu Hai''s culinary preferences. You couldn''t count on An Nuannuan for carrying dishes. Meanwhile, An Nuannuan brought over the milk tea and fruit tea she had brought back for her grandparents. "Xu Musen and I made this together. Grandpa and Grandma, please try it," she said with eager anticipation for their tasting. "These things aren''t very healthy, drink less in the future, okay?" "Not at all, Xu Musen and I opened the store together. All the fruits inside are the freshest!" An Nuannuan countered proudly. "You and he opened a store together?" Grandma caught on to the key point in that statement. "Yes, Xu Musen gave me a milk tea shop, and we''ve already gotten the paperwork done," Nuannuan said as she took out the transfer certificate from her small purse. Grandma took a look. An Nuannuan''s equity stake was 51%, and Xu Musen was listed as the legal representative. That shareholding, as long as it reaches 51% or more, means real control. And the status of legal representative is essentially taking the fall if trouble arises. This young man genuinely gave An Nuannuan the milk tea shop, and he chose to keep the role of legal representative for himself. Grandma silently looked at Xu Musen, who was preparing to serve the food in the kitchen. She spected as well. It seems that this young man knew that the investment was his own doing, and this is his way of repaying the favor. Such gratefulness charmed her even more. Moreover, watching her granddaughter''s "proud little boss" expression, the gift really reached the bottom of her heart. After all, it wasn''t about money, but a sentiment of striving and preparing together. "Thank you for waiting!" Xu Musen came over with the dishes, presenting a table full of meals as appetizing in look as in smell. The two sisters had sparkling eyes from the aromas. Aunt Xiang couldn''t resist praising. Even the two elders hadn''t expected the young man to cook so well. At their stage in life, money was no longer the main concern. If it came to choosing a son-inw, their top requirement would be their granddaughter''s happiness after marriage. Being able to cook is a bonus for anyone, man or woman. Looking at Xu Musen, the elders found themselves even more impressed. Good height and looks, nice personality and character, clean family background, self-driven, and most importantly, truly nice to Nuannuan... It''s just that there was one unexpected factor. This young man also had a childhood sweetheart with whom he was deeply involved... Chapter 218: Chapter 130: Flowers for Sale, Gifts of Good Wishes. Memories of the past slowly became clear. Xu Musen looked at the little rabbit ornament An Nuannuan handed to him and lowered his head to gaze upon An Nuannuan''s legs, which had now regained their luster. His heart was filled with infinite sighs. That day''s events resulted in rebirth for some, while others departed forever, and their destinies had since undergone tremendous changes. The events of that day would forever be an indelible memory in their hearts. "So it was you..." Xu Musen epted the little rabbit ornament; after all these years, it was still perfectly preserved, even the te that had held the cake had been cleanly washed and kept. "Then, after your legs got better, why didn''t youe and tell me?" Xu Musen looked at her, feeling a sense of fate intertwining within him. It turned out that their destinies had touched each other long ago. "Because after the surgery was sessful, I was sent back to Hu Hai for continued treatment and recovery. I wasn''t able to start school again until high school, and also..." As An Nuannuan spoke, there seemed to be many words she wanted to say in herrge eyes, but in the end, they all turned into soft,plicated murmurs, "And at that time... you were always with her, I didn''t want to disturb you." "What disturbance? We could have be friends earlier." "... Because at that time, my legs were still not healed, and it seemed like she didn''t like other girls getting close to you; it would have made you unhappy." When An Nuannuan spoke these words, her peach blossom eyes flickered with feelings of... inferiority and fear. Her legs were, after all, a w that couldn''t be ignored, even though nobody in ss had ever said it to her face. But those mocking or pitying nces had always made An Nuannuan ufortable. She worried that being friends with Xu Musen in this state might cause others tough at him... This was the first time Xu Musen had read a sense of fear from her eyes. Indeed, during high school, he had truly started to pursue Yao Mingyue. Although the two were never together, under the influence of Yao Mingyue''s possessiveness, Xu Musen quite cooperatively maintained a "boyfriend''s" stance, holding himself to strict standards. He never gave a second nce to other girls, even intentionally keeping his distance. Many girlsbeled him as a straightced man, a dog that vishly followed its master. And with an outstanding girl like Yao Mingyue around, ordinary girls didn''t take the initiative to talk to Xu Musen. Still, within that crowd, there might have been a gaze that continued to watch him... "Weren''t you always recuperating in Hu Hai? How did you know I went to the Fourth Middle School?" "It was Nannan; she was ying with her phone and stumbled upon a post on a school forum, saying someone had publicly failed at a love confession. I saw your name..." An Nuannuan began, recalling how she saw his name again after three years. Soter, as soon as she was discharged from the hospital, she immediately applied to go back to Zheng City and transferred to the Fourth Middle School. Xu Musen likely knew the rest. He was wholly devoted to Yao Mingyue, with no attention left to spare for anyone else. Even many of his female ssmates, he hadn''t spoken to for three full years, not to mention the girl from another ss in a wheelchair every day. "You should have told me earlier; I might not have been the butt of jokes for three years." Xu Musen looked at An Nuannuan, a hint of self-deprecating humor in his smile. Back then, indeed, he was quite unreasonable, a lovestruck fool beyond awakening by others'' scorn. It wasn''t that no one had told him such a pursuit was wrongHe Qiang had advised him many times. But at that time, he was stubborn to the extreme, immediately rebutting anyone who spoke ill of Yao Mingyue. In part, it was because Yao Mingyue, the little delicate one, had always been secretly employing PUA tactics on him. Like how she''d say, "In the future, we can be together," "Other girls are all deceivers except me," "Only we are truly sincere..." Soft and hard tacticsbined, poor Xu Musen was manipted with ease. Thus, having been reborn, even though he was determined to break free from Yao Mingyue''s control, he was a bit lost inside. Aside from the desire to earn money, when it came to emotions, he felt as if, once bitten by a snake, he was afraid of the well rope for a decade. Furthermore, his previous life had been controlled by a delicate one for ten years, making him instinctively wary of rtionships. But after meeting An Nuannuan, this girl with her exceptionally unique thought processes, he experienced a feeling of extraordinary sincerity. Especially when she sometimes looked so simple and naive, Xu Musen felt as if he had found a kindred spirit, and an affinity naturally emerged. A person caught in the rain wouldn''t first think of offering an umbre to others, but rather, they would hope to see another figure also getting drenched. It''s not about dragging others down, but about encountering someone just like oneself, and suddenly feeling that being caught in the rain isn''t all that unpleasant. This leads to another topic. Is it the one who shelters you from the rain, or the one willing to get wet alongside you, who loves you more? Xu Musen didn''t know, but he had certainly felt an exceptional ease since An Nuannuan came along. Thinking about it now, could it be that Nuannuan had always been trying to match his mood? Xu Musen gazed at An Nuannuan''s pretty face that was close at hand: "Nuannuan, have you been happy being with me these days?" An Nuannuan nodded without a moment''s hesitation: "Of course. You''re the only person who is not my rtive but is willing to be good to me without asking for anything in return. The time I''ve spent with you these years has been the happiest of my life." Chapter 219: Chapter 130: The Flowers Sold Are Wishes From the Heart._2 An Nuannuan''s eyes were clear as she looked at Xu Musen, who was the same as he had been six years ago, still so gentle. Xu Musen gazed at An Nuannuan''s eyes, and he couldn''t help but reach out and gently touch the strands of hair on her freshly washed head. It urred to him that he had missed so much. If he had met her earlier, perhaps his life wouldn''t have been so monotonous. By the time they met, they were almost graduating. It was when He Qiang and he were nning to start a business together, and he encountered An Nuannuan, who was selling the flowers he had discarded. "If I hadn''t happened toe across you selling the flowers I threw away, we might have continued to miss each other," Xu Musen said. When the topic of selling flowers came up, An Nuannuan also nodded her little head. Xu Musen looked at her, then asked, "Tell me, were you really picking up my flowers to earn some pocket money?" He remembered An Nuannuan saying before that it wasn''t her first time picking up his flowers, and obviously, her family wasn''tcking money. Even to experience life, there was no need to keep an eye on his flowers every day. Especially after confessing these matters today, he felt even more so that An Nuannuan had done it purposefully. When this matter came up, An Nuannuan also spaced out for a moment. She lowered her head to look at the birthday cake tray in her hands, then raised her head to look at him. "Xu Musen, do you still remember what you told me when you first gave me a cake? You said that to make a birthday wishe true, one must finish the birthday cake, and the more people who eat it, the more blessings one gets." An Nuannuan''s voice was warm. "So, I picked up all the flowers from your failed confessions and gave them to couples in love. I thought this way your intentions wouldn''t be wasted, and more people would bless you" An Nuannuan spoke word by word, but waves surged through Xu Musen''s mind. Turns out, during his high school days mocked by everyone, there was someone paying silent attention to him. Turns out, the flowers he prepared with care yet had to discard, were treasured and picked up by someone else. Turns out a wealthy youngdy pushed a wheelchair around the za every day selling flowers, merely to not waste his goodwill... "So foolish" Xu Musen felt a little stifled in his heart as he looked at the clear-eyed girl before him, and he couldn''t help but gently stroke her head. She was foolish, and so was he. He had failed to realize that there was indeed an angel by his side, capable of healing hearts. "You''re not foolish at all. It''s not your fault; you just loved her too much. She didn''t respond to you properly" An Nuannuan shook her head as she looked at Xu Musen, her big eyes filled with a tint of heartache. Just like what she said on the day of the military training performance, she truly couldn''t understand why, if you really liked someone, you wouldn''t properly respond to the person who likes you. This statement, like a breath of fresh air, passed by as Xu Musen looked at the girl before him. His heart, which had been sealed by concrete, seemed to sprout a new, tender shoot in another corner. "Right, I have something else for you." An Nuannuan remembered something else, and she moved her wheelchair over to a drawer in the table and pulled out a bunny the size of a human head that appeared to be made of metal. As she picked it up, the sound of coins clinking could be heard. She approached Xu Musen and lifted it to show him. "This is" An Nuannuan then pulled out the small stopper from underneath the bunny''s bottom, and a bunch of coins and banknotes poured out. "This is the money I saved from selling flowers. I always felt you were short of cash, but I knew you wouldn''t ept money given directly, so I saved this money to give youter. But it seems you don''t need it now." An Nuannuan looked at these coins; actually, when added up, it wasn''t much money, and Xu Musen certainly didn''t need such a small amount now. Xu Musen watched the scattered coins, big and small, as well as some crumpled banknotes. Each piece of money had been saved by An Nuannuan as she sold flowers one by one in her wheelchair. She knew Xu Musen wouldn''t ept money given directly, so she saved the money from selling flowers so she could give it to himter with a good reason, also considering Xu Musen''s pride. Xu Musen felt a sourness in his heart. He silently put the coins back in and looked at the bunny-shaped piggy bank and the girl before him. Perhaps, during his high school days, when he loved without reciprocation, there was a girl in the corner, silently watching him, gathering up his scattered sincere feelings. "I need it; I''ve always needed it" Xu Musen whispered to himself, looking at An Nuannuan''s pretty face so close to him, and he extended his hand to gently pinch her cheek. "Nuannuan, thank you for letting me know that these years haven''t been aplete failure for me." Xu Musen smiled, yet his heart overflowed with a myriad of unspoken words, which ultimately turned into him slowly opening his arms: "Nuannuan, may I hug you?" An Nuannuan lifted her gaze to Xu Musen''s broad chest, her cheeks flushed, and she gently opened her arms, slowly pressing against his chest. It was their first hug, a promise to be the best friends to each other, with no romantic implications. This hug was like crossing time and space, fulfilling the embrace that wasn''t realized six years prior. This hug, Xu Musen could no longer im had nothing to do with feelings. Chapter 220: Chapter 130: The Flowers Sold Are Wishes From the Heart._3 "Nuannuan, are you with me now just to thank me for helping you before?" Xu Musen suddenly asked softly as he gently hugged An Nuannuan''s back; at this moment, he felt a long-lost sensationthe feeling of being cherished and respected. An Nuannuan slowly rose from his embrace but then leaned in closer to him again, her clear eyes reflecting nothing but Xu Musen''s figure. "At first, it was, but then I got to know you better. I really like your kindness and gentleness toward others. The days I''ve spent with you have been the happiest," she admitted. An Nuannuan''s face carried the warmth of a spring breeze, her hand gently grasping Xu Musen''s fingers. She always remembered how Xu Musen had confessed his feelings time and again and failed, yet his earnestness never waned. It wasn''t just about liking someone, but also about a promise and protection. "Xu Musen, even if there wasn''t anything from the past, I want to be with you. Can we stay just as good as we are now, if not better?" Hope shone in An Nuannuan''s eyes. "Of course, and it will be even better," he replied. Xu Musen felt a warm glow in his heart as he savored the warmth and softness of the girl''s palm on his fingers. An Nuannuan raised a hand and extended her little finger. "Then let''s make a pinkie promise. Once we do, no going back," she suggested. There was anticipation in An Nuannuan''s eyes, as if this was a covenant she had long desired to seal. Xu Musen looked at her. A pinkie promise, then. This was the most fragile of contracts, yet also the most reliable. It relied solely on one''s heart. As variable as a moment, as enduring as time itself. "Okay," he agreed. Xu Musen extended his finger, knowing that in life, meeting someone special isn''t easy, regardless of what the future holds. This beautiful moment was worth treasuring for a lifetime. Their fingers slowly hooked together. ... At the doorway, Grandma took a sip of hot tea. She couldn''t make out the entire conversation in the room but saw through the door crack the two people making a pinkie promise. Although they were university students, they still used such a method. Childish, yet also extraordinarily genuine. An Nuannuan stayed home to rest. When leaving, Xu Musen held the rabbit-shaped piggy bank. After greeting Grandpa and Grandma, he left the An Family''s sisters'' farewell, and got into the car that Aunt Xiang drove back. Upon arriving at the gate of Hu Hai University. Aunt Xiang handed Xu Musen a contract, saying, "This is an investment letter the elders want to sign with you. This time they genuinely believe in your project and want to invest." Aunt Xiang essentially admitted that the previous investment was actually to thank Xu Musen for taking care of An Nuannuan. Xu Musen examined it and indeed, it was a legitimate investment contract. Xu Musen really needed money now. Opportunity is all about timing; the big cake of food delivery would inevitably attract attention sooner orter. Sooner orter, Xu Musen wouldn''t hold out, so it would be better to secure more investments now and quickly stabilize his position to gain greater benefits. Therefore, he actually needed this investment, especially this kind, where they only provide funds for shares without seeking control. "The An Family has some connections in Hu Hai; it''s a deep pool here, and signing the contract would be beneficial for you," Aunt Xiang added. Today, the elders had entrusted her with tasks, indicating high hopes for this young man. Xu Musen did not refuse this time; that would be too ungrateful. He smiled and said, "Please thank Grandpa and Grandma for me. I will remember this favor and return it manifold before long." Xu Musen had the confidence to multiply his ie more than tenfold in theing time. After getting off the car. Xu Musen returned to the tea shop. Zhao Lianmai finished delivering the orders and was helping out in the tea shop when she saw Xu Musene back alone. She asked, "Where''s Nuannuan?" "She went home to rest and will be back in a couple of days," he responded as he moved a fortune tree from the counter to make room for a small rabbit piggy bank. "What''s this?" Zhao Lianmai observed Xu Musen moving the fortune tree to the corner while cing a toy in its stead, somewhat puzzled. This miserly capitalist, Xu Musen, would really relegate such a thing as a fortune tree to the side? But Xu Musen just smiled, looking at the rabbit piggy bank and pinching the ears of the two rabbits fondly, the cute look reminiscent of that silly girl. "This is my true fortune rabbit..." he dered. Zhao Lianmai quietly pursed her lips, a bit perplexed. Yet seeing his full-faced smile and affectionate gaze, She suddenly thought... was he about to fall in love? Chapter 221: Chapter 131 Yao Mingyue: I havent caught him yet. Weekend. An Nuannuan was still recuperating at home, and Xu Musen had been busy working alone in the milk tea shop after the meeting. Usually, as soon as he became avable, certain people would follow their noses to him. Sure enough, Xu Musen hadn''t been busy for long when a tall, slender figure appeared at the doorway of the milk tea shop. "Hey!" The voice carried a slight tone of dissatisfaction. Xu Musen looked up and saw that it wasn''t Yao Mingyue. Before him stood a very tall girl, wearing a pure white striped vest on the upper body and pale blue casual jacket. The bottom half was sporty shorts, revealing long, slim, and eye-catching legs. These legs couldpete with Zhao Lianmai''s. Both are skinny girls with really good-looking legs, and one ck and one white, kinda like white stockings and ck stockings. The legs are good-looking, but the figure was a bit sorry. "Hey! Are you listening?" The owner of the legs stomped her foot again. Xu Musen''s gaze followed upward. "Zhu student?" The young girl in front of him was none other than Zhu Yn. Xu Musen had turned a corner of the milk tea shop into an office desk, and with a rxed smile, he gestured to the chair beside him, "Please, have a seat." "Xu Musen! Didn''t we agree on a coboration? I''ve got everything ready for you, and you''ve done nothing." Zhu Yn sat down in front of him, threw the documents she had in her hand in front of him, and questioned him. "Don''t worry, take your time and speak." Xu Musen looked at the contract, and indeed, the proxy agreement from Fudan University hade through. He couldn''t help but admit, Zhu Yn, although aggressive, was really efficient in getting things done. "Xiao Mai, please serve this distinguished guest our best lemon water." Zhao Lianmai made a ss of lemon water, served it to Zhu Yn, and left without saying a word. From start to finish, not a single word. Xu Musen had always felt that these two people should integrate their personalities. Zhu Yn was simply too noisy, a typical Missy''s temperament. Zhao Lianmai, on the other hand, was too aloof. Even towards him, the boss, she was indifferent. Zhu Yn also nced at this girl; she had seen her work diligently every time she came. Then, she looked at Xu Musen again, feeling even more upset. Both hired student workers, so why was he able to find such diligent employees? One was worth two! "What are you looking at?" Xu Musen noticed her gaze had been fixed on Zhao Lianmai, that look was tantly glowing, like a pervert. Could she be a lesbian? The girls in hispany were like his assets, and no one should even think about poaching them! "Xu Musen, you see I''m doing you this big favor, how about letting me have one of your employees?" Zhu Yn spoke up. Xu Musen gave her a nce, not in a hurry to refute, but smiled and said, "How do you n on poaching then?" "Hmph, I can offer a higher sry!" "How much higher?" "Definitely higher than yours!" Zhu Yn snorted, as money wasn''t something shecked. Xu Musen smiled, turned his head, and said to Zhao Lianmai, "Xiao Mai, she says she''ll pay a high sry for you to switch jobs, what do you think?" Zhao Lianmai was cutting fruit and just nonchntly "oh"ed in response. "Student, I''m serious. Come work for me. I''ll increase your sry and you''ll just be responsible for helping me with advertising every day." Zhu Yn, seeing no response, called out again. Zhao Lianmai arranged the cut fruit on a te and brought it over to the two of them. She nced at Zhu Yn and said indifferently, "I''m quite content here." "Hey, I''m offering double the sry, you really won''t consider it?" Zhao Lianmai didn''t answer and turned to continue her work. Zhu Yn looked incredulous; were there really people in this world who weren''t interested in money? Or perhaps, did Xu Musen have some leverage over her? Xu Musen just smiled; it had not been easy for him to recruit Zhao Lianmai in the first ce. He had to finish helping her former boss before she agreed toe over. And the sry he offered her was nearly ten times what she made at her previous part-time job at the restaurant. She hadn''t been immediately swayed. It was because of her integrity that he had recruited her. "Maybe this is the charm of leadership." Xu Musen imed unabashedly. "Tsk." Zhu Yn rolled her eyes and took a bite of the fruit: "What about the advertisement you promised me?" Xu Musen pointed to the milk tea cup in her hand. Zhu Yn then noticed that the logo sticker on the milk tea sleeve also had herpany''s slogan on it. Anytime someone drank milk tea, they were sure to look down and see it. This subtle technique was pretty good, unconsciously reinforcing the impression. "That''s it?" But Zhu Yn always felt a bit short-changed. "This is just the first step. I n to expand the delivery service to nearby schools and open a milk tea shop there as a base. Once that''s established, the results will keep getting better." Xu Musen shared his ns. "You talk big." "But the returns will be great if it works out, won''t they?" Xu Musen spoke with a smile: "I''ll have some time these next couple of days to visit your school, so be ready to fulfill your host duties." "Pfft, at most I''ll treat you to a ss of water, I''m leaving." Zhu Yn''s visit today was to spot-check whether he had done the work for her or not. "Did you drive here?" Xu Musen asked, as Fudan was some distance from there. Chapter 222: Chapter 131 Yao Mingyue: I havent caught him yet. _2 Only then did I notice the small purse she carried had a string of keys dangling from it. A particrly eye-catching Ferrari keychain swayed in view. Damn, a richdy driving a Ferrari to college in her freshman year. With all the money at home lying around unspent, why bothering out and hustling? "Otherwise, what? Walk?" Zhu Yn snorted, "What about you?" There isn''t a man who doesn''t like cars; seeing her Ferrari keys, Xu Musen felt a bit envious. But these things woulde sooner orter, Xu Musen said with a smile, "Not bad, I''ve been thinking about buying one myself recently." "Buying what? A Ferrari or a Porsche?" "I can''t afford those cars right now." "Then it''s Mercedes, BMW, or maybe an Audi?" Zhu Yn thought, Xu Musen is a minor boss after all, shouldn''t he at least drive a Mercedes or BMW? Isn''t that just how poor people are? Xu Musen smiled and spoke. "Ya Di." "?" Xu Musen waved his hand, his mind already calcting whether he should bite the bullet and buy a car. "Out of the blue..." Zhu Yn murmured to herself, she approached the front desk, nced at Zhao Lianmai, but still took out a business card and ced it in front of her. "ssmate, I was serious about what I said earlier. If you ever feel ufortable working here, just contact me anytime." After Zhu Yn finished speaking, she nced at Xu Musen again, then left with an air of arrogance. Zhao Lianmai didn''t speak, simply picked up the business card casually, and walked over to ce it in front of Xu Musen. "Not tempted at all?" Xu Musen asked with a smile. Zhao Lianmai''s expression was indifferent, "My current job already pays much more than I expected. One must learn to be content; otherwise, you''ll burst eventually." It felt somewhat pointed. "Xiao Mai, I think you still hold some respect for me. After all, I am the boss..." He hadn''t finished his sentence when Zhao Lianmai continued to bustle about behind the front desk. Xu Musen chuckled bitterly to himself, but his admiration for her grew. If employees can''t resist these minor temptations, how could he trust her with more significant tasks in the future? Forget it, whether it''s a ck cat or a white cat, a good cat is one that catches mice. At night, another car stopped by the entrance of the milk tea shop. A worker came to the entrance. It seemed that on weekend nights, the university''s milk tea shop was rather quiet. Xu Musen looked outside, noting the scarcity of young couples, and muttered to himself. Do all these couples go out to stay somewhere over the weekend? Xu Musen suddenly thought whether it might be profitable to open a hotel nearby the campus, or perhaps one of those 24-hour specialty stores. Hugely profitable indeed. The morals of society are degrading, and the hearts of people are not as in ancient times, making one envious... After a while, a car pulled up in front of the milk tea shop. A worker stepped out: "Is this the furniture you ordered?" "Yes, that''s me." Xu Musen nodded. A few days ago, he had nned to redecorate the inside of the room, and some of the furniture could be moved in first to decorate. "Sign here, and we can start unloading." The worker handed over the order, and after Xu Musen signed, he began to prepare to move the furniture. The worker was just helping out; after all, he was there to deliver, so helping with the move was already much appreciated. A few sofas, washstands, bedside tables, and some everyday itemsthere was indeed a lot of stuff. But after instation, it would definitely be much morefortable than living in the dormitory. Xu Musen carried a sofa, struggling to bnce it: "Buddy, give me a hand here." He called out, unable to see what was behind him, but suddenly he felt someone behind him helping stabilize the sofa. "Buddy, make sure you''re steady." Xu Musen always felt that this worker seemed a bit short, and the sofa''s bnce seemed to lean back a little. There was no response from behind, but he could hear the effort in lifting the sofa. A breeze blew, and Xu Musen thought he caught a whiff of a faint fragrance. Once in the room, Xu Musen slowly set down the sofa. "Thanks, buddy." Xu Musen exhaled softly, lifting his arm to wipe the sweat, but the next moment, a soft handkerchief with a hint of fragrance, and pink to boot, was offered to him. Do moving workers have such a girlish side nowadays? "You''re wee." That familiar voice,ced with a tease of amusement. Xu Musen suddenly looked up, meeting those bright phoenix eyes! Yao Mingyue had a knowing smile at the corner of her mouth, and her long hair seemed to have flicked up some dust. Her white shirt had also gathered ayer of dust at the shoulders from moving the sofa. "Is it you?" Xu Musen hadn''t expected that the person who had helped him with the sofa was actually Yao Mingyue. No wonder it felt a bit too low, and he also thought there was a subtle scent. But this princess who wouldn''t deign to touch spring water was quietly helping him lift the heavy sofa... Yao Mingyue looked at his astonished expression, her lips curling up slightly, as she waved a handkerchief: "Do you need me to wipe that for you?" Xu Musen''s mouth twitched as he looked at Yao Mingyue, "Why have youe?" "I was passing by and wanted to buy a cup of milk tea. I just happened to see you moving things, are you nning to move?" Yao Mingyue noticed many toiletries and daily necessities, clearly not just for office use. Xu Musen knew that Yao Mingyue wasn''t particrly fond of milk tea, she hade specifically to find him. "Take whatever you want to drink, I need to keep moving stuff." Xu Musen turned away and continued moving things. But Yao Mingyue also stepped forward with her slender legs, walking up to the truck and started helping him move things. "The stuff is dirty, don''t do it." Xu Musen frowned as he spoke. Yao Mingyue smiled and said, "Auntie and uncle have said, we should help each other out at school. What''s wrong with me helping my childhood friend?" As she spoke, she picked up a stool and began to walk toward the room. Only then did Xu Musen notice that Yao Mingyue was actually wearing a pair of white stockings today? Although in terms of slender finesse, Zhao Lianmai and Zhu Yn were unparalleled. But if speaking of overall perfect proportions, Yao Mingyue was the undisputed epitome of perfection. Moreover, her entire figure was wless, sensually youthful yet retaining a girl''s lightness and agility. Xu Musen knew he couldn''t stop her, so they moved things together for a while. Eventually, they finished moving the stuff, and Xu Musen was drenched in sweat and his clothes were dirty. Yao Mingyue was no different, her white shirt bearing streaks of dirt, even her fairplexion had some smudges. However, it only made her seem all the more vivid with a Cindere-like charm. Even the truck driver couldn''t help but say to Xu Musen, "Your girlfriend is really nice, not many girls nowadays would help their men with such dirty and tiring work." Xu Musen was stunned, not wanting to exin anything to a person he wouldn''t meet again. But Yao Mingyue chuckled, dusting off her hands, and said, "I''m not his girlfriend yet, I haven''t seeded in chasing him." At that remark, the air went quiet for a moment. Xu Musen''s gaze turned a bit surprised. The truck driver looked at the ridiculously pretty youngdy before him and then gave Xu Musen a thumbs up. "Youth is wonderful!" The truck driver left. Inside the room, Yao Mingyue and Xu Musen exchanged nces. Indeed, it had been several days since they had met privately. The two were covered in grime. But their gazes were exceptionally bright under the night sky. Yao Mingyue looked at the furniture in the room, a bit of sweat on her forehead and a touch of dirt made her appear even more charmingly alluring. She smiled, revealing a row of white and neat teeth. "I''ve discovered that it''s quite nice to exercise once in a while." "You don''t have to do this, I think you should go to a gym instead." Xu Musen, looking at her dirt-covered self, softened his tone. "Going to the gym costs money to sweat, it''s cheaper to sweat while helping my childhood friend." Yao Mingyue''s smile was blossoming, and she looked at Xu Musen''s slightly twinkling eyes, saying, "You don''t have to worry about me extorting you, how about you pay me some unloading fees?" Xu Musen''s eyebrows raised, if he could pay the unloading fee and get it over with, of course it would be best. But this little rich girl probably wasn''t out to earn unloading fees, was she? "How much?" Xu Musen wanted to see what she was up to. "Something like a hundred thousand or eighty thousand should do." Xu Musen''s mouth twitched: "You might as well take over this milk tea shop." What was she thinking, a hundred thousand or eighty thousand, Zimbabwe dors maybe? "Forget the money, I''ve been moving things for quite a while, you can at least buy me a cup of milk tea, right?" Yao Mingyue fanned herself, feeling quite thirsty after being so busy. "Just that?" Xu Musen didn''t expect her to be so easy to deal with this time. "Just that." Yao Mingyue''s lips curved into a light smile, her phoenix eyes gleaming with determination. "I want you to make it yourself, for me, That''s worth more than a hundred thousand dors." Chapter 223: Chapter 132: Sometimes, living off a woman is really great~ In the milk tea shop. Xu Musen washed his hands and was making milk tea for Yao Mingyue. Yao Mingyue was actually very picky when it came to eating fruit, for instance, she only ate the tips of strawberries. She only wanted the flesh in the middle of the mango, and bananas had to be really soft before she''d eat them... He remembered the exact proportions of fruit additives she preferred, clear as day. Xu Musen hated this kind of conditioned reflex, but after so many years of living together, muscle memory had formed, always prioritizing Yao Mingyue''s preferences at the tip of her lips. I hate it! Yet, his hands honestly prepared a cup of milk tea. Yao Mingyue had also washed her hands and face, her pretty face slightly flushed after the wash, looking very lovely with a translucent rosy hue. This face that haunted Xu Musen''s dreams for most of his life was like the air he breathed. He had grown used to it and even a little dependent on it. She gave Xu Musen a gentle smile, her phoenix eyes brimming with a blend of emotions, as if they could drown him. Xu Musen''s mind wandered for a moment; he averted his gaze. Damn, some conditioned reflexes truly seep into your bones. Like no matter how sessful you be or how old you get, the moment your old man pulls out a ''Seven Wolves'' cigarette, you still feel a terrifying suppression in your bloodline. "Thank you, Xiaosen brother." Yao Mingyue said with a smile, reaching out to take the milk tea, noticing the momentary distraction in Xu Musen just then. She felt a bit pleased in her heart, after all, they were the only childhood sweethearts, the kind who grew up bare-bottomed together. Twenty years of affection andpanionship couldn''t bepletely changed overnight. But her calling out "Xiaosen brother" made Xu Musen''s scalp tingle slightly. It had been so long since Yao Mingyue had called him that, only before junior high did Yao Mingyue like to follow him around calling ''brother'' this and ''brother'' that. "Don''t start with that act." Xu Musen couldn''t help but speak. Yao Mingyue took a sip of milk tea, looking at the fruits inside and the sweetness and temperature of the milk tea, all just the way she liked it. Could it be guessed this was the tacit understanding between childhood sweethearts? Yao Mingyue really liked this feeling, suddenly stepping closer, with one hand pulling out a handkerchief, she helped Xu Musen wipe off the residual sweat on his neck. Xu Musen recoiled as if he''d been shocked, but Yao Mingyue was quicker than he was, stepping forward again. At that moment, Xu Musen felt as though he''d been cornered against a wall. "Just let me wipe it off," she said. Yao Mingyue revealed a grin, she had just taken a sip of milk tea, and now her words wereced with the faint scent of milk emerging from her rosy lips. It was as if she would directly lean in if Xu Musen didn''t let her have her way. The handkerchief grazed over Xu Musen''s neck. It was quickly moved away. The previously clean pink handkerchief now seemed a little dirty from sweat and dust. But Yao Mingyue looked at it sparklingly as she tucked the handkerchief into her pocket. This little thrill made Xu Musen feel like he was dealing with one of those perverts who liked to steal underwear. Yao Mingyue also stepped back two steps very measuredly. Only, her stepping back was slightly staggered. Xu Musen lowered his gaze and noticed that one side of her white silk-covered leg was snagged, a red line of blood now visible on her fair thigh. Moving furniture was indeed prone to injuries, not to mention someone like Yao Mingyue who had never done any heavy lifting. She was dirty and looked like a wealthy heiress tormented after being kidnapped, straight out of a TV drama. "I''m fine, it''s just a pair of stockings." Yao Mingyue also looked down, remembering that she still had a pair of stockings under his pillow, had he not discovered them yet? "Sit down." Xu Musen let out a helpless sigh and pointed to the sofa nearby. There was a small emergency first-aid kit in the store; Xu Musen went to get the antiseptic. "Are you showing concern for me?" Yao Mingyue sat on the sofa, watching Xu Musen bring over the first-aid kit, and asked with a smile. It was as if the wound on her leg suddenly had meaning. "If you weren''t hurt in my ce, you think I''d care for you? I''m just giving Aunt Liu an exnation." Xu Musen said stubbornly. But, looking at Yao Mingyue''s snagged and dirty white stockings, "You better take them off; otherwise, they might rub against the wound." Xu Musen suggested she change in the small room next to them. However, Yao Mingyue slipped her hands beneath her skirt and into her thigh. The snow-white delicate skin, like moonlight shining outside, was pristine; she slightly lifted her leg, revealing soft, tender flesh, perhaps the most tempting poison in the world. "You''re undressing here?" Xu Musen withdrew his gaze. He always thought he should be immune and numb to Yao Mingyue''s body by now. But his eighteen-year-old body did not heed hismand. "There''s no one here but you, and I''m not scared, so what are you afraid of?" As she spoke, she slowly stripped the torn stockings off her leg. Beneath the white stockings, her skin was even whiter, and the sight of a woman removing stockings always held a unique allure. Especially since Yao Mingyue''s gaze kept steadfastly on Xu Musen. Xu Musen retained some resistance, after all, in his past life, whenever Yao Mingyue got home from work, she would just flop onto the bed, and then Xu Musen would help her take off her stockings and change clothes. Seeing that he appeared somewhat unfazed, Yao Mingyue huffed softly through her nose and casually ced the stockings to one side. Chapter 224: Chapter 132: Sometimes, Living Off a Woman is Really Great~_2 Without stockings, the slight scratch on her calf looked even more conspicuous. Yao Mingyue propped up her leg, and her crystal-clear jade foot stretched gently. Her feet were slightlyrger than An Nuannuan''s, but their smooth lines and paleness were not a bit inferior; in fact, these were the tender and perfect feet of an eighteen-year-old girl. Xu Musen was quite sure he wasn''t a pervert, so he sat to the side, taking a cotton swab with disinfectant to help her dab at the wound. Fortunately, it was only a minor scratch and should be fine after a night''s sleep. "She''s not here today?" Yao Mingyue suddenly asked. "Yeah." Xu Musen nodded and didn''t offer any extra exnation. "Do you n on living here from now on?" "It''s morefortable here than in the dorm." "You live alone?" "Otherwise?" Yao Mingyue pursed her lips; looking at the small room behind her, which had only enough space for a bed, she mused how many people could actually fit in that bed, though, was another matter. Gazing at Xu Musen, who was tending to her wound, she couldn''t resist saying, "Aren''t you afraid someone might sneak in quietly when you''re alone here?" Xu Musen looked up at her, "As long as you don''te, I''m absolutely safe." Sneak in? Who could be more proficient at that than you? Yet Yao Mingyue couldn''t help but curve her lips upward, looking at Xu Musen: "Then can I take that to mean you can''t resist me?" "..." Xu Musen disposed of the cotton swab, "My feelings for you are quite ordinary." "Then why did you keep avoiding looking at my thigh while you were tending to my wound?" Yao Mingyue''s hand gently pressed down on the hem of her skirt, her thighs slightly together, creating a closely knit crevice with the delicate flesh. And the more so it was, the more alluring it was with a sense of mystery. "What''s so good about a chunk of fat?" Xu Musen snorted. Whether it was her as a child or grown up, he''d seen all of her forms. He was tired of it. "Really?" Yao Mingyue''s smile grew, and the hand that had been pressing down on her skirt suddenly flicked, lifting her skirt hem! "??!" Xu Musen instinctively stepped back, but all he saw was a stretch of ck. Yao Mingyue held back herughter, acting pleased as she swayed her skirt, revealing the ck safety shorts beneath. They were even more modest than some denim shorts. "Are you disappointed?" Her voice was teasing, as if she quite enjoyed this feeling of flirting with him. "Yao Mingyue! Have some dignity, will you? I still need mine, even if you don''t." Xu Musen nced outside; thankfully, there was no one there anymore. Otherwise, from the outside view, he would''ve been socially dead. Yao Mingyueughed heartily. "Don''t worry, I won''t let others see. And as long as you marry me in the future, isn''t this just a couple''s flirtation?" Yao Mingyue spoke, her voice carrying a seductive tone as if to say, "As long as you''re with me, I''ll belong only to you." This girl, who was cold and inessible to others, only showed this sprouting affection when she was with Xu Musen. Xu Musen couldn''t be bothered with her, "Yao Mingyue, I thought you''d be a bit better, but you''re still the same." "Getting better doesn''t mean staying further from you. I used to overthink, but from now on, I''ll openly admit it, I just like you." Yao Mingyue supported her delicate chin with one hand, looking intently at Xu Musen. "Suit yourself." Xu Musen knew it was useless to persuade her, "Go back to rest early, I''m going to close up." Yao Mingyue took another sip of her milk tea and looked at Xu Musen, "I actually came to see you today for another reason. I''ve started my own business now, are you interested in a partnership?" "Entrepreneurship?" Xu Musen looked at Yao Mingyue; in her past life, although she had inherited her family''s business directly, Yao Mingyue was still talented in business. However, he remembered that at this time, she was supposed to dislike business dealings. Because Yao''s uncle had an ident on his way to a business deal, and Aunt Liu could hardly return home a few times a year due to businessmitments, she had always been repulsed by it. And he had started his own business in order to earn more money, to avoid a woeful destiny of living off a woman in the future... In short, the original motivation for his entrepreneurial rush was to get further away from her... Yao Mingyue''s gaze swept over the milk tea shop; she remembered thest time she was here, the proud im of a girl that this milk tea shop was founded by her and Xu Musen. The feeling was as if she had a legitimate identity to stick to Xu Musen every day. Truthfully, despite having the natural advantage of being childhood friends, Yao Mingyue felt this status no longer brought much security. The emergence of An Nuannuan made her realize that she had to fight for some things herself. Yao Mingyue lifted her eyes toward Xu Musen, her gaze falling upon the cheek that was deeply imprinted in the recesses of her heart. She revealed a smile, shaking her milk tea cup, yet it felt as lonely as a ss of red wine. "Because I just want to get a little closer to you, not as childhood friends, but as Yao Mingyue and Xu Musen, as two individuals." Yao Mingyue''s eyes were picturesque, her smile carrying determination and some hidden... sourness. She didn''t know if they could be like before, but at least she didn''t want the distance between them to grow any further. He runs, she chases Xu Musen was silent for a moment, then sat opposite Yao Mingyue. Chapter 225: Chapter 132: Sometimes, Living Off a Woman is Really Great~_3 "If it''s just for me, it''s really not necessary." "Musen, my liking you is my own business, you know that, you can''t dissuade me." Ming Yue''s smile remained unchanged as she looked at Musen, "If you truly don''t care about me, then why do you avoid me every day? If you''re so confident that you won''t fall for me, then why not just work together openly and straightforwardly? After all, you have to work with someone, so why can''t it be me? This could be considered as keeping the benefits within our own circle, right~" Ming Yue narrowed her eyes, the bubble tea in her hand making her feel as if she was sipping a luxurious red wine. Her words did have a bit of amanding feel to them. Actually, Musen did feel a sort of inner evasiveness when faced with Ming Yue, but she was right; if he truly didn''t care about her, why would he purposely avoid her? Furthermore, her speech had indeed seen significant changes. Musen''s gaze lingered on the bloodstain on her leg for a moment before he spoke up, "What kind of cooperation do you have in mind?" Seeing him soften, Ming Yue''s smile immediately grew more delighted. "The takeout business you''re running now, as well as this bubble tea shop, can''t do without disposable meal boxes and stic cups, but the quality of the current ones varies greatly, and the prices are hard to standardize. So, I took over a stic processing factory from my family. I can supply your stic products at the lowest prices and highest quality, and they can be customized. What do you think?" Ming Yueid out her n. Musen listened, and his heart stirred; he had actually thought about this before. In the era of takeout, customized disposable tableware is very important. Shops with attractive packaging give the impression of being reliable, sanitary, and refined. And now, the takeout business is just getting started. Mostly they use poor-quality paper bowls, packed in stic bags, which is not only unattractive but also a problem if a bit of hot soup is put into them; they may leak or even break, and they''re not healthy. It can cost a portion of potential customers. So, as the takeout industry develops, various types of customized disposable tableware will definitely be a covert sunrise industry. But such a tangible industry requires a substantial investment to set up a qualifiedrge factory. It often takes several millions to equip and staff. Musen can''t afford it right now and coborating with others wouldn''t give him a price advantage. But since Ming Yue has her own factory, that solves everything. This was an offer Musen couldn''t refuse. He looked at Ming Yue. While admiring her intelligence, he also knew that she must have been keeping tabs on his operations; otherwise, she wouldn''t have known exactly what he needed. Musen took a deep breath. Damn it, why does it still feel like I''m living off a woman? "Musen, you can be difficult with me, but you wouldn''t be difficult with money, right? Your uncles and aunts would be happy if you could make money." Ming Yue spoke calmly and slowly. Musen looked at her, "My current orders can''t support the capacity of your factory. Aren''t you afraid of losing money?" "Because I believe in you, and I trust my own judgment even more." Ming Yue smiled, her gaze sparkling, "In ancient times, there was ''ying with the lords with beacons of war,'' seeking only for thedy''s smile. If it makes you happy, even bankruptcy is worth it to me." As Ming Yue uttered these words, her phoenix-like eyes conveyed an inherent nobility; she swished the bubble tea in her hand, exuding quite the imperial air of a female monarch. Musen didn''t want to admit it. But sometimes, a kept life can indeed be quite tempting... Chapter 226: Chapter 133: I Cant Quit Liking You Anymore The night fell softly. Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue walked on the school path. Coming out from the milk tea shop, this road was inevitable. On the weekend, the school was actually much quieter. Many people had gone home, and most who had endured the military training for over half a month hadpletely let loose this weekend. Then there were the young couples, who had all gone out to make their contributions to society''s GDP. Under the dormitory buildings, there were also some couples who had just returned, standing below and unable to part, all sticky and cloying. Youth, isn''t this just how it is? By his side, Yao Mingyue''s white shirt was still a bit dirty, but on her, it seemed to emit the vibe of a fashion item. Her slender legs cast long shadows in the moonlight, and her long hair, cascading down, fluttered gently with the night breeze. The two of them almost maintained a shoulder-to-shoulder stance, shadows nted by the light, seemingly merging together. Yao Mingyue suddenly cocked her head, and on the shadows, it was as if she was leaning on his shoulder. "Click!" The sound of a camera capturing a photo. Xu Musen turned his head and saw Yao Mingyue holding her phone, a smile still on her lips. "Don''t worry, I didn''t capture you." Yao Mingyue said with a smile, she put away her phone, sped her hands behind her back, her long hair swaying in the wind, her fair skin glowing in the night like moonlight. "We should still talk to Aunt Liu about what we discussed, she has more experience." Just now, Xu Musen had agreed to cooperate with her. This was currently the best way. "My mom said I''m fully in charge, don''t you trust me?" Yao Mingyue was quite confident. "As long as you''re not afraid of making a loss, it''s fine." Xu Musen stopped, they were nearly at the female dorm building: "Go back and rest early." Yao Mingyue didn''t hurry back, her gaze lingering on the affectionate couples at the base of the girls'' dorm. She slowed her pace slightly, exhaling gently. "I never realized before how nice it is just to walk together like this." This stretch of road was not very long, and the two of them had hardly spoken much, yet she felt a long-missed and exclusive time shared between the two of them. "One will gradually get used to anything, being alone is quite good, it helps maintain rity." Xu Musen said softly. Yao Mingyue gazed at Xu Musen''s profile in the light, chuckling foolishly. "It reminds me of the past, how the two of us used to go to school together every day, it had be a habit. It''s like the withdrawal symptoms from quitting smoking, you don''t feel anything smoking every day. But once you start quitting, that itchy, unbearable feeling is really tough. Especially when you asionally take another puff, nicotine brings you more pleasure and stimtion." Right now, she was in a state of withdrawal, and she felt that she probably wouldn''t be able to quit. "So, smoking is harmful to health, it''s better to quit." Xu Musen ignored the emotions in her eyes, utterly unromantic. But Yao Mingyue wasn''t angry, instead she leaned close to Xu Musen''s ear, her eyes sparkling. "I don''t smoke, but you''re the nicotine I''m most addicted to, I can''t quit anymore, sooner orter, I want to inhale you into my body" She said, and gently blew a breath towards Xu Musen''s earlobe. The gentle and sweet breath, in that moment, yed on Xu Musen''s heartstrings. Damn! The concrete sealing shook! Xu Musen quickly stepped back, reinforcing himself with several more seals: "Yao Mingyue, you''re really slick now!" Yao Mingyueughed merrily, sounding very happy. Compared to the silly Xiaosen from before, she found the current Xu Musen to be more like a challenging "prey." Yao Mingyue''s eyes twinkled. Indeed, what you can''t have is always the best. Yao Mingyue, having changed dramatically through loss, also sought to find her original self in this loss. To really love someone, it''s truly interesting. Yao Mingyue''s smile grew broader, she extended a hand: "Tomemorate our first cooperation, let''s shake hands." Xu Musen looked down to make sure she hadn''t nted any "itching powder" or simr devices. "Scared to shake hands, and you call yourself forthright?" Yao Mingyue teased him as he hesitated. Xu Musen reached out his hand, intending only to briefly touch fingertips as a gesture. But Yao Mingyue suddenly extended her other hand, sping his firmly. Xu Musen frowned, the girl''s jade-like soft and delicate hands felt like the finest raw gemstone, irresistibly lovely. But what was this smooth sensation? Yao Mingyue had already stepped back,ughing, a few steps away. Xu Musen looked down to find Yao Mingyue''s recently removed silk stocking in his hand. "..." "Yao Mingyue!" But Yao Mingyue had already happily retreated, winked at him with her alluring eyes: "I know you like this, consider it a gift tomemorate our first coboration, you can do whatever you want with it when you get back, of course, you might want to wash it first." "What use do I have for it? Yao Mingyue, have you be" Xu Musen''s words were cut off as Yao Mingyue turned around, walking joyfully into the girls'' dorm. Under the lights, her hair swayed lightly, her graceful figure bing a memorable shadow in many people''s youth. Crowds of people passed by, looking on with interest. Xu Musen quickly clenched his hand, no choice but to pocket the hot potato for now. Where do these girls learn all this weird stuff! Only a pervert would "use" these things! Chapter 227: Chapter 133: I Cant Quit Liking You Anymore_2 ... Back in the dorm, Xu Musen felt something was off about the atmosphere. Ma Yaxing and Li Rundong were gathered around Zhou Hangyu, fixated on his phone and muttering to each other. Li Rundong, "If you ask me, just ask her out directly! If you can meet up, you can definitely win her over!" Ma Yaxing, "I think we should take it slow, maybe start by sending her some milk tea or something?" Li Rundong, "Tch! Starting to give gifts before you''re even dating, that''s pure simp behavior!" Zhou Hangyu, "Have you all finished? A bunch of single dogs, what crappy suggestions are you giving me?" "Nonsense! School just started, do you think everyone''s like Xu Musen, that scumbag who can fish for several girls at once?" "Exactly, thest guy who yed this multi-girl game has already been chopped..." The three of them were making a racket when Xu Musen pushed the door open and didn''t like what he heard. He cleared his throat. "Ahem." Seeing Xu Musen, the three of them immediately put on naive expressions. "Yo, Brother Sen is back!" "What are you three chatting about?" Xu Musen walked over and asked. Li Rundong sourly said, "Zhou Hangyu, this kid, he added a girl from Fudan''s flight attendant program during the military training performance!" "Oh, pretty slick." Xu Musen patted his shoulder. He remembered this guy busily collecting girls'' contact info the past few days, and he hadn''t expected him to actually get a bite. "The deal isn''t sealed yet, Brother Sen, you''ve got experience, so tell me how to chase a cool and aloof girl like her?" Zhou Hangyu asked. "You can eat anything, but watch what you say, ah. I haven''t dated anyone yet." Xu Musen refused to carry the scumbagbel. "Come off it, others might not know, but do you think we don''t? You managed to tame such a high and cold richdy to publicly confess and chase after you, just teach us a few moves." Xu Musen was speechless. "You''re not exactly inexperienced in dating, so why so nervous?" "The girls I''ve dated before were too immature, but this time, the girl in the flight attendant uniform with ck stockings really hit a nerve." Zhou Hangyu chuckled. Hearing the word ''stockings'', Xu Musen, with one hand in his pocket and the other patting Zhou Hangyu''s shoulder, said earnestly, "Young man, you should pay more attention to what''s inside; don''t get dazzled by a piece of fabric." "Easy for you to say, you''re not the one starving!" Zhou Hangyu snorted, then remembered something, "Aren''t you just about to visit Fudan for work? How about I tag along?" Xu Musen nodded, he''d been meaning to go there to expand his delivery business anyway. He''d definitely have to run around getting permits; it''d be good to have someone to help with the legwork. "Sure, I''ll call you then." After washing up and lying in bed, An Nuannuan sent a message. "Xu Musen, have you gone to bed yet?" "Not yet, have you finished your acupuncture?" "Yeah, Aunt Xiang''s giving me a massage right now; her hands feel weak, and so cold..." An Nuannuan''s typing seemed slow and deliberate, as if there was an underlying meaning. Xu Musen smirked to himself. "When you get back to school, I''ll do it for you." "That sounds great! (rabbit nodding.)" "By the way, Xu Musen, Aunt Xiang bought me a lot of socks, which kind do you like?" An Nuannuan sent a drawer full of ankle socks pictures, all cute and colorful. "... Nuannuan, I really don''t like these things." "I''m just asking for myself, which do you think looks good." "... The ones with the little rabbit pattern, I guess." An Nuannuan: "Understood!" Understood what? Xu Musen thought he might as well open a second-hand clothing store, he could make a fortune just from the collection he''d receive. Time to sleep! ... Night fell, and a certain "weirdo" was already washed and lying in bed. Yao Mingyue held a handkerchief in her hand, covered with some dust and a faint trace of sweat. She looked at it for a long time, bringing it closer and closer to her face, her eyes filled with embarrassment and excitement. She felt that she was indeed getting a little hungrytely... Such a slight "Musen scent" was nowhere near enough! She needed something more intense... But just remembering his attitude, Yao Mingyue still felt a bit annoyed, him acting all high and mighty! Once they were together, She''d make sure all the missed days were fullypensated! Yao Mingyue revealed a silly grin and ced the handkerchief under her pillow. ... "Ding~ Anxin Group has transferred 300,000 yuan to your bank card." Early in the morning, Xu Musen received the message. Looking at the 300,000 yuan credited to his ount, Xu Musen sighed, in this day and age, 300,000 was a lot of money. Xu Musen almost considered going to pick up an Audi A6 to drive around. But as much as the 300,000 seemed, it wasn''t really sufficient for spending. Xu Musen nned to visit Fudan campus today. The initial startup funds and the investment in renting a shop to open a milk tea store would eat up about two to three hundred thousand just like that. It seemed Nuannuan''s grandparents understood hispany''s costs quite well. The investment they gave him was just right. This was also considered his first test. In the morning, several people ate in the cafeteria. Xu Musen drank a bowl of spicy soup and chewed on a fried dumpling, finding it very appetizing early in the morning. Zhou Hangyu, on the other hand, just had a cup of millet porridge and stubbornly refused to eat anything else. Moreover, he dressed particrly formally today, he even used gel to style his hair. "I''m saying, aren''t you really going to eat? Even a couple of buns would do." "Meeting someone in a bit, who''d want to talk if you had a mouthful of leeks?" "You''ve really gone overboard, thinking about kissing on the first meeting, huh?" "This is called respecting your opponent." Zhou Hangyu said, and then he took out some chewing gum and started chewing. Chapter 228: Chapter 133: I Cant Quit Liking You Anymore_3 Li Rundong rolled his eyes in speechless annoyance. "Musen, how are we getting thereter? Should I bring my dad''s car over to make a scene?" Zhou Hangyu leaned over to Xu Musen and asked. His dad''s car was an Audi after all, it carried some prestige when driven out. Xu Musen nced at him, "You''re going to a university entrepreneurship event in an Audi, as if you''re afraid others won''t know you''re a rich second generation ripe for the taking, right?" "But we''re apany now, not having apany car seems tock prestige," Zhou Hangyu scratched his head. Xu Musen patted his shoulder, "Work hard, and after the first month''s dividend, I''ll reward our sales champion with a car!" "Really? Mercedes or Audi?" "Xiaodao and Ya Di." "..." Tsk! A few people rolled their eyes, their excitement fizzling out. Xu Musen had already agreed with Zhu Yn to go over today. They would just take a taxi there. Upon arriving at the school gate, Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong, now Xu Musen''s right-hand men, followed along. Xu Musen had just hailed a taxi and had agreed on the location. When a blue Ferrari came speeding down the street, catching many an eye. "Damn, a Ferrari! That model has got to be at least four or five hundred thousand, right? Shit, which rich kid is out picking up girls now?" "So cool, if I had a car like that, would I be worried about finding a girlfriend?" Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong felt sour as they watched the approaching Ferrari. Their families'' few-hundred-thousand Audi was nothingpared to this Ferrari. "Swoosh!" The Ferrari executed a stylish tail slide, its tires tracing a curve on the ground. Almost crushing Zhou Hangyu''s legs, he quickly jumped back, ready to start cursing. But then he saw the window go down, and a familiar, beautiful face appeared. Huh? Isn''t this the beauty from Fudan we met atst time''s military training performance? Xu Musen was also somewhat surprised, looking at Zhu Yn, "Howe you''re here?" Zhu Yn huffed, "External cars can''t enter Fudan''s gates, and my time is precious. I don''t have time to wait for you." Zhu Yn epitomized the haughtiness and willfulness of a youngdy and a spoiled girl. Xu Musen couldn''t help but chuckle; that saved him a taxi fare. "And who are these two?" Zhu Yn gazed at Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong, a bit dumbfounded behind Xu Musen. "Mypany''s two strongmen, we were about to hail a cab." Xu Musen still gave them face. Zhou Hangyu gulped, opening the taxi door, "Hello ssmate, we met a few days ago." "Oh." Zhu Yn nced at the taxi behind them, briefly acknowledging with an ''Oh'', but it was clear from her expression she barely remembered them. Li Rundong simply nodded with a smile, opting not to embarrass himself further. "Get in." Zhu Yn spoke. Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong rubbed their hands; it was their first time in a Ferrari, and they were somewhat excited. A Ferrari to ride, who needs a crappy taxi? The taxi driver gritted his teeth, his good fare taken right out from under him. Xu Musen nodded, opening the passenger door, thinking of letting the two sit in the back. A girl''s car felt like diving into her bed, soft cushions everywhere, and the air was full of fragrance. "Alright, you guys..." "Roar!" Xu Musen was about to call them over to get in. When suddenly, an infuriating push-back sensation hit as Zhu Yn floored the gas pedal, speeding away with Xu Musen. They left Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong, who had just exited the taxi, flustered in their wake. I haven''t got in the car yet!! The taxi driver chuckled, looking at the two, "Are you going or not?" Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong exchanged nces. They looked at the crappy taxi again, then at the fading tail lights of the speeding Ferrari. Jealousy so sharp it hurt! They figured it out; this guy just never suffers any hardships! Keep eating your fill of soft rice, who the hell could outdo you?! Chapter 229: Chapter 134: Are you thinking of freelancing on me again? Fudan, the best university in Hu Hai. In the past, whenever my family talked about it, they would always add Fudan after Tsinghua and Peking University. Zhu Yn drove straight into the campus gate. Students from such top-tier institutions seemed to have grown ustomed to luxury cars and the like. After all, those who could study here were either geniuses or had the power of money. Zhu Yn drove directly to a street behind the school, which looked like amercial street within the campus. There were quite a few shops on both sides. Zhu Yn parked her car in front of an office. After getting out, she entered the shop. The interior of the shop was exquisitely decorated. Only, there were hardly any people inside. "Lan sister... Boss, you''re back." A girl with a round face, wearing ck-framed sses, who looked pretty cute, came over. "Mm, make me a cup of tea, please." Zhu Yn nodded her head and led Xu Musen into the office. Xu Musen looked around; the office was only about sixty or seventy square meters but was nicely decorated. It had the feel of a professional office building. The round-faced girl brought over a pot of tea and poured it for the two of them. Xu Musen, however, nced around the store. [Boss Direct Hire] Xu Musen saw the store sign and couldn''t help but smile. "What are youughing at? Is there something wrong with the sign?" Zhu Yn asked. "Nothing''s wrong with it, it''s quite to the point and the selling point is clear, but I think, could you maybe change ''boss'' to ''BOSS''?" Xu Musen pondered for a moment, and couldn''t help but think that mixing Chinese and English in brand names could actually be pretty cool. "BOSS?" Zhu Yn muttered to herself, "It''s not that I haven''t thought about it, but I just feel like it might not be quite serious enough?" Xu Musen shook his head with a smile, "If you''re determined to make the first career-seeking app for university students, then you have to close the distance with the students. The word ''boss'' just feels too old-fashioned. It might be better to use ''BOSS,'' which actually means the same thing, but it could also give students the feeling of ''defeating a BOSS in a game.'' It creates a more rxed atmosphere, is helpful for closing the distance, and is also more memorable." Xu Musen shared his idea. In fact, when university students look for jobs nowadays, many of them prefer lower sries as long as thepany has a good atmosphere, weekends off, and no pretentious leadership. The young people are honestly having a tough time reshaping the job market, but cking off is still doable. Zhu Yn''s eyes lit up as she listened; the more she thought about it, the more sense it made. She looked up at the round-faced girl and said, "Xiao Tao, hurry up and get me an application form. Let''s get this name registered at the business office first." Xu Musen paused with his tea halfway to his mouth, looking at the energetic girl before him. Good grief, just yesterday you poached my employee right in front of me, and now you''re rushing to register the store name. You''re something else. The employee named Xiao Tao was stumped for a moment, looking between her boss and the man in front of her. She felt her boss changed her mind too quickly. "Boss, is this really okay" "What''s not okay? Hurry up and go," Zhu Yn looked at her, and don''t forget who pays your sry. "Oh." The girl nodded and quickly turned to leave. "You really have a way with things," Xu Musen couldn''t help saying. Zhu Yn snorted, "Who asked you to trick me before? This is called returning the courtesy." Thinking back to thest incident with the banner ad and the lemon water, all that was him freeload off her! Xu Musenughed, "It''s just a brand name. I have plenty in my head; it''s not important." He decided not to quibble over it. "How''s business here?" Xu Musen asked, observing various recruitment posters and part-time job ads in the store, but it seemed not many people were looking. "Not many people; mainly, it seems that university students really dislike intermediaries, always afraid that I will scam their money," Zhu Yn sounded a bit discouraged. A recruitment tform was really about public trust. Zhu Yn had the resources; her family''s business was flourishing in Hu Hai and even supported many small and micro enterprises. If she wanted to, it wouldn''t be difficult to get resources from business owners into the store. But the problem now was that the students did not trust her. Some City 8 used to be all the rage, butter on, all sorts of riffraff infiltrated it, with rampant cheating and trickery. There were even extreme cases; someone joined apany only to be taken on a so-called team-building trip to Yunnan and ended up being sent to a park in Myanmar to be a ''blood bag.'' Moreover, many viewed recruitment tforms as middlemen, fearing they would take a cut of their sry. What was most important now was to get off to a good start and build a reputation. "How about I give you another idea?" Xu Musen spoke up. "What is it?" Zhu Yn, seeing his cheerful smile, couldn''t shake the feeling that he might take advantage of her. Ignoring the wariness in her eyes, Xu Musen said with a smile, "What you need now is the first group of people brave enough to eat crabs. I''m about to start a food delivery service here and will definitely need to hire a lot of runners and such. I''ll give you that outlet. To get a job with me, you must register through your APP tform. How does that sound?" Zhu Yn considered the idea; it really seemed like a good one. At this initial stage, the most important thing was to be well-known. At the very least, people on campus needed to know that her tform was trustworthy. "Would you really be so kind?" "Of course, since we''re going to coborate, I don''t mind taking a bit of a loss," Xu Musen smiled brightly. But Zhu Yn pondered for a moment and felt something was off. Wait a minute! Chapter 230: Chapter 134 Are You Trying to Take Advantage of Me Again? _2 What do you mean one must go through my APP to get a job here? Obviously, I''m the one who''s gone through all the trouble to recruit employees for him! Why does he look like he''s the one who''s at a disadvantage? "Xu Musen, are you trying to freeload off me again?" Zhu Yn remembered this new term for getting something for nothing and spoke up. Just then, the girl with the round face happened to walk in, holding an application form. Freeload what...what? The girl turned a glowing red as she looked at her boss and the handsome young man. Were they conducting some shady business? Should she tell Uncle Zhu... Zhu Yn''s face also turned red, aware of the ambiguity in her words. "So... You''re just trying to coax me into recruiting employees for you again, right?" "What do you mean by ''coax''? Think about it, when other students see these delivery guys earning money every day, they''ll definitely be curious about where they got their jobs, and that''s when your APPes into y, right? It''s a win-win situation." Xu Musen said earnestly. Zhu Yn was somewhat unwilling, but still thought his suggestion was actually good; entrepreneurship among university students was already remarkable if they had two or three employees. But the number of delivery guys could be many, and they''d be running around campus every day, serving as moving advertisements. "Don''t feel too shortchanged, I''lle up with a couple of slogans for you." Xu Musen took a pen and scribbled down several slogans in his notebook. "Join BOSS direct hiring, talk face-to-face with the boss!" "Finding jobs hard, students? BOSS helps you find a boss!" "Ease of job-hunting with BOSS, even bosses can hit the jackpot!" ... After writing a few, Zhu Yn looked at the slogans, which were somewhat cheeky, and couldn''t deny they were indeed eye-catching. "Are these okay?" Zhu Yn hesitated. Current slogans were very strict in maintaining corporate credibility. "What matters is getting the recruitment done, catching people''s attention is what''s important." Xu Musen turned to the round-faced girl and asked, "Tell me, what attracts you more, the ''Honest recruitment, amodation provided'' kind of slogans, or these ones?" The round-faced girl looked over the slogans, especially the one about hitting the jackpot, and pointed to the ones Xu Musen had written. "I think these slogans give off a very casual vibe, like even if you don''t perform well, you won''t get randomly scolded or have your sry deducted by the boss..." The round-faced girl was speaking and seemed quite excited about it. Zhu Yn drew out her words with an "Hmm?" as she looked at her. The round-faced girl suddenly looked up pretending she hadn''t heard anything. Xu Musen watched them and couldn''t help but smile, guessing that this girl was probably her roommate or friend, just like Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong. He remembered that those two should be arriving soon as well. "Considering your self-rmendation, I reluctantly agree," Zhu Yn said with an arrogant snort, but was quick to hand the slogans Xu Musen wrote to the girl. "File these slogans in the report." "Got it." The round-faced girl nodded, admiring Xu Musen for his ability to point out so many areas of improvement in just a few words. In contrast, her own boss seemed to have nothing but his wealth as his main asset... "Aren''t you going?" "Oh, right." The girl turned and left. Xu Musen smiled: "That girl is quite cute, where''d you coax her from?" Zhu Yn''s gaze suddenly became wary: "What''s that to you? I warn you not to have designs on her!" "You were poaching my employees right in front of me yesterday, and now I can''t even ask about yours?" "She''s my uncle''s daughter. Don''t even think about it," Zhu Yn stood up. "Speaking of which, weren''t you looking to take over a milk tea shop? Let me show you one." Xu Musen stood up. The milk tea shop was close by. There were some snack shops around with a decent foot traffic but this particr milk tea shop was not busy; it even had a sign indicating it was for lease. In a university, a milk tea shop shouldn''t be this deserted. Zhu Yn crossed her arms, saying, "This milk tea shop had some trouble a while ago. Remember when a bunch of people suddenly got diarrhea? It was because they drank the milk tea from here, which was found to use expired ingredients, and there were even rats and cockroaches. After rectifications, there were no more cases of diarrhea. In fact, some people who were previously suffering stopped having diarrhea after drinking their milk tea. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the owner didn''t want to waste the ingredients, so he had added anti-diarrheal drugs to the milk tea..." "???" Xu Musen was bbergasted and couldn''t help but burst outughing. This guy was a true talent! "What happened then?" "Well, that owner couldn''t keep it up and transferred the shop. The next owner tried to salvage the store''s reputation by selling the milk tea at half price, but people soon realized there was something off with the taste. Upon another check, it turned out the second owner was just using milk tea voring and dough batterthere was no actual milk in the tea, and even the fruits were nearly spoiled. They were cut up and passed off as fresh, so that ce also went under pretty quickly." Zhu Yn said, exasperated by the continuous drama of the milk tea shop: "The students have too much of a negative impression of the shop, so even with half-priced teas, business has always been tepid, and now they have no choice but to transfer ownership again, hoping to pass it to the next unlucky person." As she spoke, Zhu Yn cast her gaze towards Xu Musen. But Xu Musen was observing the store very seriously; in truth, the location and space were better than any in Hu Hai University. Chapter 231: Chapter 134 Are You Trying to Take Advantage of Me Again? _3 Moreover, looking at the transfer price, it will be even lower. Taking over would be very appropriate. As for the already tarnished reputation, Xu Musen actually had a way to turn it around. It''s not yet certain who will be the unlucky one. "I do feel like I should be quite lucky to pick up such a steal." Xu Musen said with a smile, "Shall we go, can I treat you to a milk tea?" "Forget it." Zhu Yn rolled her eyes. If it were a milk tea made by Xu Musen''s own shop, she might have had some. This shop she truly dared not enter. Xu Musen went straight to the entrance of the milk tea shop, looked at the owner lounging and ying with his phone inside, and saw that business really wasn''t bustling. "Boss." "Hmm? What would you like to order?" The owner opened his eyes and looked up. Xu Musen took out a business card from his pocket and handed it to him: "I''m here to discuss the matter of the shop transfer with you." "You?" Hope shed in the owner''s eyes, thinking that he could finally get rid of this hot potato, but seeing how young Xu Musen was, he grew a bit skeptical. "Is there a problem?" Xu Musen smiled, subtly shing his Rolex watch. Zhu Yn was standing not too far behind Xu Musen. This young man he did not recognize, but Zhu Yn was known to everyone on this street. She drove a Ferrari every day and had even started a recruitmentpanythe very picture of a rich second-generation squandering her wealth on whims. Suddenly, when he looked at Xu Musen, it was as if he saw a juicy piece of meat. The money of the rich second generation is the easiest to swindle! "Of course, there''s no problem. You see the location of my shop, at the crossroads, where the foot traffic is heaviest, and the space isn''t small either. Every evening there''s a queue, and today it''s just because it''s the weekend, and everyone is out from school; on regr days the business is booming." The owner perked up, praising his shop to the skies. Such a smooth talker, really telling some shameless liestruly the mark of an unscrupulous business owner. Xu Musen wasn''t going to be polite with him either. He said cheerfully, "If business is so good, why think about subletting it?" The owner coughed dryly, then let out a long sigh, "It''s because my son is getting married, and we urgently need money at home. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have the heart to sublet!" Xu Musen nodded thoughtfully, "Then how much are you nning to ask for the transfer fee?" "I see you''re also a university student entrepreneur, we both have it tough. If it were someone else, I wouldn''t let it go for less than two hundred thousand, but for you, I only want one hundred and eighty-eight thousand, how about that?" The owner started his pitch, and Xu Musen thought to himself that this guy was really ck-hearted. Fudan University might be slightly better than Hu Hai University, but when ites to on-campus entrepreneurship, they''re not much different. He had taken over everything including all the equipment for just one hundred thousand. And now you''re opening your mouth for one hundred and eighty-eight thousand? You''re not looking for a university student, you''re looking for a sucker, right? "That''s too expensive," he said. "Then I''ll lower it further for you, one hundred and fifty thousand, how about that for refreshing?" "I can''t make one hundred and fifty thousand work either, any lower?" "Then one hundred and thirty thousand, I really can''t go any lower than that." The owner was now eager to get the shop off his hands, as his business was losing more money with each day it operated. Xu Musen said unhurriedly, "Boss, let me be honest with you too, I also applied for an entrepreneurship loan fund, I don''t have much money on hand, and the funds won''t be approved for at least another month. How about I observe for one more month?" The owner panicked upon hearing this, his lousy shop had been doing worse and worse, even keeping it afloat for another month seemed impossible, let alone a weekit was all beingid bare! He hastily spoke up, "Don''t rush, don''t rush, how much do you have on you right now?" "Just about fifty or sixty thousand," Xu Musen lied without batting an eyelid. "Fifty or sixty thousand that''s a bit too low," he said. The owner frowned at this price, to be honest, it was definitely a loss. Even though this shop had been losing money all along. "How about adding a bit more?" "I can maybe borrow a bit more, at most seventy thousand, but I can give you cash, and we sign the contract immediately, how about that?" The owner really wanted to say whether this guy was a second-generation rich kid or not, fussing over a few tens of thousands of yuan, honestly, seventy thousand was a bit of a loss as well. But continuing like this, he might end up without even that amount. Finally, a sucker came along ready to take over; the sooner he could get rid of it, the sooner he could stop worrying. With a final grit of his teeth and a stamp of his foot, he said, "Alright, alright, seventy thousand it is, but you said cash!" Xu Musen looked at him, but he couldn''t helpughing inside, "What about the money for your son''s wedding?" "A true man doesn''t worry about finding a wife; sons and grandsons will be blessed by their own destiny!" The owner was eager, couldn''t wait to take the money and go. Damn it, I''ve seen plenty of dutiful sons but this is my first time witnessing a dutiful father. "Oh right, I have one more condition, leave the equipment in the shop for me as well, I''ll add another three thousand for you." "Three thousand? No way, no way." The owner shook his head constantly, these pieces of equipment could sell for well over ten thousand when sold. "Then we have a problem, that''s all the money I have; if I can''t afford the equipment, what''s the point of opening a shop?" Xu Musen shook his head, as if he was ready to walk away if they couldn''te to an agreement. "Hold on... ah, forget it, forget it, three thousand it is, I''ll leave it all for you." "Okay, I''ll go get the contract now." The initial shop opening budget of over a hundred thousand was almost cut in half. Xu Musen approached Zhu Yn, who looked somewhat astonished. Zhu Yn had seen everything from the start, though the owner was quite detestable, taking over this milk tea shop even for a hundred thousand wouldn''t be a loss. He managed to sh the price to seventy thousand and even got the owner''s machinery for an extra three thousand. Moreover, his acting skills were on full disy throughout the negotiation, expertly ying hard to get. "Xu Musen, you''re really not a good person," Zhu Yn said seriously, pointing out that his negotiation had hit the owner where it hurt the most. If the milk tea shop owner was a swindler, Xu Musen was the king of swindlers! "You are mistaken, I am simply carrying out justice on behalf of the alumni of Hu Hai University,rade, do not nder my noble and selfless reputation." Xu Musen chuckled, then continued, "Oh right, could I borrow the printer from yourpany?" "For what?" "To print two copies of the contract." "Isn''t there a copy shop right next door?" "It''s fifty cents per sheet of paper, I have to save where I can." "..." Zhu Yn looked at Xu Musen''s jesting face, bit her teeth in silence for a long while. Keep being greedy, who knew you could be such a capitalist! Chapter 232: Chapter 135 Yao Mingyue: Sorry, I Just Have Bad Eyesight. The milk tea shop was quickly taken over by Xu Musen. He even had a banner hung up to cover the sign. [Students, my shop has closed down!] [Someone has taken over! I''m outta here!] The eye-catching font caused the passing students to stop one after another. "What is this? So, this rip-off milk tea shop has finally closed down?" "Good riddance, heaven has eyes! That time I had a milk tea from this ce and coincidentally ate a serving of fried chicken, I almost died from diarrhea!!" "Damn, who''s the brave soul that dared to take over this shop? Must have been conned, right?" The students harbored deep animosity toward the milk tea shop and expressed sympathy toward the new owner, some even took out their phones to snap mementos. To celebrate the grand victory of eradicating this campus scourge. Xu Musen was cracking sunflower seeds on the side, watching with delight. "You can stillugh about this? Whoever opens this shop is destined for failure." Zhu Ynmented with a touch of sarcasm. "That''s where you''re wrong. The shop has gathered so much resentment, the more viciously everyone curses, it actually indicates love for the milk tea itself. They''ll even feel pity for me as the biggest victim and will be on my side in the future," Musen wasn''t worried at all, even the banner mocking the new "sucker" was hung up by him deliberately. Let the bullets fly for a while. Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong also arrived at the school. However, as soon as these two arrived, they immediately ran off to chat up girls from their Air Stewardess program. Musen chatted with Zhu Yn for a while. "Musen!" At the entrance, four figures appeared. Musen turned his head and his eyes lit up. Two girls with long legs d in ck tights were walking over with them. Both women wore delicate makeup, and with some enhancement, appeared to be at least a six or seven in terms of looks. But they had great figures, both seemingly over 1.7 meters tall, wearing ck stockings, short skirts, tight tops, paired with small leather shoes. It must be said, at the robust age of college students, this kind of attire was indeed hard to resist. "Musen, let me introduce you, Chai Qingmiao, this is her bestie, Hu Wenjing." "Hello," Musen smiled and nodded. The two girls'' eyes lit up when they saw Musen; after all, his looks were decent and his body appeared fit, giving off an air of gentlemanly ease umon among his peers when greeting others. "Hello, handsome." The two women responded with a smile. Zhou Hangyu came over and said, "It''s almost time for dinner, why don''t we all go out to eat together?" As he spoke, he exchanged a knowing look with Musen. Talk about working hard to ask girls out. Musen had no objections and turned to Zhu Yn, "Madam Zhu, will you join us?" Zhu Yn originally had little interest, but after ncing at Musen, she said, "You''re not expecting me to treat, are you?" She had already been tricked too many times. "Of course not. You''ve helped me out so much today, it should be my treat," he assured her. "That''s more like it." Zhu Yn wasn''t short on money for a meal, but she really enjoyed the habit of being able to get a free meal out of him. "Xiao Tao,e with us too!" She called out to her assistant. Xiao Tao was naturally happy about the prospect of food, but looking at the joyful expression on Zhu Yn''s face, she wondered to herself, as she had never seen her this happy beforenot even on the day theirpany was founded. Everyone present looked at Zhu Yn and Musen. It had to be said, both in terms of looks and temperament, they already stood out from the typical students. They seemed more like people from the same path. Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong exchanged looks. Is this guy on the prowl for a new fling already? And it''s a wealthy woman who drives a Ferrari... "Then let''s head out together," Musen said. He wasn''t stingy and was creating opportunities for the two brothers. Zhou Hangyu and the rest headed out first. Musen waited for Zhu Yn to close up the shop, then hopped into her Ferrari and set off together. But not far from the school gates, at Fudan''s entrance, a red Bentley appeared, with her cheeks moving slightly behind her sunsses. "You little temptress, hooking up with someone the moment I''m gone..." She clenched her pearly whites and followed in her car. Not far from the campus gate, there was a decent seafood buffet. Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong eagerly fetched king crab legs and various types of shrimp for the table. "Musen, what do you think of these two girls?" Zhou Hangyu leaned in to ask. "I haven''t gotten to know them deeply yet, so I''m not sure," Musen replied casually, his hands full of seafood. "Musen, girls generally don''t like eating raw oysters and geoduck, right?" "Who said it''s for the girls? I''m eating it myself." "Shouldn''t you show some gentlemanly manners on a first date?" Musen looked at them, "You two might as well give it a rest. Girls aren''t there to be groveled at; they should be attracted to you. Bootlickers end up with nothing in the end." "Man! If we had your looks and wallet, we''d be even more outrageous than you!" Zhou Hangyu scoffed and continued to pick out things the girls might like to eat with Li Rundong. Musen shook his head, thinking to himself, "Keep on groveling," provided that these two girls obviously wouldn''t be easy to win over. On another note, Chai Qingmiao and Hu Wenjing were also whispering among themselves. "Xiao Jing, what do you think of Li Rundong?" "He''s alright, but I think the other guy is even more handsome." Hu Wenjingughed, looking at her best friend, "Are you seriously considering dating Zhou Hangyu?" Chapter 233: Chapter 135 Yao Mingyue: Sorry, I Just Have Bad Eyesight. _2 "We''re just friends for now." Chai Qingmiao was actually considering getting close to Zhou Hangyu because he was a local from Hu Hai. After starting college and seeing the outside world, one inevitably begins to consider practical factors. Zhou Hangyu''s conditions were quite good; just being a local from Hu Hai and owning a house put his worth at several millions. Besides, Zhou Hangyu was just a bit short, but other than that, all his conditions were not bad. She had thought about getting to know him, but upon seeing Xu Musen today, she questioned if her standards were possibly too low? "Do you think that guy named Xu Musen has a girlfriend?" she suddenly asked. Hu Wenjing looked at her, "You''re not thinking of switching targets already, are you?" "I''m not even in a rtionship with him, okay?" Chai Qingmiao pouted. "But I feel he must be popr with girls and he seemed quite close to that girl, didn''t he?" What Hu Wenjing referred to, of course, was Zhu Yn. As a richdy who drove a Ferrari around campus every day, even though her name was not well-known, her presence was noted by all. Just the thought of Zhu Yn''s background made them feel somewhat disheartened, and she was definitely of campus belle caliber at Fudan University. It''s just that not many dared to pursue her. "I think the two of them are just ordinary friends, and it''s not set in stone who is with whom. Besides, everyone has different strengths," she said while straightening up her body. Chai Qingmiao knew she was not as pretty as Zhu Yn, but clearly, she had the upper hand when it came to her figure. ... At the dining table, the girl with the round face was named Yang Xiaotao, clearly a little foodie, with a te piled high. She ate with great delight. Zhu Yn said to her: "You should eat less; your aunt asked me to make sure you are losing weight." Yang Xiaotao pouted her round face, "Just an extra meal asionally, I have no hopes of being as slim as you, sister Zhu." Once they left thepany, they referred to each other as sisters. But hearing the word "slim," Zhu Yn couldn''t help but nce at Yang Xiaotao''s chest, then looked down at her own... Damn, she''s a whole half-year younger than me, but her chest is half a size bigger! Keep eating; all you''re doing is tiring yourself out! She was thinking about this when the two girls returned and sat down, almost knocking over a cup, and had to deliberately slide the dishes forward to make room. Zhu Yn narrowed her eyes. "Hello." The two girls were a bit nervous subconsciously when faced with Zhu Yn''s demeanor as a youngdy. "Hm." Zhu Yn simply nodded lightly and then looked away. Several people hade back. Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong each found topics to talk about with the two girls and were very gentlemanly, even helping them peel shrimp. Zhu Yn appeared to have little appetite. "Aren''t you eating?" Xu Musen raised his head to ask. Zhu Yn usually ate seafood that was already peeled by the housekeeper before it was served; she hated getting her fingers oily. They''d smell of seafood all day. "Peeling is troublesome." She spoke up, her gaze drifting to Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong who were attentively peeling shrimp for the two girls opposite them and then sneakily nced at him. That subtle hint of suggestion was there. If Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong weren''t trying to woo these twodies, they definitely would have taken the opportunity to score some points. "Fine, I''ll eat them for you then," Xu Musen said, picking up the crab legs in front of her and continued with his meal. "???" Zhu Yn''s eyes widened, feeling a momentary tightness in her chest. It wasn''t that she necessarily wanted Xu Musen to peel something for her, but she thought if others had someone to peel shrimp for them, why didn''t she? The least he could have done was offer courteously. Zhu Yn grew more irritated the more she thought about it! The other two girls couldn''t help but stifle a smile, thinking that it certainly wasn''t possible for these two to be in a rtionship. How could a guy possibly be so blunt with a girl he fancied? The two girls started their own conversation, which somehow always subtly circled back to Xu Musen. "Oh~ Last time I went to Hu Hai University, those Kangaroo delivery ads everywhere were actually founded by you." "Sigh, we''re all just freshmen in our first year, why does it feel like there''s such a big gap? Boss Xu, don''t forget about us when you strike it rich in the future." The two girls said with a smile. "It''s nothing special, just some small business dealings," Xu Musen replied with a casual smile and a nod. "Are all handsome guys this modest? You''re so outstanding, you must have a girlfriend, right?" Chai Qingmiao yfully blurted out the question. "I''m just like everyone else, a single noble. Having a girlfriend would just hinder my wandering the world," Xu Musen answered with augh. "Really? But with your looks, finding a girlfriend would just take a nod, and you''d have a bunch running over, right?" Hu Wenjing chimed in. "Pssh, some people are like a Pixiu, money onlyes in and never goes out; whose daughter would be so blind as to chase after him" Zhu Yn snorted, seemingly more of a heckler than Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong. "Boss Zhu, I''m all about frugality and managing the household; anyone who ends up with me would beughing behind closed doors," Xu Musen said cheerfully. Zhu Yn rolled her eyes, if she hadn''t known you were so cheap you''d haggle over fifty cents for printing paper, she might have believed you! "Smack..." Just then, a figure walked over, and the te in hand almost got overturned right in front of Zhu Yn. Chapter 234 Chapter 135 Yao Mingyue Sorry, I Just Have Bad Eyesight. _3 Zhu Yn frowned as she stood up, her skirt corner stained with a few specks of oil. Turning her head, she saw an attractive girl standing across from her. Her skin was fair, with delicate features, and a pair of phoenix eyes that naturally exuded an air of nobility. She wore a dark, sheer hanbok-styled blouse on her upper body. Her lower half donned a ck miniskirt, paired with gradient stockings that entuated her already slender and shapely legs. She was like a ck rose with thorns, beautiful but with an edge of danger. Several girls couldn''t help but admire her inwardly; with such looks, figure, and presence, she truly had no rival. Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong were dumbfounded, their gazes swiftly shifting to Xu Musen! Yao Mingyue? Xu Musen had not expected her to show up either. "Oops, sorry, I need to watch where I''m looking; I didn''t hold it steady." Yao Mingyue offered a slight smile at that moment as though responding to Zhu Yn''s earlier statement. The ce grew a bit quieter. Explore stories on empire "Wait for me, I''ll go get some wet wipes." Xu Musen was a little troubled as he stood up and pulled Yao Mingyue aside. In a corner, Xu Musen looked at Yao Mingyue. "What are you doing?" "Nothing. She spoke ill of you, and I didn''t like it," Yao Mingyue said as a matter of course. This kind of irrational arrogance was her trademark. Xu Musen was somewhat helpless. "That was just friends teasing each other in fun." "Friends?" Yao Mingyue''s gaze fixed on Xu Musen, "So soon, you have a new friend? And another girl?" There was a hint of a jealous whine in her voice. "It''s not as messy as you think; we are purely business friends. Also, how did you know I was here?" "I came to eat as well, maybe it''s fate," Yao Mingyue cheekily retorted, pride sparkling in her eyes. Xu Musen didn''t believe her one bit. Picking up a packet of wet wipes prepared to go back, but Yao Mingyue followed him as well. "Don''te over and make trouble." "I''m your business partner too, right? And your childhood friend. If you can have lunch with them, why can''t you include me?" Once Yao Mingyue arrived, she certainly wouldn''t just leave. Xu Musen looked at her and then changed his tone, "We can eat together, but you have to apologize to her." "Why should I?" Yao Mingyue red at him. "You stained someone''s clothes; how will you interact with her in the future?" "That''s my own business..." "In others'' eyes, is it still just your own business?" Xu Musen massaged his forehead, their childhood friendship wasn''t a secret to anyone. Yao Mingyue was reprimanded, yet there was a sudden gleam in her eyes, stepping closer to Xu Musen, "So what you''re saying is, in the eyes of others, I belong to you?" "..." Xu Musen ignored her teasing, "Just apologize, or go back." Xu Musen wasn''t actually worried that Zhu Yn would take offense; after spending some time with her, it was clear that Zhu Yn was just a slightly clueless rich girl. She appeared assertive, but she was actually much easier to talk to than Yao Mingyue. He said this deliberately because he knew Yao Mingyue''s proud nature wouldn''t allow her to bow her head and apologize to someone else. He was blocking her way to make her leave and stop causing trouble. As expected, Yao Mingyue bit her lip in dissatisfaction. Apologizing to someone? That was nearly impossible for her. Seeing this, Xu Musen turned to leave, but Yao Mingyue caught hold of his shirt again. "I... I''ll apologize to her then," she said with difficultyit was probably the first time in her life she was apologizing to another girl. Xu Musen was as if he''d seen a ghost. "What did you say?" Was this the same girl he knew as a little princess? Yao Mingyue lifted her gaze, her eyes bright with a touch of reluctance, but when they met Xu Musen''s, they softened. "I am apologizing not because I think I''m wrong, but because I don''t want you to feel ufortable or unhappy." Her gaze intense yet tinged with dominance, Yao Mingyue prodded Xu Musen''s chest with her finger. "But if I hear someone badmouthing you again, I''ll kick her!" She rolled up her sleeve, revealing her delicate, porcin-like wrist. It was a stance that said, ''I may be wrong, but I still dare.'' Her voice was low, but the domineering and doting tone was like a small hammer, chipping away at the cement sealing Xu Musen''s heart. The little princess in front of him indeed seemed a bit different from before... Chapter 235 Chapter 136 Ferrari or Bentley? I Choose Ya Di! "Sorry, I wasn''t steady just now and got your clothes dirty. I canpensate you," Yao Mingyue apologized to Zhu Yn, her tone slightly stiff, for she had never bowed her head to strangers in her life. This was far beyond Xu Musen''s expectations. "No need," Zhu Yn could tell that this girl had a special rtionship with Xu Musen. Although there was still some displeasure in her heart, the cost of a piece of clothing didn''t concern her. "Actually, you''re right, there really aren''t many girls chasing after him," Yao Mingyue sat down next to Xu Musen with an indifferent face, nced over everyone, and finally rested her eyes on Xu Musen. A faint smile appeared on her lips. "But as it happens, I am one of those with poor eyesight," Yao Mingyue seemed to be mocking herself, holding her chin and looking at Xu Musen with a pair of doting eyes. The atmosphere at the scene was a bit peculiar. The two girls wearing ck stockings exchanged nces. Didn''t that sentence just openly indicate that she was pursuing Xu Musen? A girl, abandoning even a shred of modesty, it must be said, was quite bold. And though her words seemed self-deprecating, her entire being emitted a confident glow. It was as if to say, if I am considered to have poor eyesight, then you all must simply be blind. Zhu Yn felt an almost imperceptible sense of hostility looking at Yao Mingyue. Inexplicable... However, Yao Mingyue did behave quite properly after that, of course, she simply couldn''t be bothered to talk to anyone other than Xu Musen. "Who''s this?" The two girls opposite couldn''t help but ask. "A fellow townsman," Xu Musen gave a very vague yet precise answer. A few people were taken aback. Especially Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong, who were in on the story. They couldn''t help but think to themselves that Xu Musen was quite something. A friend, a childhood sweetheart, a neighbor, any of those would do, yet he went with ''fellow townsman.'' Yao Mingyue''s face suddenly looked a bit unhappy. She couldn''t even be called a friend? But in any case, she didn''t like the ''friend'' status either. She suddenly smiled again and said, "Yes, a fellow townsman, the kind that grew up naked together." Yao Mingyue''s words seemed utterly unashamed, almost causing Xu Musen to choke. Growing up naked together, wasn''t that just another term for childhood sweethearts? Now, the two girls understood. They looked at Xu Musen, who was now nked by both of them. Zhu Yn''s aloofness was a habitual dignity befitting a youngdy, not that she deliberately wanted to be cold, but that was just how she treated those she wasn''t interested in, like a lotus with frost. Then this suddenly appearing girl was like a rose with thorns, beautiful and captivating, but anyone who dared to get close would surely get a sting full of wounds. Perhaps only those she truly cared about could smell her fragrance. Both girls were so beautiful it was outrageous, and both had the exquisite dress and demeanor that certainly didn''t belong to just anybody. A sense of defeat inevitably rose in their hearts. Indeed, a guy like him was sure to only have outstanding girls by his side. The two girls then took another look at Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong and suddenly felt that they were quite pleasing to the eye as well. Xu Musen sighed helplessly. Do young people think of nothing but love these days? "Musen, eat more, your aunt told me to watch you. If you go hungry, I can''t exin to her," Yao Mingyue even took the initiative to peel shrimp and put them in Xu Musen''s te. This was a rare treat in the past. If it had been in their past life, when Xu Musen secretly went out to eat with other girls without telling her, she probably would have wanted to wash out his stomach and refill it with her own presence upon his return. Xu Musen did not respond to her irony, and everyone at the table knew that this girl was deliberately asserting her dominance. The two girls had given up and now their eyes were on Zhu Yn. Zhu Yn indeed had a profound impression of Xu Musen. Only because he always tricked her, which gave her, pampered by everyone from childhood, unprecedented feelings of frustration and defiance. She just wanted to get back at him for the tricks he''d yed on her. But looking at this girl who suddenly appeared, it was one thing to have her clothes dirtied, but what was with this demeanor of catching a cheater in the act? She gritted her teeth and huffed. And then she also began preparing to peel shrimp to eat, mainly as an act of venting frustration. But she really never peeled these things by hand, the peeled meat was a mess, and it didn''t look appetizing at all. She didn''t even want to eat it herself. Her gaze turned to Xu Musen''s te and noticed that Yao Mingyue''s peeled shrimp didn''t look much better, but were still slightly better than her own. The damnedpetitive spirit of girls. She huffed again inwardly and turned her eyes to her assistant beside her. "Xiaotao, you eat this," "Sister Zhu I have enough of my own," Yang Xiaotao looked at the "unidentifiable object" she received with a little round face full of distress. "Hm?" "I''ll eat, I''ll eat" Yang Xiaotao stuffed it into her mouth, sighing inwardly. It was not easy trying to earn some extra pocket money. The meal was eaten in a somewhat strange atmosphere. But Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong were quite happy, because somehow, after Yao Mingyue''s appearance, the two girls beside them became more responsive to them. Tsk tsk, they never expected Yao Mingyue to be their lucky star as well. Enjoy more content from empire The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 236 Chapter 136 Ferrari or Bentley? I Choose Ya Di!_2 Even silently chanting in my heart.For the happiness of my brothers, Musen, it''s fine for you to date two people at the same time. At worst, if you get hacked by an axe, I''ll burn some paper money for you on holidays. It was just meant to be a casual dinner. After finishing the meal and coming out of the restaurant. Zhu Yulan jiggled her Ferrari keys, casting a glance at Xu Musen. Today was her turf at Fudan University and she had intended to give him a ride back. "Shall I take you?" Zhu Yulan offered. But before Xu Musen could respond, Yao Mingyue also shook her Bentley keys in her hand. Smiling radiantly. "I happen to be heading back to the school too, so let''s not bother our classmate. I''ll drive you back." Zhu Yulan initially felt offering him a ride was merely a gesture of hospitality, but Yao Mingyue''s expression made her feel even more defiant. She had never been willing to back down in any comparison since she was young! So she stayed put instead of walking away, staring at Xu Musen as well. Two wealthy women, one with a Ferrari, the other with a Bentley. Inviting the same person to get into their cars. The four onlookers were so astonished that they felt as sour as if they had just drunk two litres of vinegar. Some people are really incomparable. Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong were inwardly shouting, if you can''t do it, let me take your place! Xu Musen felt helpless and glanced at Zhu Yulan. What are you even doing here making a fuss? "Beep beep..." At this moment, at the entrance of the restaurant street. An electric bike made by Yadi rode up. The girl on the bike was wearing short sleeves and jean shorts, her long, wheat-colored legs gleaming in the sunlight as if polished. Zhao Lianmai? Xu Musen''s eyes lit up when he saw her. "Xiao Mai!" Zhao Lianmai turned her head and saw Xu Musen waving at her, along with a few other people nearby. She hesitated briefly, but still rode over. It wasn''t their first encounter with Zhao Lianmai. "Where are you going?" Xu Musen walked over and asked her. "Rural credit cooperative." "What a coincidence, I was just about to visit there too. Give me a ride, will you?" Xu Musen said, and without giving her a chance to respond, he promptly sat on the back seat of the electric bike. The crowd:... Zhu Yulan and Yao Mingyue were taken aback, their gazes following Xu Musen, not expecting him to suddenly make such a move. They turned their eyes to Zhao Lianmai in unison. The stares of two elegant, wealthy women could be quite intimidating. But Zhao Lianmai just nodded silently. Because another image flashed through her mind. Turning the throttle, she sped off from everyone there. The electric bike was small, and Xu Musen, being over 1.8 meters tall, looked a bit cramped sitting in the back. But the little bike had its own charm on the bustling city streets. At the spot. Yao Mingyue was the first to snap out of it, casting a glance over everyone before looking where Xu Musen disappeared to. Biting her lip lightly, she turned and got into her car to leave. Zhu Yulan, seeing Yao Mingyue looking beaten, felt a little better, but as she watched Xu Musen leave on the electric bike, she snorted. Ignorant, I''m not even bothered to offer a ride. She pinched the cheek of Yang Xiaotao, who was still licking her ice cream on the side. "Stop eating, let''s go." Sarch* The N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Wuu..." The Ferrari left with an engine rev. The remaining four exchanged glances. They always felt the world of the wealthy was surely different from theirs. "How about we go see a movie?" "Sounds good..." ... Meanwhile, Zhao Lianmai did indeed arrive at a rural credit cooperative. "You actually came here?" Xu Musen got off the bike, his legs cramped from not being able to stretch out during the ride. "Otherwise?" Zhao Lianmai looked at him. Xu Musen cleared his throat; he had just wanted to slip away for some peace. "What are you doing here?" "Sending money." "Doesn''t the school have a bank?" "My village doesn''t have a bank; the closest one is the rural credit cooperative." Zhao Lianmai spoke softly, taking a small bag out of her pocket, then unwrapping something wrapped in cloth from within. After opening it, there was another layer of plastic bag, and yet another cloth layer inside. The cash was wrapped in several layers, as if they were afraid of losing it, a typical method used by the elderly. Inside was a stack of cashprobably about three or four thousand yuan. It was essentially all the income from her part-time jobs over the last half a month. And there were also some coins over fifty tied up with the cash, leaving only some change and ten and five yuan bills. The first two months after the start of university are when students spend the most. Not asking parents for more money is already good. Not to mention sending money home. Considering she was even sending the change back, it seemed her family urgently needed money. "Is there some kind of emergency?" Xu Musen asked. Zhao Lianmai glanced at him, her eyes beneath her cap briefly pausing, then she shook her head. "It''s nothing." "You are now my employee and my friend. If there''s ever a problem, you can talk to me. I''m quite generous when it comes to excellent employees." Zhao Lianmai looked at him a bit longer, but still shook her head: "I can take care of it myself." Xu Musen didn''t ask further. After Zhao Lianmai sent the money back home, She turned to Xu Musen: "Are you planning to go back to school?" "Of course." Xu Musen nodded. Zhao Lianmai uttered an ''oh'', then handed him the helmet and bike keys. "You want me to ride?" "Aren''t you uncomfortable sitting behind me?" Chapter 237 Chapter 136 Ferrari or Bentley? I Choose Ya Di!_3 Zhao Lianmai spoke indifferently.Xu Musen hadn''t expected this girl, who was cold to everyone, to actually be quite attentive. "Okay, then I''ll take the front." The two of them walked out the door. Xu Musen mounted the electric bike, which wasn''t very big. Zhao Lianmai managed to get on fine, and Xu Musen could still hold onto the seat cushion. But when Xu Musen sat down, he took up all the space. "You can hold on to the corner of my clothes, if you like." "No need." Zhao Lianmai shook her head, steadied herself, and even crossed her arms in front of her chest, looking quite cool. But Xu Musen thought to himself that there was really no need for her to do this. Xu Musen rode on. Passing by an old district street, the scent wafting from a noodle shop was quite pleasant. Lunch had been eaten in a strange atmosphere; he never felt full whenever he ate uneasy. He stopped the bike. "Xiao Mai, you haven''t had lunch either, right? Should we grab something together?" Zhao Lianmai indeed hadn''t eaten. She looked at the noodle shops and snack stands lining the street, all quite affordable. "Sure." Xu Musen always felt her tone of speaking was like that of a boss. After parking the bike. "Boss, give us a bowl of stir-fried noodles! And put extra green onions in it!" Xu Musen called out and looked at Zhao Lianmai: "What will you have?" "The same is fine." Zhao Lianmai was not picky. "Then two bowls it is!" Boss: "Got it!" They found a table under the shade of a tree. Xu Musen wiped the seats clean before both of them sat down. Zhao Lianmai removed her hat, letting her long black hair cascade down. She rested her chin on one hand, glanced over at Xu Musen a few times, then gazed off into the street, lost in thought. If it were someone else, they would surely take any opportunity to dine with the boss as a chance to show off themselves. But Zhao Lianmai''s nature was to neither fawn over nor indulge anyone. She was a very genuine person. Xu Musen also looked at her from up close. He always felt that the girls he met were quite aloof. Although Zhao Lianmai wasn''t as beautiful as Yao Mingyue or An Nuannuan, she was definitely pretty enough to be considered a beauty on the street. Her wheat-colored skin was eye-catching, her eyes bright, her features distinct, and she never had the affectation of a young girl. Most of the time, she was so strong-willed that she made boys feel inadequate! Though Xu Musen often jested internally that she was a divinely chosen hard worker, he could sense that it must have been the circumstances of her family that drove her to work so hard to earn money. Perhaps Xu Musen''s gaze was a little too direct. Zhao Lianmai turned her head, meeting his gaze, and her lips moved slightly. "Please don''t stare at people like that." Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I just think that you, Xiao Mai, are actually quite good-looking. It would be even better if you smiled more often." Xu Musen said with a smile. Nowadays, Zhao Lianmai went to help out at the milk tea shop every day, and many young boys went there just to see her. Of course, Zhao Lianmai never greeted even her own boss with a smile, let alone anyone else. Zhao Lianmai just glanced at him quietly: "You should say those words to Nuannuan more often; she would love to hear them." Not giving him a bit of face. Xu Musen laughed helplessly. Still, he liked this about her; there was no pretense or sycophancy. "You seem to be getting along with Nuannuan quite well lately. Surely you''re not always so cold-faced with her?" Zhao Lianmai spoke slowly: "Your Nuannuan, when dealing with others, acts about the same as I do now." "Really?" Xu Musen was startled. Wasn''t Nuannuan, that little girl, always a bit dopey? "She''s not cold-hearted in her manner towards others, but in her heart." Zhao Lianmai thought for a moment: "It''s like she has only reserved a place for you in her heart, and no one else can squeeze in. You think she''s dopey because she trusts you. It''s like a cat that only reveals its belly lazily to its trusted owner." Zhao Lianmai''s analogy was apt. She was now with An Nuannuan at the milk tea shop every day. An Nuannuan seemed na?ve and approachable to everyone, without putting on airs. Whatever others said, she would nod along. But in reality, she never took anything others said to heart. Even Zhao Lianmai herself, if she brought snacks for An Nuannuan, would find her trying to return the favor. She never wanted to take even the slightest advantage of others. "The relationship will improve with time. Nuannuan was the same with me; every time I treat her to something, she always thinks of bringing me something in return," Xu Musen said with a smile. "That''s different." But Zhao Lianmai shook her head again. "Nuannuan, with others, it''s just about repaying the favor quickly. But with you, it''s more like she''s trying to build up favors, as if she''s afraid of losing any reason to be with you. It''s merely politeness with others, but with you, it''s about wanting to move forward." Xu Musen fell silent. Zhao Lianmai looked at him and then said softly, "But whatever the reason, Nuannuan really cares about you. Sometimes when you''re not at the milk tea shop at night, she closes late, just so she can sell a few more cups of milk tea, then she pushes her wheelchair back to the dorm in the dark alone." The boss brought the noodles. They were steaming and looked particularly inviting. Zhao Lianmai kept one bowl for herself and pushed the other bowl, with more meat, towards Xu Musen. "I work overtime for the extra pay, but her overtime is purely for you." Chapter 137 Look, Smell, Ask, Touch. Youve looked, when will you smell? "If one day, your childhood friend, the girl from just now, and Nuannuan all fell into a river, who would you save first?"At the roadside stall, Zhao Lianmai asked the question with utmost seriousness. "???" Xu Musen, who was busily eating fried sauce noodles, almost choked: "What kind of weird question is that?" "I''m just asking on behalf of Nuannuan." Zhao Lianmai spoke calmly. Recalling the scene from just before, Zhao Lianmai knew Yao Mingyue; that tall girl had even tried to poach her for a job switch not too long ago. But hadn''t those two only just met a few days ago? How come it felt like everything was getting entangled again? And what about Nuannuan? "Xiao Mai, you''ve become quite the gossip lately." Xu Musen ignored the question. Yao Mingyue was one thing, but how did Zhu Yulan even come into the picture? With chopsticks in hand, Zhao Lianmai also stirred her noodles and said indifferently, "The essence of this question is about gauging a person''s attitude. You didn''t answer, but instead chose to evade, which clearly means that besides Nuannuan, there is at least one other girl whose presence makes you unable to decide immediately." Xu Musen looked up at her: "I think using you as a delivery person is quite a waste. With that way of thinking, you would probably be more suited as a psychologist." "I''m just speaking the truth. Nuannuan is a very naive girl; you just better not break her heart." Zhao Lianmai''s words carried an unusually heavy emotion. Xu Musen had always felt that Zhao Lianmai seemed particularly sensitive when it came to matters of the heart. "So I''ll ask something I probably shouldn''t as well, Xiao Mai. Have you had... any unsuccessful romantic experiences before?" Zhao Lianmai''s expression momentarily darkened, but soon returned to normal: "I''ve never been in love, and I don''t want to be in a relationship in the future either." Xu Musen nodded silently, chuckling, "Everyone has things they don''t want to share with others, that''s normal. But you can rest assured, I''m not going to start something I can''t finish. I''m just being cautious, that''s all." Having said that, Xu Musen continued to eat his meal. However, Zhao Lianmai kept watching him enjoy his food with a glint in her eye. "Do I have something on my face?" "No, I''m just curious why you rich people, instead of eating luxurious dishes like you had just now, choose to eat these few yuan a bowl noodles?" "I''m not some rich guy, and a few years back my family was so poor we almost couldn''t afford to eat. Life has its ups and downs; you never know when things will turn around, so you have to face it with optimism," replied Xu Musen with a smile. Zhao Lianmai pursed her lips, looked down at her slightly faded denim shorts, and then back at Xu Musen: "Are you trying to comfort me?" "No, I''m also just speaking the truth." The two stopped talking after that. Once the noodles were finished, Xu Musen handed the boss a hundred-yuan note. "Settle the bill for all of us," said Xu Musen. But Zhao Lianmai reached into her pocket, took out the few coins she had, ready to pay for her share. "It''s just a bowl of noodles, no need to pay." "I''m not used to freeloading off others." "..." Xu Musen didn''t know why, but he always felt like she was making a point at him. Who the hell likes to live off others! "Really, no need. If it weren''t for you today, my taxi fare home would have cost me dozens of yuan. It''s only right for me to treat you to a bowl of noodles. Any more courtesy, and I''ll just have to pay your taxi fare." Xu Musen spoke with a tone that brooked no argument. Zhao Lianmai paused for a moment, but eventually put the money back in her pocket. Getting in the car, Xu Musen continued driving her towards the school. "You should probably hold onto my clothes, just in case you fall off and I feel guilty." Xu Musen spoke out. The ride was bound to be bumpy. Zhao Lianmai hesitated for a moment, but finally reached out her hand and gently grabbed the corner of his clothes. Arriving at school, Xu Musen started preparing for the opening of the new branch, contacting the decoration company, and also expanding the fruit supplier relationship. Continue your journey with empire Making fruit tea is a lot more costly than making milk tea since one can''t fake fresh fruits. So, getting the fruit at a lower price would be ideal. Meanwhile, Zhao Lianmai was soon busy again, selling milk tea in the shop. She put on her uniform, gave Xu Musen a glance, and then took some coins out of her pocket. It was the exact amount for the bowl of noodles, which she quietly placed on the counter inside the cute little bunny piggy bank. ... School had started again. In the evening, Xu Musen returned to his dormitory. Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong came back as well, slinging their arms over each other''s shoulders, faces brimming with excitement. Seeing the smug expressions on these two, their progress must have been pretty good. "Hehe, Brother Sen, I''m going to start earning some serious cash now. With the National Holiday coming up, I might even take her out traveling," said Li Rundong, rubbing his hands together. Zhou Hangyu was on his phone: "I say, we need to strike while the iron is hot, I''ll buy her a lipstick first." "Damn! Didn''t we agree to rely on our charm to attract them?" "That''s called a combined approach. You have to bait the spot before fishing, right? Haven''t you heard the saying, ''you buy lipstick for your girl, and your girl gives you...''" Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong snickered mischievously together. Xu Musen shook his head: "Young people these days, can''t your minds hold some true, good, and beautiful things?" "Ding~" His phone chimed with a message. An Nuannuan: "Xu Musen, I can come back to school tomorrow." Xu Musen: "Yes, tomorrow is officially the start of classes." "The moon is really round tonight, like an ice cream scoop." "Alright, I''ll treat you to one tomorrow." sea??h th novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "The doctor finished the acupuncture, said I need more stimulation." "No problem, I''ll give you a good massage, just don''t mind if my technique is a bit rusty." Chapter 137 Look, Smell, Ask, Touch. Youve looked, when will you smell?_3 He lamented that he had been reborn too late. If he had beaten Lei Jun to it and had written that program himself, he could have made his first pot of gold, which would''ve been worth millions, all thanks to programming.The very first class made Xu Musen a bit restless. What''s wonderful about college life is the campus life, not the boring lectures. So, during the second class, Xu Musen decided to slip away and check on little cutie Nuannuan. Stay updated through empire He had even prepared some milk tea in advance. He had just left through the back door and was walking around the corner of the corridor when he came to the teachers'' office area. One of them was Bai Xin''s, and he noticed the door was slightly ajar. Xu Musen had initially thought about saying hello. But then he suddenly heard a voice from inside. "Xiaoxin, you must understand how I feel about you" "Teacher Luo, this is the school office. Please, don''t talk about such things here. And address me by my professional title. I''m very busy, so please leave." Xu Musen raised an eyebrow and peeked through the crack of the door. Inside the office, there stood a man in a suit, who seemed quite stylish. Xu Musen remembered him as the guy who''d tried to chat up Bai Xin at the business event they attended last time. According to Bai Xin, this guy was no good; he had caused trouble for a girl and then ran away from it. Such scum was the kind of person Xu Musen despised the most. At the moment, Bai Xin''s face also showed great impatience; she clearly didn''t want to deal with him. Seeing her reaction, the man suppressed the emotion in his eyes and took out a box of exquisite packaging. "Xiao Teacher Bai, I know you like coffee. This is coffee beans my friend brought back especially from Jamaica. Try them," he said. To flirt effectively, one must cater to the other person''s interests, and the man seemed to be doing a good job at this. The coffee in question was the most premium Blue Mountain coffee, costing nearly triple digits per bean and a thousand bucks per cup. He was clearly putting in a lot of effort. But Bai Xin didn''t even spare him a second glance. Her tone was cold. "No, thank you. I''m not interested in having anything to drink lately. You can take it back." The man''s expression faltered but he persisted, "Teacher Bai, I actually..." "Knock knock knock!" A sudden knocking broke the silence. The two in the office instantly looked towards the source of the noise. "Teacher Bai, may I come in?" At the door, Xu Musen was all smiles. Sar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing him, the usually furrowed brows of Bai Xin relaxed instantly, "Come in." When the man saw Teacher Xu, his brows furrowed. There was that young man again. Last time, when he had tried to drive Bai Xin home, it was this man who''d intercepted him. And now, at this crucial moment, he appeared again to interrupt. Clearly, this was intentional. "Hello Teacher." Xu Musen''s face was brimming with a smile, and he even greeted the other man. The man restrained the anger inside him, maintaining gentlemanly grace, and nodded, "Hmm, do you need something from Teacher Bai?" "Nothing much, just wanted to bring a cup of milk tea to the hardworking Teacher Bai." Xu Musen said cheerfully as he handed the milk tea he was holding to Bai Xin. "Heh..." The man couldn''t help scoffing internally. His top-grade coffee beans, each worth ten cups of milk tea, had been rejected by Bai Xin. Could it be that she would drink his few yuan cup of milk tea? This kind of junk food, is it worthy of Bai Xin? However, Bai Xin held up the cup of milk tea and took a sip without hesitation. "Mmm, coffee-flavored?" A smile appeared at the corner of Bai Xin''s mouth, her mature and fair cheeks now seemed somewhat alluring. It caused the man to swallow. But internally, he felt even less resigned. "Yes, but the coffee beans are just the most ordinary kind. Please make do with it," Xu Musen said with a smile. "It''s quite good. It doesn''t matter if it''s expensive or cheap; the main thing is that it suits my taste." Bai Xin looked at the young man''s smiling face and knew he was cooperating with her to annoy the man on purpose. Quite wily of him... But Bai Xin found it rather enjoyable. Sure enough, the man beside her seemed on the verge of losing control of his emotions. Xu Musen had another cup in hand and turned to the man, "Teacher, there''s one more cup here. Would you like to try it?" The man''s mouth twitched, and after shooting a significant look at Bai Xin, who was now smiling, he forced himself to keep a gentlemanly smile. "No need. Well then, Teacher Bai, I''ll take my leave if there''s nothing else." With that, he turned and left. The sound of his footsteps grew fainter, carrying with it his reluctance. Xu Musen and Bai Xin looked at each other and couldn''t help but share a laugh. Bai Xin regarded Xu Musen. This little rascal He was actually quite endearing. Chapter 138 Fair Competition? Youre Really Not Worthy! "I didn''t expect you to be quite good at playing dirty tricks."Bai Xin pushed up her glasses, a knowing smile playing on her mature, delicate cheeks. There were only the two of them in the office. Enjoy more content from empire Bai Xin seemed to relax too, stretching her body a bit and lazily leaning back in her chair. If not for Xu Musen being there, her long legs, usually clad in black stockings, would have been propped up on the desk already. "Aunty Bai, you''re no slouch when it comes to being sly either." Xu Musen responded with a smile. Bai Xin gave him a look, "How are you speaking to your aunty?" "You were the one who started on me, Aunty Bai. Teachers shouldn''t bully their students, you know." "I''m your boss, if I say I''ll suppress you, then I''ll suppress you." Bai Xin was in a good mood and even joked a bit along. Xu Musen picked up a bag of coffee beans from the desk and clucked his tongue, "These coffee beans aren''t cheap, huh? This guy is really willing to spend big to chase you." "They''re yours now." Bai Xin waved her hand dismissively. His things, she really didn''t even want to take a glance. "I don''t really like coffee much either." Xu Musen shook his head, casually tossing the bag of coffee beans, worth tens of thousands, to the side. "Wait a minute, isn''t it class time now? How did you sneak out?" Bai Xin suddenly realized. "Isn''t this all to bring you milk tea?" "Don''t give me that. Are you starting to skip classes on the very first day?" "It''s not exactly skipping, anyhow. Whether it''s sitting in class or writing programs on my own, I''m learning either way, there''s no difference." Xu Musen sat in the chair, his expression as carefree as a pig not afraid of scalding water. Bai Xin knew very well that Xu Musen wasn''t the kind to sit through classes quietly. After all, most people go to university, especially in a field like computer science, aiming to make money later on. He could already start his own company now, so his studies were up to his own choices. Every year, quite a few students choose to take a break from their studies to start a business. "You''re an adult now. As long as you take responsibility for your actions, that''s fine, but don''t come to me if you fail your exams." Bai Xin didn''t bother to persuade him further, sipping her milk tea. To her surprise, this mix of coffee and milk tea was quite good. She looked at Xu Musen, her eyes shifting subtly, and spoke, "However, in the future, you don''t need to bother with that guy. He is not a good person, and it''s better to avoid unnecessary trouble." "I of course won''t bother with others, but if he keeps harassing my respected Aunty Bai, I certainly won''t turn a blind eye." Xu Musen said with a smile. After coming to the university, Bai Xin had helped him a lot, and he knew he owed her gratitude. Bai Xin listened, her eyes, filled with an intellectual and elegant glint, rested on him. His words had a somewhat commanding tone. Bai Xin couldn''t help but smile. "Just take care of yourself, kiddo." "I''m not little anymore, Aunty Bai." "In my eyes, you will always be little. I held you when you were a child." "At that time, you were about the same age as I am now, right? I guess I got a good deal, being held by a pretty older sister since I was young." Xu Musen''s words made Bai Xin feel a bit flushed. She was a few years younger than Liu Rushuang. Back then, Liu Rushuang was Bai Xin''s mother''s most proud student. Sometimes she would come home for dinner, and they got to know each other and became close friends. Now thinking about it, when Xu Musen was a child, she was just a university girl herself. At that time, Bai Xin was also considered a campus beauty, pursued by many every day. "Smart mouth, brat," Bai Xin couldn''t help but laugh, no woman dislikes compliments. "That''s because Aunty Bai deserves them." Sar?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "All right, all right, you should get back to what you need to do, stop with the flattery." Bai Xin waved her hand, feeling like she was floating away with the flattery if she listened any longer. "Alrighty then, Aunty Bai, you''re busy." Xu Musen stood up, closed the office door, and left. Bai Xin sat in her chair, gazing at the little mirror on the desk. In her thirties, her skin still maintained very fair, without a single wrinkle on her face as she took off her glasses. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, yes, a decade ago, she was just a female university student herself. Back then, she loved wearing short skirts, braiding her hair, and now, it seemed she only had suits to wear. She couldn''t help shaking her head and smiling, things were pretty good now, she picked up her milk tea and looked at it. Another sip. Yeah, really sweet. ... Meanwhile, elsewhere. The man returned to his own office, where a photo of his was pasted on the door. "Luo Hao." As soon as he returned to his office, he couldn''t control his expression anymore. He took off his coat and threw it directly on the couch. "You little thing, always ruining my plans!" He had been keeping up an air of a refined scoundrel, but now his face contorted with frustration and anger. What annoyed him most was that he had been pursuing Bai Xin for so long, yet he hardly ever saw her smile. But that kid, over just a cup of lousy milk tea, Bai Xin had actually smiled. This made his jealousy burn even fiercer. "Knock, knock..." "Come in!" The knock on the door sounded, and he settled his emotions, sitting back in his chair and called out coldly. A nervous-looking male student walked in. "Mr. Luo, I''m here to report some things." The student, holding an application form in his hand, handed it to Luo Hao. And conveniently placed a pack of cigarettes alongside it. [University Entrepreneurship Fund, Second Batch of Funding Application] Luo Hao looked at it, impatience flashing in his eyes, but considering the cigarettes, he didn''t immediately send the student away. "Why are you applying again? Did you burn through the money from the last approval?" The student appeared distressed and said, "Mr. Luo, we only got fifty thousand last time... It''s long gone, and also..." Chapter 138 Fair Competition? Youre Really Not Worthy!_2 The male student really wanted to say he knew other college student entrepreneurs mentored by different advisors.He heard that others had funding of a hundred thousand or even two hundred thousand, only his was the least. He couldn''t help but wonder if a portion had been taken away by this Mr. Luo, after all, in this society, you can''t get by without offering some benefits. Luo Hao looked at him unflappably and said, "And what of it?" The male student had to suppress the sense of grievance in his heart, thinking that if his own entrepreneurship failed, he might face retaliation in the future. "Moreover, the business of my fruit salad project has been taken away by a fruit tea shop in the school called Shanghai Auntie, and it''s really hard to sustain." The man said, somewhat disheartened. Originally, his business was doing quite well in the restaurant and, as for fruit salad, even if it was made with some nearly expired fruit, by cutting it nicely, only the good parts were left. A few cents of cost could sell for over ten bucks. But ever since Shanghai Auntie opened up, and they added a variety of fruit teas and fruit supplies. And the fruits were very fresh. The business was gradually taken away. Now, without any further investment, his own business was about to fail. "Shanghai Auntie?" Luo Hao heard the name and felt like he had just seen it somewhere. "It''s the one opened in our school, the boss is also an entrepreneur from our batch. I heard he even founded the Kangaroo Delivery" he trailed off. The more Luo Hao thought about it, the more familiar it sounded. He opened the dossier and indeed saw the founder of Kangaroo Delivery. "Xu Musen, entrepreneurial projects, Kangaroo Delivery, Shanghai Auntie Milk Tea Shop. Entrepreneurship mentor, Bai Xin." Seeing the last two characters, Luo Hao''s eyes widened in realization. He suddenly remembered the milk tea packaging that young man took to Bai Xin, which seemed to be adorned with the Shanghai Auntie logo! Him again... Continue your journey with empire Luo Hao''s brows furrowed. In the field of entrepreneurship, there were many gray areas that could be exploited for gain. The better his students did, the more he benefited. But this Xu Musen, not only repeatedly ruined his plans but was now also affecting his own earnings. "Mr. Luo, what about my application?" The male student beside him asked cautiously again. "You apply at the first sign of trouble? Do you think the school''s money grows on trees?" Luo Hao snorted coldly, mainly because he had already pocketed what was applied for before. "But without investment, I really can''t hold out much longer." The male student felt like crying but had no tears. Luo Hao stared at his computer screen again, his eyes flashing with a hint of cunning. He then looked at the male student and finally spoke. "There is a way, it all depends on how you use it." "What way? Please guide me, teacher." The male student seemed to have latched onto his last lifesaver. S~ea??h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Luo Hao sipped his water calmly and said, "The school pays great attention to food safety, especially to milk tea shops that are inherently not that healthy. If a student accidentally gets a bad stomach or finds some deteriorated, worm-infested fruits, at the very least, they''d have to reform for a while, or even be closed down directly..." Listening, the male student was stunned for a moment. "Mr. Luo, are you suggesting Isn''t that sort of bad?" Wasn''t this suggesting he intentionally frame others? That was a matter of bad conscience. And if it were exposed, he would be the one outed. "I didn''t say anything. Since you have no ideas, it''s up to you. You can go now." Luo Hao began to dismiss him but conveniently left the cigarettes behind. Looking at the cigarettes he had taken, the male student cursed inwardly but had no choice. He nodded his head and said, "Teacher, I understand..." ... Xu Musen was carrying milk tea prepared for An Nuannuan. She loved grapes and raisins, so Xu Musen specially developed the green grape pearl milk tea for her. Of course, he also prepared a cup for each of her roommates. It''s wise to return favors, spending a little money to leave a good impression is a worthwhile deal. An Nuannuan was an art student, and her classroom was in the art room, which was quite easy to find. Xu Musen arrived there. Looking through the doorway''s window, Xu Musen saw the students drawing from a classic David statue. The class obviously didn''t have as many people as those in popular majors. Barely twenty-odd people in scattered groups. And there were no desks or chairs, just drawing boards arranged in a circle. An Nuannuan, sitting in a wheelchair, was highly noticeable in the crowd. Though it had only been two days since they last saw each other. Xu Musen was still eagerly anticipating seeing her. Today, Nuannuan was dressed in a pure white little dress, her long hair tied up today into a cute bun. As she looked at the statue and began to sketch, with Xu Musen not around, she was still very attentive to painting, completely focused. Her earnest appearance indeed looked far from clueless. The sunlight fell on her cheeks, and her peach blossom eyes were filled with a serious glow, the white dress casting a halo of purity around her. Yes, An Nuannuan was truly beautiful. From some point onward, her unchanging loose hair had also been tied up, and she seemed to become even more charming. Standing at the window, Xu Musen suddenly felt an aspiration. If An Nuannuan''s legs were fine, if they had met earlier in high school, such a dazed and cute girl who loved to bounce around and cling to him, Xu Musen would have undoubtedly fallen for her long ago. Chapter 138 Fair Competition? Youre Really Not Worthy!_3 The bell for the end of class rang.Classmates got up one after another to stretch their bodies. Painting was a very draining activity, staying in one position was also tiring. Ge Jiayue stretched and yawned, making creaking sounds, and felt a sourness in her shoulders, "I''m so tired, and my shoulders are so sore." "My shoulders are okay, it''s just my back that''s sore," her roommate spoke up. "Humph, you don''t have as much to be burdened with, so of course your shoulders wouldn''t be sore," Ge Jiayue hummed. "Dare to show off, and I''ll scratch you!" "Go away..." The girls got together, giggling and frolicking. "But the most tired must be Nuannuan, she''s sitting down almost every day." They looked toward An Nuannuan, whose bust was several sizes larger than theirs. With such weight, wouldn''t her shoulders be sore? "Nuannuan, doesn''t your shoulder hurt every day?" Ge Jiayue leaned over to ask. An Nuannuan was still focused on her painting and nonchalantly replied, "Xu Musen will massage it for me." This massage, was it for her shoulders, or... Three girls huddled together, blushing and giggling mischievously. "You, always ''Xu Musen'' this, ''Xu Musen'' that, could you even live without him?" They had long noticed that An Nuannuan liked to use nicknames for others, but when she called Xu Musen, it was always his full name said very clearly. An Nuannuan''s brush paused, and her large eyes rippled with clarity. Without him, maybe she wouldn''t have had so much conviction to keep going on. At least, she owed some of her ability to survive to him. And, after searching for him for so long, now she could finally call his name every day. At the thought, a layer of innocent smile misted An Nuannuan''s beautiful cheeks. Enjoy new tales from empire Seeing An Nuannuan''s little expression, the girls felt their hearts almost melting! "Nuannuan, how about giving my shoulders a pinch?" The girls reached out their hands, and the current An Nuannuan looked like a soft kitten, irresistibly tempting to pet. "No need, my shoulders aren''t sore at all." But An Nuannuan quickly shook her head as if protecting someone''s private property. "Sigh, just as I thought..." Ge Jiayue shook her head with a smile. "Miss Nuannuan." At that moment, a male student came over, holding a cup of milk tea, from Auntie Hu''s shop no less. The boy looked somewhat handsome, and upon seeing An Nuannuan''s exposed cheeks, his eyes revealed an admiring look. Before, An Nuannuan had never returned to the class, and the people in the class didn''t even know there was a person named An Nuannuan. But after the formal class today, when the boys in the class saw An Nuannuan''s beauty with her hair tied up, they were completely stunned. "I heard you like milk tea. I lined up specially to buy this for you. There''s a limited edition of only fifty cups each day." The boy handed the milk tea to An Nuannuan. Looking at the logo on it, An Nuannuan did not accept, instead, she asked, "Did you pay for it?" The boy was taken aback by the question. "...Of course, I paid." "Oh." An Nuannuan nodded her head, thinking that it would save Xu Musen the money for a cup of milk tea! sea??h th ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She happily continued painting, without giving the milk tea another glance. The boy felt a bit awkwardwhat was all this nonsense about? An Nuannuan''s three roommates exchanged glances, knowing who the milk tea shop''s boss wasit was An Nuannuan. You are buying milk tea to give to the milk tea shop''s boss? They couldn''t help but want to laugh a bit. "Nuannuan, this is specially bought for you, try it." As he spoke, he directly tried to stuff the milk tea into An Nuannuan''s hands. An Nuannuan, sitting in a wheelchair, couldn''t dodge. But Ge Jiayue reached out her hand to stop him. "Hey, can''t you see that Nuannuan doesn''t want your milk tea? Could you please not force it on her?" Ge Jiayue was really a fan of Nuannuan and Xu Musen as a couple and immediately became the protector. Moreover, she remembered this guy, who had been clinging to another girl in class just a while ago, and after being dumped, the girl almost had heatstroke during military training, while this guy acted as if nothing had happened. A player without a doubt, and the trashy kind at that! She absolutely must not let him get close to An Nuannuan! A few girls around them looked over, and the guy, feeling he couldn''t save face, frowned and said, "What''s it to you?" "It''s none of my business, but Nuannuan already has a male...a male friend, so you better back off." Ge Jiayue said, pausing for a moment, as after all, the two hadn''t made it public, and making assumptions about their relationship status wasn''t right. The guy listened, feeling uncomfortable, but he could be sure that An Nuannuan was still single, for now. "Since she''s single, I think it''s only fair for me to try to make friends, a fair competition, right?" The guy believed he had a certain level of looks. "You?" Ge Jiayue couldn''t help but laugh. Many in the class didn''t know yet just how outstanding the guy who was always with Nuannuan was. She looked at the guy in front of her and said. "Nuannuan''s friend just started of the school year and has already founded his own company, and now you can see his employees all around the school every day. He even directly gifted An Nuannuan a milk tea shop, yes, just like the milk tea in your hand." Ge Jiayue glanced at the milk tea in his hand, "You''re bragging about buying a limited-edition milk tea for half a day, how does that even compare?" The guy was stunned, looking down at the milk tea in his hand, somewhat in disbelief. "Bluffing, who can''t..." "Bluffing?" Ge Jiayue hummed again, looking at him. "Even if we''re talking just about appearance, he''s 182 centimeters tall, and his figure is way better than yours, some people are just like holding a thunderbolt in their hand. And his personality is great too, treats Nuannuan better than a girlfriend, can you really compete with that on a fair level?" Ge Jiayue''s voice wasn''t loud, but her words stabbed him with force, turning the guy''s face dark red. It was like being a clown in the circus, suddenly getting savagely beaten by Batman! "Heh! Keep bragging, I don''t believe such a person exists!" The guy still didn''t believe that the world really had such a perfect person, "Why don''t you say the guy''s Superman?" "Ahem..." At that moment, a soft cough. Everyone turned their heads to look, their eyes showing different colors. Xu Musen arrived with a smile, carrying a few cups of milk tea with a bright sunny smile on his face, standing beside An Nuannuan. "Actually, what Ge said was a little off." He looked down at the guy with a superior smile and said, "My height should be 182.75 centimeters, which rounds up to 183, right? Be more careful next time." Ge Jiayue was taken aback for a moment, then couldn''t help but stifle a laugh. How could one not hear that he was deliberately intimidating this "rival" who didn''t know better? That was too damaging, hahaha... Xu Musen''s words undoubtedly confirmed his identity. Everyone around them was now looking at An Nuannuan''s rumored "boyfriend." The guy''s face turned ashen, looking as ugly as if he had swallowed a live fly. Xu Musen also couldn''t help but inwardly exclaim. It''s something else, having someone show off for you. It''s freaking awesome! Chapter 139 Shall we go out and find a house? Xu Musen was not the kind of person who liked to fight for attention or get jealous.Because a person who really likes you wouldn''t give you a chance to get jealous. Take, for example, the little delicate beauty from his past life. She wished she could stick to Xu Musen 24/7, even going so far as to want zero distance contact. He couldn''t understand why some guys would get jealous and protective over their girlfriend''s actions. Take An Nuannuan, for example. Experience tales at empire From beginning to end, except for asking one question, An Nuannuan didn''t pay any attention to the boy. At this moment, she lifted her head to look at Xu Musen, her large eyes clear and bright. Xu Musen took out the milk tea he had prepared and handed it to An Nuannuan. "I don''t have the limited edition milk tea, but this cup was personally made by the milk tea shop owner, care to honor it with a sip?" Xu Musen inserted a straw into the milk tea and brought it to her lips. An Nuannuan, without any hesitation, hugged the milk tea and took a sip of the sweet taste she hadn''t experienced in days. Sear?h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "How did you get here?" "Didn''t a certain someone say they missed my milk tea? I made the trip myself, afraid a certain someone would get too cravings, what to do?" Xu Musen couldn''t help but pinch her fair and clean cheek. This affectionate gesture was something even some couples would be too shy to do in front of so many people. The boy standing by was petrified at this moment. He looked at An Nuannuan, and then back at the man in front of him whose appearance, height, and everything else easily outshone his own. He felt a burning sensation on his face. If he truly was the owner of the Hu Hai milk tea shop, then wouldn''t he have been foolishly lining up to give his money to him? The more he thought about it, the angrier he got, and the stares from those around him made it impossible to stay, so he turned and ran off. "Hmph, good riddance, he knew better. Did he really think every girl could be pursued by him?" Ge Jiayue seemed to think she had warded off a jerk, suddenly feeling a sense of accomplishment. "Boss Xu, we protected Nuannuan for you, don''t you think there should be some kind of reward?" Ge Jiayue and the others crowded over with big smiles. Xu Musen had already prepared, and he handed over the remaining three cups of milk tea to them. "Hey, the ones you gave us clearly don''t have as solid ingredients as Nuannuan''s." "Of course, could the lady boss''s treatment be the same as ours?" The girls chuckled and joked. Upon hearing the words "lady boss," An Nuannuan''s feet, resting on her wheelchair, couldn''t help but joyfully shake a little. She tugged at his sleeve again. "Xu Musen, my shoulders are a bit sore." An Nuannuan, sipping her milk tea, moved her small shoulders slightly, a look of fatigue on her face. Ge Jiayue:... Wasn''t it just a moment ago that you flatly refused, saying your shoulders weren''t sore? So what, you have an adaptive shoulder? Xu Musen chuckled, walked over, and gently massaged her shoulders. The girl''s shoulders felt as if made entirely of soft cartilage, unbelievably supple, smooth like a slippery eel. It was only occasionally marked by the imprint of her bra straps. An Nuannuan liked to wear cute dresses, but she had long been unable to wear the straps of the adorable style. Her build didn''t allow it. From the marks of the straps and the depth they sank into her tender shoulder flesh, Xu Musen automatically pieced together An Nuannuan''s size in his mind. Yes, a skill key very dear to the heart of a certain ''happy wind'' man. It was time for class. In university, sitting in on classes was allowed as long as it didn''t disturb the students, and teachers often wouldn''t interfere under normal circumstances. Moreover, this class continued with the drawing of statues. The teacher returned, instructed the students to continue as before, then left the classroom, not noticing the extra person at all. In the center of the classroom stood the statue of David, yes, that very statue with the exposed details. Many works of art from abroad always seem to have a worship of the body. But as art, it''s no big deal if you look at it with appreciation. Furthermore, the teacher had specially covered it up with a board, making sure it conformed to domestic standards. And this time, only the upper body was to be drawn. After all, their blood was green. Yet it still evoked plenty of wild thoughts. The girls in class blushed one by one. They were used to seeing it in art books, but this was their first time seeing a full-scale model, torn between wanting to look and feeling too embarrassed. It was just a clump of plaster, after all. Xu Musen was still lamenting the loss of traditional values, thinking that art is just art, and those who typically oppose vulgarity are probably themselves quite vulgar. He hoped that when a female model comes to offer herself for artistic photography, he''d definitely have to come and visit. An Nuannuan had already outlined the draft, and now she was preparing to draw the arms. The muscles in a man''s bare arm were quite pronounced. An Nuannuan looked closely, her slightly nearsighted eyes struggling to make out the details. "Xu Musen, can you do me a favor?" "Do you want me to push you closer?" "No, could you be my model for a bit?" "???" Xu Musen didn''t understand at first. He glanced at the naked statue, then back at An Nuannuan. This wasn''t the place for stripping down! Was he really expected to expose himself like David, flaunting his little big treasure? "Nuannuan, are you serious?" An Nuannuan nodded, then reached out and gently poked his arm, "I want to draw the lines of the muscle in the arm, could you let me look at your arm?" An Nuannuan''s eyes were clear. But Xu Musen found himself momentarily at a loss for words. Just that? "I see, no problem." Xu Musen coughed awkwardly, realizing he had thought too much. The weather was right for short sleeves, and he straightaway rolled up his sleeves, even posing slightly to flex his biceps. Xu Musen was quite pleased with his physique. An Nuannuan stared at the muscles revealed on his arm and, for some reason, felt she couldn''t easily avert her gaze. Chapter 139 Shall we go out and find a house?_2 Just like the way Xu Musen always looked at her little feet.Could it be... that she was also a pervert? Of course not... "Eh~ Boss Xu has a pretty good body." At this moment, Ge Jiayue and the others also witnessed the scene, gazing at Xu Musen''s smooth and powerful muscle lines. They suddenly kind of understood the feeling guys have when they see a girl''s long legs. And if his arm muscles were this big, what about the other places? "Just average, I''m just a delicate scholar." Xu Musen gave a modest smile, but his mouth was full of pride. Men, even if they live to be ninety, still like being complimented about being in good shape, like the saying "an old sword never rusts." "Xu Musen..." An Nuannuan called out again, and then Xu Musen felt a pair of soft little hands grabbing his arm. "Come sit on my side." "What''s up?" "The lighting is better here." Her side was against the wall, which had no light at all. "Pfft... Nuannuan is guarding her food~" The girls gathered together and snickered. Xu Musen also moved his stool to the other side of her, An Nuannuan''s face was flushed, she held up her drawing board, glancing at Xu Musen''s rough muscles, and began to work on her drawing. An Nuannuan''s drawing skills felt like they were already at a professional level. The sketches she produced were vividly lifelike; if these were turned into oil paintings, they would almost look like they came out of a camera. Domestic contemporary artist Leng Jun can sell a painting for over a hundred million. If Nuannuan could reach that level in the future, just one painting would mean no more worries about food and drink. Even though she doesn''t have to worry about that now. The class quickly came to an end. "Nuannuan, you draw really well, but why do I feel like you didn''t draw David, but Boss Xu?" "True, David doesn''t have a body as good as Boss Xu." The girls laughed heartily. An Nuannuan looked at the painting, then at Xu Musen, and silently stowed the painting away. She decided not to submit it. "It''s noon, let''s have lunch together." Xu Musen spoke with a smile. Of course, the girls had no objections and went to the restaurant together. Meanwhile, at another place. The bell signaling the end of class rang. Students began to pour out of the classroom. "Did Xu Musen actually skip class?" "Of course he did, if I had a successful business in my freshman year, I wouldn''t give a damn about classes either." "Let''s go, some people get their meals delivered, and we haven''t even had breakfast yet." Zhou Hangyu and the others chatted as they walked out the door. But as soon as they stepped out of the classroom, they suddenly saw a tall figure. Yao Mingyue had already arrived at the classroom door, holding two lunchboxes in her hands. When she saw them, her phoenix eyes slightly contemplated for a moment. "Where''s Xu Musen?" "He... hasn''t been in class today, he probably went to eat already." Facing Yao Mingyue, a high-cold heiress, they still felt a bit pressured. Yao Mingyue pursed her lips, looked down at the lunchboxes she was holding, nodded her head, and turned to leave. The three of them stood in place and looked at each other. "Damn, did Xu Musen save the Earth in his past life?" "Breakfast delivery, lunch delivery, why don''t I get this treatment?" "But that girl in the wheelchair is also really nice, during military training she brought Xu Musen mung bean soup every day, and she has a good personality too, I''d also find it hard to choose..." Sarch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You think you got a chance? Go home, wash up and sleep." ... In the restaurant, Xu Musen, An Nuannuan, and her three roommates were eating together. Today, An Nuannuan seemed to lack enthusiasm for eating. "Not hungry?" Xu Musen asked. An Nuannuan shook her head, "It just doesn''t taste as good as the food you make." Saying this, she looked at Xu Musen with a bit of anticipation. Find your next read on empire "Xu Musen, why don''t we just cook our own meals from now on?" "We''d need a kitchen for that," Xu Musen laughed, actually quite fond of the idea of cooking himself. "Can''t we use my place?" "No way, I''m afraid your grandfather might use me for target practice..." "Huh?" "I mean, it''s a bit far, and a little inconvenient." "Oh..." An Nuannuan was a bit disappointed. She picked up a small chicken leg from her plate, hoping to "bribe" Xu Musen. "Bribe the chef with food?" Xu Musen couldn''t help but laugh. An Nuannuan thought it made sense too, and she suddenly came up with an idea, looking up and saying, "Then we can find a place outside!" Her suggestion caught everyone by surprise for a moment. The gazes of several girls were collectively fixed on Xu Musen. Well, you sly dog! You two are already getting to the point of finding a place to live together, huh! "Nuannuan, we can discuss this matter later," Xu Musen''s face turned red with embarrassment. Why did he feel like everyone''s gaze was treating him as though he were deceiving an innocent young girl? The whole table held back their laughter, joyfully watching the drama unfold. But in the next moment. A cool voice came through. "Do you mind if I join your table?" Yao Mingyue was already standing behind everyone at this moment, holding two food containers in her embrace. Is it her? An Nuannuan''s roommates, being on the front line of the gossip, naturally knew about Yao Mingyue''s existence. Although Yao Mingyue was smiling, an inexplicable pressure made everyone swallow nervously. "Thank you," Yao Mingyue didn''t even give people a chance to answer. She sat down next to Xu Musen on the other side and placed the two food containers she was holding down. The food in the containers looked very delicate, clearly custom-ordered from an outside restaurant. Sweet and sour pork ribs, spicy chicken wings, all of his favorites. "Auntie said, you should eat more meat, take care of your body." As if she didn''t see An Nuannuan, Yao Mingyue handed one portion to Xu Musen. Xu Musen stared at the food container pushed in front of him, emitting an enticing fragrance. Again with "Auntie said." But were these really all arranged by his mom? "Eat up, I''ll leave once you''re done," Yao Mingyue''s voice was calm, gone were her usual loud arguments, but the defiance in her phoenix eyes hadn''t faded in the least. Just a faint sourness, as if it had blended into the sweet and sour pork ribs, seemed to resonate with the soul. The atmosphere at the dining table was enveloped by an indescribable feeling. They looked towards An Nuannuan again. Although An Nuannuan and Xu Musen had not yet confirmed their relationship, the scene was still tense as if filled with gunpowder. An Nuannuan was still in the motion of picking up a small chicken drumstick for Xu Musen. Her eyes demurely glanced at the restaurant''s little drumsticks and the exquisite meals that Yao Mingyue had brought over. She pursed her lips slightly, her hand losing some of its strength. Because apparently, the meal that Yao Mingyue had prepared looked more delicious and nutritious. An Nuannuan felt somewhat uneasy, but if Xu Musen could have a better meal, she felt it was okay... "Dinglingling..." The phone rang, breaking the tension. Xu Musen answered the call. "Hello?" "There''s trouble here at the milk tea shop, come back quickly," On the other end of the line, Zhao Lianmai''s voice also carried an unusual hint of urgency. Xu Musen instantly sensed that the problem was not trivial. He stood up and said, "There''s something I need to deal with, you guys keep eating." After speaking, Xu Musen glanced at An Nuannuan and Yao Mingyue and then left. Yao Mingyue hardly hesitated, immediately standing up to follow him out. An Nuannuan also put down her chopsticks and pushed her wheelchair, trying to follow. But the restaurant''s corridor was already narrow and slippery; sitting in a wheelchair, she was at a loss what to do and nearly toppled over. "Nuannuan, don''t rush, we''ll help you," Ge Jiayue saw An Nuannuan''s eyes brimming with a concern that seemed to verge on tearing up, and she stood up immediately. They went over to engage the wheelchair''s brake mechanism, but An Nuannuan''s gaze was fixed on the two untouched food containers that Yao Mingyue had brought to the table. She reached out, resealed them, and also put her own small chicken drumstick into Xu Musen''s food container. "Nuannuan, why are you still taking that?" Ge Jiayue asked. An Nuannuan blinked and responded softly, "He hasn''t had lunch yet, he will be hungry..." Ge Jiayue was taken aback. Watching An Nuannuan also embrace her "rival''s" lovingly prepared meal. Isn''t this like delivering oneself to the enemy with high favorability? Seeing the seriousness in An Nuannuan''s eyes, she could only hurry to push An Nuannuan along to follow. And at the entrance of the milk tea shop at this moment. A crowd had already gathered. A guy held up a cup of milk tea, his face indignant. He complained loudly about finding a bug in his drink, the fruits not being fresh, and it causing stomach issues. His loud voice attracted more and more onlookers. Many who were initially queuing to buy milk tea now refrained, shifting their attention to the commotion. A part-time female student at the milk tea shop was so scared that she started crying. Xu Musen stood in the crowd and observed for a moment. Among the onlookers, there were some who seemed to be there to stir things up; they were obviously coordinating. Clearly, someone was deliberately causing trouble. Chapter 140 Black and Red are Both Red, Splendid Wealth! "Just now, this person bought a milk tea, and ten minutes later came back, claiming there was a bug in it. It''s been quite a commotion for a while,"Zhao Lianmai succinctly explained the situation, then lowered her voice, "I suspect it was deliberate." In the food industry, this kind of issue is the most feared, especially in a school setting where students love to gossip and stir up trouble. If not handled carefully, it could turn into a tragedy like that of the milk tea shop at Fudan University. Hey... She remembered, didn''t Xu Musen go to Fudan University a few days ago to buy a milk tea shop? "You''ve noticed it too?" Xu Musen just laughed. "How obvious. But there''s basically no solution to this tactic, because in the catering business, smearing your name is as simple as adding something extra. The police won''t be able to find out the truth, and even if you''re eventually exonerated, they''ve already achieved their goal. People nowadays just like to join in the fun without caring about the truth," Zhao Lianmai frowned as she spoke, somewhat baffled as to why Xu Musen seemed not too anxious about the situation. "Yeah, the tallest tree catches the most wind; it was bound to happen sooner or later." Xu Musen said as he looked at the crowd in front of him. It was like a scene out of the movie ''Let the Bullets Fly.'' Everyone just wants to see you panic and hurt yourself. Nobody really cares how many bowls of noodles you''ve had. But Xu Musen was not the character Six from the movie; he wasn''t about to fall into this pitfall. Yao Mingyue also rushed over and, seeing the scene, approached Xu Musen, "Do you need a lawyer? I can get my mom''s company''s legal team over here." sea??h th N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xu Musen turned to look at her, there was some distance from the restaurant to here, and he had felt a bit sweaty on the way. Having run all this way, Mingyue was even more out of breath, her white and delicate face covered with a sheen of sweat, blushing. She probably hadn''t touched a bite of her meal. There was concern in her eyes as she looked at those causing trouble, which then turned icy. She had always been like this, taking Xu Musen''s matters to heart even more than her own. If anyone dared to bully Musen, she wished she could just throw them straight into the sea to sink. Moreover, Musen had not missed the things Mingyue had done these past days... Musen looked at her, his gaze complex, yet with a little less distance. "There''s no need to trouble Auntie; I can handle this. Don''t worry," he said. Then, Musen asked Zhao Lianmai, "There are no problems in the kitchen and storeroom, right?" Zhao Lianmai nodded, "No, there isn''t. Nuannuan and I clean up every night before we leave." "That''s good then." Saying this, Musen walked into the crowd. The part-time female student selling milk tea was surrounded by a group of people, crying from the stress. "The milk tea I made was clean, we always use the freshest fruit, so it''s impossible for there to be bugs, and I already said I could refund your money" "So you''re saying I put the bug there myself to gross me out? Cut the crap; I''m going to expose your dishonest business!" The boy held up the milk tea, looking righteously indignant, as the onlookers watched and cheered. The girl''s eyes were red-rimmed; she had never experienced such a situation before. "If you have something to say, tell me, don''t shout at the girl." Musen walked over and gently patted the girl''s shoulder. "Boss Xu, I am sure the milk tea I gave him was clean, it must be him..." The girl wiped away her tears, relieved to see Musen had arrived, and quickly explained. Musen nodded, "I understand. Go back to the shop for now. This matter isn''t related to you. Rest assured and take a break." With a gentle tone, Musen and Zhao Lianmai led the girl away from the crowd. "Don''t leave! We''re not finished until this matter is cleared up!" The boy shouted deliberately, as Musen stepped in front of him, hand outstretched, snatching the milk tea from his grip. Glancing at it, a small bug was floating in the breached lid, looking like a fruit fly, playfully swimming around in the milk tea. "You''re trying to destroy the evidence, aren''t you? Everyone be my witness, it''s from their milk tea!" Caught off guard by Musen taking the milk tea, the boy immediately cried out. Some bystanders started recording with their phones. Musen looked at the lively little bug swimming inside and spoke calmly, "The milk tea''s raw materials in the shop are all machine-blended before being poured into cups. If there were any bugs or flies, they would have certainly been blended and sunk to the bottom. This bug of yours seems quite lively, as if it was freshly caught, right?" Musen laughed as he spoke, shaking the cup in front of everyone. Indeed, this was common sense. The boy''s face changed momentarily, then he retorted, "Stop talking nonsense; this is what came out of your milk tea, maybe... it was mixed in with the fruit! You dishonest merchants must have used expired fruit!" "That can''t be; I''ve watched over the fruits every day. There can''t possibly be any bugs in them!" From outside the crowd, a soft but very firm voice came. An Nuannuan and her group had heard the commotion, Gazing at the milk tea shop, mobbed three layers inside and out. "Looks like it''s quite a situation," Ge Jiayue murmured. Nuannuan pushed the wheelchair directly, blocking in front of Musen. This suddenly appeared dazed and cute girl was already known to the regular milk tea buyers. Every time she bought milk tea, she would lift the corners of her lips as she helped pass the drinks, filling onlookers with a sense of pleasure. "Just saying there''s no problem doesn''t make it so. Can you take responsibility?" cried the boy, seeing another beautiful girl rushing to Musen''s defense, His heart burning with jealousy even more. Musen frowned, wanting to shield Nuannuan behind him, But Nuannuan, usually indifferent to others'' gazes, now had eyes filled with seriousness and determination. Chapter 140 Black and Red are Both Red, Splendid Wealth!_2 "Of course I can! Because I am the owner of this shop!"An Nuannuan slightly puffed out her chest, proudly announcing her identity. The onlookers immediately showed expressions of clicking their tongues in surprise. Previously, they always thought this girl was some kind of "image spokesperson" hired by the milk tea shop. Who would have thought she was actually the owner. Sar?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Eh? Since she''s the owner, then the boss is... Everyone''s gaze turned towards Xu Musen. At this moment, Xu Musen was standing next to Yao Mingyue. "Eh? Why do I suddenly feel like she looks so familiar? Isn''t that the girl who sang about the ''Dandelion Promise''?" "It really seems like her! She seems to have a special relationship with the milk tea shop owner." "Hiss... The public confession on stage last time, it couldn''t have been this guy... but this girl in a wheelchair is saying she''s his wife, hiss, this is not simple at all..." Yao Mingyue also looked towards An Nuannuan. An Nuannuan''s declaration of being the owner brought a sour and frustrated feeling to her heart. But looking at Xu Musen at the moment, all she could do was tightly clench her hands. Xu Musen was also looking down at An Nuannuan. This frail and adorable girl in a wheelchair was resolutely standing in front of him. He walked over and protected An Nuannuan behind him. "All the fruit in my shop is supplied daily, it''s so fresh we sometimes don''t have enough to sell; we have to limit the quantities each day. Would I use expired fruit?" Xu Musen retorted. Many people watching around were actually fans of the milk tea shop. They whispered among themselves. "Yeah, some of the popular teas from this shop are even limited now, and they feel fresher than the ones in some fruit shops outside." "Right, I''ve had dozens of cups already and never saw any issues." "You never know though, some businesses get big and start to cheat customers, maybe it is a problem with the fruit?" "I don''t care about that, I''m just a fan of their looks. If I got a bug in my drink while looking at this young lady boss and the Dandelion Goddess, I''d still accept it." "Exactly, my friend, it''s just a few bucks for a cup of tea. If you''re not eating bugs, what else do you expect, a calf to come out of it..." Most of the people present were simply there for the excitement, but with An Nuannuan and Yao Mingyue''s entrance, public sentiment seemed to take a strange turn. The guy felt even worse listening to this; his own fruit mix couldn''t sell and would just rot in the storage. But here, this tea shop''s fruit was selling out and even needed to be rationed! Moreover, he had two campus beauty-level girls backing him up. Damn, the more he thought about it, the angrier he became! "You have to give us an explanation, otherwise, I''m calling the police and you won''t be able to keep your crappy shop open! Don''t we all agree?" A few people in the crowd shouted loudly. Xu Musen, however, remained smiling. "It''s not uncommon for fruit to attract fruit flies, but once they appear, there''s definitely a nest somewhere." Xu Musen looked at the young man in front of him and narrowed his eyes with a smile. "Let me call the police for you! If even a single fruit fly is found in the kitchen or storage area of my shop, I''ll admit it''s my fault, but if nothing is found, this matter won''t end lightly." Xu Musen''s words were direct, his gaze unwavering. The young man felt slightly guilty under his stare. He didn''t expect the other party to be so confident. After all, if it were him, his own storage wouldn''t withstand scrutiny. In fact, the fruit fly came from his own storage... But he thought about his own projects and the things he had sent out. Especially with the encouragement of the surrounding crowd, he now had no choice but to brazen it out. "Fine! I''ll watch your lousy shop close down!" Xu Musen decided not to waste more words and shouted to the crowd, "I hope you all will serve as witnesses." After saying this, he proceeded to tell Zhao Lianmai to call the police. "Ring, ring..." The phone rang; it was a call from Bai Xin. "Xiaosen, what''s going on there, is there trouble at the milk tea shop?" "Auntie Bai, how do you know?" "There are already a lot of posts on the campus forum. Don''t let the other party call the police now." "Auntie Bai, you don''t trust me?" Xu Musen chuckled helplessly. On the other end of the phone, she spoke earnestly. "It''s not about trust; we can''t let the situation get out of control. As long as it doesn''t leave the school, I can handle it for you. Wait for me to come over..." Bai Xin was already heard hastily changing clothes. Xu Musen felt a warm sense of care from her; Bai Xin really took good care of him. "Auntie Bai, no need, the police must be called, and I will be the one to call them." "What? Don''t be reckless... you, you didn''t do this on purpose, did you?" Bai Xin was smart and quickly suspected something was amiss. "That''s right, someone wants to throw dirt on me. The more I try to keep quiet, the guiltier I look. It''s better to take this opportunity to put on an official yellow vest." Xu Musen laughed, "Auntie Bai, I remember there''s a school newspaper, right? Could you help me invite a few people over?" "What are you going to do?" "Of course, to expose myself as a shady business owner." Bai Xin: ??? After hanging up the phone. Xu Musen calmly signaled everyone to return to the milk tea shop. The outdoor sun was scorching, and after a spell of performance, the guy started to feel parched. But he couldn''t leave. Xu Musen acted as if nothing was wrong, even happily making a cup of tea for a few people. Yet neither Yao Mingyue nor An Nuannuan had any appetite at that moment. "Xu Musen, this kind of thing cannot be proven by oneself. I can get a lawyer to come to minimize the impact of this situation." Chapter 140 Black and Red are Both Red, Splendid Wealth!_3 Yao Mingyue couldn''t help but speak again, and she still had more to say, that was, they could start with this troublemaking boy...How dare he bully her future husband, if not sinking him into the sea, she''d make sure to give him a good thrashing! An Nuannuan also spoke up, "Xu Musen, otherwise let''s just give him some money, I''ll be even more diligent managing the store afterwards..." An Nuannuan was afraid that if Uncle Police took Xu Musen away, what would she do. Otherwise, she should just tell Grandma and Grandpa, they would definitely have a solution. Xu Musen looked at the two of them, different approaches, but the same goal. That was to wish for his well-being. At this moment, they even temporarily stood together on the same front. Xu Musen remained silent for a moment, then shook his head and smiled, "It''s okay, I''m confident." It was break time now, and everyone who saw the post at the school had run over. The whole street was cordoned off. "Bro Musen!" Zhou Hangyu and the other two also ran over, yelling, "Which bastard is trying to frame us here? I''m gonna smack him dead!" "After you''re done, I''ll have my turn! If you don''t, and try to flee, you''re admitting your guilt!" Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong both cursed and swore. They had barely managed to make some pocket money by leeching off Xu Musen''s business to chase girls. Cutting off one''s means of livelihood is akin to killing one''s parents! The boy who had been waiting at the door heard this and subconsciously moved a bit further away from them, covering his backside. "You two behave, don''t get taken away by the police uncle when he comes," said Xu Musen with a smile. His friends were a danger in the manner of safety, yet they were the most reliable in times of peril. The police respond super fast to incidents in schools. Five or six minutes later, a police car arrived. Coming down were also the health inspectors, and Xu Musen went up to explain the situation. He also handed over the cup of milk tea with the fruit fly in it. Given their expertise, they could tell at a glance that the fruit fly was probably added afterwards. Their gaze shifted between the slightly nervous boy and the calm and composed Xu Musen. Having seen various cases, they had mostly figured out the truth. "Then let''s perform a routine inspection," they said. "No problem," Xu Musen nodded. Experience tales at empire At this point, two more people with cameras squeezed their way to the street entrance. "Excuse us, we''re from the school''s news agency." A few people came over, explained the situation to the police, and since it was an internal matter of the school and nothing serious, they agreed to let them in to take pictures. "Looks like the news agency is here too; if there''s even a slight discrepancy, it won''t stay hidden," someone commented. "Tsk tsk tsk, this situation doesn''t look simple," another whispered. The news agency of Hu Hai University might only be a club, but it certainly wields significant influence in such a prestigious school. There are quite a few journalism graduates working in TV stations and newspapers, and the magazines published within the school have some sway in the area. Bai Xin stood in the crowd, watching the sea of onlookers, and probably had a guess about what he wanted to do. The food industry, framing someone is just too easy. And there''s no way to thoroughly investigate it. Even if nothing incriminating is found, the impression left on people''s minds can do severe damage to the brand through exaggerated rumours. Like a spicy stick factory from childhood, rumoured by competitors to be using rendered human fat because of its success, leading to its shutdown despite the baselessness of the claim. And the rumors comparing MSG to chicken essence, claiming the latter is healthier, when in fact the chicken essence is just MSG with additional flavorings, not even as pure... There are countless examples of such situations. Spreading rumors is done with the mouth, debunking them requires legwork, and once something is exposed, an apology is the most that might be required, but the subsequent damages remain irreparable. Therefore, trying to prove your innocence is pointless. Xu Musen never even considered explaining the situation. He remembered from his past life when a certain Dragon Spicy Stick was exposed for being unhygienic, causing an uproar online. Far from explaining, the next day they simply invited the media and professional institutions to tour the factory. Clean workshops and machinery quickly quashed all the rumors, and sales actually increased. This is one of the most successful examples of opinion reversal. Good news stays inside, bad news travels a thousand miles away. Xu Musen always wanted to increase the visibility of Hu Hai Aunts Milk Tea and Kangaroo Delivery. If he had gone with the traditional advertising methods, it would have been time-consuming and limited in effect. But with this kind of "self-exposure," it was getting the maximum flow of traffic at zero cost! And the police and the school media were the most authoritative witnesses. Xu Musen''s strict requirements for backstreet hygiene and his strategy of disposing of unsold fruit each day paid off. At this moment, he looked at the dumbfounded boy at the doorway with a grin. This was not someone who came to throw dirt at all. He was clearly here to deliver a cornucopia! Sarch* The N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 141 Yao Mingyue Touch My Man, Seeking Death! ```The milk tea shop was packed to the brim with onlookers, three layers deep both inside and outside. Xu Musen, accompanied by inspectors and the press as well as the troublemaking student Huang Teng as a witness, entered the shop together. There''s a saying that goes, "Don''t watch the kitchen when eating." Especially before kitchen hygiene was strictly enforced, the kitchens of many small shops were so filthy there was no place to set foot. Fried chicken and milk tea shops were particularly bad. But Xu Musen''s milk tea shop was set up to high standards by him. Warning signs, fire extinguishers, and anti-slip notices were in place; the counter had been wiped clean without a speck of dust, and not a single piece of garbage could be seen in the shop. It was even cleaner and tidier than some exemplary shops outside. Zhao Lianmai led the way and opened the doors to the storeroom and kitchen. The moment the door was pushed open, a cool breeze carrying the fragrance of fruits hit them, with not the slightest scent of the mould that accumulates in storage areas. The two people from the press took continuous photos with their cameras, obviously looking for some hot topics. If they really found something like flies, headlining a news story exposing campus hygiene issues would undoubtedly make for a valuable addition to their resumes. However, the scene in the kitchen and storeroom brightened their eyes. The milk tea shop''s kitchen wasn''t filled with many items, but each was pristine, water buckets neatly aligned, seasoning tables gleaming with the silver-white of stainless steel. In the fridge, fruits were wrapped in cling film and stored meticulously. In the storeroom, milk tea ingredients were also placed on metal shelves raised off the floor, surrounded by UV lamps that were periodically turned on for sterilization. The inspectors were taken aback for a moment. This standard was even higher than what they required. In such an environment, not to mention mosquitoes, even ordinary bacteria would have a hard time surviving. Their gaze turned to the troublemaking student behind them. "Are you sure it was the fruit fly from drinking this shop''s milk tea?" The police furrowed their brows. Huang Teng, looking at such a clean storeroom, was also dumbfounded; he had not expected it to be this immaculate. But having come this far, he could only stick to his story, as these matters were such that, as long as he didn''t admit it, they wouldn''t be able to do anything to him in the end. "...It was this shop." "Well, then go ahead and search for yourself; this is the cleanest storeroom I have ever seen." The inspection personnel already had a good idea of what was going on. Huang Teng clenched his teeth: "This... maybe they knew in advance and secretly switched out the fruits that had bugs!" Xu Musen chuckled from the side, "From the time you discovered the bug until now, it has been less than twenty minutes. Moreover, you''ve been watching the whole time, and we never opened the storeroom. How would we have had time to switch the fruits?" "This..." Huang Teng''s face was covered in a sheen of nervous sweat: "Maybe I was just unlucky and happened to buy the one cup that had a bug..." "Alright, we only speak based on facts; this milk tea shop has no issues, absolutely no hidden health hazards." The inspection personnel didn''t feel like dealing with their situation anymore. They looked at the young man before them, his status as a student being the only reason they didn''t press further. Sarch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Huang Teng didn''t dare to make another sound after being reprimanded. Exiting the storeroom and seeing the students gathered outside, the inspection personnel also reached out to Xu Musen. "Your hygiene is very impressive; you also have a strong sense of fire safety. Keep it up." "Certainly, thank you for the guidance." Xu Musen also extended his hand and shook hands with a smile. He understood that the inspector had deliberately shaken hands with him in front of everyone as a form of endorsement. The people from the press were quick to update their posts on the campus forum. The observers, seeing the photos of the clean and tidy kitchen and storeroom, were suddenly abuzz with excitement. "Damn, this kitchen is cleaner than my own at home!" "Holy smokes, who says milk tea isn''t healthy? I''m at home sweating it out without the air conditioning, and these fruit milk teas are chilled day in, day out." "Exactly, exactly, the drain of their kitchen is cleaner than the bowls I eat from!" "Now I really have to drink it!" Many who originally didn''t fancy milk tea much also became interested after seeing the clean and tidy pictures posted online. Some people started to point fingers at the troublemaking student. "I knew it couldn''t be true from the start. I''m a long-time fan of this milk tea shop, never had a problem! Someone must be framing them." "This guy looks sneaky, standing off to the side not daring to let out a peep, damn using us all as pawns." As opinions began to polarize, suddenly two more people rushed over, shouting: "I just saw them tossing out spoiled fruit in the trash can behind the storeroom! It was all rotten." Several eyebrows furrowed, and the student looked as if he had finally found a lifeline. "I told you so, they definitely threw away the rotten fruit ahead of time!" Huang Teng insisted on checking it out, and the inspectors followed him there. At the trash can behind the storeroom, a few flies buzzed around, and the scent of rotting fruit wafted through the air. "Everyone look! This must be evidence of their cover-up!" Huang Teng shouted loudly, and the people from the press started filming again. "You''re talking nonsense! We have never thrown anything into this trash can; how do you prove it was our fruit?" The part-time girl working at the milk tea shop said angrily. Xu Musen looked at this trash can, recalling that it hadn''t been there before and was conveniently located in a blind spot of the surveillance cameras, and close to his storeroom. Clearly, someone had deliberately placed it there. Indeed, there were fruit flies in the trash can. ``` Experience tales at empire Chapter 141 Yao Mingyue Touch My Man, Seeking Death!_2 The inspection personnel were professional. With one glance, they knew the fruit fly in the bubble tea just now was from the same growth cycle, and it was highly likely they were from the same batch of fruit.He turned to Xu Musen, "What''s going on with this?" Xu Musen didn''t show any sign of panic. He said, "This trash can isn''t ours, and these fruits are from a different batch than the ones I purchased. I have a detailed inventory list that I can show you." Hearing this, Zhao Lianmai hurriedly ran back to get the form. Xu Musen''s purchases were always A grade or above, and the fruit in the trash can was clearly not of good quality. The inspection personnel looked at the purchase list and found it to be true. "Pfft! Anyone can write a bill. Who knows if he gets these rotten fruits on the side?" Huang Teng was making a fuss the whole time. Conspiracy theories are easy to spread, and the public opinion that had just turned around was becoming complicated again. After all, the location where the trash can appeared was too coincidental, and the sight of it swarming with flies was indeed impactful. "You, you''re just slandering us, it''s not ours at all!" the part-time female employee said anxiously. But the man insisted his point, and washing off two consecutive splashes of dirty water was not going to be easy. The inspection personnel turned and looked at the young man. Although he had guessed what was going on, he still frowned and said to Xu Musen, "Then let''s do this, bring your recent purchasing materials, and both of you come back with me to sign some papers and discuss this in detail." "Uncle, this isn''t our fault, we are just being wrongfully accused." Hearing this, the people around Xu Musen also got a bit worried. An Nuannuan''s small face turned pale as she clutched Xu Musen''s clothes tightly, not wanting to let him go. "Don''t worry, it''s just about providing some information, trust the law." Xu Musen knew that the inspector wanted to minimize the impact quickly. Otherwise, if they continued causing a scene in the bubble tea shop, whether the outcome was good or bad, it would affect his store. "Okay, I''ll go with you." Xu Musen''s expression didn''t change. The inspector nodded in response. However, Huang Teng seemed to feel a bit scared and guilty. After all, college students have a natural fear of these departments. "I... don''t need to go, do I? I don''t want any compensation, I only want justice for everyone." He spoke as if he were being noble. But the officials were old hands and didn''t buy it, stating calmly, "You''re the whistleblower, you must also come along. If there''s no issue, you''ll sign some papers and we''ll send you back." Xu Musen went to the store to prepare the documents. Luckily, they had all the purchase records and daily sales data, which had been neatly organized by An Nuannuan and Zhao Lianmai. As Xu Musen was gathering the materials, An Nuannuan watched him, her usually dim-witted big eyes now misty with moisture. "Xu Musen, don''t be scared, I''ll ask my grandpa..." "It''s nothing serious, just a commercial dispute, it''s not like I''ve broken the law. Just wait for me to come back and don''t bother your grandparents over it." Xu Musen was a bit amused but touched by An Nuannuan''s concern as he gently patted her head. This small matter wasn''t worth troubling her grandparents over. If he couldn''t handle even this, he wouldn''t be worthy of their investment in him. Just as he took a step, Yao Mingyue appeared in front of him, her aloof phoenix eyes also revealing hard-to-conceal emotions, "Xu Musen, I won''t let anything happen to you." Her words were simple but carried her typical assertiveness. Xu Musen looked at her. These words, which he had grown accustomed to and even somewhat feared in his past life, now felt somewhat warm. Perhaps time had made his ears more forgiving... She was really good, but the kind of good where she wanted to have complete control over someone, leaving no room for freedom, was truly suffocating. If only she could... Xu Musen thought silently and nodded, "Don''t worry." "Bro Musen, you go ahead without worries, I''ll take good care of sis... them." Zhou Hangyu thumped his chest, but just as he was about to say sister-in-law, he felt a cold gaze and promptly changed his words. As they got into the car, the onlookers at the entrance of the bubble tea shop dispersed. But the intensity of the online discussions was only increasing. "Is there really something wrong with this bubble tea shop, why were two people taken away?" "Who knows, but I''ve drunk there many times and never had an issue, I bet someone''s just throwing mud out of jealousy." "Wait a minute! I think I''ve seen this guy, isn''t that fruit stall in the corner of the restaurant his?" Someone seemed to recognize Huang Teng. "Yeah? That really is him, I bought something from there a few days ago, the fruits were all mushy and had a weird taste." "Damn, this is like the thief shouting ''catch the thief''... I think it''s him that should be investigated!" "Right, right! I know that guy, from our class, darn it, he won''t even give a discount when his own classmates buy fruits, so stingy and fussy..." Inside the store, they were all watching the direction of online public opinion. "Damn, this Huang Teng guy is definitely doing this on purpose! Must be jealous that we''re selling more fruits than them, his crappy fruit salad really needs checking out!" "The two people just now were acting shady too, they were instigating the crowd, definitely in cahoots!" Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong kept cursing. These pieces of information gave Yao Mingyue some clues to work with. Almost immediately, she pulled out her phone. "Mom, I need to borrow a few people..." After saying this, she stood up and left. Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After she left, An Nuannuan stared at her retreating figure, her lips bitten in hesitation. Chapter 141 Yao Mingyue Touch My Man, Seeking Death!_3 Xu Musen didn''t want his grandparents to know about this...But he also didn''t want to just sit there, unable to do anything. An Nuannuan''s little brain whirred rapidly, and finally, something seemed to light up in her eyes. She was preparing to make a decision that would go against Xu Musen and his grandparents! Pushing the wheelchair, she too left the store. "Nuannuan, where are you going?" Zhao Lianmai quickly came out to ask. "I want to help him too." An Nuannuan said earnestly. "How are you going to help?" Zhao Lianmai was taken aback for a moment, seeing the effort An Nuannuan was putting into pushing the wheelchair, she sighed internally. She had also heard some of the contents of Yao Mingyue''s phone call just now. It seemed this aloof girl had a complicated background. "I can also find someone..." Nuannuan''s gaze was directed towards a residential building for faculty, as she continued to push the wheelchair forward. Zhao Lianmai didn''t know whom Nuannuan could turn to, but she just kept following behind her, ensuring her safety. ... At this moment, inside the Food Hygiene Bureau. Xu Musen had already submitted the materials, waiting for them to be reviewed, quietly resting with his eyes closed. To him, the worst that could happen was a fine; he was not in a hurry. However, he felt that the situation was not as simple as professional jealousy. Normally, on a university forum, such negative news would be immediately restricted and deleted. But this time, the negative information remained unmanaged. Bai Xin was currently negotiating with the leaders about this matter. In such cases within a school, the simplest action would be to seal off the shop, unless the shop''s reputation could be restored, but the school leaders would certainly have to address this issue upon their return. On the other hand, Huang Teng, observing the resigned appearance of Xu Musen with his eyes closed, smirked triumphantly to himself, thinking he just needed to sign the document and could leave soon. Meanwhile, outside the bureau. Huang Teng''s two roommates, the same two guys who had yelled about finding rotten fruit, were standing on the street waiting for Huang Teng to come out, looking forward to their celebratory feast. "If it weren''t for this trash can, we would have almost failed. And you can''t tell, but this Xu Musen is really something, using a scheme against us." "Tsk, do you think what we''re doing is a little unethical? After all, we''re students of a prestigious university." The other person felt a bit uncomfortable, considering their own status as students of a renowned university. "Ethical? Can you eat it? He said if we pull this off, our scholarships and everything would be taken care of, and Hu Hai University''s scholarships are not small..." The other guy spoke with a wheedling tone: "Come on, let''s go buy a pack of cigarettes." Both standing up, they had just walked into the corner of a street when suddenly a car came barreling straight at them, nearly hitting them. "Fuck, can''t you fucking..." Before he could finish cursing, he was stunned into silence by the appearance of a luxurious red Bentley before them. Sar?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Moreover, they seemed to feel a chilling gaze coming from inside the car, In the middle of the day, they felt a shiver down their spines. They took a couple steps back, but then a black business car came from behind and blocked the secluded intersection. The car door opened, and out stepped two burly men over six feet tall, dressed in suits, wearing sunglasses, and silently staring at them. For a moment, the two were petrified, the eerie atmosphere making their legs tremble. What was going on? It felt like mob bosses had come for revenge. And at that moment, the window of the red Bentley gradually rolled down. Inside was a stunningly beautiful face, now cold as frost. She wore sunglasses, but the icy gaze seemed to penetrate through them, sending chills down their spines. Yao Mingyue looked at the two before her, and that sickly crazed aspect of hers that had been hidden for so long seemed to finally find its release today. I won''t even hurt my own husband, and yet you dare to bully him? Messing with my man? You''re all dead! Chapter 142 I also want to slowly give all of myself to you. Two burly men, one on each side, cornered two boys in front of the car."What are you going to do?" sea??h th Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The two boys, facing a scene that seemed straight out of a TV drama, trembled in fear. Yao Mingyue sat inside, rolled down the window, and her phoenix eyes behind the sunglasses stared at them, her voice so cold that it sent shivers down their spines. "The trash can just now, who asked you to push it over?" The two boys were stunned for a moment. The trash can wasn''t it the one they had just pushed over at school in secret? But how could they He had been too scared to look up until now, and only then did he take a good look at the person in the car who was speaking. Even with sunglasses on, that perfect, delicate cheek and the cold aura were unmistakable. They immediately thought of one of the girls who had been standing next to Xu Musen in the milk tea shop just now. "It''s you..." Their impression was deep, after all, this was the "Dandelion Goddess" of the school. Only, they hadn''t expected that this was no dandelion; she was more like a black rose, with thorns all over. "What are you talking aboutI don''t quite understand," The boy swallowed nervously, feigning ignorance. Yao Mingyue turned her head slightly, gave her sunglasses a light push, and her dangerous phoenix eyes flickered as she glanced at the two boys. "Although we now live in a harmonious society, I have a hundred ways to make sure you can''t stay a day in Hu Hai." "I''ll give you one chance; whoever speaks first, I''ll pretend I never saw him." Yao Mingyue spoke indifferently, but her words felt like a cold draught to the two boys. They looked at the luxury Bentley in which the girl was sitting. Just this car alone cost more money than many people could earn in a lifetime, not to mention the professional-looking bodyguards accompanying her. She was the epitome of a wealthy lady. It was just too easy for such rich people to deal with an ordinary person. Furthermore, her statement was a direct warning to them both, that if they kept quiet, they would certainly suffer. "I I was just told to push the trash can there, I don''t know anything else..." The boy who had previously discarded his conscience like it was worthless was, to everyone''s surprise, the quickest to cave. The boy beside him was also stunned, but seeing Yao Mingyue''s face still cold as ice, he didn''t care about anything else anymore. He immediately blurted out, "Yeah, we were just delivering a trash can, nothing inside was ours" "Three." Yao Mingyue began to count down abruptly. The two suited bodyguards also began to twist their necks, cracking their knuckles the size of sandbags. College students were very easy to scare, and at once, the two boys caved in completely. Continue reading stories on empire "I''ll talk, I''ll talk, it was actually Huang Teng who told us to push the trash can over, claiming it was from the milk tea shop... After the job was done, he said he would give me a scholarship and a spot for impoverished students." "He gave them to you?" Yao Mingyue narrowed her eyes. Only those in charge and the faculty could manipulate these positions. "Huang Teng''s entrepreneurial project is supported by our advisor, who said he could plead with the advisor on our behalf." The more cowardly boy said with a downcast face, "I just wanted a slot for impoverished students. Huang Teng said if I didn''t help him, he wouldn''t submit my application, and I had no choice." Yao Mingyue listened with a slight frown, it seemed there was more to this story involving their advisor. "Who is your advisor?" "It''s Teacher Luo Hao, everything we''re saying is true, we didn''t know it would turn out this bad." The two hurriedly explained. Yao Mingyue thought for a moment, took note of this name, then said, "The rotten fruits in the trash can, were they from this Huang Teng?" "Yes, he runs a fruit salad business at school these rotten fruits actually all came from his warehouse" Yao Mingyue''s mind raced through these clues, and a glint flashed in her eyes. "Take me to his warehouse, and I''ll pretend this never happened." "This..." The two boys exchanged looks. If they took her there, their scholarship and impoverished student applications would be ruined. "Click, click, click..." The two bodyguards moved their hands again, having approached the boys like two towering iron statues. "Okay, okay, I''ll take you there" The two boys knew they had absolutely no right to refuse. The two bodyguards promptly "invited" them onto the car. It was more like they were tossed onto the business van as if they were little chicks. The vehicle headed back to Bin Hai University. Yao Mingyue''s Bentley was already registered at the school; she drove straight into the campus. They arrived outside a warehouse. As the boys got out of the car, they pointed at a door: "It''s right here." Yao Mingyue also stepped out of the car and walked to the entrance, already smelling the scent of overripe fruit. "The keys?" "We don''t have them; only Huang Teng has a set." The two shook their heads. Yao Mingyue didn''t waste any more words. She nodded towards the two bodyguards, "Break it." Smash it?! The two boys swallowed nervously. Although the warehouse was rented by Huang Teng, it was also considered school property. If they started smashing things, they would definitely be held accountable. They might even call the police directly. "Yes." The two bodyguards didn''t hesitate, took a couple of crowbars from the back of the business van, rolled up their sleeves, and got ready to break in. "You two, call the police." Yao Mingyue pointed at them again. "Call the police?" The boys were stunned. Were they really about to call the police on themselves? "Call the Food Safety Administration, have them come over again." Yao crossed her arms, watching the bodyguards picking the lock. The boys swallowed nervously, beginning to guess what she intended to do. Chapter 142 I also want to slowly give all of myself to you._2 ```Huang Teng, it''s not that we are incompetent, but rather our opponent is too vicious. You''d better pray for good luck... ... At this moment, inside the office. Actually, looking up information was just a formality, since such matters could never be clarified. They planned to let both individuals leave separately. Having signed their names, the two walked out along the corridor. Huang Teng looked at Xu Musen and even sneered at him with irony. With these two buckets of dirty water thrown on them, it was like yellow mud in their pants - it wasn''t shit, but it might as well be. Actually, he did admire Xu Musen''s capabilities quite a bit. It''s a pity that colleagues are rivals, and it seemed his own mentor Luo Hao also had some objections to him. Luo Hao''s identity seemed to be more than just a teacher; many deans and professors at the school respected him. If you provoked him at Hu Hai University, you definitely wouldn''t have a good time. If things turned bad, you could only blame your own bad luck. Just as he was about to sign and leave, the leading inspector suddenly appeared, glancing at the two of them. "Don''t sign just yet, there''s new information, come back to the school with me." Huang Teng was stunned for a moment, not knowing what was happening, and he subconsciously felt that something was off. Xu Musen''s gaze flickered slightly, and several figures immediately came to mind. ... At this point, An Nuannuan arrived at the door of a staff apartment. The doorplate read "Professor Gao." An Nuannuan stretched out her hand and knocked on the door. After a while, the door slowly opened. Inside was an old lady with silver hair, kind eyes behind her glasses, and a slightly hunched figure. "Who is it?" The old lady, being very nearsighted, pushed her glasses up to get a closer look at the person before her. " Grandma Gao, it''s me, Nuannuan." An Nuannuan looked up and greeted her. Sear?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The old lady steadied herself and recognized the girl in the wheelchair; her wrinkled face immediately lit up with a delighted smile. "Oh, Nuannuan, it''s been so long since I last saw you, you''ve grown so much" Experience tales at empire Professor Gao became excited, pulling An Nuannuan close for a better look: "How did you come here alone, child? Come in, come in and rest awhile." The room was filled with antique rosewood furniture, and many paintings hung on the wall, all seemingly done by Professor Gao personally. "Grandma Gao, could you do me a favor..." Once inside the room, An Nuannuan gently tugged at Professor Gao''s sleeve, anxiously starting to speak. "What''s the matter?" asked Professor Gao with concern. This was the first time she had seen the usually easy-going girl so anxious. An Nuannuan recounted the day''s events, and Professor Gao nodded thoughtfully as she listened. Just gazing at An Nuannuan with her aged eyes. "Nuannuan, you and this boy named Xu Musen, what is your relationship with him?" "Friends the best kind." An Nuannuan responded without hesitation, pausing slightly only when she thought to add something after ''friends.'' Professor Gao nodded, looking at the troubled An Nuannuan with an understanding of what was likely going on in her heart. Old An, your treasured granddaughter seems to be about to be swept away by someone... "Grandma Gao, could you please speak to the school for me, and ask them not to punish him? If anyone should be punished, it should be me, I''m the one who owns the milk tea shop." An Nuannuan grasped Professor Gao''s hand, her usually dim-witted face now showing serious concern. Professor Gao sighed, patting her head: "Silly child, this isn''t your fault. Come, Grandma will go with you; they will still give this old woman some respect." ... The regulatory bureau''s car brought Xu Musen and Huang Teng back. Many students were drawn to the spectacle along the way, gathering around; the press club also rushed over upon hearing the news, and even more arrived this time, vying for the headline story. However, this time they didn''t appear at the milk tea shop, but at a fruit warehouse instead. A sign for ''Fruity Scoop'' was hanging above. As soon as Huang Teng saw the car stop here, a strong premonition of doom overcame him! "Let''s get out." The inspector spoke. Stepping out of the car, Huang Teng thought if they wanted to inspect his warehouse, he would insist he didn''t have the keys on him. Delay it for a few days, and if any fruit spoiled, he could blame it on the weather or time. But just as he got out of the car, he heard the sound of a "crack" shattering. Looking up, he saw the warehouse door forcibly broken open, the locks smashed and thrown aside. The door was kicked open by burly men. Yao Mingyue waved her hand, and after the two men bowed slightly, they immediately drove off in a business vehicle. Xu Musen was taken aback, watching Yao Mingyue donning sunglasses, exuding the presence of a mob boss. It reminded him of how in his previous life, Yao Mingyue had been just as assertive and domineering, always surrounded by various bodyguards and maids. The only difference was that previously they had been there to watch over him, but now they were here to help him. The inspector didn''t comment on the broken door; after all, it wasn''t within his jurisdiction. The crowd around had already grown considerably, attracted by the noise of breaking the door. "We''ve received reports that this Fruity Scoop warehouse contains a large quantity of rotten fruit, and you are the owner, right?" The inspector turned and looked at Huang Teng. "I, I don''t know about this, it has nothing to do with me." Huang Teng, now white-faced with fear from the unexpected turnaround, turned to leave. But the inspector stopped him: "Whether it''s related to you or not, we''ll find out soon enough once we go inside." Going on a call only to be manipulated and wrong a good man didn''t sit well with him either. ``` Chapter 142 I also want to slowly give all of myself to you._3 Some students, recognizing Huang Teng, shouted out."That fruit salad stall in the restaurant next door is his. I bought from there a couple of days ago to give to my girlfriend, and it was all rotten! Got me scolded by her!" "Shit, it was him; last time, his fruit salad had maggots in it, and he dared to say they were grains from the rice wine! Damn, it disgusted me to death!" Someone stepped forward, identifying this guy! "You''re talking nonsense..." The boy paled, unable to hide his guilt, and turned to leave, but the inspectors immediately grabbed him. "Since there''s been a report, please come with me to take a look." Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire With that, the inspectors led him towards the warehouse, pressed forward by the lively crowd of onlookers. "Whoa, an unexpected bonus!" The students from the news club were also eager as if smelling a scent, and immediately scurried over. Soon, the news club of Hu Hai University posted a real-time update with photos of the inspection on their forum. The inspectors led the way into the warehouse, and the moment the door opened, several flies flew out. A close-up shot of this was captured on the news club''s camera. In the warehouse, the fruit gave off the stench of decay, and many were carelessly left on the ground. The sight made many people retch in disgust. "This store is yours, isn''t it?" The inspectors took out the investigation report, on which the responsible party''s name was indeed Huang Teng. "This, this... who put these rotten fruits in my warehouse?" Huang Teng still tried to argue. Sar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "So you do know it''s your warehouse!" The inspectors couldn''t be bothered to talk with him further and ordered the scene to be sealed off immediately. At this moment, Zhao Lianmai also came over, pushing the trash can. After comparison, the rotten fruit and the ones in the warehouse were found to be from the same batch. This made the students standing by spit in disdain. Thinking back on today''s events, it was clear that they had been manipulated by Huang Teng. Obviously, it was a deliberate frame-up! "You are suspected of food safety violations and engaging in unfair business practices such as framing and defamation. Come with us for a further questioning." In the end, Huang Teng was taken away by the inspectors for questioning. The fruit salad stall was also immediately shut down. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, not expecting the crisis to be resolved so quickly. The reputation on the school forum reversed instantly. Phrases like "Jealous peers, malicious framing," perfectly slapped back at the previous accusatory shouts. Moreover, the influence of this event was just beginning, as students from other schools were also eagerly sharing the news. Milk Tea Auntie. The name of this tea shop rapidly spread across forums in numerous universities. A clean and hygienic kitchen, high-standard raw materials, and the freshest fruits of the day. It turned something that parents always called "junk food" like fruit milk tea into something clean and hygienic in an instant. "Such a conscientious business, offering fresh fruit milk tea for less than ten yuan at the lowest, while our school''s tea shops charge over ten yuan just for adding some crappy concentrated juice." "This is too good, pity our school doesn''t have it, strongly requesting a branch!" "I''m from Fudan, and I was scammed by an unscrupulous milk tea shop; if this place opened a branch at our school, I would definitely buy it out!" As the incident fermented, everyone began to anticipate Auntie Hu''s shop opening branches. "Serves you right! Hahaha, trying to steal a chicken but ending up losing the rice!" "Damn, I knew this kid came out of nowhere, competitors truly are natural enemies." Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong, looking at the posts on the campus forum, felt particularly relieved! "Brother Musen, you really did it this time, not only did you not get affected by this wave, but you also got a huge free advertisement; now every university in Hu Hai wants you to open a branch there!" Xu Musen didn''t answer; his gaze turned toward Yao Mingyue. Then he looked back at the smashed lock and gate. Publicly destroying school property within the school would have been big trouble for anyone else. Moreover, this incident had caused negative impact on Hu Hai University; the school leaders probably wouldn''t let it go so easily. "This was my doing, I''ll take responsibility for any consequences, you''re not involved..." Yao Mingyue said softly, looking at him with complex eyes. "Thank you." Xu Musen said with gratitude. Indeed, this was the first time Xu Musen had spoken to her so gently in a long time. Yao Mingyue paused, looking at Xu Musen, all the grievances and heartaches she''d felt over the years finally finding some release. "But this matter is still because of me; let me handle the aftermath. I owe you a favor." Xu Musen spoke softly, thinking that dealing with the school leaders would just mean paying a bit more in compensation, nothing more. "You don''t owe me, I owe you." Yao Mingyue''s gaze held depth. Just as since childhood, Xu Musen owed her nothing, really. The accident that resulted in Yao''s father taking the blow for Xu''s father and leaving this world... But both of them were victims in that accident. Over the years, it was Xu Musen who spoiled her, indulged her. She had become too greedy bit by bit. However, one thing about Yao Mingyue hadn''t changed. She still wanted to have all of Xu Musen. But now, she was learning to slowly offer all of herself in return... including her long-sealed heart. "Let''s forget about the favor, we have plenty of that between us, but if you want to treat me to food or go shopping, I''ll be looking forward to it." Yao Mingyue took off her sunglasses; her phoenix eyes lacked their usual coldness. Underneath the sunlight''s refraction, her eyes shone bright and dazzling, her lips curved with a smile, like the arc of youth brushed by a breeze. Just like the little girl from their childhood, following behind him, calling him ''Brother Musen''... Xu Musen was silent for a moment before slowly nodding: "Okay." Bai Xin walked over, looked at the two of them, and said to Xu Musen, "The school leaders want you to come over." As expected, what had to come, came. Yao Mingyue approached Bai Xin. "Aunt Bai, there''s something, I''d like to tell you..." Chapter 143 The man with the Hong Fu Qi Tian Soft Rice Gu! (Two in one 8k! Subscribe!) Yao Mingyue told Bai Xin all the information she had just extracted."Luo Hao?" Bai Xin''s brows furrowed as she pieced together all the events of the day into clues in her mind. "So it was him..." Bai Xin said, with a trace of self-reproach in her eyes. She had not expected Luo Hao to be so narrow-minded. He had always been suppressed by the school''s leaders. Although Luo Hao was currently just a university counselor, his father had been the previous vice-president of Hu Hai University. Many of the school leaders had been promoted by Luo Hao''s father, which was why Luo Hao had remained unscathed despite the many issues he had caused at the school. "Xiaosen, this is my fault. Don''t say much when you see the leaders later; I''ll handle it." Bai Xin spoke, aware that this incident had blown up, and other schools were now aware. The pressure from the school authorities was immense. As an elder, and since the incident had started because of her, she could not allow Xu Musen, a young man, to bear the pressure alone. "Auntie Bai, you can''t blame yourself. These things are inevitable; if not today, they would happen sometime in the future," Xu Musen said with a light chuckle, shaking his head: "Besides, you have already taken good care of me, Auntie Bai. With such poor character, I cannot allow him to get close to you. Let me be Auntie Bai''s ''knight in shining armor'' just this once." Xu Musen said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood. Sure enough, Auntie Bai''s cheeks couldn''t help but heat up slightly as she gently patted his head. "At a time like this, you''re still joking..." Discover exclusive tales at empire Yao Mingyue pressed her lips together slightly, her gaze unintentionally glancing over Bai Xin''s figure. Indeed, some advantages of mature women could never be surpassed by young girls. Xu Musen turned his head to look at Yao Mingyue: "You''ve also worked hard. Go back and rest early; I''ll go with Auntie Bai." This was the first time Xu Musen had taken the initiative to "report" to her since his rebirth. Yao Mingyue nodded: "Let me know when it''s resolved." "Okay." Xu Musen left with Bai Xin. "Tsk, tsk. Do I sense some kind of ''great fortune charm'' on our brother Sen? He''s turned such a huge crisis into an opportunity; this wave of free advertising has paid off hugely." "Alas... The childhood sweetheart turned rich lady directly smashes the shop, Nuannuan the lady boss went to summon help, and the beautiful counselor protects him too... wuwuwu, why don''t I have such good luck." Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong sighed. With so many wealthy ladies chasing after him to feed him, it was hard for him not to be successful. Sarch* The ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... At this moment. In the school leaders'' office. Huang Teng, who should have been taken away, was now in the office. The school had intervened, hoping to minimize the impact and resolve the issue internally as much as possible without leaving any stain. Moreover, Luo Hao, dressed in a suit, was also present, with Huang Teng trembling beside him. He was not here to rescue his student, but to put pressure on him not to say anything that would be unfavorable to him. Several balding leaders sat with stern expressions. An incident involving food safety had occurred at the school, not to mention the mutual mud-slinging and vandalism of public property. If such news spread, it could lead to a "decrease in enrollment." It also could affect some corporate investments. Xu Musen and Bai Xin arrived at the office. The gazes in the office suddenly all turned towards Xu Musen. Bai Xin instinctively placed Xu Musen behind her. "Ladies and gentlemen of the board, this incident..." "That''s enough, discussing this now is useless. What''s important is how we handle it now," A balding leader interrupted her. "With all the uproar outside and forum posts we can''t even delete fast enough, we must put a full stop to this. My suggestion is you both close your stores for a month to show the public we''re handling this," "Why do we have to close our shop when we haven''t done anything wrong?" Bai Xin immediately protested upon hearing this. This "punish both sides" approach was unacceptable. After all, they were the victims, and choosing to close the store now would be tantamount to admitting wrongdoing. All of today''s efforts would be in vain. In a month''s time, public opinion would ferment, and they would go from victims to perpetrators. Several leaders in the room frowned in silence, knowing the student''s grievance, but clearly, the school''s reputation was paramount. "We''re not telling you to close the store, just to give an explanation to public opinion. You need to think more about the big picture. Besides, you allowed external personnel to publicly smash the school''s warehouse, and the impact of that event is also very negative. Teacher Bai, don''t be biased just because it''s your student," the balding leader''s words were towering, speaking of the big picture, but clearly biased towards Luo Hao, and finally, he even tried to turn the tables. "But that was to gather evidence, and indeed it was someone else''s fault," Bai Xin countered. "You still should have considered the school first. The warehouse was smashed, and with so much exposure, now every university in Hu Hai is discussing this. Do you realize the impact this will have? Or does Teacher Bai also support such actions?" The school leadership clung to this issue. Regardless of bias, this "punishing both sides" approach was indeed the fastest way to quell public opinion. After all, it wasn''t their benefits that were being compromised. This accusation aimed to drag Bai Xin into the fray as well. Xu Musen stepped forward, his gaze level with the several leaders, saying, "Ladies and gentlemen, I did all this myself. It has nothing to do with Teacher Bai." Chapter 143 The Man with the Boundless Luck and Soft Rice Gu! (Two in one 8k! Subscribe please!)_2 "Good, an admission is fine."Luo Hao seemed to have been waiting for him to admit it, talking in a mocking tone. By selfishly complicating matters with outsiders and causing such a negative impact, I suggest we directly cancel his project, as a warning to other students... "But the person who caused the negative impact isn''t me." Yet Xu Musen interrupted him directly. Xu Musen''s voice was calm; he did not tremble before the university''s leadership, unlike Huang Teng, as he looked straight at Luo Hao. Truthfully, he hadn''t yet built up his own foundations, and it was normal to face some humiliation while doing business on someone else''s turf. Almost all business magnates had endured various difficulties when starting out. A little impatience spoils great plans. Xu Musen had intended to accept punishment or endure some humiliation to weather the storm, but Luo Hao clearly had no intention of letting him off the hook. Moreover, several leaders in the office were also on Luo Hao''s side. If he really remained silent, he reckoned that soon all manner of false accusations would be flung his way. Since forbearance was ineffective, Xu Musen had no choice but to take the offensive. "Even if this incident hadn''t occurred today, his warehouse and fruit scoop business would have crashed sooner or later, and if by that time it had caused food poisoning, it would no longer be a simple economic dispute, but a criminal case. The impact would only be worse. In a way, I''ve preemptively removed a cancer from our university." Towards the end, Xu Musen''s gaze swept over both Huang Teng and Luo Hao. His words had a pointed implication. Luo Hao''s face stiffened, not expecting that a student would dare to retort so confidently in front of so many leaders. "That''s not an excuse for vandalism! If it weren''t for your recklessness, we could have handled it internally in time!" "Professor Luo, if I remember correctly, you were the advising teacher for Huang Teng''s fruit scoop project. If you were truly responsible, would such a problem have arisen?" Bai Xin also spoke up at the right moment. sea??h th n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The combined punches from the two made Luo Hao''s face look terrible, but he truly didn''t have solid ground to stand on in this matter. Huang Teng was trembling and didn''t dare to speak a word. The university leaders, even if they wanted to show partiality, could not ignore these issues. At their level, all were cunning and sly. "Enough, you''ve embarrassed yourself enough." At that moment, a man walked through the door, exuding an impressive aura. "Director Ma, why have you come?" The leaders in the room all stood up to greet him; Director Ma was a venerable and senior leader at the university and had been promoted by Luo Hao''s father back in the day. "Such a big incident has occurred at the university; of course I had to come and see." Director Ma glanced at his son and said, "You, for lack of oversight, are to write a self-criticism report and submit it to the department afterward. And your student''s project is to be suspended for now. Do you have any objections?" Find adventures on empire Director Ma''s appearance seemed to be targeting Luo Hao and Huang Teng with his criticism. However, these were all light and painless gestures. "I will follow the university''s arrangements," Luo Hao said with his mouth, but there was a hint of smugness in his eyes. Writing a self-criticism hardly counted as a punishment. Huang Teng clenched his teeth; a project suspension meant all his effort was for naught! He was barely keeping things afloat; he could have earned a little spending money. Now, everything was lost. Yet when he looked up at Luo Hao, who glanced back at him, Huang Teng could only grit his teeth and bow his head in silence. Director Ma turned his gaze to Xu Musen and Bai Xin and said, "Professor Bai, please don''t interfere in this matter. After all, your student has violated a significant rule of the university. The greater good of the university must be considered. Close the shop for a month to subdue this wave of public opinion. Otherwise, how can we manage the university in the future?" With the appearance of Director Ma, it was as if he was delivering a verdict, and the other leaders exchanged glances, feeling helpless and without options. "Also, let''s retract the report against this student, Huang Teng. They are all students of our university, and it doesn''t look good if word spreads." Director Ma wanted to add more, but then a voice came from the doorway. "With the way you manage now, how can the university be good?" This statement startled the university leaders present, as it was a direct slap in the face. They turned their heads, and their displeased expressions turned to shock as they recognized the elderly lady walking through the door. Even the ever-pretentious Director Ma immediately stood up. "Professor Gao What brings you here?" The leaders present, who were at least in their forties, looked like schoolchildren in front of the old lady, all bowing their heads. "I came to see just how you all are managing the university." Professor Gao''s voice was not loud, and she walked slowly leaning on her cane, but no one dared to speak. Despite being an elderly woman, Professor Gao was a national-level master of fine arts and a living billboard for Hu Hai University. Many of the university''s past deans and leaders, and even many of her students, all still held her in high esteem. Though long retired, her influence was undeniable. Director Ma immediately changed his demeanor, with a smile he fetched a chair, "Professor Gao, it''s just a small matter, you..." "I''m well aware of the situation. Such a straightforward issue, we should punish whoever is wrong. Has Hu Hai University really become so timid that it can''t admit its mistakes and only seeks to muddle through everything?" As Professor Gao spoke, she glanced over Xu Musen a few extra times. Chapter 144 Yao Mingyue An Nuannuan, do you like him? It seems this matter can finally be put to rest.Professor Gao handed his phone to Xu Musen. Continue reading stories on empire After instructing him to delete the recording, he asked him to return the phone to that boy. Xu Musen nodded; naturally, such a task wouldn''t require Professor Gao to make a trip. Upon receiving the phone, Xu Musen discovered there were not only recordings but also some photos that Huang Teng had secretly taken of him giving Luo Hao gifts. Like teacher, like student indeed. Neither was sincerely convinced of the other''s stance. Xu Musen thought for a moment and then simply pulled out the memory card and slipped it into his pocket. Bai Xin escorted Professor Gao to the principal''s office; as for Luo Hao''s punishment, this was just the beginning. Xu Musen remembered what he had promised Yao Mingyue. He picked up the phone and sent her a message. Looking at the last conversation record. It had been many days since then. Or rather, since his rebirth, the two of them had nearly stopped chatting altogether. He mindlessly scrolled up through the messages. Most of them were initiated by Yao Mingyue. "Xu Musen, I''ve brought you breakfast." "Xu Musen, can you accompany me to buy some things this Sunday?" "Huoxiang Zhengqi Water, remember to drink more of it." "Xu Musen, I washed your military training uniform, come down and get it yourself!" "Xu Musen, let''s go to driving school together." "Hey, the college entrance exam is almost here, is it fun for you to be angry with me?" "Xu Musen! I''m going to break off our friendship..." In a daze, it seems months have passed already. Looking at this, Xu Musen suddenly felt a sense of realization; just a few months ago, Yao Mingyue was still that domineering and tsundere little girl. But now, she had indeed changed a lot. Xu Musen paused for a moment, then wrote the message. "I''m okay now, don''t worry, I''m heading back to the milk tea shop to check on things." He put away the phone. As Xu Musen descended the stairs, he saw An Nuannuan sitting in a wheelchair, anxiously fiddling with her little fingers, constantly looking towards the staircase. "Xu Musen!" The moment An Nuannuan saw Xu Musen, she waved at him excitedly, as if relieved. The midday sun blazed hotly, yet she had been waiting for him to come out under it because this was the spot where she could see him first. Thinking back on Professor Gao''s words, this turbulent situation really had kept them all busy. What a little fool. Xu Musen walked over, and An Nuannuan''s pale face was still beaded with sweat, flushed from the sun. "Xu Musen, you''re okay, right..." An Nuannuan''s words were cut off. Xu Musen bent down and gently hugged her, feeling the faint scent of milk in his arms. Xu Musen felt all the exhaustion and bad mood of the entire day were healed. Xu Musen simply hugged her shoulders like a gentleman. "Nuannuan, thank you, I''m alright now." Xu Musen slowly let go of her, observing the delicate cheeks of the young girl flush even more. "You... don''t say thank you." An Nuannuan stumbled over her words, caught off guard by his sudden embrace. "They should have caught me; I am the boss lady after all," she pouted. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Well, I''m half a boss too," Xu Musen said with a gentle smile. "One of us had to be kept safe, and besides, you''ve already succeeded in protecting me once, so I still need to thank you." An Nuannuan''s clear eyes sparkled with color at Xu Musen''s words. "Then how do you plan to thank me?" An Nuannuan''s eyes were filled with anticipation, her lips curling into a pleased arc. Xu Musen laughed and thought for a while, then seriously stroked his chin, looking at An Nuannuan: "Should I give you a pair of socks, too?" An Nuannuan''s little face froze for a moment, immediately remembering the socks she had given him before. "I don''t want them..." she said, a slight expression of distaste appearing on her flushed little face. Xu Musen couldn''t help but burst into laughter: "Now you know what it feels like to be wrongly accused of being a pervert, right?" An Nuannuan pursed her lips, tilting her head: "You might not like socks, but you are definitely a pervert..." "Nuannuan, don''t tarnish my reputation. How am I a pervert?" "You have a thing for feet." "..." Xu Musen didn''t argue; he was standing tall, not afraid of skewed shadows! "Let''s go, don''t make everyone anxious waiting." Xu Musen smiled and went behind her, pushing the wheelchair forward. The noon sun was sweltering, but walking between the rows of plane trees offered a play of dappled sunlight. It fell on them, a rare comfort. ... Xu Musen and An Nuannuan returned to the milk tea shop. At the moment, the shop was still busy with customers, but many were onlookers. It seems this incident had caused some impact. If the shop truly closed for ten days or half a month, it would probably suffer drastically even if it reopened later. Something must be done within these two days to regain the shop''s reputation. In the shop, Zhou Hangyu and others, including Zhao Lianmai, were present. "Musen, you''re finally back; how did it go?" Zhou Hangyu came over to ask. "It''s all sorted now; we can operate as usual." "Good, good, good, damn, today''s mess was giving me a headache. We have classes this afternoon, so we''ll head out first!" Li Rundong stood up, tactfully giving the boss lady and boss some space to talk. Zhao Lianmai brought over two glasses of water and some fruit, placing them in front of him and An Nuannuan. "Xiao Mai, you''ve had a hard day too. I''ll give you a big bonus at the end of the month," Xu Musen said, biting into a piece of fruit and smiling. Zhao Lianmai had indeed not been hired in vain. Chapter 144 Yao Mingyue An Nuannuan, do you like him?_2 Today was filled with so much, Zhao Lianmai was truly running around helping the whole time and didn''t rest for a moment.Zhao Lianmai didn''t say much, only softly said, "Just thank them for me." As Zhao Lianmai spoke, her gaze shifted toward the figure behind Xu Musen. That tall figure also appeared at the entrance of the milk tea shop. Xu Musen turned around, his eyes met those of Yao Mingyue, who walked up to him and examined him carefully. As if she were afraid he''d lost a piece of flesh or something. "It''s alright now?" "It''s alright now." Xu Musen lightly laughed, facing this little tsundere, his tone still lacked the deliberate distancing of before. Yao Mingyue nodded, her gaze moved toward An Nuannuan. Just now, Bai Xin had already told her that an old professor had stepped in to help Xu Musen out of the predicament. And that old professor was the reinforcement An Nuannuan had called in. "I thank you on behalf of Xu Musen." Yao Mingyue approached An Nuannuan, and the tone of her voice was just like that of a wife thanking someone for helping her husband. An Nuannuan lifted her head, her clear eyes meeting Yao Mingyue''s phoenix eyes. "It''s what I should do, I am the boss''s wife after all." The air between the two women was not exactly explosive. But it seemed like there were things neither of them could back down from. "Grrr..." At that moment, the sound of a stomach rumbling came. Xu Musen touched his own stomach and looked at the two with a smile, remarking, "We''ve been busy all day, how about we eat something first?" After the incident, they hadn''t even had lunch. And now it was already afternoon. "We have some." An Nuannuan pulled out the lunch boxes Yao Mingyue had prepared at noon. Neither had had the chance to eat, so An Nuannuan brought them over to the microwave to heat them up. A brief silence filled the room. "You sit first, I''ll go check the storage room." Xu Musen, observing An Nuannuan guarding the microwave, whispered instructions to Yao Mingyue. "What, afraid I''ll bully her?" Yao Mingyue sat in the chair, and with the dust settled, she regained some of her typically aloof demeanor. "The two of you are about even." Xu Musen shook his head, Nuannuan, ah, he felt that the more scheming people were, the less they gained over her. There was no longer the forceful distancing in Xu Musen''s words as there was before. Though still far from the obedient husband Yao Mingyue desired, the state of things was much better than a few months back. Indeed, it seemed that even the hardest of men had their moments of softening... "I''m thirsty." Yao Mingyue suddenly spoke up, and casually crossed her legs, adopting the air of a boss. Having lived with her in a previous life for so many years, how could Xu Musen not understand her meaning. Yet, his face involuntarily broke into an indulgent smile, a smile that held a kind of old-married-couple indulgence. Perhaps even he hadn''t realized it. He turned around, made a milk tea for her, and prepared one for An Nuannuan as well. "Satisfied now?" "Go on, it''s fine now." Sarch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yao Mingyue picked up the milk tea; she enjoyed the feeling of him "serving" her. Although An Nuannuan had one too, it was still better than not having his attention at all before... Her lips curved slightly as she waved him off. Xu Musen and Zhao Lianmai went into the storage room to take a look; they had to make some changes over the next two to three days. The faster the reversal of public opinion, the smaller the losses could be contained. "Are we doing a discount sale?" Zhao Lianmai couldn''t think of a better course of action for a moment. But a pricing strategy was always useful at any time. However, Xu Musen shook his head: "We can''t lower prices, although it would attract customers, subconsciously it would make others think that we truly have issues, just like that. Not only can we not decrease prices, but we also have to introduce some new items to tell people we''re doing great." "So tonight, let''s prepare a tent, push out the refrigerated cabinet, and arrange all these fruits into it..." Xu Musen was setting tasks for Zhao Lianmai. At this moment, the milk tea shop had few customers. "Ding~" The microwave finished heating. An Nuannuan carefully took out the lunch boxes, first placing a portion on the table. She didn''t eat but instead pushed it toward Yao Mingyue. Yao Mingyue was startled; indeed, the lunch was what she had left at the restaurant. Continue your saga on empire "You haven''t eaten either, now you can." An Nuannuan looked at her, her voice as soft as ever. Yao Mingyue had been holding back from saying anything to her, but now that she came forward, Yao Mingyue put down her milk tea. She looked at An Nuannuan; not bullying her was one thing, but there was no harm in having a chat, right? "An Nuannuan." This was the first time Yao Mingyue directly called her by name. Yet in Hu Hai University, actually, the three of them were the earliest acquaintances, old high school classmates. "Yes?" An Nuannuan nodded, lifting her head with a serious look of attentiveness. Yao Mingyue looked at her seemingly harmless face, and lightly parted her lips: "Do you like Xu Musen?" An Nuannuan''s big eyes contracted ever so slightly. "I mean like in a romantic sense, not the way friends do." Yao Mingyue continued, her eyes locked on An Nuannuan''s the whole time. An Nuannuan''s mind also flashed through many memories at that moment. Like... such a romantic yet heavy word. She''d secretly witnessed all of Xu Musen''s high school crushes. The passionate ones, the understated ones, the evocative ones, the complicated ones, and those unreciprocated likes. An Nuannuan didn''t know what counted as liking someone, but she knew liking someone was an incredibly important matter. Chapter 144 Yao Mingyue An Nuannuan, do you like him?_3 It was about a lifetime commitment, about having a response for everything, about bearing another person''s responsibilities, about giving the best of oneself unreservedly to the other.Before she was fully prepared, she dared not to say anything carelessly. Because she had come to realize that once you fail to become lovers, you might not even have the chance to be friends anymore. She lowered her head to look at her own legs, then raised her head again to look at Yao Mingyue. "And what about you, do you like... like him?" The words Yao Mingyue was about to blurt out also paused for a moment. She had discussed such a topic with Xu Musen several times as well. Yao Mingyue knew her own flaws; she indeed hadn''t truly realized what it took to like someone. But there was one thing she was certain of. "I like him, maybe not enough to marry and be together, but one thing I''m sure of is that he must like me too. As long as he''s with me, I will never leave him in this lifetime." Yao Mingyue''s voice carried a firmness, initially like declaring war. That was her confidence, after all, twenty years of being childhood friends, the memories and experiences between them could not be replaced by anyone. Moreover, Xu Musen definitely liked her, just with some reservations, but one day, when all those reservations vanished. Wouldn''t they be the most perfect couple under the sky? An Nuannuan was silent for a moment, her peach-blossom eyes swirling with emotions, yet showing no signs of urgency or loss. She took a sip of her milk tea, then looked at the milk tea in her hands and spoke softly, "I like grape flavor, you like black tea flavor, he knows both, but do you know what he likes to drink?" Yao Mingyue was stunned for a bit. Xu Musen had bought her milk tea before, but it was always whatever she liked to drink, and he would just go along with it. Xu Musen liked sweet and sour spare ribs; because she liked them too, perhaps because the two had grown up together, it was normal for their tastes to align. But if asked what Xu Musen liked, she seemed to be at a loss, since it appeared that he would make an effort to like whatever she liked. "Do you know?" Yao Mingyue looked at her. An Nuannuan shook her head: "Actually, he doesn''t really like milk tea, but he always accompanies me to drink it. He''s always so nice to everyone, adjusting to everyone''s tastes, but he seldom mentions what he likes..." Yao Mingyue looked at the milk tea in her hand. Suddenly, she remembered that when Xu Musen was alone, he had never mentioned liking milk tea. But whenever there was a chance, he would always buy it for her. It wasn''t the milk tea he liked, but because with that cup of milk tea, he could spend more time with Yao Mingyue. Yao Mingyue''s heart trembled. "That''s why, I think it''s meaningless for either of us to say we like him; what matters is that he likes one of us." An Nuannuan spoke softly, her eyes downcast at the milk tea in her hand: "He always remembers what I like, and I''m very happy when I drink the flavor I like, so, if he could get what he likes... he would probably be very happy too." An Nuannuan''s words made Yao Mingyue''s heart quiver incessantly. Experience tales at empire Her analogy was naive, yet... it struck the soul with its purity. An Nuannuan gently pushed the lunch box towards her. "So, I also don''t know what liking someone means, but I want to become... someone he could like." An Nuannuan''s words were soft, with a hint of a young girl''s shy coyness and seriousness. Yao Mingyue found herself surrounded by warmth. She seemed to understand in that moment why Xu Musen liked to spend time with her. It was what she was missing... She looked at the lunch box An Nuannuan had pushed in front of her. "An Nuannuan, you should understand what I mean" Yao Mingyue and her were in a sort of "romantic rivalry" relationship. Others in such a situation would be green-eyed with envy at each other''s presence, it would be a miracle if they didn''t come to blows. Yet, she actually offered her a hot meal. "I know." An Nuannuan nodded. "Then why offer me a hot meal? Aren''t you afraid that we''ll become enemies later?" Yao Mingyue really couldn''t comprehend; in her mind, if another girl came to snatch him away, she would only try to make the other girl unable to eat. An Nuannuan looked at her and started speaking softly. "But we still need to eat first; Xu Musen wouldn''t want you to be hungry." An Nuannuan''s tone was serious, without the slightest bit of sarcasm, Yao Mingyue stared at the steamy and fragrant meal, then at An Nuannuan. This was the first time she felt someone''s naivety and purity so keenly. Could this be the reason? Yao Mingyue thought silently, then looked up again at An Nuannuan. sea??h th N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Thank you." Yao Mingyue''s thanks were not for the hot meal, but because she seemed to have grasped a reason to be better together with him. So, I still won''t yield him to you Chapter 145 I Have Three Boss Ladies Like This! Xu Musen had been worrying in the warehouse that those two might start arguing.But when he came out, he saw Yao Mingyue gracefully eating, and An Nuannuan was cradling her milk tea too. The two of them were sitting together, silent but it was a special kind of tranquility. Even the atmosphere was a bit... harmonious? "Xu Musen, this is for you," An Nuannuan took out Xu Musen''s meal from the microwave. It was steaming hot, with a little chicken drumstick inside. Xu Musen looked at An Nuannuan and Yao Mingyue and thought to himself that he vowed not to be a kept man in this lifetime, yet why did he feel like he had just been doubly coddled? He shook this weird thought out of his mind. "Nuannuan, you didn''t eat enough at noon either, right? Why don''t I share some with you to fill your stomach first?" Xu Musen got a plate ready to divide some of it. But a pair of fair hands directly snatched away the plate. Yao Mingyue put the plate in front of herself and began to divide the food in her lunch box in half. "It''s just as well I can''t finish it by myself; my portion is suitable for girls." As Yao Mingyue spoke, she pushed half of the divided portion toward An Nuannuan. Xu Musen nodded, as Yao Mingyue''s lunchbox indeed consisted of fruits and vegetables, which was very suitable for girls, while his box was almost all meat. "Do you have enough to eat?" Xu Musen asked. "Mm, yes, that''s enough, thank you, Sister Yao," An Nuannuan remembered Yao Mingyue''s name too, which was already quite an achievement. He Qiang is still being called "Little Black" even now. Xu Musen looked at the large plate of meat, it wouldn''t be long before dinner time, so he just ate it as a stopgap. Zhao Lianmai came out of the warehouse at this moment. "Xiao Mai, you didn''t have a meal either, right? I can''t finish this, let''s eat some together?" Xu Musen called out. This excellent employee couldn''t be treated poorly. However, he didn''t see that at this moment, both An Nuannuan and Yao Mingyue''s eyes were coincidentally looking at him. There seems to be a silent complaint. "No need," Zhao Lianmai waved her hand. Heh, if she ate this meal, she''d not only offend the boss''s wife but also the girl who seemed tough to deal with. Anyway, looking at the food chain, she, the boss, was the "weakest chicken," not worth the trouble. "It''s still hot out, are you going to the cafeteria?" Read new chapters at empire "No, I ordered delivery." Zhao Lianmai picked up her phone, ready to place an order. Xu Musen nearly spit out his rice: "What, you''re ordering delivery in front of me?" This is like asking Ma Huateng to recharge Q Coins, asking Ma Yun to use Ant CreditPay, asking the author to pay for their own book... damn it, authors do actually have to pay to read their own books! Wicked capitalism! Geneva, refund my money! "I''ve been delivering for so long, is it not okay for me to enjoy it occasionally?" Zhao Lianmai gave him a look, not wanting to be the third wheel anymore. But just after she placed the order, her phone popped up with an order acceptance notification. Then, Zhao Lianmai put on a cap and walked out. Xu Musen pondered for a moment. "Wait a minute! Is she fleecing me here?" Using the red packet she received to place the order and then picking it up herself, wouldn''t this meal not only cost nothing but might even make a profit! Day and night guarding, but hard to guard against a house thief. Xu Musen shook his head. Yao Mingyue and An Nuannuan, watching his reaction, couldn''t help but stifle a laugh. The same two words appeared in the minds of these rival suitors. Deserved! ... In the evening, the day''s classes were over. Xu Musen gathered everyone in the milk tea shop. "Everyone knows about today''s situation by now, it was a little urgent, but it''s been satisfactorily resolved," Xu Musen said, his gaze landing on the part-time female student: "Especially during this incident, our classmate dealt with the pressure well. Even though the mistake wasn''t ours, she still managed to keep a smiling and servile attitude, which is quite remarkable." Xu Musen took a red envelope out of his chest pocket and handed it to the girl. "Boss, this..." "Take it; consider it compensation for the trouble this time. Keep up the good work." Xu Musen stuffed the red envelope into her hand. "Thank you, boss!" The young girl was so moved she was nearly in tears and kept thanking him profusely. "And Xiao Mai, you''ve worked hard today, running around. More importantly, over this period, your performance has always been the best, so you must accept this red packet," Xu Musen''s gaze shifted to Zhao Lianmai. However, it was An Nuannuan who handed out the red envelopes, offering one to her with both hands. Zhao Lianmai had always felt that all these duties were part of her job and didn''t require any red packet rewards. But looking into An Nuannuan''s eyes, she nodded silently and accepted the red packet. It was obviously thicker than the one given to the other girl just before. "And everyone, we all relied on you this time. When we tally the wages for this month, there will be an extra bonus for everyone!" Xu Musen was generous to all. "Musen, you''re so generous!" Zhou Hangyu and a few others shouted out. "But we still have to bother all of you a bit today. Today''s events will definitely have some impact, and tonight is our most important chance to turn things around. Work hard; there are red packets today as well!" Xu Musen led them out of the shop where tents were already set up at the entrance, and several coolers were placed at the doorway, filled with all kinds of fresh fruit. "The first step is to dispel everyone''s doubts about the freshness of the fruit; from today on, all fruits are going to be displayed for them to pick and choose themselves, and every day we''ll publish the exact time of the fruit deliveries, so everyone knows the dates the fruits arrived." "Secondly, from now on, our milk tea production will be transparent; we''re removing the partitions from the kitchen so everyone can see it''s safe, and we can expand a bit to increase staffing." "Thirdly, every Friday, if we have leftover fruit, we''ll have a buy-one-get-one-free deal on that day, which I call ''Crazy Friday!''" Sar?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 145 I Have Three Boss Ladies Like This!_2 Once the fruit tea business scaled up, it was inevitable that we couldn''t always keep things limited. It''s tough to simply throw away fruit when you have a lot of stock and it''s been around for a while.Why not have a promotion on the last day, openly telling customers about it? That way, customers might actually think it''s great. Near-expiration is not the same as expired, and it''s economical too. Xu Musen''s decisions were met with applause and cheers from everyone. "Damn, Musen bro, your brain is awesome, coming up with so many ideas so quickly." "From now on, we''re following you, Musen bro. We want to work with you for a lifetime!" Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong were all fired up. After today''s events, they were even more convinced that Xu Musen was seriously talented. "A lifetime is not necessary, I''m not into that." "???" Xu Musen turned and looked at An Nuannuan: "It might be a long night today, why don''t you head back and rest first?" An Nuannuan had pushed her wheelchair for such a long distance today, which was quite the workout for her. But An Nuannuan shook her head: "I am the boss''s wife, after all. I shall share the fate of the tea shop!" She raised her little hand, her face serious, as if she were about to enter a battlefield. "You mean to share the fate of Boss Xu, right?" Some people started jeering with laughter. Unable to hold back a smile, Xu Musen gently patted her head: "Good." Having An Nuannuan, the little mascot, really did attract customers. "Can I also help?" That''s when a voice came from outside. Dressed casually yet still unable to conceal her tall stature and extraordinary presence, she stood in front of Xu Musen, her phoenix eyes particularly captivating in the twilight. Although it was phrased as a question, there wasn''t really an opportunity for rejection. "I suppose I can''t persuade you otherwise, can I?" Xu Musen looked at her, a hint of resignation in his voice. No one could stop this little ''sickly beauty'' when she decided to do something. "You know it." Yao Mingyue''s lips curved slightly, fond of the understanding that was unique to the two of them. Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong exchanged a look, unable to deny their envy. Come to help? That was clearly a move to compete for the position of the boss''s wife, wasn''t it? So damn infuriating! The stall promotion began. Ma Yaxing had created a script for automatic posting, continuously promoting on major forums things like "Auntie''s Tea Shop in Shanghai back to normal operation," "Auntie''s Tea Shop in Shanghai makes a grand return," "Don''t miss out on the explosive event, beautiful boss lady cutting fruits in store..." Online and offline, everyone worked hard together. Even those who didn''t usually drink milk tea couldn''t resist coming over to join the buzz. "Is this tea shop really okay, or is it just pretending? It almost closed this morning, and now it''s having a promotion in the afternoon. It''s not a ploy to rip us off before running away, is it?" "Hasn''t it been clarified already? I drink here all the time and never had a problem." "Look, they''ve posted the delivery time for the fruits, and most of it is from the same day." "Hey, look! The boss lady is cutting the fruit herself. Even if there''s a problem, I''m willing to take the risk!" Your next journey awaits at empire Many of the crowd who came for the buzz were attracted by the incredible beauty of Yao Mingyue and An Nuannuan, surrounding them inside and out. Not a few people gathered in front of Zhao Lianmai either. Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong, a pair of beleaguered brothers, also wanted to help out front, but people didn''t seem too happy to see them, so they could only run errands back and forth. This made the two of them feel aggrieved, wondering if they were even human! This world that judged people by their looks could go to ruin for all they cared; they were tired of it. Xu Musen, on the other hand, was reflecting on the advertising effect of image endorsers. No wonder top-tier celebrities could command endorsement fees of millions or even tens of millions; there was some logic to it after all. Night fell. A Ferrari pulled into the campus, with Zhu Yulan stepping out of the car. The incident at Binhai University was now spreading across major campus forums. Wasn''t Auntie''s Tea Shop that guy Xu Musen''s place? It seemed to be a serious situation, so Zhu Yulan decided to come and see for herself. "Yu Lan, don''t you think you''re a bit too concerned about him?" The round-faced girl Yang Xiaotao also arrived, as Yu Lan had practically rushed over as soon as she heard about Xu Musen''s incident. This was the first time Yang Xiaotao had seen her show so much concern for someone. "Concern for him?" Zhu Yulan scoffed: "That guy has tricked me so many times. I finally help him find staff, and if he goes bankrupt, wouldn''t all my efforts be in vain?" "Yu Lan, you can fool me but don''t fool yourself." "Still talking back, do you believe I''ll dock your pay!" "Wuuu..." Yang Xiaotao sulked as Zhu Yulan pinched her round face and led her forward. Evenings were the busiest time for tea shops. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But Yu Lan thought that with all that happened today, even if the shop was fine, its business would surely be affected. Yet passersby noticed that the tea shop was bustling with people, even more popular than before. "Eh? Is that the tea shop? Does this look like it''s about to close down or what..." Yang Xiaotao, witnessing the throng, felt it was like a temple fair. If this was what a shop on the brink of closing looked like, then their own shop could only be described as explosively packed. Zhu Yulan was also taken aback, though the campus forums still spoke highly of this milk tea shop. But the business booming rather than declining was way beyond normal. Seeing the display of fresh fruits in the refrigerated cabinet, as well as the delivery notices for the fruits and the ''Frantic Friday'' promotions, Zhu Yulan appeared contemplative. Though she was reluctant to admit it, she had to acknowledge that the guy really had remarkable adaptability. After such a major incident, he not only managed to avoid negative impact but also used the surge of traffic to expand his brand''s influence. Chapter 145 I Have Three Boss Ladies Like This!_3 "Zhu Sister, he''s really impressive," Yang Xiaotao couldn''t help but speak up.Unlike you, all you do is splurge money. "Hmm?" Zhu Yulan gave her a glance without any expression. "Hoo hoo~" Yang Xiaotao immediately began to play dumb. At that moment, Zhu Yulan also spotted Yao Mingyue and An Nuannuan setting up their stall. She knew them. One was a lady boss, the other a childhood sweetheart. Both entangled with that guy. But today, they''ve actually joined forces. It''s safe to say, half the people today came for them. Tsk, in the end, it''s still relying on women~ Not like me, a strong, independent new-era woman! Zhu Yulan hummed to herself in self-consolation. "Yo, isn''t that Classmate Zhu? What brings you here?" Xu Musen caught sight of her and immediately greeted her. "Just here to see if certain people can keep it up," Zhu Yulan huffed. "Thanks for caring, Classmate Zhu, we managed to hang in there. Are you here to inspect our work today?" Xu Musen smiled while picking up two cups of milk tea and handed them to her and Yang Xiaotao. "Thank you~" Yang Xiaotao, also a big foodie, happily took a sip. Zhu Yulan also took the milk tea and saw the lid bore the advertisement of her BOSS Zhipin campaign. This pleased her inwardly, and she looked up at the guy with a smiling face before her. Whenever he smiled like this in the past, he was sure to swindle someone. But this time... it wasn''t so bad after all. "Well done." Zhu Yulan nodded approvingly, a leader acknowledging a subordinate. Unconcerned, Xu Musen kept a cheerful smile, "Tonight''s probably the night with the heaviest traffic, and the ad had its best effect. It''s just a pity that we''re short-staffed and some of the impact was wasted." Xu Musen sighed slightly, a look of regret on his face. "Can''t you hire a couple more people?" "It was too urgent to do so." What Xu Musen said was true, but they weren''t short on people to run errands and cut fruit, rather what they needed was someone with a star effect, like Yao Mingyue and An Nuannuan. This young girl, even though she didn''t have a large chest or much brains, had a face and looks that scored a solid eight or nine, a bona fide campus belle. Zhu Yulan looked at the milk tea in her hand, then glanced at the bustling stall, a small struggle visible in her eyes. Would helping out here get her a few more ads for herself? But wouldn''t that be like working for him? Sarch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Classmate Zhu, feel free to have a seat. Even our lady boss has taken the field. I can''t stay idle either. Starting a business is tough. I can''t compare with the rich and powerful second-generationseverything must be hands-on," Xu Musen said, rolling up his sleeves, ready to get back to helping. However, his words hit a nerve that Zhu Yulan least wanted people to bring up. Who''s being called a lazy, spoiled second-gen? She glanced again at the advertisement on the milk tea lid for her project and bit her lip, "Hey! I can help you out... I just pity you because you almost had to close up shop today!" Stay updated via empire Zhu Yulan had a haughty air as she spoke; Xu Musen''s lips were quivering, barely containing his amusement. But on the surface, he still said, "That''s really not necessary. How can I let a big boss like you do such rough work? I couldn''t afford it if you got injured while cutting fruit with your Ferrari-driving hands." These words irritated Zhu Yulan even more. Was he calling her a vase? "I said I can do it, don''t look down on people," Zhu Yulan was becoming indignant. "Zhu Sister, don''t..." Yang Xiaotao felt like this was a trap set for her, but Zhu Yulan''s competitive spirit kicked in, and she snorted. "What? You think I can''t even cut fruit?" Zhu Yulan glared at her. Yang Xiaotao pursed her lips, thinking don''t drag me into this if you''re going to work. In the end, Zhu Yulan did find a spot and started helping sell milk tea, but she made a special point to highlight the BOSS Zhipin advertisement on each cup sold. She acted as though she had sneakily gained an advantage. Yang Xiaotao felt a bit helpless, turning to look at Xu Musen, whose smile couldn''t be suppressed. Alas, her silly boss might not be defeated by competitors in the future. But instead, be swindled and crippled by this "partner" right in front of her. "My God... did he just swindle another one?" Zhou Hangyu, running back and forth, saw that Zhu Yulan had actually come to help and his teeth nearly turned sour. He then looked towards Yao Mingyue and An Nuannuan on the other side. One he would share weal and woe with, the other who had voluntarily come to lend a hand. And now, another one swindled into selling milk tea by driving a Ferrari. All the rich women in the world belong to you, even the heavens owe you two measures! Chapter 146 Childhood Sweethearts, How Can It Be a Waste? The milk tea shop''s promotion was planned to last three days.Zhu Yulan realized on the first evening that she had been tricked again. Sear?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Angry, she wanted to jump up and bite Xu Musen. But before she left, Xu Musen sent her a red envelope with two hundred yuan in it. "Zhu Boss, you''ve worked hard, this is your hard-earned fee." Truth be told, this amount of money wasn''t enough to press her Ferrari''s gas pedal a few times. Zhu Yulan looked at the two hundred yuan hard-earned fee he handed her and felt it was more like an "imbecile fee!" "Xu Musen! Would you die if you didn''t trick me?" She couldn''t help but grind her teeth; while cutting the fruit, she almost cut her hand, and after selling hundreds of cups of milk tea, her arms were sore. "Zhu Boss, that''s not right to say, we are partners, mutual benefit and win-win. Plus, don''t you feel that this kind of hands-on work, though tiring, was also very rewarding?" Xu Musen said with a smile, his thick skin made it difficult to respond. "Everyone who came to help today got a two hundred yuan red envelope, don''t think it''s too little, Zhu Boss. This is also the most honorable money that you made by yourself, one cup at a time." As Xu Musen spoke, he stuffed the two hundred yuan into her hand. Zhu Yulan clutched the two hundred yuan in her hand. It wasn''t just two hundred yuan, even if it was two hundred thousand, Zhu Yulan wouldn''t feel that excited. However, Xu Musen''s words made her feel a pleasant affirmation of her internal desire to achieve something on her own. Sweat money, speaking of which... this was really the first time she ever did this kind of work. Looking at the milk tea she sold and the big basket of fruit she had cut, though tired, she really felt a small sense of achievement. Tch! That''s because I''m naturally capable. But if there''s something going on at my shop in the future, you also have to help me out!" "Of course, but do you still want this two hundred yuan?" "Of course! Why wouldn''t I want my hard-earned money!" Only then did Zhu Yulan feel somewhat balanced, putting the two hundred yuan into her purse. "Xiaotao, let''s go." Zhu Yulan waved her hand toward her. Yang Xiaotao also received two hundred yuan, which made her quite happy; calculating it out, the hourly wage was over a hundred! Although Zhu Yulan was also generous, she was always fierce. As for Xu Musen, he was always smiling and even allowed them to eat fruits as they wished. By comparison, working here was really too joyful. She said to Xu Musen, "Boss Xu, remember to call me for part-time jobs like this in the future" "Xiaotao!" Zhu Yulan came over grinding her teeth and pinched her chubby cheek. Zhu Yulan''s good mood disappeared again as she glared at Xu Musen. "Don''t steal my people!" Xu Musen spread his hands, indicating he didn''t do anything. "See how I''ll deal with you when I get back!" "Wuuu... " Zhu Yulan snorted and walked away with Yang Xiaotao. Xu Musen couldn''t help but smile as he watched their retreating figures. The entrepreneurial journey was very hard, but having such a damaging friend along was quite interesting. They closed up shop. Xu Musen had sent a two hundred yuan red envelope to each person today, asking them to go home and rest first. Xu Musen then checked the evening''s expenses and the changes in online public opinion. Indeed, today''s efforts were very effective. The topics on the forums were mostly positive now. For example, the fruits were really fresh, the milk tea was very sweet, the milk tea shop''s owner was truly beautiful, and the owner of the milk tea shop truly deserved to die... Your next read is at empire Xu Musen couldn''t help but smile as he read. Getting scolded was just thatgetting scolded. If a person can earn money from being scolded, they aren''t far from success. It was getting late. Xu Musen first took Yao Mingyue home. Only the occasional figure was seen on the roadside, and the two of them walked together after a long time. October was upon them. The wind was picking up. The nights were no longer so hot; the breeze was chilling if you only wore a short-sleeved shirt. After being busy for so long, the sweat on their bodies was blown away by the breeze, taking some of the warmth with it, making it easier to catch a cold at such times. "Achoo..." Yao Mingyue sneezed softly. Xu Musen turned his head to look at her, "Take a hot bath when you get back, and you can wear a coat next time you go out at night." "But what if I''m cold now?" Yao Mingyue gently touched her own arm. "Then there''s nothing I can do, I''m wearing a short-sleeved shirt too." Yao Mingyue, however, walked behind him, leaned on his back, and gently pulled on his sleeve with her hand. The two were very close, almost able to feel each other''s body heat. This distance would cause them to stick together if they weren''t careful. Xu Musen turned his head to look at her. "When it was windy or rainy before, you used to block the wind for me like this." Yao Mingyue looked into his eyes. Memories from the past began to surface in Xu Musen''s mind. As children, walking to and from school, if the weather was bad, he would let Yao Mingyue hide behind him. Or they''d run home with his jacket over both their heads, and though they''d end up soaked, they laughed happily. Memories of the past flooded his thoughts. Before Yao Mingyue''s personality had become more twisted, they truly were the envy of everyone as childhood best friends. "We''ve both grown up, and we have to learn to take care of ourselves from now on." Xu Musen didn''t pull away but slowly looked at her and spoke. The two were almost touching, and Yao Mingyue looked up at him. "But sometimes, I think it''s good not to grow up, as there wouldn''t be so many things to worry about, nor so many accidents." Yao Mingyue looked up at him, almost as if it were the same scene from more than a decade ago, with the two of them carrying their little backpacks to elementary school. Chapter 146 Whims Over Green Plum and Bamboo Horse_2 It seemed like Xu Musen had always been half a head taller than her ever since they were young.A distance that felt very secure. It was the final ten centimeters that could be bridged simply by the boy lowering his head and the girl standing on tiptoe. Yao Mingyue gently went on her tiptoes, yet Xu Musen did not lower his head. "But we will always grow up, and the world out there is wonderful, you should go out and see more of it." "Yes, the world is wonderful, but I almost lost sight of you, so what does the wonder of this world have to do with me?" Yao Mingyue slowly steadied herself, but the defiance and persistence in her eyes still burned brightly. Xu Musen fell silent for a moment. He had seen all the changes in Yao Mingyue throughout this time. But ice that''s three feet thick wasn''t formed in a single day; neither the relationship between two people nor the pathological state in Yao Mingyue''s heart could change overnight. Before they found a real equilibrium in their relationship, they shouldn''t act rashly. "Things are pretty good as they are now." Xu Musen spoke slowly, looking at the present Yao Mingyue. Compared to the past Ming Yue, who couldn''t get along with anyone and was indifferent to everything except Xu Musen. In fact, she now seemed more like a typical eighteen-year-old girl ought to be. "Xu Musen, don''t forget what you said before; I will gradually find more ways to like you." Ming Yue''s gaze was fierce, even more direct and bold than many boys pursuing girls. "I''m a bit slow in this area, but I will find my way, no matter how long it takes." This was the first time the proud girl admitted to being inferior to others in some way. Indeed, her advances were always intense and strong, yet they hardly swayed his heart. And what about An Nuannuan? She appeared naive, but she always managed to touch the softest part of people''s hearts. The one who helps you improve the fastest is undoubtedly your enemy. Xu Musen remained silent for a few seconds. They both understood each other, Yao Mingyue couldn''t be dissuaded, and Xu Musen wasn''t trying to string her along. There might just be a better way. They should not repeat the regrets of their past lives. "Not everything leads to results, I don''t want you to truly waste your time," said Xu Musen, looking at her. "I don''t think it''s a waste." Yao Mingyue shook her head, her eyes sparkling especially bright under the night lights. "Since graduating from primary school, you''ve taken care of me for six years, a total of two thousand one hundred ninety days. So even if there''s only a one in two thousand one hundred ninety chance daily, it''s not a waste." Yao Mingyue said and suddenly hugged him from behind. She had almost forgotten the warmth of this embrace. In that moment, Xu Musen felt as if his body''s warmest instincts had been reawakened. In their past life, such embraces would last for a very long time. The softness of the girl''s body, along with that familiar scent, made Xu Musen momentarily unable to resist. Ming Yue felt a bit reluctant, but she let go of him quickly. "Alright, I won''t take the money, consider this my labor fee for today." Ming Yue stepped back, a smile appearing on the corners of her mouth. "Brother Musen, good night." The evening breeze lifted the hair by her ears, like ink in the night sky, falling on her pale cheeks, her eyes shimmering. This clingy demeanor. It really wasn''t like her. But maybe this was her. Maybe, this is the way Yao Mingyue should grow up normally. Xu Musen felt a slight stirring in his heart, watching her figure disappear at the foot of the girls'' dormitory. He took a deep breath in silence. In the wind, there seemed to linger a faint fragrance of flowers. Sarch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... At this moment in the milk tea shop. An Nuannuan looked at today''s bills, her feet under the wheelchair swinging joyfully. "Nuannuan, he walked her back, don''t you think anything of it?" Zhao Lianmai approached An Nuannuan. Although An Nuannuan always seemed as steady as Mount Tai, Ming Yue''s offensive was very strong too. Especially after today''s events, to be fair. That girl named Yao Mingyue really does care about Xu Musen. "Think about what?" "I mean, if by any chance those two... got closer, then you guys might" Zhao Lianmai was at a loss for words. Although she had never been in a relationship, she could feel that An Nuannuan had special feelings for Xu Musen. And such a pure-hearted girl, if ever badly hurt by someone, might never recover... "It won''t happen, Xu Musen is not that kind of person." But An Nuannuan shook her head, her peach blossom eyes were particularly clear. Zhao Lianmai sighed. He might not, but that girl is very assertive. However, there wasn''t much else she felt she could say. Xu Musen returned to the milk tea shop. "Xiao Mai, you''ve worked hard, you should go back and rest early." Xu Musen said to Zhao Lianmai. Zhao Lianmai didn''t say much, but her gaze shifted to An Nuannuan: "It''s your shop owner who had the hard day." With that, Zhao Lianmai stood up and left. Of course, Xu Musen knew that An Nuannuan had a tough day today. He approached her and, looking at the silly girl in front of him, felt his emotions always seemed to find peace. Only the two of them were left in the milk tea shop. Xu Musen looked at her ledger, took it from in front of her, and closed it. "You''ve worked hard today, boss. Do you need me to give you a shoulder rub?" "Yes, yes!" Both of them tacitly avoided mentioning the matter of his return. Xu Musen came by her side, reaching out and gently massaging her shoulders. An average person would feel exhausted after a busy afternoon. Not to mention she had been pushing a wheelchair all this time. "Xu Musen, your hands are so warm and strong, amazing." Chapter 146 Childhood Sweethearts, How Can It Be a Waste?_3 An Nuannuan felt a comfortable sensation spreading through her shoulders.Xu Musen had already gotten somewhat used to the fierce words she occasionally blurted out. "Nuannuan, the Professor Gao who came today, it was you who invited her, right?" "Yeah yeah, I call her Granny Gao." "She seems very formidable, even the school leaders are afraid of her." "Granny Gao is very nice to people." "That''s because she''s nice to you." Xu Musen cracked a slight smile, "Anyway, no matter what, she really helped me out today, I''ll have to thank her properly later on." "But the one who worked the hardest is our boss lady, Madam Nuannuan herself." Xu Musen smiled and gently rubbed her soft cheek with his finger. "As the boss lady, of course I have to look after you all." An Nuannuan happily squinted her eyes while looking at Xu Musen. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Plus, this is what you gave to me, no one else should even think about taking it away." "Don''t worry, no one can compete with you for the position of the boss lady." The content of the conversation between the two was somewhat ambiguously flirtatious. An Nuannuan''s face turned a bit red. Xu Musen cleared his throat, "It''s getting late, I should take you home." "Mhm..." On the way, a gentle breeze blew, slightly lifting the hem of the girl''s skirt, and she was still wearing a pair of sandals. Her little white feet seemed to curl slightly as if tickled by the breeze. "It''s getting colder, you shouldn''t wear sandals anymore." Xu Musen reminded her. "Then you won''t be able to see them anymore, right?" An Nuannuan said seriously. Xu Musen found himself at a loss for words. What did she think of him? "Nuannuan, you seem to have some misconceptions about me, I''m concerned about your health, you know?" Xu Musen said with seriousness. "Oh~ then how about I wear cotton shoes, and change into sandals when I get to the milk tea shop, is that okay?" An Nuannuan looked up at him, blinking her big eyes. She might as well have written ''I show off my feet just for you'' on her face. Was she determined to label him as some kind of foot fanatic? Xu Musen took a deep breath. "That''s a great idea!" ... An Nuannuan looked at him and also lowered her head to glance at her own little feet, white and tender as they were, really quite pretty. Just like milk ice cream. "Xu Musen, if... my feet weren''t pretty, would you still like me?" "Too bad your feet are indeed pretty, hence there''s no such scenario... and besides, I only appreciate them, I''m not a pervert." Xu Musen hastily covered up the slip. An Nuannuan hummed, though she didn''t hear a direct answer. But being complimented made her feel quite accomplished. They arrived at the dormitory building. "Alright, go up and rest, you worked hard today." "Xu Musen..." An Nuannuan tugged at his sleeve, then held out her hands, "Did you forget something?" "What?" Xu Musen was taken aback. "My pay!" An Nuannuan stretched out her hand, asking for her hard-earned money from the afternoon. Xu Musen paused for a moment, then couldn''t help but smile, "Does a little rich girl like you still care about these two hundred bucks?" "That''s different, you said everyone would get it." What An Nuannuan cared about was not missing out on any part from him. Xu Musen took out two hundred yuan from his pocket and handed it to her with a smile, "Are you satisfied now?" An Nuannuan chuckled, taking the money, but then she placed it back in Xu Musen''s hand. "Why don''t you want it now?" An Nuannuan shook her head, her fair little face flushed with a hint of pink. "No, this money is for you, will you take me out to eat something worth two hundred yuan next time?" Xu Musen''s hand holding the money paused. A girl works hard for you and then, with her own money, asks you to take her out for a meal... Xu Musen looked at An Nuannuan, at that beautiful face with a touch of silliness, and realized that in a corner of his heart, her image was becoming increasingly vivid. "You eat so much, two hundred might not be enough." Xu Musen couldn''t help but laugh. "Then you''ll figure something out." An Nuannuan showed a mischievous expression. Xu Musen felt touched, lowered his head, and gently stroked her cheek with a soft smile. A gentle breeze blew, the warmth lingered. "Okay." Chapter 147 The Golden Legend Task, Remolding Yandere. Time at university always flies by so quickly.In the blink of an eye, October was just around the corner. The National Day holiday was imminent, and the school had already submerged in the joy of its first extended break. Xu Musen also welcomed his company''s first end-of-the-month summary meeting. Although the milk tea shop had gone through some major upheavals, the overall revenue situation was still quite good. The income was at two hundred and fifty thousand. For just a single-category small storefront, that was already quite impressive. Of course, after deducting the cost of setting up the shop, promotional expenses, and utilities, it hadn''t even recouped the startup costs yet. But this was a positive trend; typically, it takes about three to five months for a milk tea shop to break even. According to the current estimates, profits could begin as early as next month. The food delivery service was also progressing like gangbusters. With the university''s entrepreneurial fund subsidy as a hedge, it actually started turning a profit in the first month. And, after all, while you can go without milk tea, eating is a must. With so many students at a school, daily revenue was substantial. This month''s net income was also over a hundred thousand. Maintaining a steady student population of over ten thousand year-round at Hu Hai University, a monthly profit of over a hundred thousand essentially equated to each person ordering delivery three or four times a month. Continue reading on empire This proportion looked pitifully small. But Xu Musen was already quite content; after all, the habit of ordering delivery, a method of convenience for the lazy, was slowly becoming contagious. More and more people would order delivery in the future. Moreover, the branch at Fudan University was now essentially finished with its renovations. Xu Musen would frequently hitch a ride in Zhu Yulan''s Ferrari to Fudan University''s cafeteria to chat with the various owners. With Hu Hai University''s successful example, many cafeteria owners had been inquiring about it early on in their circles. After all, there were only so many dining spots in the school; delivery could significantly increase sales, and who wouldn''t want to earn more money? So, this time when Xu Musen came to talk business, it was almost always the owners who actively approached him. They even proactively offered concessions to seek collaboration. Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong, who had come along, couldn''t help but exclaim. "Negotiating our first business deal was damn difficult, getting snubbed day in and day out. Now, look at them, practically falling over themselves to make an offer." "It proves the saying, when you''re successful, everyone around you is a friend." "Hardship followed by sweetness; this is the importance of brand effect, and this is just our first step." Xu Musen also smiled as his gaze fell upon the milk tea shop at the crossroads of the commercial street. After half a month''s re-renovation, it was almost ready to reopen; the signs were not yet up. But recruitment of staff and preparations for the opening promotion had already started. Half a month ago, Xu Musen had already teamed up with several classmates to create the online app for Auntie Shanghai. One reason was to complement the delivery business, and the other was to spread the risk. The recent ordeal with the milk tea shop had served as a wake-up call for him. Don''t put all your eggs in one basket. In case something happened in the future, it wouldn''t lead to a collective crash. Therefore, Xu Musen launched a "Milk Tea Reservation" event on the forum, where paying one yuan now allowed you to order a cup of milk tea on the opening day. A bit of a warm-up exercise. Already, people on the forum had started speculating that it might be a new branch of Auntie Shanghai''s. "If it''s really Auntie Shanghai opening a milk tea shop, I swear I''ll be the first one to buy them out!" "Yeah, right! Nowadays milk tea is too unsafe, I only trust this one shop, Auntie Shanghai''s!" "It''s just that this milk tea shop has started hiring, but they''re keeping the shop front a secret, really keeping us in suspense." "Well, let''s wait and see. It''s just one yuan after all; consider it shearing wool." Many of the posts on the forum were actually just Ma Yaxing spamming under Xu Musen''s direction. Creating a hunger marketing campaign. Xu Musen had also paid everyone their first month''s wages. The highest earner was Zhao Lianmai, who, between delivering food and helping at the milk tea shop, garnered an income of seven to eight thousand for the month. With Xu Musen''s additional bonus, her take-home pay for the month was nearly ten thousand. In this era, even in the major city of Hu Hai, the average monthly salary was only around five to six thousand. The second highest earner was Ma Yaxing; as the behind-the-scenes programmer, this guy spent all day squinting at data. sea??h th ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Hangyu and the others each made several thousand as well. This income was quite remarkable. After all, normal living expenses for a month were only around a thousand; this sum was a small fortune that allowed for a bit of luxury. "Haha, this National Day holiday, I can take a girl traveling!" Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong were still playfully hassling the girls from Fudan. "Star bro, with so much salary this month and you being single, how are you planning to spend it?" Li Rundong leaned in to ask. Ma Yaxing scratched his head innocently, "I just want my own computer, and this money is just enough for that." "You don''t need such high specs just to play CF." "I''m going to use it for writing software." "Damn! That''s hardcore." Li Rundong was impressed; this guy had the physical prowess of an ox and the horse. After working hard to earn money, he was still thinking about upgrading his equipment to continue working. "Xiao Mai, what about you? National Day is coming up, do you have plans to travel?" Xu Musen looked at Zhao Lianmai, who was holding a significant amount of money for the first time, her gaze slightly dazed. Zhao Lianmai put the money away and shook her head, "No, I''m going back to my hometown for a visit." "The shift rotation is all good now; feel free to go back and relax." Xu Musen nodded. After a month of hard work, and with the National Day holiday coming, most students would be going home or traveling. Chapter 147 Golden Legend Quest, Remodeling the Yandere. _2 ```Ordering takeout and bubble tea won''t be too common, so having some on duty should be enough. Find your next read on empire The rest got the day off. "Boss Xu, how are you planning to splurge with all that money you''ve made?" Zhou Hangyu teased as he sidled up. Xu Musen glanced at him and said, "After deducting costs and paying your salaries, I''m actually poorer than all of you." "Cut the crap, a starving camel is still bigger than a horse. Do you think I believe that?" "Believe it or not, that''s up to you." Xu Musen dismissed them. But indeed, he had still made some money this month. With the investment from An Nuannuan''s family and the university''s entrepreneurship fund, he hadn''t really had to put in much of his own money. Now, his account still had a balance of four to five hundred thousand. Before the projects around Fudan stabilized, there wasn''t much need to spend money anymore. Xu Musen thought it was time to improve his quality of life a bit. In Hu Hai, even before the full-scale price increases, a decent place would still cost several million. That wasn''t too practical at the moment. But buying a car seemed reasonable. After all, when shuttling between various universities, he couldn''t really keep riding his Ya Di, right? After all, a boss should have a car; it looks bad without one. As for which car to buy, Xu Musen thought at least a BBA would do, even a second-hand one to start with. His phone chimed. "Xu Musen, I''m ready. Come home with me (looking forward to it~~) " "Okay." Today, Xu Musen was going home with An Nuannuan to visit her grandparents. This was also engaging with one of Xu Musen''s investors, so it was only polite and reasonable to visit frequently. Following An Nuannuan, the two of them chatted leisurely as they walked toward the campus gate. This time at the school gate. Aunt Xiang was already waiting in her car early on. "Aunt Xiang." Xu Musen greeted her. Aunt Xiang, looking at the two of them, felt ever since this young man appeared. Nuannuan hardly messaged her anymore, and whenever she did, the name Xu Musen would always come up. Like, "Aunt Xiang, could you make an extra portion of mung bean soup? Musen loves it." "Aunt Xiang, your hands are a bit cool, not as comfortable as Musen''s." "Aunt Xiang, no need to pick me up today, I''m going out to eat with Musen~~" Sigh, Aunt Xiang felt a tinge of melancholy. Her own family''s cabbage seemed not too far from being picked. Yet, she could sense that An Nuannuan was noticeably more vivacious than before. In the past, Nuannuan would always be by herself, either drawing or daydreaming. But now, she finally had someone she could talk about every day and spend time with. "Let''s go." Aunt Xiang smiled, opened the car door, and before she could get ready, she saw Xu Musen skillfully lift An Nuannuan up gently and place her on the car seat. Aunt Xiang was taken aback for a moment. That move... was somewhat intimate. Though help between friends was understandable, physical contact between young men and women of the same age could easily escalate feelings. Especially for Nuannuan, who seemed to have no guard up against this young man at all. What if she met someone bad? sea??h th n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Sit tight." Xu Musen helped her buckle the seatbelt, and every time he did, he''d feel the urge to avert his eyes. Nuannuan was rather petite, but some parts of her were very well developed. Every time the seatbelt sunk in, it felt like the seatbelt was the one being protected. It was like she had built-in airbags... "Musen, my chest feels a bit stuffy..." An Nuannuan said softly, reaching out to gently lift the seatbelt to the middle. Perfect. The outlined curves became even more enticing. Xu Musen discreetly shifted his gaze away. Was this little girl showing off her artillery? ... Arriving at the familiar townhouse villa, Xu Musen naturally brought gifts with him. Mainly to bribe An Nannan, the little imp. To get on the good side of a young leader, take care of their parents and elders. To get along with elders, pay more attention to their children. This is the benefit of winning over the younger sister before the wife. Cough cough, just an example. And although An Nannan acted naughty, she really didn''t have any princess temper. A cup of milk tea and a grilled sausage could easily make her happy. But Xu Musen had now replaced the starch sausage with a pure meat one, healthier is better. "Sister!" Nannan had been eagerly waiting for An Nuannuan to come back, and as soon as the car returned, the little girl came hopping over. After taking the "protection money" from Xu Musen''s hand, An Nannan, acting wise beyond her years, patted his arm with a satisfied look on her face. It was as if she was saying, you''re sensible enough, I won''t bother you today. The old man was still practicing his boxing in the yard, hammering on the wooden dummy. "You''re here, come and spar with me for a bit." The old man called Xu Musen over with a wave of his hand. When he had some free time, Xu Musen would also practice boxing as a form of exercise. He went over smiling, and of course, couldn''t last many rounds with the old man before he admitted defeat. "Grandfather An''s prowess is undiminished, I still have a long way to go." "You kid, you''re full of clever words." The old man chuckled, feeling like a child at heart sometimes, a little coaxing can make one happy for a long time. "Grandfather, aren''t you coming in with us?" Xu Musen asked. Old man An seemed to be contemplating something, stroking his beard, "You two go ahead and chat, I want to exercise my body a bit longer." Not sure if it was his imagination, Xu Musen always felt that the old man at that moment had a vaguely familiar air about him. ``` Chapter 147 Golden Legend Quest, Remodeling the Yandere. _3 Entering the house,An Nuannuan''s grandmother was drinking tea, accompanied by someoneit was surprisingly Professor Gao. "Grandma, Professor Gao, you''re here too." Xu Musen respectfully went over to greet them. Continue reading at empire "Young man, we meet again." Professor Gao''s smile was kind as he nodded at Xu Musen. "I haven''t had the chance to properly thank you for last time." Xu Musen had planned to visit An Nuannuan''s grandparents and then to pay a separate visit to Professor Gao. But he hadn''t expected to run into him here. "It''s what should be done. With such a person emerging from the school, it''s also a dereliction of duty for this old bone, letting you kids suffer." Professor Gao''s words were gentle, devoid of the oppressive atmosphere when he had overwhelmed various school leaders in the office that day. "Thank you so much. Without your help, there might have been a lot of trouble." "I''ve heard all about it. You''ve handled the situation very well this time. Keep it steady, and you''ll make your mark." An Nuannuan''s grandmother also started speaking with a smile, giving him high praise. Professor Gao looked at An Nuannuan''s grandmother, then at Xu Musen and An Nuannuan. This feeling... he truly seemed like he was being groomed as a future grandson-in-law. "Thank you for the compliment, Grandma. I didn''t have time to prepare anything today, so let me make a meal for you all." Xu Musen said. Professor Gao was slightly surprised, "You can cook?" "Just some home cooking, don''t mind if it''s not up to par." "This child''s culinary skills are quite good. Come, let''s all have dinner together today. It''s been so many years since we last met, it''s the perfect time to taste this child''s cooking." An Nuannuan''s grandmother''s voice was warm, and it seemed she somewhat considered Xu Musen as her own child. Xu Musen went to the kitchen, and An Nuannuan was also helping out. "Nuannuan, what''s the relationship between Professor Gao and your family?" "Well... Grandma mentioned that they used to go to the countryside together, but it seems like she and Grandpa have been neighbors since childhood, kind of like..." An Nuannuan was speaking when she suddenly paused, her eyes turning to Xu Musen, "Like you and Sister Yao Mingyue." Childhood friends... Xu Musen was momentarily stunned. This was a lot to take in. A story of love and entanglement seemed to unfold in his mind. No wonder the old man was somewhat reluctant to come upstairs earlier. And while Professor Gao and An Nuannuan''s grandmother were chatting warmly, there seemed to be an undercurrent of unease. Just like... An Nuannuan and Yao Mingyue being together. Sarch* The novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. NONONO! Why this odd thought? However, An Nuannuan had mentioned previously that her grandparents'' marriage was arranged, which was quite normal for their time. But if it happened today, wouldn''t it be like two childhood friends being suddenly defeated by a newcomer? And back then, there wasn''t much of a choice; parental decree and matchmaker''s words were hard to counter. Childhood friends and newcomers have indeed been timeless topics since ancient times. Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai must be the most famous of all. Over a decade of childhood friendship sometimes cannot compare to someone met just a few months ago. Love simply defies reason. "Did you specifically invite Professor Gao over today?" Xu Musen asked softly. An Nuannuan shook her head, "No, every year during the holidays, if we are in Hu Hai, we always invite Professor Gao over because she''s all alone." Xu Musen''s hand faltered while chopping vegetables. An Nuannuan pursed her lips slightly and said, "Professor Gao has never married, she just lives in the faculty building at the school. She really likes the students." Xu Musen felt a pang in his heart. The brief information drew many stories in his mind. In that era, indeed, many people would commit to just one person for their entire lives. Especially those who were childhood sweethearts... Xu Musen suddenly thought of another figure. That person who had always liked to stick by his side since childhood, or whom he would follow around, never parting. He was momentarily lost in thought. If one day the same were to happen to her, would she also end up alone... Xu Musen shook his head. As a person reborn, he didn''t want to dwell on the losses of his past life. After all, it was a case of mutual consent last time, and neither owed the other. But such a life was pathological. Xu Musen had lost his freedom, and Yao Mingyue had never truly healed her emotional scars. They both were failures in love. Therefore, Xu Musen didn''t want to entangle with her again for fear of repeating the same mistakes. But aside from that, they were neighbors, childhood sweethearts who lived nearly twenty years together. Xu Musen didn''t want her to end up alone... Yet, knowing Yao Mingyue''s personality, he figured she would only take more drastic actions, against herself too. In the end, the most heartbroken would be Liu Rushuang. For this woman who was almost like a mother to him, Xu Musen didn''t want to see her lose another pillar of support in her life. Xu Musen slowly exhaled. If at the beginning of his rebirth, Xu Musen''s greatest desire was to avoid her, Now, after these events, there had been a subtle shift in his heart. Before him seemed to pop up a system dialogue box. "Do you wish to activate the hidden rebirth mission, Transfigure the Yandere?" Two options. "Yes" "Alright!" Xu Musen took a deep breath. He had accepted the legendary golden mission. Chapter 148 Ill compensate you on behalf of my sister, okay? ~ At the dining table.As the former childhood sweetheart ultimately defeated by Tian Jiang. This meal seemed a bit distracted. Last time, he was talkative and loved to drink, but this meal, he simply kept his head down and ate. Just like a child. However, An Nuannuan''s grandmother and Professor Gao were laughing and chatting away. At their age, what''s there to worry about? Many things have already been let go. They had grown accustomed to this way of life. And had no desire to change anything. Thinking about it, Professor Gao was so kind to Nuannuan, perhaps because he saw a shadow of the past in her. But Xu Musen, looking at the old man, couldn''t help but feel like he was seeing a glimpse of his own future. "..." After the meal, Xu Musen and An Nuannuan lay on the rattan chairs in the backyard to enjoy some sunlight. "Xu Musen, are you troubled by something today?" An Nuannuan always felt like he seemed a bit preoccupied. "It''s not really a matter," Xu Musen shook his head. An Nuannuan turned her head to look at him, "Is it about Sister Yao?" "Why suddenly ask about her?" "Because only she would make you like this" An Nuannuan spoke softly, her voice carrying a hint of an unusual emotion. Xu Musen chuckled, yes, from childhood, Yao Mingyue had always easily influenced his mood. For better or for worse. But this also proved that they both cared about each other. If it had been a stranger, how could there be so many thoughts? "Xu Musen, do you want to reconcile with her?" An Nuannuan''s lips twisted for a good while before she finally asked. "Reconcile?" Xu Musen pondered over these words for a moment. What counted as reconciliation? After all, there was never a real fallout between them. At most, they announced to others that they would never entertain the idea of dating each other again. Xu Musen looked at An Nuannuan''s expression, feeling that in recent times, this girl''s facial expressions had become more varied. Her sparkling eyes seemed to ask, are you thinking of becoming her loyal dog again? "Do you hope that she and I reconcile?" Your next read is at empire Xu Musen suddenly asked in return. An Nuannuan looked at him, and after a second''s pause, she shook her head and said, "I don''t know, that''s something you have to decide for yourself. As long as you''re happy, that''s what matters." Xu Musen looked at her too. An Nuannuan''s cute and delicate profile was rosy and bright under the sunlight, and her clear eyes seemed to always show the cleanest reflection. In fact, they had known each other for half a year now. In this age of fast-food romance, many people go from meeting to sharing a bed within months, or even days, or that very night. Xu Musen was a person both mentally and physically healthy, even above average. His failed and twisted relationship from a past life made Xu Musen quite eager to experience a normal romance again. He was superficial, but when it came to love, he was still quite picky. But not everything was palatable to him. Like Yao Mingyue, or Zhu Yulan. They were both good-looking. But one was like a Border Collie with too many tricks, and the other like an Er Ha with touching intelligence. And An Nuannuan? She felt to Xu Musen like a smiling angel, a Samoyed. Fluffy and white, always giving a very comfortable and warm feeling. Suffocated by control in his past life, Nuannuan''s arrival was like the fulfilment of Xu Musen''s fantasy. In fact, he had considered that dating An Nuannuan would be quite nice. It''s just that it was really hard to figure out Nuannuan''s thoughts most of the time. Xu Musen was also unsure of her feelings towards him. If An Nuannuan was only with him out of gratitude, and he rashly confessed only to be rejected, wouldn''t that turn him into a live clown? Soon enough, Batman would follow the scent and come beat him up. "It''s not about reconciling, just that I think it''s time to adopt a more relaxed lifestyle." "What kind of lifestyle?" Stretching and yawning, Xu Musen lay back on the rattan chair comfortably, looking at An Nuannuan and smiling, "Just like now. It''s pretty good, free, content, without thinking too much about gains and losses." An Nuannuan also liked life as it was now, but whenever she thought of the words Yao Mingyue had said to her, she felt a bit empty inside. "Xu Musen, you won''t be dating anyone for a while, right?" "Nuannuan, why do I feel like you particularly like to ask this kind of question lately?" Xu Musen said with an amused look, "You couldn''t possibly want to date too, could you? Have you taken a fancy to some young guy?" Listerning to him, An Nuannuan''s fair little face blushed, then she took a breath and puffed up like a little steamed bun. She reached out and pinched Xu Musen''s arm. Sar?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Okay, okay, I''m just joking with you," Xu Musen laughed. "I was famously known in high school as the toad lusting after swan flesh, the loyal dog. Who would want to date me?" "That''s not true. Xu Musen, you are really nice, and now many people have... asked about you," An Nuannuan spoke softly. It wasn''t just Yao Mingyue; ever since Xu Musen''s performance, many girls had inquired about him. The girls in the dorm would talk about him from time to time. "Really? How come I don''t know about it?" Xu Musen, feigning epiphany, said, "I guess those girls all back off after seeing you by my side. They must be misunderstanding. Nuannuan, you''ve hindered so much of my romantic fortune. Tell me, how are you going to compensate me?" Chapter 148 Let Me Compensate You on Behalf of My Sister, Alright?_2 Xu Musen spoke, unable to resist stretching out his hand to pinch her puffed-up cheeks, cute like a pufferfish.Actually, when Xu Musen said that, it felt like a bit of a test. Indeed, An Nuannuan''s large eyes blinked, and as she looked into Xu Musen''s eyes, she seemed momentarily unsure of how to reply. She looked down at her legs, her little toes wiggled slightly, but it would still take some time before she could walk completely on her own. She pursed her lips, not having had the chance to answer yet. Another figure suddenly bounced out. "Hey!" An Nannan, after having dinner and practicing kung fu with the old man for a while, also hurried back. She had just overheard Xu Musen''s last sentence as she ran over. Compensate him for what... Seeing her sister''s hesitant and complicated expression, it was a bit like the scenes in TV dramas where a woman is coerced by bandits to become their chief''s wife. She immediately stepped in front of her sister. "Hey! Don''t try to trick my sister. Whatever she owes you, I''ll pay it back for her!" An Nannan was still holding her precious Huali wood stick, embodying the spirit of a young heroine. Xu Musen looked at her serious expression and found it to be just as endearingly cute as An Nuannuan''s. He couldn''t help but laugh. You''ll pay it back for her? As sisters, An Nannan had also started junior high school, and the young girl was naturally very pretty too. The same large, sparkling eyes, she wielded her little stick every day to patrol their territory and protect her sister with great vigor. She was exceptionally cute, and without a doubt, she would become a beauty when she grew up. But for now... Well... she might get caught by the cops. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. An Nuannuan''s face flushed pink as she gently patted her sister''s head. "How about you compensate me with your little stick?" Xu Musen asked with a smile, trying to tease her. But An Nannan immediately hugged her stick protectively to her chest, "Don''t even think about it!" Seeing how precious the stick was to her, it seemed to carry special significance. "Okay, okay, I was just joking with your sister." Xu Musen waved his hand off, feeling a slight twinge of regret deep down. Watching An Nuannuan, he was unsure what the young girl had wanted to say, but having missed the chance, he guessed he''d have to wait for the next time. Xu Musen revealed a faint smile and turned to bask in the sunlight. However, he didn''t see that An Nuannuan was at that moment hugging her sister, her gaze also quietly following Xu Musen, her clear eyes shimmering. Inside the room. The conversation between Professor Gao and Grandma Nuannuan also turned to them. "This young man seems quite decent, it''s also the first time I''ve seen Nuannuan care so much about someone," Professor Gao mentioned the school incidents. "Yes, it has been many years, and since Nuannuan''s mother left us, she hasn''t really been in touch with others. She has been quite reserved at home, but ever since meeting this young man, she has become much more cheerful," Grandma nodded in agreement. Professor Gao laughed, "It''s just that these two kids are always together, it''s so easy for them to develop feelings." Upon this topic, Grandma sipped her tea and thought for a good while, finally letting out a faint sigh. "The children have grown up, it''s bound to happen sooner or later, we can''t control Nuannuan for her whole life, otherwise, we''re just harming her. Let''s see how these young people make their own way," she said, but in her mind, she recalled another matter. There was another girl around Xu Musen... Professor Gao nodded, yes, matters of the heart are always so hard to define. It was getting late. Xu Musen was preparing to leave. The old man had spent the whole day in the backyard afraid to come back to his room. Xu Musen sighed, realizing that some things were truly difficult to let go of for a lifetime. He said his goodbyes to everyone. Find exclusive stories on empire An Nuannuan walked him to the door. "Xu Musen, it will be a long time before we see each other again." There was a tone of reluctance in An Nuannuan''s voice. For the seven days of National Day, Xu Musen was going back to his hometown. An Nuannuan would stay in Hu Hai to continue her treatment. "It''s only seven days, it''ll pass quickly. Exercise well." Xu Musen patted her head. "Xu Musen, I remember all the good you did for me," An Nuannuan said, raising her head to look at him, her big eyes reflecting his image, her hand gently squeezed her legs. "Can I take my time and pay you back later?" Xu Musen looked at her, unsure whether she was talking about repaying a favor or compensating for the peach blossom luck he had lost. But he felt full of anticipation. "Sure." Xu Musen replied with a nod and a smile. Just as he was about to leave, An Nuannuan gently shook his arm. The young girl lifted her pristine neck, her beautiful cheeks tinged with the thrill of anticipation. Her arms also opened up slightly. As if spelling out three words. Want a hug~ Xu Musen bent down and gently embraced her shoulders, "See you next time." "Mhm~" Upstairs, Grandma and Professor Gao watched the scene at the door, their expressions a bit unusual. Xiang Ayi drove over to offer him a ride, thoughtfully watching the pair, then tacitly moved to the next intersection to wait. ... Back at school. School would officially be on break tomorrow, and students who had plans to go home or travel had already quietly left. The campus was much emptier. The milk tea shop and delivery business were also not as busy. Zhao Lianmai was still cleaning up in the shop. "Little Mai, weren''t you going to go back home?" "I''m planning to book a train ticket for tomorrow night." Xu Musen nodded. Tickets for the night train seemed to be the cheapest; it felt like this girl was always trying to save money. However, Zhao Lianmai was a person with a strong sense of pride, so Xu Musen refrained from asking more. Chapter 148 Ill compensate you on behalf of my sister, okay? ~_3 "Dong dong..."Knocking on the door. Xu Musen turned around, and at the doorway, Yao Mingyue''s tall figure had already appeared. "What''s up?" Xu Musen saw her and, after a brief pause, asked. "Later my mom is inviting us to dinner, she asked me to tell you." "You could''ve just sent a message, no need to run all the way here." Explore more adventures at empire "Since someone doesn''t like replying to my messages now, I had to pay a personal visit." Yao Mingyue''s lips curved upwards, her words retreat in advance, making Xu Musen, who now preferred carrot over stick, feel somewhat goose-bumpy. "Alright, I''ll still respond promptly to serious matters like this in the future." Xu Musen cleared his throat and said to Zhao Lianmai, "You head back early too, there aren''t many people today, you can close up shop earlier." Zhao Lianmai looked at the two of them and simply nodded silently. "Let''s go." Xu Musen walked out and Yao Mingyue naturally walked shoulder to shoulder with him. The two of them walked on the campus road. Yao Mingyue felt her mood was very good today, and while walking, she occasionally stepped on Xu Musen''s shadow. "Got any good news today?" Xu Musen glanced at her. "Getting to go home and see uncle and aunt, of course I''m happy." Yao Mingyue laughed, her gaze meaningful as she looked at Xu Musen. Back at home. Now it was just the two of them, back to that place that belonged only to them. At the campus gate, Liu Rushuang drove up in a Bentley and had already arrived. "Xiaosen, Xiaoyue!" Liu Rushuang got out of the car, she was always so smiley every time you saw her. She hugged her daughter and then affectionately ruffled Xu Musen''s hair. "Come on, I''m taking you guys out for a feast." Liu Rushuang, all smiles, had them get in the car and then drove off with a push of the accelerator. Still the familiar riverside restaurant. Even from the restaurant''s floor-to-ceiling windows, you could see the spot where Yao Mingyue had jumped into the river last time. Sar?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Liu Rushuang asked the two of them about their lives in school, like whether they were used to the living conditions, if the food was good, and if the academic pressure was too much, and so on. Liu Rushuang was very busy, something Xu Musen knew all too well. To support a family and run several companies by herself, as a woman, was no easy feat. But she also deeply cared for them. Xu Musen''s family business in his past life was actually secretly invested in by Liu Rushuang all along; otherwise, it would have collapsed long ago. It was just that in the end, they got swindled, which made Xu Musen''s parents, already in their fifties, lose the will to start over. Moreover, Liu Rushuang''s initial thought was simple; have Xu Musen marry her daughter so that within the family, there wouldn''t be any talk of not helping one another. It was all within the family, and Xu Musen''s parents could spend their old age at ease. However, Liu Rushuang never expected that her daughter in her past life could be so sickly obsessed. "I''ve heard about the incident at the school too, Xiaosen has really grown up, handling such a big matter so well in the end." Liu Rushuang suddenly brought up the bubble tea shop incident from a few days ago. "If it weren''t for your help, the problem wouldn''t have been solved so quickly, thank you, Aunt Liu." Xu Musen knew that the day Yao Mingyue brought people to smash the storeroom at the school, it must have been people sent by Liu Rushuang to help. "Don''t thank me, just thank Xiaoyue. I wasn''t in Hu Hai at the time, it was all Xiaoyue''s doing." Liu Rushuang cheerfully credited all the merit to Yao Mingyue. At that moment, Yao Mingyue glanced at Xu Musen, not only did she not say anything, but she also peeled a shrimp and gently placed it on his plate. "Thank you." As Xu Musen spoke, although there wasn''t much emotion in his voice, his tone was already much warmer compared to the times they had dined together before. "Oh~ Xiaoyue, aren''t you being a bit too biased? You can''t just forget about mom because of Xiaosen, I haven''t even had any shrimp you''ve peeled for me." With a coquettish demeanor, Liu Rushuang cradled her sophisticated, mature cheeks, not looking out of place at all. In fact, it could be said that she was even smoother at playing coy than Yao Mingyue, her own daughter. Xu Musen secretly sighed to himself. If Yao Mingyue had her mother''s personality, he would truly be happy to be wrapped around her finger... Pah! He would never be wrapped around anyone''s finger for his whole life! Yao Mingyue''s face also turned red, and she peeled a shrimp for her mother as well. Liu Rushuang immediately beamed with joy. She felt a bit embarrassed for her mother, but she also had to admit, her mother really took great care of herself, looking at most in her thirties and with a figure as ripe as a perfectly mature peach. She silently looked at herself, although she also inherited good genes, she still felt a little underdeveloped. Then she stealthily glanced at Xu Musen This guy definitely prefers bigger... more voluptuous, she wouldn''t be surprised if he got sick of it all. ... Liu Rushuang happily sipped some red wine, originally intending to have her secretary drive. "Aunt Liu, how about I drive?" "Do you know how?" "Don''t worry, I won''t scratch your beloved car." Of course, Liu Rushuang wasn''t concerned about the car, watching Xu Musen eager to try. Indeed, boys always love cars. Xu Musen drove smoothly. In his previous life, he had driven this red Bentley often and was very proficient at it. "Xiaosen couldn''t have secretly practiced driving, could he?" Liu Rushuang remarked upon seeing that he seemed even more skilled than her. Even though he had just gotten his driver''s license not long ago. "It might be a natural talent," Xu Musen smiled. A car is like a big toy to a man, especially a luxury car, whether it''s the engine or the leather seats, they are incomparable to ordinary cars worth one or two hundred thousand. It''s time to buy a car. Whether it''s for going out on business or taking a girl for a drive, or even just for a casual spin on his own, it''s indispensable. And Xu Musen''s yearning look was noticed by Liu Rushuang. She could already feel today that the relationship between Xu Musen and her daughter seemed to have improved quite a bit. A man is like a charcoal briquette, as long as you can ignite a little spark, eventually, it will burst into flame completely. Now, it was time for her to fan the flames even more. Her gaze shifted slightly, as a better idea slowly took shape in her mind... Chapter 149 Yao Mingyues High-Speed Train Knee Pillow. (Please subscribe.) ```National Day holiday, ready to go home. Xu Musen didn''t bring anything, just wore a casual outfit and arrived at Yao Mingyue''s dorm building. He took out his cell phone and sent a message: "I''m here." Liu Rushuang had booked high-speed train tickets for both of them in advance. Sar?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For distances less than two or three thousand kilometers, high-speed trains are actually faster than planes. It''s not the distance that''s quick but the preparation time; high-speed train stations are generally in the city, whereas airports are typically in the suburbs. In case of war, they wouldn''t be directly bombed together. Plus, boarding a plane requires various procedures that could take an hour or two in total. High-speed trains are much more convenient; you just swipe your ticket and go in. You can also sleep in a bit in the morning. After sending Yao Mingyue a message, Xu Musen stood to the side and waited, holding a bag with milk tea in his hand. It was from the first store of his own business, which he wanted to take home to share the fruits of his labor with his mom and dad. Inside the girls'' dormitory. Yao Mingyue had woken up early that day. Within her custom wardrobe, Yao Mingyue''s own clothes outnumbered those of all the girls in the dorm combined. And she had all kinds of styles. At this moment, Yao Mingyue was wearing a light yellow knitted top, with a skirt of the same pastel shade beneath and a pair of light-colored leather shoes. Her long hair was naturally soft and smooth, half-tucked behind her ears, with a delicate fringe kissing the air. She looked like a little yellow flower, youthful and charming. "Ming Yue, you''ve changed outfits more than a dozen times, are you going on a date?" Her roommates had been watching Yao Mingyue change clothes the whole morning, her pleasure the same as if she were going on a date with a boyfriend. More than a month into the school year, even though they didn''t interact with Yao Mingyue much, they had become quite familiar with her. Ever since Yao Mingyue''s last public singing confession, although she didn''t directly mention the name of the person, as insiders they naturally knew of Xu Musen. At first, they couldn''t understand why a goddess-level girl like Yao Mingyue would need to chase someone. Especially since that boy seemed to already have other girls around him. But then they realized, Xu Musen hadn''t actually been in a relationship yet; the girls around him were newcomers. After all, love doesn''t follow logic. Yao Mingyue had told them. No one dictates who must chase whom; in the end, the best outcome is just being together. "It''s not a date, it''s going home." Yao Mingyue''s lips curved into a smile, approving of her reflection in the mirror, although she felt something was missing. Upon seeing the message on her cell phone, she suddenly remembered something and found another outfit. Watching Yao Mingyue begin to change again, her roommates couldn''t help but click their tongues in amusement. Yao Mingyue truly had a perfect figure and flawless skin; with such good conditions, they wondered how many boys could resist her allure. Xu Musen waited downstairs for quite a while. Now, he was somewhat of a public figure in school, and numerous girls passing by looked at him with fascination. "Isn''t he the guy who sang ''Chengdu'' before?" "Yeah, he''s the owner of that milk tea shop that made headlines a few days ago." "He''s quite handsome. I heard he hasn''t officially announced a girlfriend yet." "Just because he hasn''t announced doesn''t mean he doesn''t have a girlfriend; even if he did, it wouldn''t mean there''s only one, so stop dreaming..." Bored, Xu Musen thought that girls are troublesome, always dawdling when heading out. At the entrance, the rhythmic sound of small leather shoes on the ground could be heard. Passersby couldn''t help but look sideways, both men and women''s eyes filled with admiration. Xu Musen subconsciously turned his head too, and at the sight before him, was momentarily dazzled. A light red trench coat flattered the already tall and alluring figure of the girl. Underneath was a white blouse, which visually expanded the viewer''s line of sight. Which is to say, white makes one look bigger. Her lower half was clad in black shorts, her slender straight legs enveloped in black tights, the slipperiness of the silk accentuated by the vague visibility of fair skin, adding to the allure of something meant to be concealed yet teasingly shown. Her long hair cascaded naturally down, styled in an elegant middle part, half of it neatly tucked behind her ears. There was a feeling reminiscent of Tifa. From the youthful purity of a sweet girl, she had transformed into the mature charm of an elegant lady. At eighteen, a person''s body is practically fully developed, yet most freshmen still retain some youthful naivety. Yao Mingyue, however, could wear it perfectly; those naturally aristocratic phoenix eyes were truly heaven-sent. She always could spot Xu Musen in a crowd easily and approached with a curved smile, arms crossed and striding forward. Yao Mingyue arrived in front of Xu Musen. The moment their eyes met, Xu Musen seemed transfixed. Her outfit was very similar to the one Yao Mingyue had suddenly appeared in front of him wearing in his past life. It was also Yao Mingyue''s favorite style of dress later on in life. With a captivating smile and an effortless stride, the figure of the past and the present slowly merged together in his mind. If one were to disregard her illness, Yao Mingyue really was the perfect choice for a partner. She had the figure, the looks, the talent. Living off a woman may feel great, but when forced to eat seventeen or eighteen bowls a day, nobody could withstand it. If she could be successfully reformed Yao Mingyue saw the look in Xu Musen''s eyes, though she didn''t know why such attire always caught his attention. ``` Chapter 149 Yao Mingyues High-Speed Train Knee Pillow. (Please subscribe.)_2 But every time she saw that absent-minded look in his eyes, Yao Mingyue couldn''t help feeling a sense of triumphant joy."Do I look good?" Yao Mingyue walked in front of him and gave her trench coat a little shake. "Looking good isn''t going to make the high-speed train wait for you; let''s go." Sar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xu Musen said as he started walking forward. Yao Mingyue watched his retreating figure and snorted inwardly. Such a little man, quite the tsundere. "Is the milk tea in your hand for me?" Yao Mingyue walked over, looked at the milk tea in his bag, and asked with a smile. "If you want to drink, take it yourself." Xu Musen had indeed prepared one for her. Yao Mingyue quickly spotted her favorite flavor, leaned in, and reached into the bag to grab her milk tea. She also leaned in close to his ear and whispered, "Thanks, Brother Musen~" Xu Musen felt his skin crawl as he looked at Yao Mingyue, now donning a mature and sophisticated style. This inexplicable contrast made Xu Musen subconsciously take a step back. "Act normal." "I am very normal. Or could it be that you actually like when others treat you indifferently?" Yao Mingyue took a sip of her milk tea, her phoenix eyes narrowing slightly, looking at him playfully, and felt as though she could almost see a little devil floating by her eyes, chanting, "Plebeian plebeian~??~". Xu Musen didn''t respond, and they started heading towards the high-speed train station. Liu Rushuang had some things to take care of and wouldn''t be returning with them. The two hopped into a taxi for the high-speed train station, where there were many students. "Moriko!" From afar, he saw He Qiang, that big dark guy, running towards them with a pink suitcase. Xu Musen smiled and waved at him. They had agreed to go home together the night before. "He Qiang! Could you die from moving a bit slower?" At that moment, another crisp voice came from behind He Qiang. A girl carrying a bag was also running after He Qiang. Xu Musen couldn''t help laughing when he saw the pink suitcase in He Qiang''s hand; it was most certainly the girl''s. This girl had been the one who was keeping an eye on He Qiang. "He Qiang, you work fast. Have you progressed so quickly with her?" Xu Musen teased, patting his shoulder. "Go on, stop teasing me, hello, Miss Yao." He Qiang, his face turning a shade of red, greeted Yao Mingyue. "Hello." Yao Mingyue smiled and nodded, subtly taking a step closer to Xu Musen. He Qiang was momentarily stunned; Yao Mingyue was known for her aloofness, and there weren''t many in high school who had seen her smile. Unless it was a cold one. But this time, Yao Mingyue''s smile seemed genuine, and she was clinging to Xu Musen. She appeared like a lovestruck girl, all sweet and dependent. Of course, this image only manifested beside Xu Musen; to others, she still exuded a natural sense of distance. "Hi, nice to see you." The girl ran over; she knew Xu Musen and greeted them as well. "Hello, my name is Xu Musen. I''m a good friend of He Qiang, and we all attended the same high school." Xu Musen introduced himself, casually mentioning Yao Mingyue in passing. Yao Mingyue took a step closer, gave Xu Musen a look, and curved her lips slightly. "My name is Yao Mingyue, and I am his..." She paused mid-sentence, letting an ambiguous atmosphere spread. Xu Musen was speechless. He Qiang, the consummate onlooker, swallowed hard. It seemed the love-hate story between his buddy and Yao Mingyue was heading in a peculiar direction. The girl was slightly flushed by Yao Mingyue''s bold statement. It often took courage for a girl to outright claim she was someone''s. Xu Musen gave her a glance. Yao Mingyue remained composed and coughed before finishing her sentence. "His neighbor." Continue your adventure at empire But when she said this, she glanced at Xu Musen again. The more she explained, the darker the picture became. "Nice to meet you, I''m Chu Wenhui, He Qiang''s classmate. We''re just sharing a ride home this time." The girl introduced herself. "From your accent, you are from Sichuan, right?" "Yes, but this train is going through Zheng City, so it''s convenient." Chu Wenhui nodded, but He Qiang muttered a couple of words, "Even though there''s a direct train, you still had me lug your suitcase..." "What''s wrong with wanting to save a bit on fares? Plus, I bought you snacks." "You could''ve bought another ticket with the money you spent on snacks, what a hassle." "Am I not allowed to be thrifty!" He Qiang argued with the girl back and forth. "That''s so like a straight man." Xu Musen shook his head in amusement as he listened to the two of them. "You''re no different." Yao Mingyue added a jab from the side. Xu Musen made a ''tsk'' sound, and they began to board the high-speed train. When it came to seating, Xu Musen had intended to sit with He Qiang. But obviously, both Yao Mingyue and Chu Wenhui had commandeered the window seats. They had no choice but to sit opposite each other. The two of them chatted, and Xu Musen casually brought up that he was planning to contract a milk tea shop and a takeout service at his school. "Are you the owner of ''Auntie''s Milk Tea Shop'' that stirred up the forums recently?" Chu Wenhui suddenly remembered something from their conversation. "That''s me," Xu Musen said, smiling and nodding. "Wow, I''d never have guessed that such an amazing entrepreneur is our peer. You have my full support when you open your branch!" "That''s great, perhaps if you''re interested, I''ll let you manage the milk tea shop with He Qiang." Xu Musen cheerfully offered his buddy an assist. Chu Wenhui picked up on the implication and blushed. Chapter 149 Yao Mingyues High-Speed Train Knee Pillow. (Please subscribe.)_3 "I''m more interested in fishing spots," He Qiang said, shaking his head.Chu Wenhui was somewhat frustrated, "Look at you, you guys are supposed to be good buddies, and all you think about is fishing every day." "Each to his own specialty, when it comes to fishing, Moriko is no match for me!" "..." Xu Musen thought, no wonder He Qiang''s dad was so eager for him to get into a relationship when he sent him to school. Otherwise, this straightforward guy would really end up lonely if no girl took the initiative. "I think it''s pretty good, having a guy who''s honest and stays by your side every day is much better than one who goes out and flirts every day," Yao Mingyue suddenly spoke up from the side, her gaze, however, was on Xu Musen. The flickers of color that passed through that look. Xu Musen felt an inexplicable tightness in his chest. Why did that look feel like she wanted to tie him down? The journey of nearly a thousand kilometers would take about four to five hours, even by high-speed train. It was just the beginning of October, and the sunlight that shone on the windows felt warm. Sitting by the window, you could enjoy the scenery, while sitting near the aisle made you more likely to doze off. He Qiang, true to his carefree nature, fell asleep on the table after eating snacks brought by a girl. Chu Wenhui was also utterly bored and rested with her eyes closed against the window. Yao Mingyue leaned against the window, seemingly dozing off as well, while Xu Musen messaged his parents the estimated time of arrival. He was also feeling sleepy. It couldn''t be helped; short video apps were not so popular yet that one could scroll for four to five hours straight. He adjusted his sitting position, leaned back in his seat, and began to close his eyes to slowly drift off. But just as Xu Musen had fallen asleep not long ago, Yao Mingyue slowly opened her eyes. She quietly watched Xu Musen''s side face as he fell asleep. This face that was etched in her mind was the one Yao Mingyue liked the most and longed to savor every inch of. Sleeping while sitting was definitely uncomfortable, and Xu Musen''s body subconsciously shifted to adjust his position. His head began to droop towards Yao Mingyue''s direction. In sleep, people always subconsciously search for the most familiar place. And the scent of Yao Mingyue was a lingering trace of many nights spent accompanying Xu Musen. This smell had once frightened Xu Musen to his core, yet also made him love to his core. He seemed to have had a dream, dreaming about when they used to live together. Occasionally, Yao Mingyue would also snuggle into his arms like a little girl, seeking hugs. "Wife..." He murmured, so quietly that only he could hear. His body slid a little, and as he was about to nod off further, a fair jade hand gently cradled his head. Yao Mingyue gently supported him, without waking him, and slowly took his head to rest on her legs clad in black silk stockings. Xu Musen had always had light sleep, especially with the smell of the familiar scent allowing him to let down all his defenses subconsciously. And Yao Mingyue''s legs were soft, smooth, and fleshy, with the thin black silk like the finest of silk. With a warm touch, Xu Musen felt like he had found the best pillow in the world. As Yao Mingyue looked down at Xu Musen, who was now almost entirely in her arms, she felt her heart beating fast. She felt a ticklish sensation inside as the warmth of his breath brushed against her when he breathed. She wanted to stretch out her hand to caress his cheek, but she held back, fearing to wake him at this moment. Otherwise, this annoying guy would not be so well-behaved. But looking at his cheek, Yao Mingyue''s mind was flooded with countless images. Stay updated with empire The ones from their childhood, noisy and rowdy, breaking up and making up. They had fought and blushed, but in the end, they always made up, and it was always Xu Musen who came to her to apologize first. Sear?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But this time, Yao Mingyue felt if she didn''t take the initiative, he would really let her go. Yao Mingyue didn''t know what had happened, but she took Xu Musen''s words to heart. If their relationship didn''t change, even if they got together and married, could they truly achieve what the other desired? Yao Mingyue vaguely understood some things, but sometimes, some mistakes aren''t necessarily worth correcting. Like wanting to be with him... Yao Mingyue looked at him, still unable to resist, and gently tapped his earlobe, her phoenix eyes mixed with many emotions. For a moment, she truly wondered if she should just hide him away, then she could hold him like this every day. Or, to kiss him now She slowly took a breath, temporarily suppressing the thoughts in her heart. She watched as Xu Musen shifted his legs again to make it more comfortable for him to rest. She reached out and lightly poked his cheek. Forget it, consider this as taking a little interest in advance. There''s plenty of time to come, my childhood sweetheart~ Chapter 150 Sorry, my face slipped. Xu Musen had a very comfortable sleep.Feeling that it was about time, Xu Musen subconsciously moved his head. S~ea??h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A sensation like silk stockings, fine and smooth, yet elastic, greeted him. He couldn''t help but marvel inside, "The country''s infrastructure has really improved, even the high-speed train seats are fitted with black stockings?" He had a dream, in which he returned to his previous life. The first two years after he got married to Yao Mingyue, the days Xu Musen lived were pretty good. He didn''t need to work every day, just playing the part of a good house-husband, cooking meals, exercising the body. Yao Mingyue, after finishing her busy day at the company, would come straight home and cling to him like an octopus. She would even force him to massage her feet and legs without taking off her stockings, and if she was slightly unsatisfied, she would "punish" him severely at night. Those days... were actually sometimes shamelessly enjoyable. He slowly opened his eyes, only to find glimpses of fair skin beneath the cover of black stockings. Wafts of a delicate fragrance lingered at the tip of his nose, as comforting as a soothing scent. Xu Musen subconsciously reached out to prop himself up, but as he grasped, he felt something soft. Xu Musen steadied his mind, and in front of him, the delicate black stockings came into view, and his hand had taken hold of a slender jade leg wrapped in them. "Hmm?" "Mmm..." Xu Musen turned his head and met Yao Mingyue''s eyes, a four or five-hour journey. It was as if Yao Mingyue had been watching him for the entire four or five hours. "Awake?" Yao Mingyue''s eyes were a bit red from tiredness, but seeing Xu Musen awake, she couldn''t help but reveal a slight smile. Xu Musen also realized that he had fallen asleep on her leg, which explained why he had slept so comfortably. From this close distance, he could see through the black stockings to her fair skin, the area he had rested on now reddened from the pressure. He hurriedly propped himself up, touching his face, he could feel the imprint of the stockings. "Hiss..." Yao Mingyue wanted to move her legs, but after maintaining the same position and being compressed for hours, her circulation felt blocked. It was like an electric shock, tingling and with a slight pain. "Why didn''t you wake me up?" Xu Musen felt a bit awkward, as it was usually hard for him to fall into such a deep sleep outside. But he had spent too much time with Yao Mingyue in his past life. He had already grown accustomed to her presence. This damned body''s instincts... "Boss Xu, you''re so busy, I wouldn''t dare to disturb you, unlike me, a person with leisure time. I can just rub them myself," Yao Mingyue said softly, pinching her legs, but her gaze remained on Xu Musen. The insinuation was clear. Xu Musen looked down at her black silk-clad beautiful legs, truly tempting. "I''ll go to the restroom first." Xu Musen stood up. Otherwise, Uncle Wu might come looking for him later. Meanwhile, the passengers in the neighboring seats, college students on their way home, had seen Xu Musen sleeping soundly on the long black silk legs of a campus beauty. They were envious to the core. Watching Yao Mingyue massage her leg alone, they all wished they could go over and help her. Damn straight men! Yao Mingyue watched his somewhat flustered retreat and snorted lightly. He just didn''t know what''s good for him. Xu Musen went to the restroom, looked at his face, and sure enough, there was a trace of stocking left, luckily only on one side of the face, otherwise he would look like he was about to rob someone wearing black stockings. Moreover, Xu Musen sadly found that he wasn''t as averse to Yao Mingyue as before. Especially physically... Xu Musen took a deep breath. A man dies still a boy at heart; this body was truly starving and craving for a bite of everything! But he had also really used her leg as a pillow for so long. Xu Musen washed his face, deciding to not think about these things for now. When he returned, he saw He Qiang and Chu Wenhui were still napping. In about half an hour, they would probably arrive at the station. The carriage was quiet, with many people still in a daze. Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue looked into each other''s eyes. An inexplicable atmosphere spread. "Can you move your leg now?" Xu Musen asked. Yao Mingyue didn''t rush to answer but her eyes flickered, and after a second she spoke, "If my legs were paralyzed too, would you take care of me?" Xu Musen was taken aback; clearly, she was referring to An Nuannuan. "I''m not so careless that I would crush your legs," he retorted. "I mean if, even if it wasn''t because of you, would you take care of me?" Yao Mingyue persisted, forcing Xu Musen not to dodge the question. Xu Musen looked at her, his childhood friend with whom he had spent the majority of his life over two lifetimes. Deep down he could not bring himself to say no. "A little help would be given," he admitted. Xu Musen opened a bottle of water and took a sip. Looking at the other two still asleep opposite him. This answer was also within Yao Mingyue''s expectations. She followed Xu Musen''s gaze toward He Qiang and Chu Wenhui. Although He Qiang always talked like a typical man, he had also taken the initiative earlier at the high-speed train station to help carry luggage. And now, while sleeping, he used his own arm to support the girl''s head. That posture of sleeping on the table. Yao Mingyue giggled, "Xu Musen, do you remember? When we were desk mates in our childhood, we would also lean against each other to sleep like this, and you would let me rest on your arm." Xu Musen''s gaze also carried some memories. Back then, during the midday break at school, Yao Mingyue always complained about the desks being too hard. Chapter 150 Sorry, I Slipped Up. _2 Xu Musen extended his arm as her pillow, and of course, the price was that every noon when he got up, both his arms felt sore and tingly.Yao Mingyue would then smile and rub his arms for him. Actually, Xu Musen had never mentioned that he always took advantage of Yao Mingyue using his arm as a pillow to sneakily caress her cheek. Just for that touch, enduring two hours of naptime. Sometimes he thought about it and really found himself quite persistent. "It''s clearly because someone dislikes the hard desk and insists on pulling my arm." Xu Musen said lightly. "Is that so? Then that someone touching my face while I''m asleep, is that also irresistible?" Yao Mingyue held her cheeks and suddenly leaned in close to Xu Musen. This perfect, flawless cheek made Xu Musen''s face heat up. How come, she knew about it? Seeing through his thoughts, Yao Mingyue smiled and said, "Girls are very sensitive to their bodies, let alone being touched, even a few extra glances can be felt." As she spoke, she held her delicate cheeks and leaned in closer, her rosy lips lightly breathing fragrance, "But you don''t have to do it secretly now, whenever you want." Her phoenix eyes narrowed, suddenly giving a little fox-like impression, full of charm and slyness. "Are we almost there?" At this moment, He Qiang and Chu Wenhui had also woken up. "My arms..." He Qiang hadn''t yet come to his senses. Chu Wenhui, however, was rubbing her eyes and looked over at the couple opposite her, right now in their pose. It looked as though they were about to kiss. Chu Wenhui''s eyes immediately widened. "Please behave." Xu Musen quickly put his hand in front of his face, moving a little distance away. But Yao Mingyue''s eyes shifted, suddenly uttering an "ouch." Her whole body fell forward, instantly rubbing her cheek against Xu Musen''s hand. Xu Musen instinctively moved his fingers, grabbing a little. Hmm... Yao Mingyue was, after all, still an eighteen-year-old girl, her cheeks didn''t have the soft fleshy feel of An Nuannuan''s. But they were smooth and fine, like the finest jade. It was a little hard to let go. "Sorry, my face slipped." Sarch* The N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yao Mingyue steadied herself again, appearing nonchalant. My face... slipped? I believe you, not! How is that any different from those scoundrels who deceive their girlfriends saying, "Oops, I slipped..."? But now, Yao Mingyue was also looking out of the window with one hand on her cheek; the scenery outside had changed from the southern landscape to the vast plains. Almost home, huh. Yao Mingyue felt in good spirits. She suddenly felt that, although she had always liked the ocean, after actually going to Hu Hai, not only did she not see the sea, she almost lost him. She suddenly found that the vast plains were not bad either, without the dramatic ups and downs, steady and stable. The expansive land, where only the billowing wheat or golden corn could be seen... These were the landscapes they were most familiar with. She took another glance at Xu Musen. "Such a pigheaded..." She murmured and then turned her head back to continue looking out the window. The sunlight outside the window was warm, falling on her cheeks as if branded by a hot iron, dreamy and illusory. Xu Musen looked at her, then lowered his gaze to his palm, thoughtful. Chu Wenhui was thinking about the scene just now. Such a beautiful girl, and so good at making boys like her, especially that "face slip" move. "My arms are numb, Chu Wenhui, you should consider losing weight." He Qiang had also gotten up, rubbing his arms. Chu Wenhui rolled her eyes at him and was about to stretch when she too suddenly exclaimed "ouch," and her whole body "slid" towards He Qiang. "Whoa!" But He Qiang instinctively dodged, and Chu Wenhui ended up sprawled on the seat. At this moment, everyone was momentarily stunned. "What are you doing?" He Qiang scratched his head and asked. "You..." Chu Wenhui was not pleased, such a clueless man! "I''m going to the restroom, get out of my way!" Chu Wenhui couldn''t help but burst into Sichuanese, storming off angrily. "Girls are so strange, getting mad as soon as they wake up, Moriko, don''t you think it''s inexplicable?" He Qiang said, feeling a bit wronged. "Deserved!" 2 This time, Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue unexpectedly said in unison. Only, Yao Mingyue''s gaze also drifted over Xu Musen. "..." We''ve arrived. The familiar Zheng City East Station. Chu Wenhui still said to He Qiang. "Hey, let me know when you''re heading back in advance." "For okay." He Qiang was about to ask, but was nudged by Xu Musen and immediately nodded. Chu Wenhui then felt a bit happier, waving at Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue, "I have to continue the trip, see you when school starts." "Alright, see you when school starts." Xu Musen responded cheerily. This person might be his future sister-in-law. At the high-speed train station entrance. All three families were in the same direction. Xu Musen hadn''t asked his parents to pick him up, no need to have them run back and forth. They took a taxi, and the three of them headed home together. Arriving first at the neighborhood where Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue lived. "Come to my house and cast a few lines in the next couple of days!" He Qiang waved goodbye, continuing his ride away. Watching him leave. Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue looked at each other, then gazed at their home which they hadn''t seen for one or two months. Xu Musen could already smell the occasional waft of cooking from the kitchen at home. Mom''s cooking skills were truly beyond reproach. Home at last. Xu Musen turned to Yao Mingyue. Her family''s villa was definitely empty now, Liu Rushuang wouldn''t be back for a couple of days, the housekeeper wasn''t there either, not even someone to cook. Chapter 150 Sorry, I Slipped Up. _3 Actually, sometimes when you think about it, it''s quite tough for a girl living alone in an empty villa.It''s normal to long for someone to rely on. "Let''s go." Musen started walking toward his home. "Are you taking me to meet your parents?" Yao Mingyue teased from behind, with a smile. Musen glanced at her, "Dream on. My mom is fonder of you than she is of me, I''m the outsider here." Ming Yue couldn''t help but giggle. Indeed, both families had watched them grow up. It was like they were already one family. Actually, without any surprises, they were going to be one family soon. "Fine, then I''ll take you to meet my parents. It doesn''t matter who marries whom." Yao Mingyue tossed her long hair back, her trench coat showcasing her dashing, future tycoon aura without a trace of concealment. Musen ignored the latter part of her statement. After all, even if he didn''t let her in, his mom would grab his ear later and make him invite Yao Mingyue back. Back at home. Ming Yue deftly took out the key, familiar as if it was her own home, and opened the door directly. "Auntie Jie, Uncle Xu, we''re back!" Yao Mingyue called out. Sar?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Oh, you''re back!" Mrs. Xu immediately hurried out of the kitchen upon hearing them, excited to greet them. "You two really, why didn''t you tell us earlier so that old Xu could have picked you up?" Mrs. Xu completely ignored her own son and pulled Yao Mingyue in to talk. "It''s not far from home, so we just walked back. Mainly, we couldn''t wait to eat the food you made, Auntie." Yao Mingyue said with a sweet smile, which delighted Mrs. Xu enormously. "Ming Yue knows how to speak so well now. Look how pretty she''s getting, and how beautiful she looks in that outfit. Musen, look at you, dressed like a middle schooler." Mrs. Xu finally remembered to pay some attention to her own son. Musen just shrugged it off nonchalantly and went to drink tea with his dad. Things at home had been looking up recently. It must be said that money really does make a difference C as the home improved, his parents even seemed younger than they did a few years ago. Ming Yue went into the kitchen to help Mrs. Xu. Musen sat drinking tea with his dad. "Dad, try this." "Milk tea?" Mr. Xu shook his head, as he had started cutting down on sugar at his age. "This is your son''s very own brand, aren''t you going to try it?" Musen said cheerfully. His dad took it and looked it over, then tasted a sip. When one gets older, the love for sweet things diminishes. But he had to admit the milk tea was quite good. "Not bad, we haven''t had the chance to ask you how your business has been going. How is it?" "It''s okay, I guess. From now on, you don''t have to worry about me selling houses or cars to get married," Musen replied with a smile. "That doesn''t mean you can be rash." His father advised him, but his eyes were filled with pride. Then he glanced toward the kitchen and whispered, "How have you and Ming Yue been lately?" Both Mr. and Mrs. Xu could sense that there was some issue between the two before the school term started. But after college, over the past couple of months, their relationship seemed to grow closer and subtler. "It''s the same as before," Musen said calmly. "Son, it''s okay to lie to yourself, but don''t lie to your father." "Dad, that almost sounds like you''re cursing at me," Musen remarked. "You, don''t get cocky just because you''ve started making some money. Your mom and I aren''t rushing you into finding someone, but you''re getting to the age where, after college, it''s tougher to start a relationship. It''s good for a guy to have some experience. It helps when taking care of someone after getting married," his father said gravely. Musen took a sip of tea and looked at his father, "Dad, are you encouraging your son to become a player? Has mom heard this theory of yours?" "... " Mr. Xu was momentarily at a loss for words. "Enough talk, let''s eat!" Mrs. Xu called out from the kitchen. Musen got up to help but just as he opened the kitchen door, he saw Ming Yue bringing out a plate of sweet and sour ribs. It was Musen''s favorite dish, especially when his mom made it. "Smells good, doesn''t it?" Ming Yue said with a smile. "Of course my mom''s cooking is... mmph." Musen''s words were cut short as Ming Yue gently picked up a piece and stuffed it into his mouth. It was slightly hot, and the sour-sweet taste made his taste buds come alive. "Are you trying to scald me to death!" Musen moved it around in his mouth a few times before he started to chew slowly. "Dead pigs aren''t afraid of boiling water~" Ming Yue giggled, walking past him with the dish. That action... Mr. Xu quietly took another sip of milk tea. This young people''s thing, it had to be said, was indeed a bit sweet. Chapter 151 My mother is indeed short of a daughter-in-law. After returning, Xu''s father and mother were thinking of finding a place to go on a trip together.Ever since something happened at home, the two of them had always been busy with various things and never had the chance to travel. At most, it was Liu Rushuang taking Yao Mingyue and Xu Musen out together. Now that everything at home was starting to get better, they also wanted to occasionally take a break for themselves and spend more time with the children. "It''s best not to go out of the province now, roads are congested everywhere, and if you get stuck on the highway, a seven-day holiday could turn into ten days of being stuck." "There are not many scenic spots within the province, especially in Zheng City, there are no tourist attractions at all." "Why not go hiking? Your dad and I haven''t been out for a walk in a long time." "Mount Laojun?" Xu Musen mentioned that Mount Laojun was the mountain closest to Zheng City, a place they often visited just for fun in the past. "Dad, can your legs handle climbing the mountain?" "It''s been fine for a while now, it''s good to exercise a bit more, and there''s a cable car on the mountain now, so if we can''t climb any longer, we''ll just take the cable car." Xu''s father nodded. Xu''s mother smiled contentedly, "Alright, let''s settle on that, and call Ming Yue to join us. It''s time our family took her out for fun too. Musen, go call her in a bit, and take out the trash while you''re at it." Xu Musen always felt that bringing her along would definitely lead to some mischief, but what could she do to him in front of his parents? Kidnap him straight into the mountains? Xu Musen carried the trash bag downstairs and then went to Yao Mingyue''s villa door. "Dong dong..." Soon, Yao Mingyue opened the door, her eyes curving into crescents at the sight of Xu Musen making the initiative to visit, "What are you here for?" "Pack up, we''re leaving for Mount Laojun today." "A trip?" Yao Mingyue''s eyes lit up. "It''s not like you haven''t been before. Just pack up, we''re heading out soon." Having said that, Xu Musen turned and left. Yao Mingyue watched his retreating back. She was only moderately interested in traveling, but traveling together meant she could stay with him the whole time. She was looking forward to it~ Sar?h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The trip was decided on a whim. Originally, they were supposed to leave in the old man''s car, but after talking to Liu Rushuang, she suggested that Yao Mingyue drive her family''s BMW out. Moreover, her BMW had been idling in the villa anyway, so taking it out for a spin would be just fine. Going up and down Mount Laojun, a good car would definitely be more comfortable. Yao Mingyue dressed in a casual style: a light aqua long-sleeved knit shirt paired with sky-blue jeans, which made her already long legs look even more slender. On her feet were pink New Balance sneakers, topped with a knit hat, making her look youthful and full of energy. This was a stark contrast to the mature outfit she had on when she just returned. Whether it''s a mature lady or a youthful girl style, the eighteen-year-old Yao Mingyue could pull off both perfectly. "Uncle, auntie!" "Ming Yue, you look so beautiful." Yao Mingyue ran over with a bounce in her step, and Xu''s mother couldn''t help but grow fonder of her the more she looked. Such a pretty face and figure, and now with her temperament and personality, she was the kind of good girl you couldn''t find even with a lantern. And she''s someone they had watched grow up since she was little, so they felt completely at ease with her. This darn kid, he doesn''t know how to cherish what he has; if he really lets her go one day, let''s see who will regret it. Xu Musen just glanced at her a few times and then fumbled to start the car. The drive to Mount Laojun wasn''t too far from here, but the latter part of the mountain road was still tough to navigate. Although his dad''s leg was practically back to normal, they rarely let him drive for long periods. The family used to have an Audi, but it was exchanged later on, and now they''re driving an old Volkswagen. There isn''t a man who doesn''t love cars. Xu Musen caressed the BMW''s steering wheel, appreciating the feel of the full leather that was quite unlike the others. Once in the car, Xu''s parents tacitly sat in the backseat. "We''re old now and tend to get sleepy in the car, so Ming Yue, you sit in the passenger seat and keep an eye on his driving." Xu''s mother chuckled as she gave the instructions. "Don''t worry, auntie, I''ll keep a close eye on him." Yao Mingyue flashed a smile and hopped into the passenger seat. The car left the neighborhood and hit the road. "It''s also been a long time since I came out to have fun with you all, it feels like we''re one family." Xu''s mother looked at the two in the front seats and couldn''t help but sigh. It feels like only a moment has passed and they''ve grown up so much. In the past, getting married at eighteen or nineteen and having kids by twenty was the norm. "Uncle and auntie have taken care of me since I was born. In my heart, we are already a family, and we will become even closer in the future." Yao Mingyue spoke with a smile, warming Xu''s parents'' hearts with her words. "You, child, are getting better and better at talking." Xu''s mother was delighted by her words. The longing for a daughter seemed to be fulfilled in her lifetime. If Ming Yue and Musen were to get married in the future, they would truly become one family. "Isn''t that right, Brother Musen~" Yao Mingyue even leaned a bit closer to Xu Musen, speaking softly. Xu Musen got goosebumps all over and glanced at her, then looked at his parents through the rearview mirror. This little "sickly sweet" girl. There''s a saying that''s quite true: dating is between two people, but marriage is a matter between two families. Musen was tough now, so she started applying her strategies with his parents. However, she was still underestimating Musen''s toughness; it was like he was reinforced with concrete. He looked at Yao Mingyue and cheerfully said, "Yeah, and I''ll also treat you as my sister for a lifetime." Locking in her role as a sister, she hopped around; let''s see if she could still feel comfortable doing that. Chapter 151 My mother indeed lacks a daughter-in-law. _2 But who is Yao Mingyue? A delicate darling, for her even losing a husband, she wouldn''t need a face, right?"So now she can only be considered a foster sister." Yao Mingyue''s smile lingered as she winked gently at Xu Musen. Whether it''s a noun or a verb, let''s not study it for now. Xu Musen looked down at the speedometer. Isn''t this only less than eighty? Why does it feel like the car is about to take off? Passing by a service area, they stopped to use the restroom. When she came back, Yao Mingyue held a few grilled sausages and sweet corn in her hand. Considered a specialty of the service area, I guess. "Want some?" Yao Mingyue offered them to Xu Musen. "Let''s get to the mountain first, it''ll be hard to book a room in a bit." Two days before the National Day, tourists were already abounding, and if they went later, it would probably be tough to book a room. Xu Musen drove the car and continued forward. "Then I''ll feed you, okay? Just one bite, just one." Yao Mingyue held a grilled sausage to Xu Musen''s mouth and gently touched his lips with it. Xu''s father and mother showed amused smiles from the backseat and began to pretend to doze off in their seats. Xu Musen was speechless. The sausage was swinging back and forth in front of his mouth, and there was Yao Mingyue''s tone. Why does it feel increasingly off? Isn''t this the kind of thing boys use to coax little girls? Xu Musen, with no other choice, opened his mouth and took a big bite: "Satisfied now?" "It''s mainly because I''m worried you''ll get hungry while driving, I''m so considerate." Seeing his helpless but accepting expression, Yao Mingyue was extremely pleased. Say peel, and she naturally put the half-bitten sausage from Xu Musen''s mouth into her own and took a bite. Xu''s father and mother had been squinting their eyes, but exchanged glances quietly after seeing this. They remembered that Xu Musen always said he and Yao Mingyue didn''t get along, claiming they had no relationship whatsoever now. Looking at their behavior today, that''s not something ordinary childhood friends would do, right? And he says they don''t get along? He''s really stubborn! ... After an hour''s drive on the mountain road, they finally saw the sign for Old Jun Mountain. The sky was gradually darkening. Climbing up would take over four hours, although they could also take the cable car. People usually set out at two or three in the morning, so by the time they reached the peak, it would just be time for sunrise. They found a homestay hotel. As expected, most rooms were already rented out. "There''s only one suite left, with two bedrooms," said the hotel front desk while pointing at the layout drawing of the last room. During the peak tourist season, if they had been any later, they probably wouldn''t have had a single room available. Xu''s father and mother thought about it. When they went on trips before, two rooms were enough for both families. But now the kids have grown up, and staying in the same room as their parents would be uncomfortable. "We''ll take this one." Xu Musen, however, simply nodded and began to pay the deposit. At that, Yao Mingyue subtly turned to look at him. Her face blushed slightly. Xu''s mother and father clicked their tongues. Although they had thought about matchmaking the two kids, such a thing was still not permissible. They couldn''t wrong Liu Rushuang and old Yao. But Xu Musen spoke again, "Could you prepare an extra quilt for me? I''ll sleep in the living room." It was October, and the weather was just right; sleeping in the living room wouldn''t risk catching a cold, and there was a sofa, good enough to make do for a while. "Uh... okay." The young lady at the front desk was taken aback; this was the first time she had seen a girl not refuse a boy''s offer to sleep on the sofa. Yao Mingyue''s gaze carried a hint of resentment. She then went into the room first. The suite indeed had only two bedrooms, but there was a tatami in the living room that, with a quilt laid out, could fit several more people to sleep. This was considered for the many families that came up the mountain to stay. Xu''s father and mother went to one of the rooms to arrange their things. Yao Mingyue stood at the door, watching Xu Musen, who was sitting in the living room, and pursed her lips. "Hey." Xu Musen turned to look at her. "You''re really planning on sleeping on the sofa?" "Otherwise you want to?" "Pfft." Yao Mingyue leaned against the doorway, eyeing Xu Musen''s unyielding demeanor, but she chuckled lightly: "Actually, the beds here in the hotel are quite big. If you beg me, I might let you stay in there too." Yao Mingyue''s eyes flashed slightly, her allure seeming especially tempting and natural. Honestly, for an eighteen-year-old, full-of-vigor young man, this was indeed a bit hard to resist. "I beg you to just behave yourself." S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xu Musen gave her a look of exasperation. "We''ve slept together as kids, what''s there to fear?" "You do realize we were kids back then?" "So, you think you''re all grown up now?" Yao Mingyue''s gaze roamed up and down his body, carrying a challenging air. She even stretched out her hand and gave a rub, making a gesture of losing the Korean market. "Yao Mingyue, you''re really starving now." Xu Musen retorted, feeling a sudden respect for her in his heart. She had been a sickly beauty always coveting his body, yet she managed to hold back until after they were married to reveal her true nature. Recalling the first couple years of marriage, Xu Musen felt a shiver run through his body. "It''s you who''s feeling guilty, isn''t it, worried you can''t control yourself? But I can''t blame you for having a little crush since I''m so good-looking; I can understand." Yao Mingyue stretched languidly, her lithe and curvaceous body alluring and fully displayed. Xu Musen glanced at her and said: "You''re like the White Snake after she''s had realgar wine." "You!" Yao Mingyue couldn''t hold back anymore, was this guy determined to be a straight man to the death? "Giving you a bed and you choose to sleep on the sofa, may you suffer from a stiff neck in the middle of the night!" Chapter 151 My mother indeed lacks a daughter-in-law. _3 Having said that, Yao Mingyue huffed and finally turned back into her room.Indeed, the image of a sweet girl was impossible to apply to Yao Mingyue. The impression of her being impudent and willful suited her better. Xu Musen found that he had actually grown accustomed to that impudent side of hers, and he felt a bit uncomfortable when she was nice to him. Yao Mingyue would probably make a "Wu Jing''s nationality" meme if she knew what Xu Musen was thinking. So cheeky As the day turned to evening, Xu Musen lay on the couch, actually finding it quite comfortable. He checked in with the staff of the milk tea shop via his phone and handed out National Day tasks to Ma Yaxing and the others. Zhu Yulan would also ask him about promotional matters every few days, quickly logging off immediately after to avoid being duped by him again. Being a boss wasn''t easy. "Xu Musen, I''m so bored. (Rabbit dozing off)" An Nuannuan suddenly sent a message. "Have you eaten yet?" "Mhm mhm, but I feel Aunt Xiang''s cooking hasn''t been as tasty as before recently. I want to eat yours." Xu Musen looked at the message and couldn''t help but smile, "You''d make Aunt Xiang sad by saying that." Sar?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Umm... (Rabbit with head down.) But your cooking is really delicious." "I learned from my mom, her cooking is even more delicious." An Nuannuan seemed to be tempted, "Really?" "Of course, whenever you come back to Zheng City you''re welcome to come over to my place for a meal." Xu Musen thought, having a good friend over for a meal at his house was quite normal, right? On the other end of the phone, An Nuannuan happily swung her little feet that had just been acupuncture treated. "Then I''ll have to pick a nice gift." "No need, we don''t have such formalities at my house, it''s just a meal." "Grandma says it''s a must to bring a gift when meeting someone for the first time; it''s courtesy. What do your dad and mom like?" Xu Musen smiled at the message. An Nuannuan''s little brain, if he said his parents liked mountains of gold and silver, she would probably try to find a way to buy and bring them. Remembering her earnest and goofy expression, Xu Musen suddenly felt a little flutter in his heart. "They don''t have any particular likes, but they seem to be lacking a daughter-in-law." Message sent. One second later. The message box was quiet. Xu Musen''s face suddenly turned red. Damn! Why did he blurt that out again? That goofy Nuannuan, she probably wouldn''t understand what he meant, right? Or maybe, no response was indeed the best response? Xu Musen had a feeling he was channeling his inner cheesy flirt like he used to with Yao Mingyue. Meanwhile, on the other side of the phone, An Nuannuan stared at the message on her screen. Even as naive as she was, she definitely understood what those titles meant... Her cheeks flushed like a mist of red, her eyes sparkled, and she raised her finger only to lower it again without typing. For a while, she couldn''t even type a single punctuation mark. She looked at the message again. Finally, she pressed a button. "Ka-ching!" Screenshot successful, the image has been saved to the system gallery. Hehe An Nuannuan lay on her bed, her little feet tightly clasped together. The next second, the message was suddenly withdrawn. "Nuannuan, I just now fumbled my phone and it hit my face, typing by itself. Pretend you didn''t see that." Xu Musen sent the message, feigning nonchalance. "Oh, so your face is quite slippery, huh? It typed out so much all at once." An Nuannuan''s typed words seemed to carry a bit of teasing. "..." Xu Musen pulled the blanket over his head. This was so embarrassing! Chapter 152 Ming Yues Feet? In My Hands! ```"Tell me, what exactly is going on between our son and Ming Yue? Why do I feel like it''s Ming Yue who''s so concerned about Musen now?" In the room, Xu''s mother couldn''t help but talk to Xu''s father. Recently, their son and Yao Mingyue had both changed significantly, especially after this return. It was obvious that Yao Mingyue cared much more for Xu Musen than before, while Xu Musen seemed somewhat reticent. "Isn''t this a good thing? Let the kids figure it out for themselves." Xu''s father was quite happy; after all, Ming Yue had grown up before their eyes, and both families knew each other well. It was expected and a match made in heaven for them to come together. Finally, there was no need to worry about this rascal not living well in the future. "It''s just a pity that Old Yao won''t be around to see Ming Yue get married." When Xu''s father mentioned Yao Mingyue''s father, a sense of melancholy and sorrow came over him. He remembered how the two families had once talked about setting up a marriage agreement for the children. If Old Yao had still been around, maybe they could have seriously discussed it. Childhood sweethearts, equal social status, and both families got along so well. Everything was so perfect. But that one accident changed the fate of many people. "It''s just that this rascal now doesn''t seem to know what he wants; he used to be so fond of Ming Yue, and suddenly it''s like he''s changed his mind. Girls have limited patience, and if Ming Yue really leaves, this boy can just wait to regret it." Sear?h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Young people, sometimes a little conflict is normal. Besides, after so many years, we haven''t seen any girl better than Ming Yue. As long as Musen isn''t blind, he won''t be interested in anyone else. Don''t we know our own son? He just likes pretty young girls." Xu''s father chuckled. Xu''s mother agreed that their son was a simp + a beauty-chaser and sighed, "I just wonder if the boy has been in contact with other girls at school. What if he really finds another girl to be his girlfriend?" "We can''t control their lives forever as parents, in the end, he has to make his own choices..." After a simple sleep. At three o''clock in the morning, they began to prepare for the climb. Although it was October, the sky began to lighten before six o''clock on the mountain. Climbing and taking the cable car, it was just the right timing. Xu Musen was still asleep when he felt strands of hair tickling his nose and a familiar scent. Opening his eyes slowly, Xu Musen met Yao Mingyue''s phoenix eyes. She was already fully dressed and crouched beside the sofa, her delicate cheeks cupped in her hands as she watched him, a strand of hair being playfully used to tickle his nose. "Piggy, time to get up." Xu Musen was startled. After he had mentioned divorce in his previous life, there had been a time when he was locked in a dark room like this. Waking up in the morning, he was always greeted by Yao Mingyue''s morbid gaze. Could it be that she had started so soon in this life? "Stop sleeping, stinky boy, or we''ll miss the sunrise," Xu''s mother also stepped out of her room, urged her son still lying on the sofa with a word, and then went to freshen up herself. Xu Musen immediately relaxed, tossing the covers off. At three in the morning, it was a bit cold on the mountain. The chilly wind blew in, and Xu Musen remembered he was only wearing shorts. "Ziiip..." Xu Musen suddenly felt a very lewd sound and gaze, and he turned to look. Yao Mingyue''s eyes lingered on Xu Musen''s exposed abs, her rosy tongue lightly touching her lips. For a moment, Xu Musen could relate to the expression he sometimes had when staring at An Nuannuan''s little feet. So sleazy! But Xu Musen didn''t want to make a fuss like those young girls: "Have you seen enough? I''m going to get up and change." "Pft, what''s there to see with boys." Yao Mingyue spoke, but her gaze leisurely drifted away, her face flushed as she picked up the prepared clothes and handed them to him. The mountain was still very cold, some places remained snow-covered all year round, and it was common to wear short sleeves at the foot and cotton clothes at the peak. Yao Mingyue had prepared down jackets, both brand new Canada Goose of the same style. Even the colors of hers and Xu Musen''s were exactly the same. After freshening up, they ate something simple. They set out to climb the mountain. At three o''clock in the morning, there were already many people ready to climb. Xu''s parents even bought a climbing stick each. "Do you two need one?" "I don''t need one," Xu Musen shook his head. Ming Yue smiled and said, "No problem, if I can''t walk anymore, I''ll lean on him." Xu Musen couldn''t be bothered with her. But Xu''s parents smiled heartily and began to climb towards the mountain top. At first, the climbing felt comfortable, but within an hour, their legs started to feel sore. Yao Mingyue, who had always been pampered, was beginning to lag physically. Climbing in the dark, she soon became sweaty. Her legs trembled slightly, and despite looking at Xu Musen''s back, she bit her teeth and kept up with him. An hour later. They finally reached the first stop with a cable car. Xu''s parents decided to take the cable car up a section first. "Ming Yue, you should take the cable car for a bit too." Xu''s mother, looking at Yao Mingyue''s sweaty countenance, suggested. Yao Mingyue glanced at Xu Musen and smiled while shaking her head, "I''m fine, I''ll climb a bit more with him." "If you can''t make it, ride the car. I won''t wait for you," said Xu Musen. "Not sure yet who can''t make it," murmured Yao Mingyue in retort. Xu''s parents shared a knowing smile, saying they''d wait for the two above. ``` Chapter 152 Ming Yues Feet? In My Hands!_2 Let''s give them some space to be alone.The cable car had left. Xu Musen continued to climb upward, having only covered about a third so far. Yao Mingyue followed right beside him. Another hour nearly passed; it was almost five o''clock. The sky was gradually beginning to shine, and many couples had come hiking on National Day to foster their relationships. "Dear, I can''t really go on, I''m getting a stitch in my side." In front of the two was another couple. The girl looked a bit plump and was having a hard time walking. "I told you to eat less earlier. Look at you, still wanting to hike to lose weight." "Nonsense, how can I lose weight if I don''t eat properly? Hurry up and support me." The chubby girl said defiantly. "You hang on to me first." The boy let her cling to his arm. Although it was a bit strenuous, they continued to walk forward, looking rather sweet together. Yao Mingyue''s phoenix eyes sparkled, and she reached out to tug at Xu Musen''s sleeve. "Musen, I''m tired too." Xu Musen turned his head to look at her, "Don''t be tired." "???" Yao Mingyue was taken aback. The couple in front couldn''t help but look back. When they saw Yao Mingyue, they were stunned by her beauty. Particularly now, as her delicate cheeks flushed with the subtle glow beneath her sweat-dampened hair clinging to her ears. She exuded a somewhat disheveled beauty. Her phoenix eyes carried a hint of resentment, and her cheeks puffed out slightly. In such a state, she was irresistible, not just to boys, but even girls would find it hard to say no. And weren''t the two of them wearing matching outfits? The boy appeared to be gritting his teeth, not quite understanding. Yao Mingyue got annoyed as well, clinging to Xu Musen''s sleeve without letting go, matching his steps as he moved. And gradually, from clutching at his sleeve, she moved to hold onto his arm. Xu Musen turned to look at her again. Yao Mingyue glared back defiantly, as if to say, either throw me off the mountain or I''ll keep holding on to you! After climbing for so long, Xu Musen didn''t have the energy to argue with her and kept walking forward. For Yao Mingyue, the fatigue seemed to vanish at that moment as she slowly wrapped her arm around Xu Musen''s, looking at other couples holding hands intimately. She slowly reached out her fingers but eventually drew them back. She didn''t believe he could resist forever... Continuing forward, Xu Musen was feeling a bit fatigued himself. They passed a pavilion where everyone sat down to rest. Sarch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xu Musen noticed that Yao Mingyue''s face was turning somewhat pale. The day''s exertion was too much for her, and since they weren''t far from the mountaintop, they stopped to take a break. "Dear, my legs are so sore, help me rub them, will you?" The couple ahead was saying affectionately. The girl sat on the bench, lifting up one leg onto the boy''s lap. "My legs are sore too, just pound it yourself." Seeing his girlfriend''s leg, which was nearly as thick as his own thigh, he lamented. "I''m hiking to lose weight for your future face, don''t you have a conscience?" The plump girl huffed and took out a packet of chips to snack on. Eating first to have the energy to lose weight. The boy looked helplessly resigned and started massaging her leg anyway. On the bench next to them, Yao Mingyue watched this couple''s actions, then glanced at her own legs. The sky-blue jeans wrapped around her slim and long legs. Yao Mingyue had long legs and they were fleshier, embodying perfect aesthetic and tactile appeal. She saw Xu Musen drinking water and, biting her lip, she also said, "Musen, my legs are tired too. Could you rub them for me please?" Yao Mingyue''s words made several boys nearby give a look. After all, Yao Mingyue''s beauty couldn''t be overlooked no matter where she was. They glanced at Yao Mingyue''s legs, feeling a twinge of envy. Especially the couple, the boy looked at Yao Mingyue''s legs and then down at his girlfriend''s. One had beautiful legs; the one at home was more like ham. "Rub them yourself." Xu Musen didn''t even look back. He had been troubled enough by her legs in his past life, her honey was his poison. He took out his phone to call his mother and update her on their location so they wouldn''t worry. Rejected again, Yao Mingyue bit her lip in irritation. She remembered that during a meal with An Nuannuan, she had openly said that Xu Musen willingly massaged her legs. Yao Mingyue believed she had nicer legs than her, right? Did she really hold no allure for him now? Watching Xu Musen, indifferent, she got angrier and simply took off her shoes. Revealing clean white socks that were still pristine after the long hike, they were as soft as marshmallows. Extending her foot, she aimed to give him a light kick. When a person is on the phone, they''ll subconsciously catch anything thrown at them. Xu Musen, out of reflex, grabbed her approaching foot. It was soft and cottony, with a touch of delicate skin. Despite Yao Mingyue being tall, her feet were only about size 35, small enough to be entirely grasped in Xu Musen''s hand. "You two shouldn''t get too tired. If you can''t make it later, just take the cable car, okay?" "Sure, don''t worry." Xu Musen hadn''t yet realized his action as he subconsciously squeezed Yao Mingyue''s foot. Chapter 152 Ming Yues Feet? In My Hands!_3 Actually, Xu Musen''s massage skills were all honed on Yao Mingyue, just like how a habitual smoker instinctively wants to flick a lighter or how an experienced driver likes to adjust the seat upon getting into a car.As soon as Xu Musen touched Yao Mingyue''s foot, it was as if he was accustomed to it, and his hand adeptly found and pressed a few acupoints. "Hmm" Yao Mingyue had not expected Xu Musen to be so adept, and the pressure and location of his massage made her feel exceptionally comfortable. Especially since Xu Musen''s hands were warm, almost as if tinged with static electricity, which made her feel a tingling itchiness all over. The people resting nearby couldn''t help but click their tongues at their intimate actions. Some people may verbally disapprove, but haven''t they actually mastered their own set of massage techniques in private? Young people nowadays really know how to have fun. "Let me talk to Ming Yue as well," Xu''s mother said on the phone. "She''s right in my" Xu Musen suddenly realized something was off and looked down to see the little foot wrapped in a white cotton sock, still moving slightly. Yes, she''s right in my hand. Yao Mingyue''s face was flushed, and a rare hint of girlish shyness appeared in her phoenix eyes. Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "..." This damn instinctive reaction! Xu Musen quickly let go of her foot, and the two exchanged glances, the atmosphere went strangely silent for a second or two. "Hello?" Xu''s mother''s voice broke the silence. Xu Musen stayed silent for a moment before handing the phone to Yao Mingyue. "Hello, Auntie" Yao Mingyue also felt her breathing wasn''t quite steady. "Ming Yue, aren''t you tired after climbing for so long?" "It''s okay, we''re resting right now," Yao Mingyue said, glancing at Xu Musen. For some reason, there was a feeling that the two of them had secretly done something naughty. "Take breaks as you climb, the mist on the mountain is mostly dew, and the stone paths are very slippery, be careful and let Musen guide you." "Auntie, don''t worry, Musen has been taking very good care of me" Yao Mingyue said, looking at Xu Musen who was sitting far away from her, her lips curving into a smile. Xu Musen, who sat aside, would like to clarify that he was not some pervert. But like a beautiful girl''s hands, Xu Musen simply favored every part of her equally. Where would one find such a good man who is not double-standard? How could he have been labeled as a pervert? But despite the unexpected factor just now, his instinctive action was indeed too embarrassing. He subconsciously covered his face, yet his hand still carried a trace of Yao Mingyue''s fragrance. Girls really are miraculous... "Click~" There was the sound of a photo being taken, and Xu Musen turned around only to see Yao Mingyue had already hung up the phone, and was taking a picture of her white-sock-clad foot with his phone. "What are you doing?" "Consider it a reward for you massaging my foot," Yao Mingyue''s face was red, but one''s subconscious actions can''t lie he just liked her feet. "I don''t need that kind of reward; I''m afraid my phone will catch athlete''s foot!" Xu Musen spat out with a disgusted expression and reached out to take his phone back. The people around were amused by the conversation between the two. Xu Musen, unable to save face, stood up and was about to leave. Yao Mingyue watched his retreating figure, her lips curving upwards. What happened to his vow to exterminate the virus? The little man who says one thing and means another~ She put on her shoes, her step light and joyful; her long hair swayed with the morning light as she followed him. The silhouettes of the two moved away. The people around couldn''t help but comment. "Tsk tsk, young people nowadays really know how to have fun," "Nonsense, if my girlfriend were that pretty, I''d play even more than he does," A few envious young hikers grumbled. The boy in a couple also smacked his lips; having a girlfriend as pretty and proactive as hers was beyond his wildest dreams. "Hey!" The chubby girl, noticing her boyfriend''s gaze lingering on another girl, was consumed with jealousy. She also took off her shoes. Wasn''t it just giving a little treat? As if nobody else knew how. "Darling, my feet are sore too, rub them for me," But once she took off her shoes, having climbed for so long, they were indeed a bit sore... The people around instinctively moved a bit further away. Indeed, the rumor that a girl''s feet have seven times higher metabolism than a boy''s, thus making the sourness seven times as intense, might be true? Her boyfriend, looking at his girlfriend''s chubby feet, felt there was so much to cry about. He was convinced that in his past life, he must have been a Rongjiang man! Chapter 153 No matter how many times I start over, I will never forget to like you. The sky had already brightened with the first light of dawn.The mountain peak was getting closer and closer, the golden temple and the Jade Emperor''s summit were now in sight. From a distance, the plaque of the Southern Heavenly Gate was already visible. Climbing a mountain was a test of strength, and Xu Musen was beginning to feel completely exhausted. Yao Mingyue''s small face was both flushed and pale beside him, and although the altitude wasn''t that high, they were thoroughly worn out from the climb. Actually, a beautiful girl like her would probably be more suited to going to the beach, wearing a bikini and sunbathing with sunscreen. "We''re not there yet..." Yao Mingyue was so drained that she didn''t even have the energy to tease Xu Musen anymore. At the moment, she was clinging to the railing, feeling as if she couldn''t take another step. "Just a few hundred meters to go," Xu Musen said, looking at her collapsed state, he added, "I told you to take the cable car, but you insisted on proving yourself. Now you know what it''s like to be tired." Yao Mingyue leaned against the railing and looked at Xu Musen, her weary eyes still showing a rich depth of emotion. "Of course, I knew it would be exhausting, but on the way up, no one else tried to claim you, did they? I think it''s quite worth it." Yao Mingyue revealed an exhausted, foolish smile. Too much climbing could cause a lack of oxygen to the brain, much like being drunk. Xu Musen watched her as the golden sunlight at the horizon cast upon her cheeks. It made her phoenix-eyes look extremely attractive, and her cheeks appeared soft, the fine down on them adding to her charms. Eighteen-year-old Yao Mingyue, sometimes still showed a bit of childishness. In a moment of haze, he seemed to see the little girl who always liked to follow behind him yelling "Brother." A fine seedling, it''s a shame it had grown askew. With careful pruning, perhaps it could still be saved. "Let''s hurry, or we''ll miss the sunrise." Seeing that she really couldn''t walk much further, Xu Musen reached out his hand and grabbed her wrist, starting to move forward. S~ea??h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was the first time Xu Musen had taken the initiative to extend his hand. Yao Mingyue was stunned for a moment and forgot to walk. "Are you coming or not?" Xu Musen glanced at her. Yao Mingyue looked at her wrist in his grasp and brought a soft smile to her weak cheeks. "Let''s go, what''s with the attitude?" She leaned lightly against Xu Musen, embracing his arm. The mystery of the girl adhered to his arm, and Xu Musen glanced at her again. Yao Mingyue also looked back at him with her eyes open. If you''re not going to speak, then let''s just hold it in. Xu Musen took a deep breath. He had been careless. After climbing for so long, both legs were weak, but one part was still full of vigor. Having crossed the Southern Heavenly Gate, they were about to reach the golden temple. The platform was already crowded with people, all waiting for the moment of sunrise. Xu Musen called his parents. "You two have arrived too, right? Then just take Ming Yue around for a walk, your dad and I are walking around the other side, don''t disturb us unless you have to! Make sure to have fun with Ming Yue." Xu''s mother called them, not planning to meet up with them at all. They were giving the couple some space for a private "date." On the other end of the phone, Xu''s father, after hanging up, inquired, "Did the kids get there?" "They''ve arrived already." "Well, let''s go and catch up with them." "Hey, don''t mess around. Let them be alone together for a bit," Xu''s mother said impatiently. Xu''s father scratched his head: "Is that okay?" "Otherwise? Did you really think coming out here was just about climbing mountains? It''s because of me. If it were anyone else, they wouldn''t have put up with you in the past!" Xu''s mother laughed. Xu''s father coughed: "Then, shall we just go for a stroll first?" The elderly spouses smiled at each other and promptly put the thoughts of the young couple out of their minds. ... Xu Musen helplessly looked at the phone that had already hung up; it was definitely deliberate. "We''re finally here." Yao Mingyue leaned on the railing, the proud morning sun resplendent in gold, dyeing her eyelashes a golden hue as well. She gazed toward the far-off mountaintop, silently waiting for the sun to slowly rise. The railing here was covered with all sorts of densely packed peace charms. Some read "Forever together," "Family health," "Success in exams," "Pass the tests." Several people had even written little essays, which would be periodically cleaned up. Judging by the markings, some of the amulets had been hanging for a very long time. "Xu Musen, do you remember the last time we came, we also wrote one of these peace charms?" Yao Mingyue''s hand flicked through the amulets, touching them so they chimed against each other, soothing like wind chimes. Xu Musen nodded; everyone who climbed this far usually left one of those little plaques. He remembered the last time he had been here, it was just after starting high school. "I remember, do you recall where you tied the amulet?" Yao Mingyue''s eyes glittered. Xu Musen also saw the familiar post, but it was now layered with many new plaques. Theirs had probably been lost long ago. "It''s been three years; it''s probably been cleared away by now," Xu Musen''s gaze scanned the area, but he could hardly recall what he''d written three years before. But surely it included the words "study," "family," and "Yao Mingyue..." "Yeah, it''s been so long. People have changed, let alone a wooden amulet..." Yao Mingyue''s gaze moved searchingly over the amulets, eventually resting on Xu Musen. Xu Musen held her gaze. "People will always change. If an amulet is lost, just replace it with a new one." There was nothing wrong with the amulet; it just couldn''t withstand time or the fate of being cleaned away. Yao Mingyue didn''t respond as the morning sun rose slowly, forming a line of gold at the horizon. Only from the summit could one see such a clear transition from night to day. "Yes, if the amulet is lost, we just need to get a new one." Yao Mingyue muttered to herself as the golden light of the morning drew a distinct line in her eyes. "But where is the person?" Yao Mingyue asked the sunrise, but her gaze was fixed on Xu Musen, revealing a heartbroken smile. Musen, in another three years we''ll be graduating from university. By then, will we have lost each other?" Yao Mingyue leaned on a stone pillar, her long hair cascading down, covering half of her face. She was tired, not just physically. But she was also afraid. Three years; after university graduation in three years, when the last thread binding them together would be worn thin by time, would they still be together? Would they disappear quietly like this wooden plaque, without leaving any trace? Yes, three years, they had already known each other for six sets of three years. It seemed every three years brought a change. The first three years, when their young minds first met, they seemed to have made an unspoken childhood pact. The second three years, they started elementary school, and little Nuannuan started to follow Musen everywhere. The third three years, Yao Mingyue was still the little girl who sweetly called out for Brother Musen. The fourth three years, by the summer of elementary graduation, an accident changed their destinies forever. The fifth three years, in middle school, their roles had subtly shiftedone yearning for security, the other giving in the wrong direction. The sixth three years, the present. It all seemed to have come full circle, the girl who used to call out for Brother Musen seemed to have returned. But they both knew it was no longer the same as the first set of three years. In the next three years, perhaps Xu Musen would have found a life of his own. But what about Yao Mingyue? Xu Musen thought of An Nuannuan''s grandparents and Professor Gao. Even at their age, they still couldn''t let go completely. Xu Musen looked at Yao Mingyue, now eighteen, with delicate skin and bright eyes, at the most beautiful moment in a girl''s life. "We have more choices. Sometimes the disappearance of a wooden plaque is to make room for new wishes." Xu Musen looked at the wishes on the wooden plaques, but they always seemed to focus on love, career, family, and health. "Perhaps I''m different from others," Yao Mingyue said with a smile, looking down at the densely packed blessing plaques on the pillar. "To me, I''ve only ever had one wish. No matter how many blessing plaques there are, I will only ever write the same thing," Ming Yue''s eyes were fervent in the morning light at the mountaintop. "Ming Yue, I don''t want you to be trapped in the past forever; there are many meaningful things in this world." Xu Musen said, but Yao Mingyue shushed him. She raised her head to look at the sky, where the golden sunrise shone on people''s faces, sanctifying the mountain at this moment. Is the sunrise beautiful?" she suddenly changed the subject. Xu Musen looked up at the sunrise, the overlapping mountains bathed in layers of golden light while the highest peak was graced by a slowly rising golden sun. This moment was, of course, one of the most majestic and beautiful scenes in the world. "Climbing for three or four hours just to witness these brief fifteen minutes of sunrise. So, if you think spending three or four hours for ten minutes is worth it, then likewise, for me, even if it means another three-year delay for you, I''m willing," Yao Mingyue said seriously, with a tenacious and slightly feverish tone. But this time, Xu Musen found he didn''t dislike it at all. He was silent for a moment, looking at Yao Mingyue, and the two of them silently exchanged glances where the angle just perfectly framed the slowly rising sun. The warm sunshine fell on them both, and their eyes sparkled at this moment. Just like back then "Click!" The sound of a camera shutter echoed nearby. Turning their heads, they saw a girl with a camera who had taken a photo of them. Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue turned to look at her. The girl hurriedly waved her hands and said, "Don''t get me wrong, I''m a photography enthusiast. I just couldn''t help myself because the look in your eyes and the scene just now was so moving, so I took a photo." As she spoke, the girl printed a photo from her camera and handed it to them. Xu Musen took the photo, and Yao Mingyue also looked over his shoulder at it. In the photo, The girl looked up, the boy looked down, the sunlight fell, and their specific features were indistinct, but the misty image outlined the contours of their faces. The golden sun rose slowly between them like a passionate yet shy heart. "I''ll give you this photo as a gift, I wish you happiness," the girl said with a chuckle, then turned and left. Xu Musen held the photo, glanced again at Yao Mingyue''s eyes, and passed the photo to her. Yao Mingyue took it, and as she looked at the photo, her eyes sparkled, and she waved the photo in front of Xu Musen. "It turns out that in the eyes of others, we do make a great match," Yao Mingyue said with a smile, holding the photo that was hastily developed and not very clear, yet treasuring it as if it were the most precious gift. Xu Musen watched her holding the photo and giggling, contemplating the silhouettes of the two people in the picture. It seemed... indeed, it was. He turned to look at the sun that had now risen halfway. Yao Mingyue moved closer to him. "Musen, the sun rises anew every day, but no matter how many times, it always brings warmth to this land." Yao Mingyue spoke with a tenderness akin to the sun''s warmth. "What I mean is, no matter how many times I start over, I will never forget liking you." The girl''s words burned intensely, as if to brand her mark on his heart. Xu Musen was silent for a long time. Finally, he sighed. He stood up and walked behind him. "Where are you going?" "Now that we are here, I''m getting two blessing plaques." Yao Mingyue stood there for a second. Two... She watched Xu Musen''s retreating figure, her eyes bright, a smile curving her lips. Then let''s get them together. Chapter 154 Can you not fall for someone else so quickly? In front of the Golden Temple''s plaza, there were many stalls set up.Some sold incense and souvenirs, while others offered fortunetelling services, dressed in Taoist robes. Sitting in a small hut was an old man with white hair and beard, who appeared to exude an air of immortality, lying on a rattan chair facing the rising sun in meditation. Mount Laojun is said to be Laozi''s Taoist temple. It is believed that the first ray of sunlight from the east is the most energizing of the day. Inside the hut, numerous blessing cards were displayed, alongside signs for palm reading and fortune telling. Being a Taoist does have its thresholdsknowledge of the I Ching, feng shui, and even proficiency in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting are required. Xu Musen came over and selected two blessing cards. "Hello, how much for these cards?" Xu Musen inquired. The old man didn''t even open his eyes, merely gesturing towards a sign nearby. The blessing cards were given away with incense purchases or for any amount of lucky money offered. Xu Musen, noticing the old man''s "take it or leave it, don''t bother the Taoist in his cultivation" demeanor, couldn''t help but smile. Indeed, Taoists do have a certain nonchalance; no wonder it has never been widely promoted. Their values simply don''t align. He took out money, deposited it in the box beside them, and began to pick out a card. Yao Mingyue followed and looked inside the hut, then glanced at the fortune telling sign beside the elderly gentleman. "Divination for career, praying for marriage, fortune in education, predictions for health" "Grandpa, can you do a divination for me now?" Yao Mingyue approached and spoke to the old Taoist who was meditating. The old Taoist slowly opened his eyes, which were deeply sunken, but sparkled with vitality. He looked at Yao Mingyue and said, "Young people should not seek fortune-telling needlessly." It is said that the more one has their fortune told, the thinner their fate becomes. With an immeasurable future ahead, young people should not readily seek divination, lest they limit their own potential. "I don''t want my fortune told, I just want to know about my marriage prospects," Yao Mingyue insisted, with no intention of leaving. The old Taoist looked at her again, stroking his beard. "Young lady, with such good looks, why worry about marriage prospects? You won''t have any trouble in the future." Yao Mingyue giggled, tugging at Xu Musen''s arm, "Grandpa, please just take a look and tell us whether we look more like siblings or a couple?" Xu Musen''s mouth twitched. What sort of ridiculous question was that? Passersby couldn''t help but turn their gaze toward them. What on earth? Sar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The old Taoist also inspected the pair, noting from their foreheads that they were certainly not siblings. "Most people seek divination for peace of mind, much like what psychologists do abroad. You two would be better off just getting along well with each other," he said candidly. With those in their thirties and older, he would tailor advice based on their personalities to guide them. Because those are the ones who are genuinely looking to get married. But there''s no need for such concerns with young people who are still indecisive, who come together and part ways on a whim. Let them be. Otherwise, they might break up and come back to overturn his stall. The old Taoist found the two young people before him quite pleasing to the eye, so he handed them two wooden cards from his drawer. "You can take these." The two wooden cards appeared to be hand-carved, unlike the mass-produced ones at the stall, each adorned with a strand of red mane. "Thank you, Grandpa." Yao Mingyue held the cards, her expression gleaming with happiness. The old Taoist waved his hand and resumed his meditative sitting. No wonder he lived such a long life, free from worries. Yao Mingyue passed one of the cards to Xu Musen, laughing. "I think the wishes we make this time will be particularly effective." Xu Musen took it and fiddled with it in his handthe wood was heavy and dense, likely to withstand years of weathering without much wear. Yao Mingyue picked up a small carving knife, looked up at him, and asked, "What do you want to write?" "Nothing much, just a blessing for good health and to strike it rich overnight," he replied, picking up a carving knife too. "Striking it rich overnight?" Her eyes brightened as she nibbled her lip and whispered into his ear, "You don''t need to write that wish downI can make it come true for you, just marry me, and all of mine will be yours." Yao Mingyue issued a soft invitation to be a Kept Man. After all, her family was quite wealthy, boasting assets worth over a hundred million. Xu Musen gave her a side-eye. "My first wish is to stay as far as possible from a heartless rich woman like you." "Ah, what a pity, but wishes spoken aloud don''t come true, so you still can''t get away from me," she said, giggling. She had realized over time that he was actually all bark and no bite. Xu Musen found her shameless behavior oddly cute and unexpectedly charming. If she weren''t so neurotic, she''d actually be a little rich girl without a single flaw. Xu Musen wanted to straighten this wayward sapling slowly, but years of emotional issues were not easy to cure completely. Yet the greater the difficulty, the more rewarding the outcome, right? Xu Musen slowly shifted his gaze back. He began to carve the characters slowly. Actually, his wish was simplehaving lived a second life, he already knew what was most important. A healthy body, a career worth striving for, unrestrained freedom, and of course, a sweet love would be great too. But whenever he thought about being in a relationship, Two figures would always come to mind in Xu Musen''s head. An Nuannuan. He naturally had a fondness for her, having unknowingly known her for nearly half a year now and having experienced so much together. Chapter 154 Can you not fall for someone else so quickly? _2 And An Nuannuan''s dopey yet pure character,seemed to be exactly what Xu Musen had always wanted in his previous life. Actually, if nothing unexpected had happened, Xu Musen felt he and she could have slowly come together. But Yao Mingyue was that biggest unexpected event. He had thought that since he kept rejecting her, this proud girl would also angrily ignore him. Before her morbid jealousy became too severe, they would separate for a few years, and everything would slowly change. However, it seemed like fate had ordained that their lives would remain entangled. Moreover, Yao Mingyue seemed to care about him... more than Xu Musen had anticipated. All the actions and changes in Yao Mingyue during this period had also taken Xu Musen by surprise. If Yao Mingyue could truly cure her heart disease, could there be a chance to make up for the regrets of their past life? Xu Musen shook his head, suddenly feeling like his thoughts were somewhat scoundrel-like. What happened to the pure-hearted warrior''s return? Regardless of the future, as childhood friends, as neighbors closer than family, Xu Musen still hoped she could find her own happiness. He set down the carving knife. Sar?h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "May we both find a way of life where our souls are free. Before everything becomes irreversible, this time, let us also become winners in life." He put down the carving knife. Turning his head, Yao Mingyue had also finished carving and was glancing over at him from time to time. "What did you write? Is there anything about me?" Yao Mingyue looked into his eyes, a flicker of light in her gaze. "Isn''t it that if someone sees it, it won''t work?" Xu Musen looked at his wooden tag, searching for a place to hang it up. "Don''t hang it here, or it might be cleared away before long." Yao Mingyue gazed towards the mountain: "How about we hang it on that tree over there?" Following her gaze, Xu Musen saw the tree, behind the Golden Temple, in a place hidden from the sunlight, so almost no one visited, and several trees grew there. "People usually put their blessing tags in the busiest spots to get more blessings. Why hang it so far away?" Xu Musen commented. Yao Mingyue clenched the wooden tag in her hand, speaking up: "I don''t need the blessings of others; I just need to remember it for myself. I''m not greedy; I just hope not to lose it again..." Xu Musen glanced at the wooden tag in his hand and started walking forward: "Let''s go." The two arrived at the end of a staircase behind the Golden Temple, which was nearly the highest place around. The branches were high up, and both of them couldn''t reach even with a jump. "If we stood on top of each other, we could probably reach it." Yao Mingyue suddenly said with a smile, winking at Xu Musen. Xu Musen always felt that her suggestion of standing on top of each other was a bit improper. Should they stack vertically or horizontally? "Carry me on your back, just this once, okay?" Yao Mingyue walked up to Xu Musen, lifted her fair cheeks, her eyes hopeful without the dominance of her past life, now, she was just the little girl who used to chase after Xu Musen calling him brother. Once, every time Yao Mingyue said she was tired, Xu Musen would offer to carry her on his back. But now, the spot on his back that used to belong to her, seemed almost like it was no longer hers... Her phoenix eyes held traces of deep-seated sadness, perhaps so deep that even she hadn''t realized it. The words that had come to Xu Musen''s mouth, he swallowed back down now. After all, he had carried her before. "Come on." Xu Musen slowly crouched down, and Yao Mingyue was momentarily stunned before her eyes brightened. Her hand first slowly rested on his shoulder. Unknowingly, his shoulders had become so broad. She gently leaned on his back, the long-missed familiar scent and warmth almost made Yao Mingyue wish she could always hold him like this. Xu Musen took a breath and slowly stood up. "Am I very heavy now?" Yao Mingyue whispered softly in his ear. "Yeah, heavy as a pig." Xu Musen''s voice was indifferent, but the girl''s scent and soft touch still somewhat disrupted his composure. "Before lying, shouldn''t someone listen to their own heartbeat first? It''s almost jumping out." Yao Mingyue whispered in his ear, their cheeks almost touching each other. In this bustling tourist spot, both could feel their hearts shamelessly thumping loudly. "Are you going to hang it or not? If not, get down." A bit grumpy at having been caught, Xu Musen retorted. But Yao Mingyue noticed his ears were turning red. Hmph the stubborn little man. Yao, on Xu Musen''s back, stretched out her hand, trying several times before she finally managed to grab a branch; she pulled it down, and with her other hand, she took out her wooden tag. Looking at the writing on it, she spaced out for a moment before revealing a smile and hanging the wooden tag on the branch. "Yours?" Yao Mingyue stretched out her hand, and Xu Musen handed over his tag. Taking it into her hand and noticing Xu Musen''s gaze, she huffed: "I''m not peeking." She really refrained from peeking, and they tied their wooden tags together. Releasing the branch, the tags swung into the air with the sound of wind chimes colliding in the air. Yao Mingyue looked up at the faint writing on both of their tagsonly the wind could see them now. Morning light spilled like golden threads from the horizon, shimmering on the tags, while the red tassels swayed gently and melodiously, as if the heaven was watching the inscribed messages. Chapter 154 Can you not fall for someone else so quickly?_3 This scene was particularly touching."Musen..." Musen also looked up, the golden sunlight on the horizon falling into the girl''s eyes. Yao Mingyue slightly lowered her head, meeting Musen''s gaze. "Do you think, in the next three years, we can come back together and take these wooden tags down?" Musen was silent for a moment. "Maybe in three years, they will have been blown away by the wind, taken by someone, or even carried off by birds. After all, it is three years; too many accidents can happen." "But if after three years, they are still here, can you promise me one thing?" Yao Mingyue was still leaning on his back, the two of them turning their heads to look at each other, both clearly seeing every detail of each other''s eyelashes. Yao Mingyue watched him with a trace of a smile in her deepset eyes. Three years, two wooden tags, any small accident could cause these tags to disappear. Musen did not answer. Yao Mingyue looked up at the two wooden tags, revealing a somewhat wistful smile, "If both wooden tags can last three years together, then why can''t we last three years?" Musen also looked up at the two wooden tags. He slowly said, "Yao Mingyue, we don''t have many three years left, and I think Auntie would also not want you to waste yourself like this..." "I''m not afraid, what are you afraid of?" Yao Mingyue interrupted him, the smile in her eyes somewhat sorrowful, "You also said, anything can happen in three years. Can''t you even give me that little bit of hope? I''ve never understood why you suddenly started to dislike me so much." The reason was something Musen had already hinted at to her. But, in this lifetime, Yao Mingyue had not yet reached that point. For Yao Mingyue, what Musen said felt like Musen had one day suddenly had a nightmare. When he woke up, he blamed everything that happened in the dream on her. Musen had experienced it firsthand, but in this life, Yao Mingyue had merely rejected his confession, not having committed any grave wrongdoing. From a God''s eye view, this was somewhat unfair to her... A heaviness settled in Musen''s heart, he closed his eyes for a moment, then said, "I haven''t hated you. I just feel that perhaps we''re more suited to be childhood friends, neighbors, but the role of lovers, I think we might need a little more fate. Continuing like this, confused and wrong, would be harmful to us both." "Then why can''t we find a less confused and wrong path to walk together?" Yao Mingyue hugged Musen tighter, as if afraid this might be her last chance to hold him like this. In terms of fate, they were childhood sweethearts; wasn''t that the greatest fate given by heaven? Yao Mingyue''s cheek buried in Musen''s neck, her voice trembling. In Musen''s mind, memories surfaced of the six three-year periods they had spent together, almost every day and every moment. Yao Mingyue had thought about slowly making him fall for her again. But with the appearance of that girl, Yao Mingyue felt she might really not have the chance to wait for that day. Yao Mingyue''s eyes reddened slightly, she turned her head, and her phoenix eyes, which now appeared as pitiful as those of an abandoned little animal, inducing sympathy. "Musen, please don''t fall for someone else so quickly. Wait for me..." Yao Mingyue hugged him, whispering in his ear, "At least, until I have repaid all that I owe you." Musen looked at her; he was silent for a long time before he finally spoke slowly, "Okay." "You... you agree?" Yao Mingyue asked, raising her head excitedly. "I promise, three years from now, no matter what happens to us, I will come back with you to see these two wooden tags," Musen added. Yao Mingyue''s excitement seemed to wane slightly, but at least she got the answer she wanted. It meant that in the next three years of university, they wouldn''t truly become strangers. If the Musen from the beginning was a stone, then now, there were still some cracks left in Musen''s stone. The cold wind blew at the mountaintop, but the two of them holding each other felt exceptionally warm. "Ding-dong..." The wooden tags swayed gently in the wind, blending with the golden light on the horizon. It was as if deities were reading their wishes... The wooden tag etched by Yao Mingyue, with its writing refracted by the sunlight, appeared as a love letter hidden in the clouds. "Brother Musen..." Sarch* The Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 155 Yao Mingyue: Do I still have a chance? The sun rose, and the hazy mist and frost on the mountain slowly began to melt away.The bluestone steps were now somewhat slippery. "Come on down," Xu Musen said to Yao Mingyue behind him. Yao Mingyue, clinging to his neck, was even more reluctant to let go. She took out her phone, "How about we take a selfie?" "Didn''t we just take one?" "You couldn''t see our faces in that one. Since we''re here, let''s take another one." "I''m afraid you''ll use my photo to take out a loan." "Heh, I still have a photo of your bare butt." Xu Musen raised an eyebrow, and Yao Mingyue''s complexion turned rosy; she smiled and extended a gesture, "It''s from when you were little, tiny and cute~" Stop goofing around here! Xu Musen couldn''t be bothered with her. When they were kids, they often bathed together without a stitch on. But that was all before they were three years old. The little saplings of the past have now grown into... left everyone else far behind. "Let''s take a photo. If not, I won''t come down," Ming Yue began to pester him, her youthful body swaying. Soft and smooth to the touch, Xu Musen felt his breath lose stability. "Alright, alright, let''s take it." Xu Musen spoke helplessly; after all, they already had plenty of photos together. Yao Mingyue took out her phone and switched on the front camera. Nowadays, camera pixels aren''t measured by tens of millions or billions. But looking at the screen, the two cheek-by-jowl faces basked in sunshine, their contours so clear and soft. Yao Mingyue revealed a smile; right now, there were no signs of her morbid jealousyonly the clarity and warmth of sunshine. She hugged Xu Musen a little tighter, their cheeks slowly came together, the fine fuzz on their faces touching. It was like a connection of nerve pathways. Tingling and numb, the sensation shot straight to the heart. This familiar touch, in their past lives, Ming Yue had also nestled in his arms, cheek-to-cheek as they looked at the phone together. Of course, if she didn''t often snoop through Xu Musen''s phone, it could have been quite romantic. But at that moment, Xu Musen glanced at her sideways. The purity of the girl''s smile caught him off guard, and for the first time, he didn''t think to look away... "Eggplant~" Her long eyelashes playfully fluttered. "Click..." In the photo, she was laughing, her beautiful cheeks gorgeously bathed in the morning light. Her long eyelashes, fair skin, and rosy lips were like she was smiling through the photo directly at you. And as Xu Musen looked at her sideways, perhaps even he didn''t anticipate that for the first time since his rebirth, his gaze held such a rare tenderness toward her. "I think we really do look like a married couple. Maybe we were husband and wife in our past life, and we''re here to continue our relationship in this one?" Yao Mingyue looked at the photo of them together, her eyes bright and cheerful as if she was looking at her most treasured possession. Xu Musen was silent for a moment... in their past lives, they truly were husband and wife. "Xu Musen." Ming Yue called out to him again, their gazes meeting as she smiled, "Do you think I still have a chance?" For some reason, Xu Musen suddenly remembered a TV show he had watched in his past life. It was about a couple who went mountain climbing, and after receiving a rejection, one was pushed off the edge. This area behind the Golden Temple was usually deserted, with railings leading to sheer cliffs below. This little morbidly jealous girl isn''t thinking of a love-death pact, is she? After all, with the capricious nature of the morbidly jealous, anything could happen. Though he felt it unlikely, Xu Musen still subconsciously shifted his weight. The mountain peak was often wet year-round, and the mists would condense into dew, making it slippery once the sun came out. The steps were moss-covered due to lack of footfall. And he was carrying someone. Xu Musen''s foot slipped, and he suddenly stumbled to the side. "Xu Musen!" Yao Mingyue quickly got off him, grabbed the railing, and reached out a hand to pull him. With the railing in place, there was no real danger of falling off the mountain, but his foot slid and scraped across the step. "Xu Musen, are you okay?" S~ea??h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ming Yue no longer felt like teasing him and hurried over with concern. "I''m fine, just a small scrape." Xu Musen steadied himself, realizing the psychological scars from his past life were not insignificant. Once bitten, twice shy. His ankle ached a bit, likely from a minor abrasion, but it wasn''t serious; he''d be fine after a day of rest. "What happened?" At that moment, a young Daoist monk who heard the noise came over to check. "Nothing much, just slipped a bit," Xu Musen shook his head. "This area is no longer open to tourists. Be careful, it''s slippery," the young monk said. Yao Mingyue pursed her lips and helped Musen to start walking out. "You young people, always looking for these places..." The young monk shook his head in disbelief; every year, there were people who searched for secluded spots on the mountain. There were always accidents. He looked up and saw two wooden plaques hanging from the branches. The placement of such plaques was regulated; otherwise, if everyone hung them randomly, the scenic area wouldn''t be able to accommodate visitors. He picked up a stick, intending to go and take them down. "What''s the matter?" At that moment, the elder monk who had been meditating in the cabin came over. "A young couple almost fell just now and hung up these plaques," the young monk explained. Looking up at the two wooden plaques, the elder monk... "Since they''re already hung, let''s not disturb them. Just go and tie a rope around this area so no one comes here in the future," he said. Chapter 155 Yao Mingyue: Do you think I still have a chance?_2 The old Daoist stroked his beard, then began to speak."Good," the young Daoist nodded and immediately went to do as told. The old Daoist looked up to see two wooden plaques colliding in the wind, making a series of crisp sounds. He recalled the appearance of those two young people, touching his beard and nodding slightly. "They do make a good match..." ... The two were resting on a bench to the side. "Are you sure your foot is okay?" Yao Mingyue looked at Xu Musen, feeling more worried than when she had sprained her own foot. "It''s just a minor injury, it''ll be fine in a bit." Xu Musen looked down at his sock, noticing a bit of blood had soaked through, but the wound wasn''t serious. "Serves you right for overreacting just now," Yao Mingyue pouted her lips, remembering how Xu Musen had dodged. Inside, she felt a bit sour. At that moment, Xu''s father and mother also returned, showing concern upon seeing their son''s foot: "What happened here?" "I slipped while walking, it''s nothing serious. Aren''t you two continuing your date?" Xu Musen said with a smile. "You rascal, let me take a look. Can''t you be more careful?" Xu''s mother came over to check and, after confirming it wasn''t anything serious, felt somewhat relieved. "Auntie, it''s all my fault. If I hadn''t distracted him with conversation, he wouldn''t have fallen," Yao Mingyue said, lowering her head. "Silly girl, what''s there to worry about? It''s just a small injury. It''s all his fault for not being careful when walking." "Mom, am I really your own child?" Xu Musen couldn''t help but tease. Seeing her son so lively, Xu''s mother also smiled, "Alright then, let''s take a photo together..." After spending a while on the mountain, it was almost noon. The fatigue from mountain climbing and the hunger surged together. There was only instant noodles available on the mountain, so they planned to return to the hotel to eat. However, on the way down to the cable car station, Yao Mingyue had to support him the entire time. "I''m really fine, you just need to walk carefully on your own." Xu Musen was being supported by her arm and couldn''t walk fast. Anytime he moved his arm a little too much, he would accidentally touch some of the wonderful sensations of the young girl. "I need to take responsibility for you." Yao Mingyue whispered softly. She then hugged his arm even closer to herself. Xu''s father and mother exchanged glances. Although they didn''t know exactly what happened between the two earlier, they could feel the relationship between them seemed to have gotten much closer. And seeing Yao Mingyue holding their son''s arm with such determination, Kid, you''d better appreciate it. The cable car could actually fit four people, but Xu''s mother cheerfully suggested, "Since the cable car charges by the number of people, why don''t the two of you take one? You can enjoy the scenery that way." Xu''s mother said this as she pulled Xu''s father into one of the cable cars, then closed the door. Wasn''t this matchmaking a little too clumsy? Xu Musen was speechless, but Yao Mingyue was smiling at the corners of her mouth. "Let''s go." Xu Musen then climbed into the cable car, and Yao Mingyue came in and sat beside him. The cable car drifted between the mountains; many people could still be seen climbing upwards. It was almost noon. The sun hung on the horizon, and as darkness gave way to light, the view of the surrounding mountains was truly breathtaking. It was indeed spectacular. The two were sitting close together. The wind in October was not so dry and hot, but pleasantly cool on their skin. The scenery outside the cable car was soothing to the heart. "Xu Musen, I had a lot of fun today." Yao Mingyue gently leaned against him, their combined warmth inducing a sense of drowsiness. "I''m glad you''re happy." Sar?h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xu Musen nodded, glancing at her for a moment. "And you?" Yao Mingyue asked him. "It''s been okay." "Tsk, you''re such a straight man. No other girl would like you except for me. Otherwise, they are just after your money or looking to deceive you. Only I don''t want anything from you, so you might as well just go along with me." Yao Mingyue narrowed her eyes, leaning on Xu Musen''s shoulder, her hand quietly moving toward his palm. Xu Musen looked at her. Indeed, others were after his money, but you''re aiming for my body, almost as if you''d begrudge the air I breathe if it were to be taken away by other women. "Rest for a bit." He pulled his hand away, propping up his head, intending to rest against the window. Having barely slept last night and getting up at three in the morning to climb the mountain until dawn, and then dealing with all the excitement until now, even an iron man would be sleepy. It was more than half an hour back down the mountain by cable car, and the gentle swaying motion was like a cradle, with the cool breeze outside making it quite comfortable. Xu Musen closed his eyes to nap. Yao Mingyue looked at his withdrawn hand and wrinkled her cute little nose. Such a blockhead... But as she watched Xu Musen, who was now quietly sleeping, this stubborn man seemed to have warmed up a little bit. Exhausted by the day''s events, she too became sleepy. She gently leaned on Xu Musen''s shoulder, their heads touching as the cable car rocked back and forth, reminding them of childhood when the two of them lay in the same cradle. Liu Rushuang and Xu''s mother would sing lullabies, lulling them to sleep. In this moment, it really was comfortable. After the cable car ride, they returned to the hotel. Food was delivered to the hotel room, everyone was hungry, and after dinner, the afternoon arrived. The repercussions of the climb manifested as soreness throughout their bodies. Xu''s father and mother washed up and went straight to their room to rest. Xu Musen took off his shoes and saw that the abrasion on his ankle was still not fully healed. He thought about just wiping off the sweat with a towel later. The door opened. Yao Mingyue had already taken a shower, changed into her pajamas, and her long hair was still slightly damp. Her fair skin was like that of a freshly boiled egg. Chapter 155 Yao Mingyue: Do you think I still have a chance?_3 She was still holding a basin in her hands."This is a foot-soaking basin prepared by the hotel, soak your feet." "I still have an injury on my foot, I won''t put it in the water." "It''s good to soak just one." Yao Mingyue didn''t give him the chance to refuse. She directly placed the wooden basin in front of Xu Musen''s feet. Inside were some petals and medicinal herbs. Xu Musen''s eyebrows moved, was this... footbath water prepared for him? For a moment he felt it was unbelievable; in his previous life, he had served Yao Mingyue tea and water quite often, even washing her feet every day. After all, he felt reassured doing it himself when it came to food safety. But this was the first time that she had actively brought him water to wash his feet. Yao Mingyue took out the small medical kit that the hotel had prepared, then started to pull one of Xu Musen''s legs, intending to dab it with iodine. Xu Musen flinched, and truth be told, he felt a bit embarrassed. "I can do it myself later." "You won''t clean it well enough, let me do it. I''m not fond of your smelly feet anyway." Yao Mingyue hummed, but the sight of the muscle lines on Xu Musen''s thigh still made her eyes shine. In a flash, Xu Musen suddenly felt... a bit sleazy. Wait, when he found various excuses to touch An Nuannuan''s feet in the past, was he also this sleazy? Taking advantage of his distraction, Yao Mingyue gently dabbed at the wound with a cotton swab. "Humph, if you had just let me do it earlier, there wouldn''t be a fuss, acting like a fussy woman." Yao Mingyue''s mouth grumbled, yet her hands were very meticulous. Watching her, Xu Musen couldn''t help but find her domineering and proud demeanor not at all annoying. "Let''s soak the other foot first, otherwise, the water will be cold soon." Yao Mingyue sounded the reminder again. Xu Musen did indeed feel a bit of fatigue in his feet. He lifted his foot and submerged it into the tub, the hot water seeming to make the veins in his foot expand. It was indeed quite comfortable. Xu Musen glanced at Yao Mingyue, who was wearing slippers. Despite having just showered, her feet still needed a soak to really be clean. The small feet beneath her sandals were still pale and tender, but the toes and heels looked somewhat red. After all that mountain climbing, it would be strange for a girl with delicately smooth skin not to be tired. "You go soak your feet, too, and rest for a while." "I''m a bit too lazy to move now, and moreover, there''s no basin for foot-soaking in the room." "Ask the hotel reception to send another one over." "Forget it, the phone for the front desk is in Uncle and Auntie''s room, don''t disturb their sleep." Yao Mingyue shook her head. Xu Musen looked at her, then glanced down at the foot-soaking basin beneath his feet, and said, "Then you use this one." Yao Mingyue''s eyes lit up: "Really?" "Yeah, I''ll just find any basin" Xu Musen intended to withdraw his foot, but before he finished speaking, he suddenly felt two soft, tender, and white feet slip into the tub, bringing a delicate sensation mixed with the temperature of the water. The girl''s pure white feet were placed in the same wooden tub as his, their feet getting very close to each other. Yao Mingyue''s pale and delicate feet were several shades whiter than Xu Musen''s, and in that moment inside the tub, they resembled Yin Yang Fish, Sar?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. merged flawlessly with each other, in perfect harmony. "Mmm~ this really is comfortable." Yao Mingyue squinted her eyes, looking at him with a radiant smile. "You... aren''t afraid I have athlete''s foot?" Xu Musen''s voice was a bit shaky. "Even if you did, I wouldn''t mind, I like everything that''s yours." Yao Mingyue held her cheeks, still smiling. Xu Musen was stunned, looking at their feet soaking together. Although they didn''t touch directly, this... probably wasn''t something ordinary couples would do. After all, even if a guy didn''t have athlete''s foot or anything, but given the daily physical activity, his feet simply wouldn''t compare to a girl''s in terms of beauty. Yet as Yao Mingyue held her cheeks, there was not a single trace of disdain in her eyes. He looked at the now cheerful Yao Mingyue. A warm current seemed to rise from the soles of his feet, slowly melting the cement in his heart... The Yao Mingyue of this moment was very different from the one in the previous life. However, sometimes he couldn''t help but wonder, if that accident hadn''t occurred years ago, perhaps this willful, playful, and clingy Yao Mingyue would have been her true nature. The tsundere temperament might just have formed gradually afterward. A sense of lament rose in Xu Musen''s heart. The tsundere trait had overtaken the originally cute and playful nature. Wasn''t this like a celestial tribulation defeating an old friend, a Minotaur of a situation? Chapter 156 Fish and Bears Paw, Can You Have Both? A tiny foot-washing basin. Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.Musen''s feet dared not move an inch. They were completely occupied on both sides by Ming Yue''s small feet. Above the wooden barrel floated some flower petals and herbs, complementing the pale, beautiful long legs of the girl. Ming Yue''s legs were like flawless premium white jade, not a single imperfection in sight. Musen appeared a bit rough in comparison, with some hairs on his legs. Ming Yue, looking on, couldn''t help but want to reach out and tug at them. "What are you doing?" Musen swatted her hand away. "So much leg hair, it doesn''t look good at all." "Why does a big man like me need good-looking legs?" Musen glanced at her. Ming Yue bent her eyes and smiled, "Then do you prefer them clean and tidy, or hairy like this?" "..." "Yao Mingyue, you''re getting bolder by the day." Musen looked at her, thinking to himself, you''re trying to play coy with me, as if I don''t know what you''re like? Even smoother than her legs. Musen didn''t want to continue this banter with this dirty-spirited vixen. He wanted to retract his feet. But as soon as he moved, two small feet reached over, clamping his feet from left and right. In the water, the delicate soft touch felt as if it had doubled, making Musen feel like he had fallen into a helpless state of bliss. "The soak isn''t done, you''re not allowed to leave." Ming Yue wasn''t shy about the contact between them; although she verbally complained, she clamped very tightly with her feet. Feeling Musen''s slightly rough feet, the subtle hardness of bones and the power of some prominent veins gave her a sense of the charm uniquely belonging to men, especially this particular young man. Being intimate with someone you like can indeed be very addictive. "Yao Mingyue, in ancient times, if an unmarried girl''s feet were touched by a man, she would have had to hang herself with a white silk upon returning home." Musen shifted his legs and found that Ming Yue, thin as she was, had quite a bit of strength. Ming Yue giggled: "There would be no problem if you ended up marrying me, right?" Continue reading at empire As she spoke, her eyes twinkled, and she continued, "Moreover, hasn''t a certain someone also been handsy with another young lady? Why aren''t you afraid she might not bear it when she gets back?" Yao Mingyue was speaking rather "harshly" now, but Musen could feel her soft feet pressing down on him a little more firmly. But how should I put it, this degree of pressure is at most a foot massage. She was naturally talking about An Nuannuan. Speaking of this, Musen truly felt a bit guilty. "Special circumstances require special treatment." Musen answered without any expression. The girl was physically incapacitated, and he simply extended a helping hand out of love, definitely not taking any advantage. "Haha, what a double standard man." Ming Yue stepped on him again, feeling sour inside every time she thought about him being intimate with another woman, her eyes almost flickering with a hint of dark light. To tell the truth, she was really envious, really jealous, the kind of jealousy that was hard to control. She even thought about whether she should just tie Musen up and take him away... Even if she couldn''t tie him up, if they were to turn raw rice into cooked rice, both families would know about it, and under pressure, they might force him to take responsibility. And even if Musen really changed drastically, his true nature couldn''t be altered. Musen was actually a very greedy person. All along, the reason why Musen allowed himself to be fooled by Ming Yue was that he was not content with merely being childhood friends. Especially when other boys pursued Ming Yue, his jealousy and insecurity became even more intense. So, before Musen had even figured out what the true difference was between childhood friends and lovers, he chose to confess because he wanted to claim Ming Yue for himself as soon as possible. Thus, any fish that can be caught is one that bit the bait out of greed. But Musen was never one to hit and run after having his fill. A promise from childhood, he had kept it for six years. If the two truly turned raw rice into cooked rice, even if Musen was reluctant, he would not simply ignore her. Had it been a few months ago, Ming Yue might have actually gone through with it. But now... Her heart felt a bit chaotic, and she also had some revelations; even if she managed to control him this way, could they truly obtain the happiness and security they desired? Perhaps it would only lead to their hearts gradually drifting apart. To have and to hold. To like and to be liked. Ming Yue suddenly remembered what Nuannuan had said. "If possible, I want to be someone he could like..." Yes, if one can marry someone they love in this lifetime, that''s tremendous fortune indeed. To love someone, you must first learn to give... Ming Yue hadn''t understood before, but now, she had some moments of sudden clarity. She had experienced some things during this time. When Musen suffered heatstroke at school and was taken to the infirmary, she rushed over without hesitation to care for him, and the surprise and complexity that showed in Musen. The gratitude and gentleness in his eyes when she smashed up the school storehouse to help him collect evidence. That feeling couldn''t be bought with any amount of money. It was also a side of Musen she had never seen before, something genuinely his. And all that happened today... Ming Yue suddenly felt that perhaps her methods and thoughts had indeed been too naive before, and too self-righteous. Chapter 156 Fish and Bears Paw, Can Have Both?_2 The Xu Musen of today, although he doesn''t cling to her and even seems intent on distancing himself,is now more like the bad older brother he used to be before the car accident six years agothe one who would bicker with her, tease her occasionally, and bully her, yet always saved the tastiest treats and most entertaining games for her. Instead of acting muddle-headed every day, fixating on her with a blank mind. She increasingly understood the phrase that Xu Musen had said, "Even if we came together, we never truly possessed all of each other." Indeed, was the dull and obsessive Xu Musen, fixated solely on her, really what she wanted? And what would it amount to if she kept him by her side for a lifetime? If his heart was empty, then she would never have truly won him over. Yao Mingyue wanted to win his entirety, and the current Xu Musen was her most preferred version of him. He would argue with her, incite quarrels, make her angry, and might even go a long time without speaking to her. But this version of him, this felt more like a living person, like the Brother Musen who used to tease her while still being caring... This Xu Musen, this Brother Musen was even more enticing than before, and she longed even more to completely make him hers. The only issue was that another girl had appeared at his side. And she was a formidable rival. But she wouldn''t give up, and it was impossible for her to do so. All the changes and bottom lines she was willing to accept were because of Xu Musen. If one day that bottom line no longer existed, she didn''t know what she might become. However, at least for today, Yao Mingyue experienced happiness and warmth that had been absent for a long time. Yao Mingyue looked at Xu Musen and suddenly laughed. "Lost your mind?" Xu Musen looked at her sudden laugh. "No, I just kind of understand what you meant before about learning to love everything about someone." Yao Mingyue''s eyes were profound and bright as she gazed at Xu Musen, the intensity in them undiminished. In the wooden tub, Yao Mingyue gently nudged Xu Musen''s foot with her little one. "But there''s one thing that will never change, I''ll still get you, and I always will." A delicate touch came from the foot. Xu Musen silently watched her. In fact, all the things he told Yao Mingyue were also reminders to himself. Before the accident, Yao Mingyue''s personality was also proudly cute with a clingy, playful side and she was lively and cheerful, like a little shadow following him around. It was one aspect of her that Xu Musen had always liked. The pathologically clingy Yao Mingyue had also lost many of her original shining points. If in this lifetime they could both retrieve what they had once forgotten, then there would be no regrets. "Better rest early." Xu Musen retracted his foot, grabbed the blanket, flopped onto the couch, and prepared to sleep for a bit. Yao Mingyue sat by his side, observing his cheeks. Knowing he was pretending to sleep. So his heart wasn''t as calm as it appeared on the surface. Yao Mingyue also removed her feet from the wooden tub. She approached the couch; Xu Musen had his back to her. Sar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yao Mingyue leaned close to his ear: "Goodnight, Brother Musen." The girl''s breath was as fragrant as orchids, trailing from his ear into his heart. Xu Musen felt his ears go soft. Yao Mingyue smiled lightly and left with the wooden tub. Xu Musen opened his eyes and looked at the ceiling. Enjoy more content from empire This situation seemed to be getting more out of his control than he had anticipated. However, he didn''t dislike the direction things were heading at the moment... ... The next day. He drove back, passing through Luoyi Ancient City on the way, took another tour, and had a meal at a water banquet. After that, he drove home. ... Xu Musen went to fish with He Qiang. As a result, while He Qiang fished, he kept checking his phone, replying to messages now and then. Xu Musen leaned in for a look and said, "Chatting with that girl named Chu Wenhui?" "She''s so annoying, bothering me about every trivial thing, seriously affecting my fishing speed," complained He Qiang, shaking his head, though he continued to send messages quickly. Xu Musen chuckled. "If you find her annoying, just block her directly." "Can''t do that... it''s impolite," coughed He Qiang. "Stop pretending; the girl obviously likes you. She looks fine and she''s tall enough, you might as well accept her," Xu Musen stoked. He Qiang clicked his tongue: "Moriko, stop it. What exactly is going on between you, Yao Mingyue, and An Nuannuan now?" "Nothing special, same as always." "Cut it out, don''t lie to your buddy. I heard about the incident at your milk tea shop last time; it was Yao Mingyue who led people to smash the warehouse. And An Nuannuan, it''s all over the forums now, she''s there every day at the milk tea shop, helping you manage the business. Tsk tsk, looks like you''ve got two beautiful girls chasing after you." Xu Musen paused slightly: "She''s the real owner of the milk tea shop." He Qiang glanced at him, and snickered, "Come on, who are you trying to fool? I know better. An Nuannuan is also a wealthy woman; is she really interested in the milk tea shop? Clearly, she wants to be around you." "Plus, Yao Mingyue, coming back together by high-speed rail this time, I actually woke up once in the middle of it, and saw you lying on her lap while Yao Mingyue just kept staring at you, for four hours, seemed like she barely blinked," He Qiang said, retracting his neck slightly, feeling that her devotion was even more intense than Xu Musen''s former infatuation. Chapter 156 Fish and Bears Paw, Can Have Both?_3 Xu Musen listened in silence.An Nuannuan and Yao Mingyue... "Moriko, I still advise you, no matter how many fish there are in the pond, you can only catch one at a time with the worm on your hook," He Qiang, who had never been dazzled by love, began to share his own experiences as if he were some kind of unorthodox military strategist. Listening, Xu Musen raised his head to look at him and cursed, "You''re the damn worm!" Discover hidden tales at empire "Hahaha, I''m just using it as an example." He Qiang chuckled slyly, his banter with his friend was all in good fun. "But it''s true, if I were you, it''d be hard to choose too, one is a childhood sweetheart, the other is a goddess sent from heaven, and both are so good to you, it''s a dilemma between the fish and the bear''s paw..." He Qiang was speaking when he suddenly felt a tug on his fishing rod. "Got a bite!" Almost simultaneously, both their fishing rods began to move, a sign they might have hooked some big fish. They both started to reel in the line, working the fish, exhausting their strength until their arms were sore before they finally managed to bring the fish to the shore. "See, it''s tough enough handling one fish, if there were two, you''d probably snap the line. You can''t be greedy in life..." He Qiang wiped the sweat from his forehead. Xu Musen looked at the two fish still flopping in the water. He grabbed the landing net nearby and scooped both fish into it at once. He lifted his arms and hoisted the net into the air. "Isn''t it a clean sweep now?" Xu Musen remarked. Then he placed the fish into the keeper net, stood up, and waved his hand, "Okay, I''ve got to go soon to accompany my mom and dad to the hospital for a health check-up. I''m leaving first." With that, Xu Musen turned and walked away. He Qiang looked at his departing figure, then at the two lively fish in the net. "What the hell?" ... Having some rare free time, Xu Musen took his mom and dad to the hospital for a health check-up. Yao Mingyue came along as well. Upon entering the hospital, Yao Mingyue subconsciously grabbed onto his sleeve. This girl, who feared neither heaven nor earth, was a little scared of hospitals. The accident six years ago had her staring at the bleak ceiling of a hospital room through a tough night. But in the end, the outcome was despairing. Since then, Yao Mingyue seldom went to hospitals. Xu Musen felt a slight tremble in her body, memories flooding back, he could empathize with her. He slowed his pace slightly so that Yao Mingyue could cling to his arm. Just like six years ago, when she nestled in his arms and they kept each other warm through the night. Their full-body check-up began with drawing blood with his mom and dad. Sear?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xu Musen also wanted to see if there were any issues with his body since his rebirth. But when it was Yao Mingyue''s turn, and the nurse brought out the glaringly bright needle, Yao Mingyue''s body trembled momentarily. Her arm reflexively contracted. Her pretty face went a bit pale with tension. "Do you have a fear of needles?" The nurse enquired. Many people have a phobia of needles or sharp objects. Yao Mingyue shook her head. She didn''t have a fear of needles, but the sight of one brought back memories of that night, her father covered in needles and bleeding... "This..." The nurse was at a loss, as she couldn''t proceed with the injection like this. With a soft sigh, Xu Musen came to Yao Mingyue''s side, placed a hand on top of her head, and slowly turned her face into his chest to shield her. He gently patted her shoulder, "Just don''t look at the needle, and you''ll be fine." The familiar warmth and scent calmed the panic inside Yao Mingyue immediately. She looked up somewhat absent-mindedly at Xu Musen''s cheek, the scene transporting her back to six years ago... He had done the same then, holding her tight and soothing her softly. "Okay..." She nodded, not looking at the needle, burying her head gently in his chest and wrapping one arm around his waist. To her, Xu Musen was the ultimate remedy for her inner unrest and fear. Xu Musen looked at the uncharacteristically docile Yao Mingyue in his arms. The psychological trauma she had suffered six years ago truly needed a lifetime to heal. His heart stirred, and he silently stroked her hair. The nurse looked at the two of them, smiled slightly, and shook her head; even the hospital wasn''t immune to overt displays of affection. Meanwhile, on the other side of the medication pickup window, another figure approached. Faded blue jeans embracing slender legs, a gray long-sleeved top, and a duckbill cap on her head. Her wheat-colored skin added a distinct charm to her appearance. "Number 36, Yao Mingyue, blood drawn successfully, please wait for the test results." As she collected some medications, she suddenly heard the automated announcement beside her. Yao Mingyue... She turned her head, and her gaze instantly fell on the blood-drawing Yao Mingyue, and the man embracing her... Xu Musen. Chapter 157 Xu Musen, oh, he is a good person. Yao Mingyue finished her blood draw; the doctor wiped her with a cotton swab and told her to press on it to stop the bleeding.Xu Musen always felt as if there was a gaze scrutinizing him. He turned his head and his eyes met with those of Zhao Lianmai. Zhao Lianmai''s gaze lingered on Xu Musen, as well as on Yao Mingyue in his arms. She smirked slightly and, pressing down her cap, left without a word. "..." Was he being despised by his own employee? Xu Musen hadn''t expected to run into her here. By the looks of it, she probably came to accompany someone to the hospital. "What''s wrong?" Yao Mingyue got up from her seat and looked at Xu Musen, who was staring off into space. "Saw an acquaintance." "Who?" "My little employee, doesn''t even come over to say hello. What kind of boss am I?" Xu Musen shook his head and smiled wryly. Yao Mingyue''s gaze sharpened a bit, and she had a pretty good guess who it might be. Her eyes became somewhat guarded as she looked him over. "Xu Musen, did you provoke her or something?" Typically, if an employee and boss met and didn''t greet each other, there must be some problem. "...Do I really look like someone who''s restless?" "Well, you''re definitely not upholding male virtues." Yao Mingyue clicked her tongue, feeling both resentful and sour remembering that this guy actually helped another girl with a leg massage. If it had been her old temper, she would have found a way to help him into the bathroom and scrub him clean with a steel wool sponge before continuing the use! Xu Musen shrugged and looked down at her, "So can you let go of me now?" Yao Mingyue was still glued to him, seemingly intending to stick close unless Xu Musen spoke up. "Tsk, not knowing the good luck she''s in..." Yao Mingyue let go of him, complaining to herself, not knowing how many people would wish to hold him but never had the chance. They then went elsewhere to continue with the medical examinations. After a busy half-day, Yao Mingyue and Mrs. Xu went for some female-specific checks, and Xu Musen took a brief rest in a corridor. Xu Musen saw the dark-skinned girl exiting the hot water room nearby, holding a cup of freshly poured hot water in her hand. Their eyes met again, but Zhao Lianmai still didn''t seem intent on speaking and was about to move on. "Xiao Mai, I can understand you not noticing me the first time, but this is the second time. You can''t just pass by without saying hello, right?" Xu Musen spoke with a helpless smile. Zhao Lianmai stopped in her tracks, turned to look at him, and a complex expression flickered in her eyes before she spoke in a lowered voice, "I won''t tell Nuannuan about today, but you better watch yourself." Having said that, she tried to bypass him. Xu Musen was momentarily baffled, then he realized what she meant. In Zhao Lianmai''s eyes, Xu Musen and An Nuannuan were a couple. But today, Xu Musen was holding another woman. Wasn''t that cheating? "You''ve misunderstood. We''re just here for a checkup together." Sar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xu Musen explained, but Zhao Lianmai glanced at him and said, "Nuannuan likes you... or at least has a good impression of you. If you really want to be with her, keep your distance from others, or make things clear with Nuannuan so no one ends up getting hurt and cursed." Zhao Lianmai''s tone was meaningful. Xu Musen, upon hearing this, couldn''t help but chuckle. "You really live up to your name, just like wheat awns that prick people. You''re probably the only employee in the world who dares to talk to her boss like this." Although Zhao Lianmai''s words were unpleasant, it was apparent she cared about An Nuannuan. Zhao Lianmai pursed her lips. "Alright, let''s not talk about me. Are you here to visit a patient?" "Yeah." Zhao Lianmai nodded, seeming reluctant to say more. "Hey, sister?" At that moment, a little head suddenly peeked out from a hospital room. It was a little girl with a ponytail, looking very delicate, with skin similar to Zhao Lianmai''s slightly tawny tone, and her clothes seemed to have been worn for a year or two. Yet, she still looked ethereal, very lively, but she seemed somewhat thin. It seemed that Zhao Lianmai''s tawny skin was inherited from her family, fundamentally different from the tanned skin that He Qiang acquired from being sunburnt outdoors. The little girl came over and hugged Zhao Lianmai''s leg, her glance at Xu Musen timid. "Is she your sister?" Xu Musen asked, looking at the little girl who seemed a little younger than An Nannan. "Yeah." Zhao Lianmai nodded, and the little girl tugged on her clothes, sounding anxious, "Sister, the nurse just said we have to pay again..." "It''s alright, go back and stay with mom. I''ll sort things out," Zhao Lianmai reassured her, patting her head. The little girl nodded and then glanced at Xu Musen again with some shyness but said nothing before returning to the hospital room. "Is your mother hospitalized?" Xu Musen inquired. "Yeah." Zhao Lianmai nodded, her hand subconsciously touching her pocket, her slender eyebrows slightly furrowed. Xu Musen noticed her expression. "Do you have enough money?" "It''s okay, I need to go to the front desk." Zhao Lianmai said, then turned and walked away. Xu Musen stood watching her back for a moment, then took a brief look through the glass of a nearby hospital room. Inside, he could see a middle-aged woman lying on one of the beds, with the little girl from before leaning by her side. Xu Musen looked at the patient''s registration board at the door. Heart-related diseases... Xu Musen didn''t know much about medicine, but he understood that anything involving the heart wouldn''t come cheap. No wonder Zhao Lianmai was constantly taking on part-time jobs. The money she sent to the rural credit cooperative a few days ago must have been for the hospital bills here. Chapter 157 Xu Musen, oh, he is a good person. _2 Although Zhao Lianmai''s salary was less than ten thousand, which was already quite high, a small surgery at the hospital could easily deplete it.Xu Musen looked at the pale-faced middle-aged woman and the little girl lying beside the bed. This scene was reminiscent of a day years ago when they waited at the hospital. After several glances, Xu Musen silently turned around and left. ... At the hospital payment counter. Zhao Lianmai looked at the bill, quietly took out an old wallet wrapped tightly from her pocket, which barely had any money left, and counted it over and over again. In the end, she took out almost all of her money and handed it over to the staff. The nurse recognized Zhao Lianmai, counted the money, and said, "This amount of money will only cover hospital observation, and some medicines can''t be provided to you. Your mother needs surgery as soon as possible, and at least the special medicine must be continued." The nurse, also feeling pity, could only sigh. The remaining treatment with special medicine would cost at least ten or twenty thousand. "I understand, thank you." Zhao Lianmai nodded her head in thanks. She looked at her shriveled wallet, which only contained just enough change to afford a meal. She turned and left. "What a good girl..." The nurse sighed watching her leave, secured the money, and turned to pick up a pen to sign. But when she turned back around, she found a young man standing in front of her, looking at the bill on the desk. "Hello, is there anything you need to process?" "No, it''s okay now." Xu Musen smiled, turned around, and left. "Strange..." The nurse watched him go and resumed her work. ... It was nearly mealtime. Zhao Lianmai went outside to buy some boxed meals from a street stall. There were ones for five, eight, or ten yuan. The more expensive ones contained a bit of meat. Zhao Lianmai checked her wallet, took out a twenty-yuan note, and another two yuan. "How much are you getting?" The stall owner, looking at the money she gave, asked. "Two ten-yuan meals, and with these two yuan, could you just give me some extra rice without the vegetables?" Zhao Lianmai asked softly. The owner was taken aback, "Girl, without vegetables..." At this, the owner''s wife came over, nudged her husband, and said with a smile, "Alright alright, I''ll get it for you." The owner''s wife added quite a bit of meat to the two ten-yuan lunch boxes. For the box that was supposed to just have rice, she still drizzled a layer of meat sauce on top. "Girl, here''s your food. The rice is a bit hard, but it''ll taste good with the sauce. Don''t mind it, okay?" The owner''s wife said with a smile as she handed over the boxes. Sear?h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhao Lianmai, holding the boxed meals, gave the owner''s wife a slight bow, "Thank you." After Zhao Lianmai left, The owner''s wife sighed with a hint of concern. "Our daughter is about her age, too; it''s really not easy for her..." ... When Zhao Lianmai returned to the hospital room and was about to push open the door, another tall figure appeared in front of her. She turned her head and saw Xu Musen again in front of her, holding a bag of fruit and nutritional supplements. "You" Zhao Lianmai paused. "Well, since you''re my employee, it''s only right for a boss to be concerned about the family of his staff," Xu Musen said with a gentle smile. "You don''t have to do this," Zhao Lianmai said, momentarily dazed by his smile. "I''m already here, let''s not talk about employee and boss; aren''t we also classmates?" Xu Musen said, and without further ado, he turned the doorknob of the hospital room. Zhao Lianmai watched his tall figure, bit her lip, and followed him in. "Sister, you..." The little girl lifted her head but saw Xu Musen and suddenly became too shy to speak. The middle-aged woman on the bed also propped herself up to look at the stranger in front of her: "Who are you?" "Hello, Auntie, my name is Xu Musen. I''m a classmate of Zhao Lianmai, and we''re from Zheng City. I heard you weren''t feeling well and came to visit you," Xu Musen said with a smile as he introduced himself and casually placed the fruits and supplements on the bedside cabinet. "Xiao Mai''s classmate?" The woman''s face was pale as she looked at her daughter. Zhao Lianmai approached, placed the boxed meals she had brought, and said, "Yes, he''s... the boss of the part-time job I mentioned at school." Upon hearing this, the woman suddenly understood and took another careful look at Xu Musen. Some time ago, her daughter had sent home quite a bit of money, claiming it was from a part-time job. At first, she had been worried about what her daughter might have done to earn so much money in a month. Not to mention a part-time job, even graduates from distinguished universities entering big companies might not make ten thousand in a month. She had always been apprehensive that her daughter might have done something demeaning because of their family''s situation. But now, seeing the handsome young man before her, her worries faded considerably. "So you are the boss Xiao Mai mentioned, I did not expect you to be so young. Please, have a seat..." The woman tried to get up, but the young girl by her side hurried over to help her. "It''s okay, Auntie, you should rest," Xu Musen said, pulling over a stool to sit on. The woman looked at Xu Musen again, "A few days ago Xiao Mai told me she had a part-time job at school and made a good sum of money. I want to thank you on behalf of Xiao Mai." "If anyone should be thanked, it''s me who should thank Xiao Mai. When my company had just started, she helped me run around for business. The hardest working and most responsible person in the company was her. When the company is more stable, I will not let her efforts go unrewarded," Xu Musen said, while Zhao Lianmai stood quietly beside them, her gaze shifting as she listened to his words. Chapter 157 Xu Musen, oh, he is a good person. _3 "This is already very good; we don''t know how to thank you enough..."The woman listened and was touched. She had fewer doubts about the young man''s words. After all, given their family situation, such a wealthy person wouldn''t bother to scheme against them. Xu Musen chatted with Zhao Lianmai''s mother, talking about some school matters. Xu Musen even took the initiative to show her his student ID from his wallet, making the woman feel more at ease. When speaking of Zhao Lianmai''s hard work and achievements at school, a look of relief spread across the woman''s face. Zhao Lianmai had been silent the whole time, just watching Xu Musen and her mother laughing and talking, her emotions flickering in her eyes. "You haven''t had dinner yet, right? Why don''t Xiaomai take you out for something to eat?" It was already mealtime. The woman glanced at the boxed meals they had bought. They were good enough for them, but they seemed inadequate to offer to a guest. "No need, Auntie, my family is also here for a hospital check-up, and I''ll be heading back soon," Musen replied. Xu Musen said, taking a lollipop out of the bag he brought and giving it to the little girl with a hint of social anxiety by his side. "This is for you." The lollipop Xu Musen bought was the same kind that the Pig Hero character always ate, bigger than a fist. The little girl looked at the lollipop; it seemed like she hadn''t had one for a long time. She swallowed, but still didn''t reach out to take it. "Take it." Zhao Lianmai gently touched her sister''s head. She never took advantage of others, but when it came to her family, she still wished they could have it a little better. "Oh... thank you, brother. My name is Zhao Xiaoshu." The little girl took the lollipop, her thin face looking up at Xu Musen, shy but polite as she introduced herself. Xu Musen nodded with a smile, glanced at the boxed meals beside him, and then said to the woman, "It''s getting late; I should be going, Auntie. Take good care of yourself." "Right, thank you so much. Xiaomai, you should walk him out," the woman said. Zhao Lianmai nodded and walked out of the ward with Xu Musen. They reached the corridor and came to a turn. Xu Musen suddenly stopped, and Zhao Lianmai, lost in thought, bumped into him. "What are you thinking about?" Xu Musen turned around. Zhao Lianmai took a step back and looked at Xu Musen, "Thank you." "No need to thank me, take this instead." Xu Musen took out an envelope from his chest and handed it to her. Zhao Lianmai immediately guessed what it was and subconsciously stepped back. "I can''t take this." "Who said I was giving it to you? I''m lending it to you. You''ll repay it each month out of your salary. If you like, you can pay me some interest too, at the bank''s rate," Xu Musen said with a smile, firmly placing the envelope in her hand. "Everyone faces tough times. I''ve experienced what it''s like to have a family brought down by a single penny. Just get through this hard patch first." Zhao Lianmai held the envelope, its thickness indicating it was just over twenty thousand. She bit her lip but still shook her head. "Don''t make a fuss. I''m willing to lend you the money because I believe I can get more in return from you. Until you pay it back, you cannot jump ship from my employ, or else I''ll call the police on you!" Xu Musen asserted, his tone adopting that of a capitalist. But Zhao Lianmai knew he was saying this deliberately to make her feel comfortable accepting the money. Clenching her fist, she knew her mother really needed the money. She was silent for a moment, then suddenly bowed deeply to Xu Musen. "I understand. I will repay you." "We are equals; no need for such formality. Now go back to your family; I''m off," Xu Musen said, waving his hand and walking away. Zhao Lianmai watched his figure disappear down the corridor for a long time. Her usually cold face now showed traces of emotion, and eventually, her eyes lowered. The invisible pressure she carried seemed to be finally shared. In the ward. The woman watched her daughter licking the lollipop, still thinking about the young man who just left. He seemed like a good person. Moreover, to be so young and have started his own business, he was not only kind but capable too. If Xiaomai could... Alas, her family situation had been hard on the children. "Xiaoshu, what do you think of that boy?" The little girl licked her lollipop and pondered seriously for a while before showing a smile, "He''s a good person." A good person. Indeed, a remarkable evaluation. Sar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 158 Yao Mingyue: So am I at least on the same starting line as her? The National Day holiday had already flown by halfway, unnoticed.When students returned home for the holiday, they were the beloved family pets for the first three days, but by the following three days, they had turned into household pests. Xu Musen had gone to check on the flower shop too. Yao Mingyue was, as always, skillfully employing her heart-winning tactics on her future mother-in-law. Whenever she had free time, she''d help out and chat at the flower shop, and Mrs. Xu''s fondness for Yao Mingyue grew by the day. And it was no longer the fondness for half a daughter but the liking specific to a future daughter-in-law. Xu Musen, on the other hand, walked around the snack street. For now, Kangaroo Delivery only operated within the university, but it was bound to expand to serve the broader community eventually. However, the operating environments of the school and the wider society were quite different. There were many office buildings and residential complexes next to the snack street. With such a concentration of shops and variety, and because the big shop owners were generally familiar, it was very suitable as a pilot for the delivery service. Xu Musen felt that starting a trial from this snack street was a good idea. Many shopkeepers greeted Xu Musen enthusiastically when they saw him. "Xiaosen, long time no see! Are you still doing advertising work?" The snail noodle shop owner saw him and immediately pulled him aside to ask warmly. Xu Musen smiled and shook his head, "I''m not focusing on that area for now." "That''s a shame," the shop owner said regretfully, nodding his head. Sar?h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "But I''m planning to do something different now, something more profitable and without much cost. Want to talk about it?" Xu Musen said cheerfully. "Sure, let''s talk inside the shop," the owner agreed, showing a lot of trust in the young man and promptly pulling him in for a chat. Xu Musen had become quite adept, listing all the advantages of Kangaroo Delivery. He brought out his successful cases from the university, leaving the owner in awe. "And for containers and disposable cutlery, we could offer them specifically down the line at a price that''s sure to be cheaper than what you are getting individually," Xu Musen added another perk. Yao Mingyue was about to take over a factory from Liu Rushuang, and disposable cutlery was a covertly lucrative industry in the future. "Sounds good, but hiring delivery personnel is expensive here, and it''s not easy to recruit, right?" the owner asked while nodding, bringing up a concern. People in society aren''t as easily swayed as students when it comes to wages. If they can''t earn a decent amount each month, not many would be willing to join. Moreover, there are plenty of old hands in society, and they generally don''t want to be the first to try a new industry. However, burning money on a large scale was something Xu Musen couldn''t afford right now. In the university, if he could keep costs below two hundred thousand, he could basically break even. But in society at large, even if you threw in one or two million, let alone one or two hundred thousand, it would be like a drop in the ocean. "Don''t worry about that," Xu Musen chuckled, having already anticipated these issues. "It''s normal to have fewer riders in the early stages, so initially I''ve decided to go with a group purchasing approach, targeting companies and businesses for bulk orders. In this way, a single delivery person could cover an entire office building. This consolidates orders, saves on manpower, and increases the riders'' income," explained Xu Musen. "Group purchasing..." the owner nodded, considering the strategy: "There are people who have tried cooperating with companies for meal delivery, but the results weren''t great. Nowadays, people don''t like eating cafeteria-style meals." The catering partnerships with enterprises typically still stick to the type of meals you''d find in a canteen. Getting something like milk tea or fried skewers delivered was practically impossible. People increasingly sought to eat according to their own preferences, and the number of these sorts of orders was diminishing. "Isn''t that our advantage?" Xu Musen smiled, glancing at the snack street. "There is basically every type of food available on this street. If everyone joins the platform together, there will be a larger variety of dishes to choose from, which naturally attracts a broader audience. Finally, having delivery personnel make the distribution would wrap it up," he continued. Xu Musen shared his vision, considering that the office workers in the buildings were the main force behind food delivery orders. After all, having worked all day, they had just a pitiful hour or two for lunch and a nap. During peak meal times, they would have to queue up and hustle back and forth, losing any time they had to rest. That''s why the frequency of ordering takeout was so high. Once they got used to ordering food this way, he could continue to promote it further. "You''re quite something, kid. One good idea after another. The Xu family is going to strike it rich again," the owner complimented, obviously impressed by Xu Musen. "I''d also appreciate it if you could help me spread the word. If there are any issues, just come straight to the shop," Xu Musen said. "No problem." After exchanging a few pleasantries, Xu Musen stood up and left. Back at the flower shop. Seeing his mother and Yao Mingyue bustling about inside and out, caring for the plants wasn''t an easy job. His mother would surely suffer from some back issues when she got older. "Mom, maybe you shouldn''t run the flower shop in the future." "What else could I do if not run the flower shop?" "Open a milk tea shop," Xu Musen suggested, looking over the size of the shop. "Our shop is not small, and it''s right at the street corner. Selling flowers only sees a few peak seasons throughout the year, but milk tea is something people drink every day. Besides, there''s a middle school and a high school nearby. For them, the number of times they buy milk tea must be more than the number of times they buy flowers, right?" Xu Musen looked at the students walking by, seeing them as potential little cash crops. "Maybe not necessarily," Mrs. Xu said, lifting her head and giving a meaningful teasing look, glancing at Yao Mingyue. You, my son, always sneaked flowers from the shop to give to Yao Mingyue. Did you really think your mother didn''t know? Chapter 158 Yao Mingyue: So Im at least on the same starting line as her?_2 "..."Xu Musen''s face flushed red in an instant. "Mom, you can''t just expose me like that." Yao Mingyue couldn''t help but chuckle as well, her phoenix eyes gleaming brightly. Recalling the days when Xu Musen had sent her flowers, she felt both proud and slightly regretful. If only she had known, she would have captured him sooner. "Cough, a milk tea shop is a bit easier to handle than a flower shop, and you can hire anyone to work it. Plus, the revenue is higher, and I won''t even charge you a franchise fee. How nice is that?" "You were thinking of charging me a franchise fee? Don''t you know I''m your manufacturer?" Xu''s mother glared at him and poked his head. Yao Mingyue giggled, thinking it was funny indeed! Xu Musen found himself without a comeback. "Mom, you should spend less time online, picking up all that lingo..." "I''ll do as I please; none of your business, little boy." "..." Burdened by blood ties, Xu Musen watched as his mother lived her days with happiness, a far cry from her previous worried expression. Wasn''t this one of the most important meanings of his rebirth? "It''s almost noon, you two should go have lunch, especially Xiaoyue, make sure you eat something nutritious." Xu''s mother made a special point to remind Yao Mingyue. The hospital check-up results were out; Xu''s father and mother had no significant issues. However, Yao Mingyue was found to be a bit frail, not from a lack of strength, but prone to being easily startled and susceptible to the cold, among other things. This might still be an affliction from that time. "Auntie, make sure you eat too." "I''ll eat later. You two go ahead. The afternoon isn''t busy. Go have fun wherever you want, and Musen, take good care of Xiaoyue, okay?" While saying this, Xu''s mother even gave her son a sly wink. Xu Musen chose to turn a blind eye and left the house to get lunch. Yao Mingyue followed him out the door, walking by his side. "What do you want to eat?" Xu Musen asked. "Are you treating?" Yao Mingyue looked at him. "Anything over five yuan, you pay for yourself." "Even a cup of instant noodles with a sausage costs more than five yuan now!" Yao Mingyue rolled her eyes. The two walked down the street. There was plenty of street food, but given his mother''s instructions... He ought to treat Yao Mingyue to something nicer. "Let''s go, I''m inviting you today, as a thank-you for the favor you did for me before." Xu Musen''s tone changed. Sar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The milk tea shop business at the school did warrant a proper thank you to her. "That''s what you said, I get to pick what we eat." Yao Mingyue seemed to remember something, her eyes lighting up with a hint of excitement. Xu Musen instinctively stepped back, giving her a once-over, why did she look so strange... "Then let''s go back home first, I want to change my clothes." "It''s such a hassle just to eat something." "No complaints, you agreed to do as I say!" Saying that, Yao Mingyue reached out and tugged at the hem of his shirt. "We can go, but keep your hands to yourself..." Xu Musen let her pull him, and the two left the street. Xu''s mother stood at the door of the shop, looking at their retreating figures with a knowing smile. ... Back at the apartment complex. Yao Mingyue quickly changed her clothes, although he had thought her secrecy was about something elaborate. It turned out to be a simple pale yellow dress, her long hair draped naturally, with a slight curl to her bangs. On her feet, she slipped on a pair of crystal sandals. Her delicate jade-like feet flashed occasionally beneath the hem of her dress, like a piece of fine jade waiting to be unveiled. She looked like an energetic girl straight out of a comic book. And those phoenix eyes added a touch of nobility. Yao Mingyue used to love wearing little dresses and pigtails, bouncing around behind him. "How''s this look? Does it whet your appetite?" Yao Mingyue stood in front of him, twirling the skirt gently, her white calves and sandaled feet shining brightly. "What appetite?" Xu Musen tried to divert his gaze. "Don''t you think I''m a feast for the eyes?" Yao Mingyue pointed to her exceptionally beautiful cheeks, her expression full of confidence in her looks. She was indeed very beautiful, over the years, the only one who could match her beauty was An Nuannuan. "I''m not into pig''s head meat." Xu Musen withdrew his gaze. Yao Mingyue paused with her hand pointing at her cheek, then huffed and gave him a twist: "You''re the dead pig." They stepped out the door. The two returned to the bustling streets. On National Day, the streets were packed, passing by restaurant after restaurant. "What do you feel like eating?" "How about Western food, something romantic?" Yao Mingyue chirped merrily. Xu Musen ignored her hidden meaning. "There''s a decent Russian restaurant next to Zhenghong City." Xu Musen began speaking, nutrition concerns aside, a big steak should cover all bases. "I don''t want steak, chewing on beef every day will make my cheeks muscular and square-faced." "That would be great, so upright and virtuous. And if you don''t eat steak at a Western restaurant, what do you eat?" Xu Musen casually remarked, no wonder Russians liked playing Tetris, there seemed to be a reason for that. "Who said Western food has to be steak." Yao Mingyue walked a couple of steps and stopped at the corner of a junction. "This looks good." She pointed at an icon of an old man with a white beard. KFC... Xu Musen stared at the KFC sign in front of him, his mouth twitching: "This is the Western food you were talking about?" "Isn''t it?" Yao Mingyue''s lips curved up. "If my mom finds out I only took you to KFC, she''s going to nag me about it when we get back." "But I want to eat this today." Yao Mingyue''s tone carried a deeper meaning. Chapter 158 Yao Mingyue: So Im at least on the same starting line as her?_3 Xu Musen suddenly realized.This KFC... seemed to be the same one he had visited last time with An Nuannuan. That day, Yao Mingyue had sprained her ankle. "Can''t you even meet this small request?" Yao Mingyue looked at him, her words humble, but her tone carried the implication of a legitimate wife catching a cheating husband. "If you want to eat, eat." Xu Musen stepped forward and walked in. The restaurant was full of children, bustling just like the last time. Xu Musen ordered two set meals. The two of them coincidentally sat exactly where he and An Nuannuan had eaten last time. Only this time, the person sitting across from him was Yao Mingyue. Yao Mingyue actually rarely ate such oily and greasy food, after all, she had to maintain her figure. But now, Yao Mingyue took a bite of a chicken drumstick, and the aroma of the oil and the crispy texture turned out to be surprisingly tasty. Xu Musen also took a bite of a chicken wing and said, "I remember you didn''t like to eat this kind of food before." "Yes, I used to be afraid of getting fat, lest I be called chubby by certain people and end up not getting married when I grow up." Yao Mingyue held her delicate chin in one hand. As a child, Yao Mingyue ate well, since Liu Rushuang had the means. Plus, girls developed one or two years earlier than boys, so before elementary school, Yao Mingyue was the kind of girl who had a bit of baby fat and looked cute. She had nothing to do with being fat. But back then, Xu Musen would annoyingly pinch her face, calling her a chubby girl and saying she certainly wouldn''t be able to get married. Thinking of the past, it seemed quite reasonable for Yao Mingyue to want to get back at Xu Musen after growing up. What goes around comes around. Xu Musen touched his nose awkwardly, "So you''re not afraid of getting fat now?" "Because I''ve found that certain people just like them plump and seem to get hungrier and hungrier." Yao Mingyue''s gaze held a touch of melancholy. Xu Musen''s thoughts involuntarily drifted to An Nuannuan. His eyes then turned to Yao Mingyue''s chest. Actually, it wasn''t bad, after all, she had inherited Liu Rushuang''s excellent genes; it''s just that An Nuannuan was simply too outstanding. "Xu Musen, don''t tell me you judge people based on their chest size, the bigger it is, the better your mood?" Yao Mingyue suddenly spoke. This guy, since that day, had always been cold to her, but he had been particularly nice to An Nuannuan, and her own mother as well. The only common point was that they both developed nicely. Xu Musen almost spat out his Coke. What kind of ridiculous topic was this? "There are kids around, don''t talk nonsense." "I''m just telling the truth." Yao Mingyue looked at him, her lips pursed slightly. Her mind couldn''t help but flash back to the words An Nuannuan had said before. Wanting to become someone he''d like... She held the fragrant fried chicken in her hand, but her gaze was flickering with complexity and tension. "Xu Musen, could you fall for her?" Xu Musen''s hand holding the chicken wing paused, and he looked at Yao Mingyue. Sar?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Actually, he didn''t have a clear answer to this question at the moment. Because in their past lives, neither of them had understood what liking or loving meant. This point, even as a reborn individual, was not something a golden finger could intervene in. He was, after all, not a deity, capable of severing emotions at will. In history, even emperors have lost their kingdoms for a beauty. It has nothing to do with maturity; it''s human nature. Musen thought of Nuannuan and acknowledged he had a fondness for her. If they could end up together in the future, he felt that would be quite nice. Yet, this emotion, once upon a time, was just as strong for Ming Yue... Musen himself wasn''t sure if he was someone who could be devoted for a lifetime. At last, Musen laughed and shook his head, "These matters call for letting nature take its course." This answer was not very satisfying for Ming Yue, yet it seemed to be the best one available. She picked up her orange juice and took another sip. "So, at least for now, she and I are still at the same starting line, right?" Her lips curved into a smile, but she still seemed a bit unreconciled, her eyes nearly brimming with emotion. After all, she had arrived a decade or so earlier, yet now they were at the same starting line. For her, this was difficult to accept. Musen looked at her. This little tsundere was unswayable. But continuing like this, what would the future hold? The two of them together? Let''s not even mention that the law of the country wouldn''t agree. Would this little tsundere agree? She''d probably really tie him up and hide him in a place where no one would know. As Musen let his thoughts wander, he shook his head again. How could he harbor such a scoundrel''s thoughts? I am the pure love war god, after all! How could I consider such things! "I''ve already told you what I wanted to say. I hope you can find the life you truly want." Musen slowly spoke; he did not wish for Ming Yue to end up like Professor Gao, living a lonely life by herself in the latter half of her days. Ming Yue then put her orange juice at the edge of the table and said, "Right now, I''m not asking you to be with me directly. I just hope that at least you could treat me like you do her... or at least, don''t intentionally keep such a distance from me. Didn''t you say you wanted to see how I change? How can you observe it if you''re so far away?" Ming Yue''s voice was soft, every word and every phrase carried a bit of heartache but was also very resolute. Musen looked at her and finally sighed softly, "I''ll try my best, but my thoughts are not going to change." "That''s good enough for me." Ming Yue smiled, seemingly regaining her confidence. She had never feared competition because no one had ever outperformed her from her childhood onward. One day, he would still be hers. And considering his reaction, she didn''t mind granting him a little favor... "You''ve spoken pleasantly today, consider this a reward." Her lips turned up as she extended her hand, picked up a fry, dipped it in ketchup, and leaned forward to feed it to him. However, her arm accidentally knocked into the orange juice. The orange juice spilled onto the floor, and quite coincidentally splashed onto the small foot that was clad in a sandal. It was like a layer of sweet, yellow cheese spilled on a piece of pristine mutton fat jade. "Musen..." Ming Yue slightly raised her eyebrows and looked at Musen. Yet her gaze held not the slightest hint of panic. Musen silently observed the juice standing on her foot. Why did this scene feel so familiar? Chapter 159 Beyond the Request of a Friend. KFC.Orange juice spilled onto the ground, splashing over Yao Mingyue''s feet, which were adorned with sandals. It was as if a layer of golden-yellow cheese had been sprinkled over white jade, the plump orange pulp playfully bouncing around her crystal-clear fingertips. "Musen..." Yao Mingyue called out softly, as she was someone who had a penchant for cleanliness. Yet, there wasn''t too much urgency in her eyes, but rather she lifted her gaze to look at Xu Musen. She had felt it during their last foot bath together. This guy seemed to have some... special little quirks. In the KFC across from one another, the space was tight, making it somewhat inconvenient to bend down. With just a slight lift of her foot, it reached right under Xu Musen''s table, a distance where a reach of his hand could easily touch it. "..." But Xu Musen always felt that he had seen this scene before, right here in this KFC, at this very spot. An Nuannuan had spilled a cup of coconut milk. Then, he had wiped it off for her himself. At this moment, he looked down at Yao Mingyue''s petite feet. He raised an eyebrow. Had she deliberately changed her clothes and worn these sandals just for this trick? He pushed the napkins on the table towards her. "Wipe it yourself." Yao Mingyue, however, slightly tilted her head, showing an expression of slight grievance. "Didn''t a certain someone claim they would treat everyone equally? If you could help her, why can''t you help me?" Yao Mingyue''s gaze was intense. "Are you the same as her? She''s physically challenged." "I''m physically challenged too, the doctor said I''m a bit weak, what if I get dizzy from insufficient blood supply to my brain when I bend down?" Yao Mingyue seemed to be competing in terms of physical frailty. Xu Musen knew about her health; indeed, since the accident, Yao Mingyue had been traumatized, and since she had been caught in the rain late at night, there had always been lingering illness. But the idea that it was to the point where touching her would make her fall over was out of the question. Xu Musen picked up a wet wipe from the table and gently wiped her foot, feeling the soft touch of the girl''s tender feet through the wipe. It was somewhat different from An Nuannuan''s little feet. An Nuannuan''s, because they had hardly walked, were very soft, like marshmallow, with bones that felt somewhat brittle. Whereas Yao Mingyue''s were soft but with a bit of resilience, allowing one to feel the delicate and smooth curves of her bones. Although in his previous life, he had come into contact with many. But the eighteen-year-old Yao Mingyue felt even fresher. Damn this orange juice! Xu Musen only wiped a couple of times before he stood up. "There''s a bit more under your foot." "Wipe it yourself later." Yao Mingyue pursed her lips, looking at Xu Musen; this guy didn''t know how to seize the opportunity given to him. Sar?h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She pointed to her foot playfully and said, "It feels a bit sticky after you wiped it." "..." Xu Musen was speechless and tossed the wet wipe to her: "Then wipe it again yourself." "But the orange juice is sugary, it''ll still feel sticky after wiping." "Then wait till you get home and wash it with soap." "Actually, I have a method." Yao Mingyue narrowed her eyes, her phoenix eyes that moment looked a bit sly, like a cunning little fox. "What is it?" Xu Musen drank his cola, watching her warily. "Human saliva contains enzymes that can break down sugars, even more effective than soapand it''s natural and pollution-free~" She said this while thoughtfully glancing at Xu Musen''s lips. Her little foot wiggled as if inviting a taste. "..." Xu Musen looked at her; Yao Mingyue was never particularly reserved, a fact he came to understand abundantly after they got married. In front of others, she was a cold-hearted goddess, a domineering businesswoman. But once she returned home, she transformed into a pure desire enchantress, a high-powered juicer... Sometimes, the thought of having this contrast just for himself was quite appealing. Nevertheless, why did Xu Musen always feel like they were pushing him down the path of being a foot fetishist? Xu Musen certainly was not one! "I don''t have saliva, but how about an old phlegm?" Xu Musen glanced at her irritably: "Hurry up and eat, then let''s get going." Yao Mingyue also stopped teasing him, but she felt quite pleased with herself watching his reaction. She wished that days like this could go on forever. ... Meanwhile. In Hu Hai. An Nuannuan was slowly standing up from her wheelchair, her legs continuously trembling. Xiang Ayi was ready at her side to support her at any moment. An Nuannuan held onto the handles of the wheelchair, gradually standing up, a few beads of sweat forming on her pale forehead. Using the wheelchair as a walker, she took a few unsteady steps; it was difficult, but finally, she was able to move forward bit by bit. In October''s weather, she was so exhausted that perspiration covered her. "Nuannuan, you''ve already gone several rounds, take a rest." Xiang Ayi watched with sympathy. After this period of treatment, Nuannuan could finally slowly try to walk. It wouldn''t be long before the wheelchair could be completely abandoned, she believed. The doctors had advised that it was enough to walk around the room two or three times a day as part of her exercise regimen. But An Nuannuan insisted on walking eight or nine rounds every day, almost collapsing from exhaustion before she would stop. "It''s okay, Xiang Ayi, I''ll go around one more time." An Nuannuan continued, struggling to take the next step. "Nuannuan, the doctor said that it''s sufficient to persist with the prescribed exercise every day, there''s no need to push yourself so hard." An Nuannuan paused for a moment, her fair face glistening with a bit of sweat making it look especially tender. Her peach-blossom eyes sparkled as she spoke softly: "But, I don''t want to wait that long." Chapter 159 Beyond the Request of a Friend._2 ```"I''m afraid you''re working too hard, but according to the doctor, at most, it''ll be just over half a month before you can switch from a wheelchair to crutches, and then it''ll be much more convenient. There''s no need to rush." Aunt Xiang went over, took a handkerchief, and gently wiped the sweat from her forehead, her tone also filled with relief. Having been bound to a wheelchair for so many years, she could finally begin to walk slowly. An Nuannuan shook her head as thoughts of Xu Musen came to her mind. And the things he had said to her that day. An Nuannuan''s large eyes conveyed a hint of emotion, "I''m just afraid he can''t wait..." "What?" Aunt Xiang didn''t hear her clearly. "It''s nothing, I''ll just walk another round and that''ll be fine..." An Nuannuan continued to walk forward, while Aunt Xiang watched, even though she hadn''t heard what Nuannuan had just said. It was definitely something related to Xu Musen. The elder folks at home would now and then mention something during meals every day. Ever since An Nuannuan had interactions with Xu Musen, she had clearly become more cheerful, more determined in everything she did, and more willing to engage with the outside world. This was something the family had always hoped to see. Their only concern now was that Nuannuan and him were together every day at school, and it was very easy for young people of this age to develop feelings for each other. It wasn''t that they were dissatisfied with the young man, Xu Musen. At their stage, they didn''t care much about the boy''s family background anymore. As long as he had good character and was responsible for Nuannuan, that was enough. But their sole worry was that Nuannuan had never had contact with boys before. Did she really know how to develop a romantic relationship with a boy in the right way? "Nuannuan, I also want to ask you, you and Xu Musen now... that is, has he ever said anything to you that went beyond just being friends?" Aunt Xiang felt a bit unsure how to ask, like it was the first time asking a girl in the family if she was in love too early. Words that went beyond friendship... An Nuannuan remembered what Xu Musen had sent to her a few days ago. Actually, my mom is missing a daughter-in-law... She felt her ears go soft. "There''s nothing like that..." Her heart felt guilty. Aunt Xiang, watching An Nuannuan''s expression, actually had some guesses in her heart. She smiled a little and again gently wiped the sweat from her forehead with the handkerchief. "Your grandparents actually like him too, they don''t oppose you two being together, but they''re just worried you might be taken advantage of, given how pretty our Nuannuan is. But if he initiates any conversation about things beyond friendship, you must talk to the family first, alright?" "Oh..." An Nuannuan nodded her head; if he initiated... But it seemed he rarely ever initiated anything. If he wouldn''t initiate, what if she was the one to do it? An Nuannuan felt her mind was filled with some inexplicable thoughts, and her face flushed. Oh well, better just continue with the rehabilitation exercises. ... The National Day holiday was half over. Liu Rushuang had also returned. The two families were eating together, the atmosphere seeming increasingly harmonious. During the meal, Yao Mingyue even proficiently served food to Xu Musen, or picked out things like green onions for him. Xu Musen accepted naturally, without the slight aversion he had shown a few months ago. It seems things were progressing pretty well. Nighttime. Inside the villa''s bathhouse. Yao Mingyue was soaking in the bath, lifting her own legs that looked even more rosy after being immersed in water, thinking of the time earlier that day Xu Musen had helped her wipe her feet. Every single touch made her feel a little tingling sensation. Hmph, giving him such a treat and he doesn''t want it, she won''t let him have it in the future! Click, click... The door was pushed open, and Liu Rushuang also wrapped in a bath towel walked in. "Why keep your leg so high, admiring yourself?" Liu Rushuang teased as she walked over, looking at her daughter showing off her long legs. She even pinched her small foot casually. "It''s great to be young, such tender skin, even your little feet are smoother than some people''s hands. I''ve brought back some foot masks, I''ll use some on you later. Sigh, I just don''t know which little rascal will benefit from this in the future." Liu Rushuang said with a giggling tone. Yao Mingyue let out a sound, "Mom..." ``` ``` Immediately, she drew her little feet back. "What''s wrong? Mom can''t even touch you now? Are you saving it all for your Brother Musen?" Liu Rushuang covered her mouth and snickered. sea??h th novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yao Mingyue''s ears reddened: "Mom, can you be serious for once?" "Am I not telling the truth? Lately, you two seem to have made up again, haven''t you?" Liu Rushuang sat by the poolside and started to inquire. "Who made up with him, that dead straight guy..." Yao Mingyue huffed. "Little Miss Proud, girls these days can''t afford to be too reserved. Being too proud will only hurt you in the end. When it''s time to take initiative, do so. When a girl chases a boy, it''s only a veil apart..." Liu Rushuang also slowly got into the bath, comfortably leaning to one side, and began to impart her wisdom. Yao Mingyue listened, but inside she reluctantly muttered. I''m already throwing myself at him, and he just won''t bite, what can I do. "I think he''s just a steel mesh, tough and stinky." Yao Mingyue pouted a bit. Liu Rushuang chuckled and ruffled her daughter''s hair: "You know, if you''d acted sooner you wouldn''t be having such a hard time now, right?" Yao Mingyue didn''t speak, just pouted more intensely. Liu Rushuang looked at her precious daughter, knowing full well that since that night six years ago, Ming Yue had been troubled deep down, her smile had faded, she had virtually no friends, and her personality had changed from being lively and cheerful to cold and unapproachable. She rarely showed her mother a sincere smile either. Only when Xu Musen was by her side did she seem a bit more at ease. But one could still sense the emptiness in her heart. In recent times, however, Xu Musen had undergone a significant change in personality, and problems seemed to have arisen between the two. During this period, Yao Mingyue behaved just like those girls experiencing their first heartbreak. She got angry, enraged, sad, jealous, sullen, and also learned to give and take initiative. That was the lively and cheerful Ming Yue of the past, with her own little temper and character. Liu Rushuang stroked her daughter''s head and smiled: "Don''t worry, Musen has always liked you. It''s just that there seems to be an obstacle he can''t overcome. Once it''s gone, you two are still the most suitable pair. And you know, this jealous, angry, proactive, and giving Ming Yue is surely the Sister Mingyue that Xiaosen likes most." Liu Rushuang gently embraced her daughter''s shoulder, her tone full of reassurance: "And besides, Mom is very happy to see how you''ve changed. This is the Ming Yue I remember." Yao Mingyue thought it over for a long time... Indeed, recently, even though Xu Musen seemed to be keeping distance, Yao Mingyue felt a sense of fulfillment that she had never felt before, beginning to understand what Musen had said. They''re both living, breathing people. How can one be considered complete without experiencing the myriad taste of life? During this time, she experienced it. Jealousy, heartache, anger, loss, as well as joy and being moved... Her heart, which had been closed off for so long, was finally filling up with a sense of fulfillment and reality. It seemed like he was further away from her, but Yao Mingyue felt that they were closer than before, able to gain even more... The corners of Yao Mingyue''s mouth curled up slightly, though she felt a bit suffocated. Turning her head, she looked at her mother, her gaze slowly drifting over the hills. "..." The young girl pursed her lips. "Mom, am I really your biological child?" "?" Liu Rushuang was taken aback for a moment, then laughed and poked her daughter''s head: "Silly girl, what are you thinking about? You''re my only daughter; how could I get that wrong? Look at your eyes, aren''t they just like mine?" Liu Rushuang blinked her own eyes, the same phoenix eyes brimming with an innate elegance and charm. Yao Mingyue''s gaze held a hint of grievance. Following her daughter''s gaze, Liu Rushuang looked down and then burst out laughing. "Girl, with your mom''s genes, what do you have to worry about? Did Xiaosen reject you?" "Why would he reject me... I''m just idly asking." Yao Mingyue, having hit a nerve, silently turned away, out of sight, out of mind, no wounded pride. Liu Rushuang, however, looked at her daughter''s retreating back, her lips curling into a smile, and stretched out her guilty hands. "Xiaoyue, actually, Mom has her own invented martial art called "Return My Plumpness Punch"; let me show you!" "I don''t want it!" "Come on, let Mom have a look!" In the bathroom, mother and daughter were having a lively and noisy time. It had been a very long time since they had played and laughed with their hearts wide open. ``` Chapter 160 There are quite a few young girls who like him. The National Day holiday was drawing to a close.It was time to head back to school. College students really weren''t too sentimental about the break. In fact, for most of them, school life was much more fun than being at home. At noon, their families sent them off to the high-speed train station. Right at the entrance, they spotted two "Africans" squatting and waiting. He Qiang and his dad, with a middle-aged woman standing next to them, all dolled up. "Uncle He, auntie, hello." Xu Musen stepped forward to offer his greetings. "Hello, hello." He Qiang''s parents were in a cheerful mood today, smilingly greeting everyone. "Old Xu, long time no see." He Qiang''s dad went over to Xu''s father, sharing a cigarette and chatting amicably. They were all locals and had known each other before. "This must be Ming Yue, haven''t seen you for a while, you''ve become more and more beautiful." He Qiang''s mother eyed Yao Mingyue; such a pretty girl, who wouldn''t like her. "Auntie, you look beautiful too," Yao Mingyue replied with a smile. "Look at you, such a sweet talker, but I''m not as young as your mother. Last time we met at a parent-teacher meeting, I thought she was your sister." He Qiang''s mother beamed, glancing towards Liu Rushuang. Comparatively similar in age, yet Liu Rushuang looked like she was in her thirties, with fair skin and a well-maintained figure, mainly it was her poise. Time doesn''t tarnish a true beauty; with Liu Rushuang''s grace, even after a decade or more, she wouldn''t look old. They all made small talk together. Xu Musen also walked over, patted He Qiang on the shoulder, and whispered, "What''s the occasion today? Why do your parents seem so happy?" He Qiang scratched his head, looking a bit sheepish. "A couple of days ago, Chu Wenhui called me to ask when I was heading back to school, so we could go together. I was fishing and had her on speakerphone, so my parents overheard and insisted on coming today to see." Upon hearing this, Xu Musen chuckled, "Well, aren''t your mom and dad here to meet their future daughter-in-law? That''s good news." A blush crept across He Qiang''s naturally dark face, "That''s nonsense, we''re just ordinary friends." "Don''t give me that, when is there ever such pure friendship between a boy and a girl? It''s merely an excuse before making a move," Musen replied. He Qiang gave him a sidelong glance, "And what about you and An Nuannuan?" You two always claim to be best friends, right? But you''ve already started getting handsy. "...That''s different," Musen coughed, his voice faltering, "She''s been pretty obvious with her hints, you better make a move quick, otherwise, you might regret it if she gets away." He Qiang chuckled, then seriously advised, "Moriko, I think that advice fits you better. You''ve been together for so long; wait till she''s able to walk, able to runlet''s see who ends up crying." Musen groaned; there was no denying his best friend knew too many of his secrets. However, An Nuannuan''s leg was indeed getting better by the day. He believed it wouldn''t be long before she could leave the wheelchair behind. Musen was happy for her, but He Qiang''s words also left him feeling a bit melancholic. Yes, previously, being with An Nuannuan was because she couldn''t get around on her own, which gave Musen an excuse to be with her. But what about when Nuannuan''s leg recovered, when she truly didn''t need to rely on anyone? Would she still stay as dependent on him then? What if she really did run off eventually? Musen suddenly felt like he was nurturing a cabbage he''d cared for, only to have it run away from home. Should he step up his game to coax her? In that moment, Musen''s mind flashed with some rather unseemly thoughts. He quickly shook his head, a cold sweat on his brow. That was terrifying. How were his thoughts any different from the old Ming Yue of a previous life? They say you can''t raise two different people in the same bed; could he have been influenced subconsciously as well? sea??h th NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His gaze shifted to Ming Yue standing on the other side, and an unsolicited thought crossed his mind. If you can''t beat them, join them, become her, surpass her... Musen shook his head vigorously, trying to dismiss those scary thoughts. Before long, a figure appeared at the entrance of the high-speed train station. "He Qiang!" Chu Wenhui was the typical fiery Sichuan girl; as soon as she stepped out of the station and saw He Qiang squatting to the side, she called out to him. Upon hearing her voice, He Qiang instinctively snapped to attention. Their parents shifted their attention to the scene. He Qiang felt a bit embarrassed; even though he claimed they were just friends, his body betrayed his truer feelings. But with the thought of his parents standing by his side, the embarrassment was even greater. "My suitcase is so heavy. Aren''t you going to come over and help me with it?" Chu Wenhui chided him, seeing him standing there dumbfounded. He Qiang, very obligingly, went over to grab her heavy luggage. "Did you pack a couple of rocks in here? Why is it so heavy?" He Qiang nearly couldn''t lift it. "I brought you some snacks, I''m not even complaining. Can''t you handle it?" Chu Wenhui scoffed, patting him. "Snacks? It feels more like you''ve stuffed half a pig in there." "You guessed it, it''s the ham made by my family!" Chu Wenhui boasted proudly, pulling the suitcase open a crack to reveal an entire row of cut ham. "..." He Qiang was rendered speechless. These were her ''snacks''? So, for beef jerky, would she just drag a whole cow over to gnaw on? "Still not satisfied? I''ll have you know my family''s ham is famous far and wide. You should be grateful I''m giving you some," she declared. Chapter 160 There are quite a few young girls who like him. _2 The two people talked together, and it really did feel a bit like they were in love.Especially He Qiang''s parents, they were standing on the side, all excited. Their own family''s big black pig was finally going out to root for cabbages. And considering Chu Wenhui, she seemed to be a very spirited Sichuan girl, with delicate features. She was definitely a suitable match for He Qiang. At this time, Chu Wenhui also saw Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue. Since they had already met, she greeted them warmly. Xu Musen smiled and spoke. "These are my parents, and also Yao Mingyue''s mother. These two are He Qiang''s parents." Xu Musen introduced them one by one. "Oh oh, Uncle, Auntie, good... I, my name is Chu Wenhui." Chu Wenhui''s previously bold demeanor immediately softened, especially when facing He Qiang''s father and mother. Her whole demeanor became very proper, her voice taking on a particularly gentle tone as she said hello. He Qiang was baffled for a moment to the side. Do all girls naturally come with two faces? "Hello, hello, Chu Wenhui, right? I''m He Qiang''s mother. We just happened to come together to send him to school." He Qiang''s mother smiled as she came over, looking at the girl in front of her, she felt more and more satisfied. To think that a girl would be willing to be with her son, who looked like a black bear, was already very fortunate. "Auntie, hello." Chu Wenhui felt a bit nervous, her cheeks blushing slightly. Suddenly remembering something, she opened her suitcase. Inside, besides ham, there were also some packaged Sichuan bacon. It seemed that Chu Wenhui''s family specialized in these goods. "Uncle, Auntie, this is homemade. Don''t be shy to try some, it''s really tasty." Chu Wenhui handed them out to everyone. "You child, this is too much... we couldn''t really..." He Qiang''s mother looked at the girl, who didn''t have any of the arrogance some city girls possess, and saw her as a proper, down-to-earth young lady. He Qiang''s father approached his son, stuffing a wad of bills into He Qiang''s hands. "Dad, is this the severance pay for you to cut off father-son ties?" He Qiang''s eyes went wide, the stack probably amounted to a few thousand yuan. His dad was usually thrifty, even getting some pocket money required filing a request with mom, and even then it was just a few dozen yuan at a time. But now he suddenly handed over such a large sum of money. "Nonsense! This is a special fund for you, kid. Since the girl is so sensible, you can''t be stingy at school. Take her out for meals, watch movies together, that sort of thing." "Dad, we''re just ordinary friends..." He Qiang muttered, eying the money in his hands, thinking he could buy two new fishing rods with it. "Let me tell you, this money is your dating fund. I dipped into my private stash for this. If you dare spend it all on fishing rods, when you get back, I''ll smash them to pieces and throw them in the fish pond for ground bait!" He Qiang''s father spoke with frustrated affection. He Qiang helplessly nodded, pocketing the money for now. It was time to get on the train. Before leaving, Xu''s mother, also holding some cured meat, whispered to Xu Musen, "Look at He Qiang, you can try harder too." "Don''t worry, you definitely won''t be short of a daughter-in-law in the future," he said casually. "Yeah, Auntie, Musen is very popular in school right now, lots of girls like him," Yao Mingyue''s voice came through. She had come up behind Xu Musen at some point, her words tinged with mockery. A touch of sour jealousy. Xu''s mother laughed, "We don''t know much about girls from outside; it''s better to be careful when making friends, not like we know everything about our own family..." Xu''s mother''s words carried certain implications. Yao Mingyue walked up with a smile, "Auntie, rest assured, I''ll keep a good watch on him in school, to prevent any bad girls from getting ideas." "..." Xu Musen glanced at her, hehe. So, you won''t let any other bad women get the chance, just so you can be the bad woman meddling around, right? Xu''s mother laughed heartily. The four of them boarded the high-speed rail. On the way, Chu Wenhui took out some specialty snacks for them to try, like crispy pork entrails and sliced pork, among other things. And it seemed they all came from parts of a pig. "You, go wash your hands before eating, are you a dirty kid that doesn''t clean up before meals?" He Qiang was about to gnaw on a pig''s trotter, but Chu Wenhui insisted he had to wash his hands first. He Qiang obediently went to wash his hands right away. "You guys should eat too, all this is homemade. Food in Hu Hai is too bland, so I brought some from home to eat," said Chu Wenhui as she turned back to smile at Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue. "Chu, does your family run a pork deli?" Xu Musen took a bite of the sliced meat, discovering it was spicy, and quite delicious. "Sort of, actually my family''s main business is pig farming," admitted Chu Wenhui with a hehe, a bit embarrassed to mention her family''s pig farming business. sea??h th N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Pig farming''s great, Qiang Zi''s family farms fish, so between the two of you, one covers the water, the other the land," Xu Musen joked. Chu Wenhui was a bit bashful. "Okay then, does your family offer free shipping on ham? I''ll support you sometime." Xu Musen had also tried a slice of the ham, which was indeed delightful. "If you like it, I''ll just send you a whole one," Chu Wenhui offered generously. "That won''t be necessary, raising a pig isn''t easy, we''ll pay whatever it costs," Xu Musen replied. Chu Wenhui laughed, "Don''t worry about it, my family slaughters hundreds of pigs a year, we can''t eat them all anyway." Xu Musen paused in his eating. How, how many? Hundreds of pigs a year? A pig could sell for over two thousand, so hundreds a year must bring in around a hundred and eighty thousand! Chapter 160 There are quite a few young girls who like him. _3 This isn''t raising pigs, this is clearly a pig farming tycoon!Xu Musen took a deep breath of cold air. The pig farmer is truly low-key; you''d never guess they were so wealthy from Chu Wenhui''s everyday dressing style. By this time, He Qiang had also returned, washed his hands, grabbed a pig''s trotter, and started gnawing on it. Xu Musen glanced at his good brother. Even he had to admit that there might be some kind of clever magnetic field around him. Not only had he encountered rich women himself, but even his good brother was starting to meet wealthy ladies. However, looking at He Qiang''s demeanor, it seemed he was still unaware that Chu Wenhui was actually a hidden pig-farm heiress. Such damn luck... Sarch* The N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xu Musen decided not to alert him to avoid putting pressure on him. And isn''t this pure way of getting along exactly what''s most important in dating? "Qiang Zi, you''ll have to thank me a lot in the future," Xu Musen patted his shoulder. He Qiang gave him a look, "No matter what you say, I''m not giving you this pig trotter." "..." Go ahead and eat, who can outeat you? Xu Musen was amused; his good brother was indeed a true straight guy. After eating the pork jerky, Yao Mingyue stretched out her hand with a wet wipe, directly helping him clean the grease off the corner of his mouth. This scene had He Qiang staring dumbfounded. Who was Yao Mingyue? The unreachable belle of the school, the Iceberg Goddess. When his buddy used to act like a loyal dog, even though he could have meals with her every day, having Yao Mingyue take the initiative to wipe his mouth was out of the question. Yet Xu Musen now seemed to intend to develop things further with An Nuannuan. But it felt like the development on Yao Mingyue''s side wasn''t slow either. Running after two hares... It''s been many years since someone pulled that off. Xu Musen also looked at Yao Mingyue, and even he hadn''t noticed that he was no longer as resistant to some of her actions. Yao Mingyue then took out a piece of chewing gum from her bag and handed it to him. "Chew on this, I don''t want to sit on a high-speed train with a pig head," she said. He Qiang and Chu Wenhui couldn''t help but chuckle. Xu Musen looked at the chewing gum, not taking the first piece but rather taking one from the bottom, and started chewing it. As the vehicle progressed, many people began to doze off. Xu Musen picked up his phone to check the messages. Students began returning to the school one after the other, and the takeout and milk tea shops were also about to resume normal operations. Including the Fudan branch, the renovation was almost done, and it could open for business after returning. Zhu Yulan, although a bit of a princess at times, was exceptionally committed to the things she promised to handle. Xu Musen felt he should invite Zhu Yulan for a meal to bond a bit, as it''s not easy to find someone who holds such grudges and doesn''t easily forget. An Nuannuan also sent him a message, saying that she had a surprise for him when they returned to school. When asked what it was, she played coy and didn''t tell him, only sending a smug rabbit emoji. Who would have thought, An Nuannuan, usually so clueless, had also learned to tease. Xu Musen smiled, wanting to reply with an emoji, but suddenly felt a weight on his shoulder. Turning his head, he saw that Yao Mingyue had fallen asleep, her head finding the safest spot with precision. Xu Musen turned around, Yao Mingyue''s cheek was up close, as white as snow, and the sunlight from the window outlined each of her eyelashes, making them extraordinarily charming. It was rare for Yao Mingyue to fall asleep in public unless Xu Musen was by her side. Resting on the shoulder wasn''t too comfortable, and her head slowly drooped. Xu Musen thought about waking her up. But Yao Mingyue''s head lying on his chest, as if listening to his heartbeat, seemed to feel extra secure. "Musen... don''t go..." she murmured as if she had a bad dream, her beautiful eyebrows trembling slightly. Xu Musen was about to wake her up, but his hand paused for a moment. A moment later, his hand gently began to stroke. He carefully supported her head and slowly laid it on his lap. This was one of Yao Mingyue''s favorite positions in her past life, lying on his legs like a cat, watching TV together. Xu Musen observed her side profile; the sleeping Yao Mingyue lacked her usual haughtiness, only possessing the vulnerability and quiet of the young girl she once was. Looking at her soft cheek, Xu Musen felt a strange emotion in his heart. Having been bullied for so long, he occasionally wanted to bully her back... He thought about it, and in the end, he gently pinched her cheek. Alright, let''s consider that interest. Chapter 161 That way, youll make me even softer by pinching me. ""Hu Hai Central Station is approaching, please take all your personal belongings..."The announcement sounded. Yao Mingyue woke up groggily, perhaps because she was on the train, she dreamed of the car accident on that day again, as if chasing the endless abyss. That emptiness, desperation, and coldness enveloped her whole body. Just then, the familiar warmth and breath seemed to snatch her from the darkness. It made her feel at ease again, always moving closer to that warm place. But it felt like something was blocking her, which was a bit uncomfortable. "Hey, wake up." Someone flicked her forehead, causing her to open her eyes in slight pain. The face she saw upon opening her eyes was Xu Musen''s, and only then she realized she had been sleeping on his lap, that''s why it was so warm. Now, she wasn''t in a hurry to get up, instead, she rubbed her face against his leg slightly. Like a cat waking up and stretching on its owner''s body. "No wonder I slept so soundly, sleeping on you is way more comfortable than sleeping on a bed." Yao Mingyue still nestled in his embrace and spoke in a soft voice, sleepy and with a hint of a beauty''s laziness. S~ea??h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You''re so heavy, get up quickly." Xu Musen nudged her. Waking up at noon, when the yang energy was strongest, a little thermal expansion and contraction was perfectly normal. The girl''s soft body and pleasant scent made his legs feel numb, weak, and stiff... Yao Mingyue saw his face was slightly flushed, seeming to understand something, she didn''t get up but shifted her body slightly instead. "Xu Musen, how about we take our naps like this from now on, with you using my leg as a pillow, and I using yours?" Yao Mingyue said with a smile brimming across her face. Xu Musen''s mind flashed with an image of two digits that could be reversed. "..." Xu Musen promptly lifted her up. The scenery outside the window was becoming familiar; the city of Hu Hai. The two opposite had not yet woken up Yao Mingyue stretched lazily again, glancing at Xu Musen sitting upright and proper, her cheeks blushing. She rubbed her cheeks and softly murmured as she looked at him, "Ah, my face has been smooshed red, your leg must be numb too, let me massage it for you?" "..." Xu Musen gave her a silent look, why did this little expression seem so lecherous? I''m not wearing black stockings! And is your hand reaching towards my legs? Xu Musen blocked her: "Behave yourself, we''re about to get off soon." "Tsk." At this moment, He Qiang and Chu Wenhui also woke up, rubbing their eyes and looking at the familiar city before them. "Finally here, feeling all sore and achy." He Qiang rubbed his eyes as the train came to a stop. Everyone began to stand and collect their luggage. Yao Mingyue glanced at Xu Musen, who was sitting properly, a light smile at the corner of her eye: "Could some people please stand up and make some room?" Xu Musen didn''t move and spoke indifferently: "My legs are numb." Yao Mingyue pursed her lips and smiled; her pretty face was also a bit flushed, although she had bathed with Xu Musen when they were little. But that was a long, long time ago, with no memories of it left. I wonder how he''s doing now. Actually, adolescent girls, just like boys, are a bit curious about the opposite sex. Especially since Yao Mingyue has always treated everything about Xu Musen as her personal treasure. She wanted to savor everything about him, slow and steady~ "You seem pretty chipper," Yao Mingyue''s pretty face was also a bit flushed, despite her exceptional talents, she was still a novice driver who hadn''t hit the road yet. Xu Musen ignored her. He was just concentrating his blood at one point, the closer to his legs, the faster the blood circulation in his legs could recover. Xu Musen thought this was a special ability. "High-speed train pervert..." Yao Mingyue murmured softly in his ear. Xu Musen ignored her and got off the high-speed train. It was already afternoon. "Get some rest back at school. I''ll come visit your university soon, and you''d better not give me the slip," Xu Musen patted He Qiang''s shoulder. "Don''t worry, I''ll keep an eye on him so he can''t slack off," Chu Wenhui took the lead in responding, already assuming the role of a hostess. "Good, I can rest easy with your words, Classmate Chu," Xu Musen laughed heartily. He Qiang grimaced, ''Am I not even human?'' Chu Wenhui even insisted on stuffing Xu Musen with some sliced cured meat and sausages, along with some marinated goods. Paired with a little beer in the evening, it''s quite nice. They headed back to their respective schools. Hu Hai University. The two walked closely through the campus, Yao Mingyue now staying very close to Xu Musen. This was their second return to school, and their relationship had changed significantly. Although it was still far from what Yao Mingyue really wanted, she felt that being like this now wasn''t too bad either. All the way, they walked to the girls'' dormitory building. Yao Mingyue looked at Xu Musen, stepped forward, and blocked his path. "Shall we have dinner together tonight?" "No, I''ve got food already," Xu Musen shook the cured meats and marinated goods in his hand. "What about me?" "Order takeout, and remember not to use the coupons if you don''t have to, save me some profit," Xu Musen said, then turned around and headed towards the milk tea shop. Yao Mingyue stood there stunned for a while, then huffed and stamped her foot in exasperation. "Xu Pighead! I hope you eat yourself to death!" Xu Musen had already walked far away. Yao Mingyue stood there, brooding for a while before turning around and going upstairs. The occasional passersby looking at Yao Mingyue showed signs of astonishment. Indeed, a beauty remains enchanting even when she''s angry. Arriving at the milk tea shop. Xu Musen found that Zhao Lianmai had already arrived. Chapter 161 This way, youre making me even softer. _2 Firmly holding her position at work, after so many days away, the store was still spotlessly clean."When did you arrive?" Musen asked. "This afternoon." Zhao Lianmai said softly. "You''ve worked hard." Musen said. The journey from Zheng City to Hu Hai, if taken by train, would take approximately ten hours. That meant she must have taken the cheapest train of the night again. Just as Musen sat down, Zhao Lianmai brought him a cup of black tea and some fruit. Although she didn''t speak, Musen could still feel that Zhao Lianmai had become much warmer towards him. "How''s your aunt doing?" "Not bad, we paid the bills, she''s continuing her medication and has gone home to recuperate." "That''s good." Musen didn''t say much more on this topic and switched to another, continuing, "Before this term ends, I plan to expand milk tea branches and delivery services in at least five universities. We''ll pick a chief person in charge at each school. By year-end, there will be a bonus incentive. Work hard, I''m counting on you." Zhao Lianmai was a person with strong self-respect, and if it hadn''t been for her family, she might be the kind to starve rather than accept handouts. Through their time together, Musen had grown quite fond of this girl from a family with financial difficulties. Moreover, Zhao Lianmai''s work style was very steady and fair, and Musen felt reassured entrusting things to her. In the future, this would be his own appointed officer. The care she needed had to be provided, but it couldn''t just be a direct handover of money. Motivating her through work would be a better approach. "Even without a bonus, I''ll still do my best. Thank you for the hospital matter." Zhao Lianmai sincerely thanked him again. Musen smiled and waved his hand, "Right, have you had lunch yet?" "Not yet." "Let''s grab something to eat together then." Musen took out the marinated food he was holding and asked someone to grab two bottles of beer from the fridge. "Want a drink?" Musen opened a bottle and handed it to her. Zhao Lianmai shook her head, "I don''t drink alcohol." "Then mix yourself a milk tea." "Okay." Zhao Lianmai took a cup of lemon water and threw three yuan into the rabbit-shaped piggy bank on the counter. "In the food industry, it''s an unspoken rule that employees can eat for free; you don''t need to pay." Musen said with a laugh. "I''m not used to eating without paying." Zhao Lianmai still firmly held on to her principles, her gaze returning to the piggy bank. "Besides, Nuannuan looks at this piggy bank every day, thinking about saving up and then giving it to you." Musen glanced at the rabbit-shaped piggy bank. Actually, such a piggy bank couldn''t hold much money, but the idea of accumulating enough coins to fill it and give it to him represented a tangible sense of achievement. Remembering Nuannuan, the silly girl, it had been a week since he''d seen her, and he found he missed her quite a bit. Musen leaned back on the sofa, the light in his eyes softening a bit. Zhao Lianmai wanted to say something, but seeing Musen''s expression, she ended up just sipping her lemon water and said no more. The two chatted about the future development of the store while eating marinated food; time quickly turned to evening. In the dormitory, Ma Yaxing hadn''t returned, and that fellow, having spent his money on a computer, was treasuring it every day as if he had found a new bride, wishing he could sleep with it every night. Zhou Hangyu had not come back either. But Li Rundong seemed troubled, sitting on the balcony smoking, his gaze turned upward at a forty-five-degree angle toward the sky, with several bottles of Wusu beer on the ground. "Didn''t you go on a trip with some girl for the National Day holiday with Zhou Hangyu? Why the long face?" Musen walked over and asked him. "Ah, don''t mention it, we broke up." Li Rundong seemed even more despondent, raising his bottle of Wusu to take another drink. "No pain, no gain. Tell us about it, let us all have a good time." Musen chuckled, his leftover marinated food in hand as he came back to listen to the story and have some drinks. "Musen, don''t tease me. Those stewardess students indeed aren''t easy to chase. We went out for a trip, and they insisted on staying in river-view rooms at the hotel, costing one or two thousand a night. Dining was also about choosing expensive places. One lobster cost me five or six hundred, and a meal could cost almost a thousand. I spent all the money in my pocket, and after we got back, she stopped paying attention to me..." Li Rundong''s family was actually quite well-off; his parents were both doctors at a county hospital. He was without much financial concern, but he was not extremely wealthy either. Life in his own county was fine, but once he arrived in the metropolis of Hu Hai, it felt tight. It was like being the unrivaled genius of his own county, ascending all the way, only to realize in the realm of immortals that he was just one of the nameless multitude of celestial soldiers tasked with capturing Sun Wukong. Li Rundong felt a bit defeated and said, "Musen, do you think you can''t have a relationship if you''re broke?" Musen took a bite of meat and said with a smile, "Being broke, for sure, you can''t have a relationship." "Damn it!" Li Rundong thought Musen would at least give him some comfort, but he didn''t expect it to be such a gut punch. Musen chuckled and patted him on the back, "I''m not finished yet. We have to face reality. If a guy doesn''t have a penny, he really can''t have a relationship. It''s not about providing a life of luxury, but you have to at least ensure the basics, right? Otherwise, it''s not just the girl who would feel uneasy but ourselves too. But on the flip side, there are different ways to have a relationship based on how much money you have. If you can''t afford lobster and abalone or a room with a river view, at the very least, you can treat her to a bowl of spicy hotpot and have a place to shelter from the wind and rain to rest; that''s plenty." Sar?h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 161 You squeezing me like that just makes me even softer. _3 "Musen, girls these days are just too materialistic. Now, who''s willing to join you for a spicy hotpot" Li Rundong shook his head.Xu Musen smiled, "If you don''t have money, don''t go for high maintenance. Don''t you understand that simple concept?" "We''re all men herewho doesn''t want a beautiful girlfriend? Don''t act like it''s not a pain for you too," Li Rundong complained, a hint of sourness in his tone as he thought about Xu Musen. Born with a rich childhood sweetheart, and now he had An Nuannuan by his side, whose looks and family background were just as impressive. If playing at high maintenance were his own game, then Xu Musen was playing at celestial levels! "Then start earning money seriously. If you don''t meet a decent girl anytime soon, focus on improving yourself and work hard to earn money. Remember, money isn''t meant to be spent on the girl, but to be seen by the girlof course, true love is the exception." Xu Musen picked up a bottle and clinked it with his. Young boys his age, especially those who had just started university, actually only had that much for monthly living expenses. But once in the big city, seeing others around them wearing branded clothes and shoes, using the latest smartphones, and frequently visiting cafs and clubs, they couldn''t help feeling somewhat inferior, thinking that they needed to provide their girlfriends with such a lifestyle. In reality, everyone is ordinary. Wang Jianlin enjoys eating leek dumplings for breakfast. What''s most important in a relationship is comfortit should be a case of 1+1>2, just getting by is fine. Of course, if it''s true love, you naturally can''t help but want to provide her with the best life possible. Xu Musen didn''t disagree with this point either. Listening to this, both Li Rundong and Ma Yaxing were taken aback. Damn, that''s really profound! Li Rundong took another drag of his cigarette, and the memories of his breakup seemed to dissolve somewhat. "Musen, you''re definitely going to be a genius at being a jerk in the future!" "Stop slandering me. I''m talking about normal interactions." "Like the superficial but intricate relationship with Manager An? Or the kind of bond you have with your childhood sweetheart, growing up together since you were both in diapers?" "Get lost, get lost, get lost." Laughter filled the dorm room, and Li Rundong seemed much more at ease. Xu Musen saw he was okay and also prepared to wash up and go to bed early. Just then, his phone buzzed with a message. Sear?h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was from An Nuannuan. "Xu Musen, I''m coming to campus early tomorrow morning." "Great, I''ll pick you up tomorrow." "Tomorrow, I have some good news to tell you~ (rabbit rubbing hands.)" "You''ve been stringing me along for days now. If it''s not good news, see if I don''t pinch your face!" There was no reply on the other side of the phone. Xu Musen waited for a bit, feeling antsy. He didn''t scare off this silly girl, did he? It was a while before An Nuannuan sent an emoji of a small rabbit nodding. "Where did you go just now? Took you so long to reply." Xu Musen asked. An Nuannuan replied swiftly this time: "I was doing a face mask." Xu Musen hadn''t reacted yet when An Nuannuan sent another message. "That way, when you pinch me, I''ll be even softer~" Xu Musen felt as if his heart had been struck for a moment. Looking at the message, he couldn''t help but smile. So silly Chapter 162 Can you please not eat my pigs trotters Early morning.Xu Musen had gotten up early. He arrived at the school gate, waiting for An Nuannuan to come. The breeze in October was still very comfortable. As soon as he reached the school entrance, he saw that the Rolls-Royce had already stopped there, and Xu Musen walked over. Aunt Xiang got out of the car. "Hello, Aunt Xiang," Xu Musen greeted her warmly. "Hello," Aunt Xiang said with a smile. But she did not seem to intend to open the back door of the car. "Where''s Nuannuan?" Xu Musen asked. Aunt Xiang didn''t answer but instead leaned gently against the car door, her eyes carrying a hint of a smile as she looked past Xu Musen. The morning wind blew in, the temperature just right, seemingly mixed with a little scent of milk and the sweet fragrance of fruit. Drifting from behind him~ "Xu Musen." That soft voice tinged with a touch of longing and excitement. Xu Musen turned around, instinctively looking down at An Nuannuan sitting in the wheelchair. From this angle, he could see her just right. But this time, his gaze only fell upon a pink skirt hem and a section of a fair little leg beneath it. And a pair of white sandals. On either side of her legs were two crutches. Xu Musen lifted his gaze, following the curves of the girl''s body, and finally, resting on her exquisitely soft face. An Nuannuan, leaning on crutches, was not yet standing very steadily; her pink long dress fluttered lightly in the breeze. Her fair cheeks were adorned with a slightly silly smile, her peach blossom eyes clear and bright like the sky washed with water. She looked like a white lotus flower that had finally freed itself from the mud, slowly stretching out above the water''s surface. "Xu Musen, look, I can walk slowly now," An Nuannuan said, looking at him as if to assert herself, but having stood to the side for a while, her legs were not yet recovered. She was staggering, but she steadied herself with effort. And took a step towards him. "This is the first time I can take a step towards you on my own," An Nuannuan said, looking at Xu Musen up close, as if that short step was the most important one she had ever taken during all the hard practice. These words struck Xu Musen''s heart. It was also the first time he saw An Nuannuan standing up by herself. Though unsteady, like a baby learning to walk, it was her first step in many years. And besides, An Nuannuan, who had always sat in a wheelchair, had appeared rather petite and cute. But standing up, he realized her height was not short; once she fully recovered, she would be about one meter sixty-eight. For a girl, that was quite tall. "So this is the surprise you were talking about," Xu Musen said, unable to help his smile. "Hey" An Nuannuan grinned. A bit silly and rakish, "So, are you satisfied?" As she spoke, she lifted her soft, delicate face, looking up at Xu Musen. Xu Musen really felt an itch in his hand; An Nuannuan''s cheeks had become a bit plump recently due to his care. And they appeared so tender they might drip water. As if inviting him to pinch them, or else wouldn''t the facial mask from yesterday have been wasted? Xu Musen reached out and gently pinched her cheek, "I''m very satisfied." Indeed, it felt like pinching a marshmallow, hard to let go of. But then, he remembered that Aunt Xiang was still watching from behind. His hand paused, and turning his head, he saw Aunt Xiang approaching with a wheelchair. With a light chuckle, she didn''t say anything but simply handed the wheelchair over to Xu Musen. "Although Nuannuan can now walk by herself, she still can''t stand for long periods. She''ll need to sit and rest occasionally," Aunt Xiang instructed him, then glanced at the two of them, and finally revealed a somewhat complicated smile, "Alright, you two take care of each other at school, I''ll be going first." "Mhm, Aunt Xiang, take care on the road," An Nuannuan spoke up first. Aunt Xiang left with an indulgent smile that was somewhat helpless, always feeling that her own little vegetable was eager to follow someone else. Aunt Xiang drove off. Xu Musen and looked at An Nuannuan. "Do you still want me to push you?" Xu Musen looked at the wheelchair then back at her crutches. Suddenly feeling that there seemed to be a physical distance between them, perhaps just a bit. A faint sense of melancholy. An Nuannuan shifted her crutches, stepping closer to Xu Musen, her gaze seeming to echo his mood. Looking at Xu Musen, her feet under the skirt edged slightly. In Xu Musen''s somewhat melancholic eyes, she nodded, settled into the wheelchair, and closed that short distance once again. Xu Musen unexpectedly felt a strange sense of relief. Pushing her along the campus paths, the October breeze was soothing, the sunlight just right, unhurried. An Nuannuan held her crutches, swinging them back and forth like oars, as if steering a boat. What a child. Xu Musen couldn''t help but smile, happy for An Nuannuan who was able to slowly leave the wheelchair behind. Yet, he couldn''t stop wondering if their relationship would grow more distant or closer once she no longer needed him to push the wheelchair. Sear?h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Xu Musen." An Nuannuan suddenly called out; she looked up from the wheelchair at Xu Musen, her large eyes exceptionally clear. "Yes?" "If I don''t need the wheelchair in the future would you still want to push me like this?" An Nuannuan''s words floated softly. Chapter 162 Can you please not eat my pigs trotters_2 Yet, there was a sense of unspoken understanding and synchrony in Xu Musen''s heart.Xu Musen revealed a knowing smile. "Of course, whenever you want, I''ll be ready to push you in a wheelchair for a joyride," An Nuannuan''s eyes shone brightly as she smiled and continued, "Then, I won''t need a cane anymore. Will you still hold on to me?" "No problem, I am your cane, I''ve got your back." "Then, if I''m able to run and jump someday, will you still be with me all the time?" "Of course, didn''t we agree to be lifelong friends?" Xu Musen said with a light laugh. Nuannuan''s eyes, bright and clear, looked at him. The once silly and cute demeanor seemed to become much more cheerful as her legs recovered. Lifelong friends, huh "Xu Musen." "Hmm?" "Actually, you''re also a bit slow-witted..." "???" ... He took her to the milk tea shop. An Nuannuan perked up instantly and shook her rabbit-shaped piggy bank as soon as she got there. Listening to the hefty clinking sounds of the coins inside, she closed her eyes joyfully. Once at the milk tea shop, An Nuannuan seemed to be on her home turf, surveying the area while Zhao Lianmai showed more acknowledgement for the boss lady Nuannuan than for Xu Musen, the actual boss. Zhao Lianmai was all warmth and friendliness in her responses, with none of her usual aloofness. Explore more stories at empire Nuannuan also went to check the small room behind the shop. The basic renovation was all set; the space was roughly a bedroom, a living room, and a bathroom. The sofa, furniture, and various appliances were already in place. It was only missing a bed and some everyday necessities. Nuannuan looked around, her eyes rotating: "Are you planning to live here in the future?" "Yep, living in the dorm isn''t very convenient. From now on, if I go out for business and end up socializing late, I can''t always beg the dorm manager to open the door for me," Xu Musen looked around the room: "I''m planning to order a bed in the next few days. As for the rest, a simple shopping trip should do." Nuannuan''s eyes sparkled as she tugged at Xu Musen''s arm: "Then how about today? I''ll accompany you to buy the bed, okay?" The sound of Nuannuan''s words made Zhao Lianmai, who was making milk tea, pause in her movements. Xu Musen also looked at her and smiled, "Do you have a lot of expertise in this area?" "Absolutely, I couldn''t even sit in a wheelchair before and could only lie in bed. I know best which beds feel the most comfortable," Nuannuan said, quite proudly. "Alright, then let''s go." "Yay!" The two of them prepared to leave. Since the road was long, Xu Musen still pushed Nuannuan in her wheelchair. Zhao Lianmai shook her head slightly as she watched their departing figures. Buying a bed wasn''t really important. What mattered was the excuse it provided for the two of them to go out and stroll around together. She sighed softly. If you were to say their boss was straightforward, he seemed to vacillate between the proprietress and his childhood friend. But to call him a playboy didn''t seem right either; it always felt like Nuannuan was the one leading him ... Not far from the school was a furniture city. The place was filled with an array of furnishing options. They arrived at the entrance of a shop that seemed quite elegantly decorated. A female sales assistant came out to greet them. "Hello, are you looking to check out some beds?" "Yes, just taking a look," "Please come in, we have all types of beds here, complete with complimentary bedding. Plus, for every brand of bed, we offer a model that you can try out," The sales assistant enthusiastically guided them, showing different beds. The showroom was filled with various sample beds available for trying. Nuannuan touched one of the mattresses and tugged at Xu Musen''s sleeve. "Xu Musen, why don''t we try this one?" Xu Musen also pressed the mattress and, indeed, the elasticity was quite good. It felt like certain movements could even activate a semi-automatic mode. "Xu Musen, I want to try it too." Nuannuan seemed eager. Xu Musen looked at her: I''m buying a bed, what do you need to try it for? But seeing Nuannuan''s expectant look, he couldn''t utter such a romance-killing remark. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Okay." Xu Musen extended his hand, helping her to slowly stand and then sit on the edge of the bed. Nuannuan patted the bed and lay down to feel it, stretching out in an indolent yawn. The curves of her young body were undisguised, especially somewhere that seemed to rise suddenly. There was a sense of grandeur, as though she carried the majestic presence of Mount Tai''s five peaks! ``` The female sales associate next to them looked down, silent for a moment. Are young people nowadays all so incredible? And look, she''s even lying down! "Xu Musen, come and try lying down too." An Nuannuan waved her hands at Xu Musen. Just like in a second dimension anime, where a girl lies on the bed, spreads her arms, and wants to embrace the male lead. Xu Musen looked into her clear eyes, casting out the impure thoughts from his mind. Then he glanced at the female sales associate next to them, who seemed somewhat inexplicably hurt. "We''ll take a look by ourselves, we''ll call you if we need help." Xu Musen said to her. "Alright." The sales associate nodded, stepped back to give them some distance, but didn''t go too far away. She had seen plenty of young people coming to try beds in the store. And she had encountered many oddballs. For example, some would take the opportunity to sneakily do certain things while trying out a bed, then pull up their pants and run. Leaving them to clean up afterward. Some would even really poop in the display toilets... The thought processes of some people are truly hard to understand. On this side, Xu Musen came to the bed and lay down too, and he had to admit the elasticity was indeed good. It was just that the scent of An Nuannuan floated to him with each breath he took. Xu Musen turned his head and met An Nuannuan''s clear eyes, the two of them seeing each other from this intimate bed-view perspective for the first time. The surroundings were quiet, the bed soft and bouncy; for a moment, it felt as though they were truly lying on a bed at home. The two of them were so close, they could feel each other''s warmth and breath. Xu Musen looked at An Nuannuan, feeling that after this National Day, this silly girl seemed to have become smarter. Or perhaps she had always been smart, but now she was just becoming bolder. Those peach blossom eyes seemed to look at anything with deep affection, at this moment reflecting his own image in her pupils. The feelings of like between a boy and a girl can''t be faked. As they gazed at each other, An Nuannuan''s beautiful cheeks, along with the light fruity scent on her body, made Xu Musen feel exceptionally comfortable. Suddenly, An Nuannuan stretched out her hand and poked his face. "Pighead..." "Huh?" Xu Musen didn''t catch on at first and laughed, asking, "Why do you say that about me?" "Because you smell like a pighead." "..." Xu Musen remembered that he had gnawed on a pig''s trotter for breakfast earlier. If he didn''t eat it then, it wouldn''t be fresh anymore. Xu Musen was somewhat amused and helpless, "I did eat a pig''s trotter this morning, but I''ve brushed my teeth." "Pig''s trotter, huh." An Nuannuan said, as if recalling something. She wiggled her little foot and looked at him, "You still love eating ''feet'' so much..." "???" Xu Musen stretched out his hand to cover her mouth. What kind of outrageous words were these? Though a pig''s trotter is indeed a pig''s foot... but can they really be compared? He looked down to see An Nuannuan playfully moving her little foot that was in a sandal. A pig''s trotter can''t be eaten unless it''s stewed. But this little foot... probably goes well with something like little cakes... A cooking show appeared in Xu Musen''s mind. But then he felt his fingertips were slightly wet. He realized his finger was on An Nuannuan''s lips, soft, with a bit of warmth. Even a slight touch seemed to meet her white and round teeth. Xu Musen withdrew his hand, feeling a bit awkward, "It wasn''t on purpose, it''s because of what you said just now." "Then I have to poke back." An Nuannuan reacted quickly, stretching out her small hand and poking Xu Musen''s lips. As if successful in a mischievous plot. The soft and fragrant delicate fingers of the girl brushed by his mouth. Just like sweetly peeled sugarcane. Xu Musen felt an instinctive urge inside him. He watched An Nuannuan looking very serious as she sought her "revenge." This was voluntarily fed to my mouth by you, don''t blame me! He opened his mouth and gently grabbed the finger she poked at him with his teeth. "Dare you do it again?" Xu Musen mumbled these three words from his mouth. An Nuannuan was also taken aback, her fair face turned rosy, and she spoke faintly. "You, don''t eat my ''hand trotters''..." ``` Chapter 163 The War between Cotton Socks and Silk Stockings. Furniture City.Xu Musen gently nibbled An Nuannuan''s fingers, the two acting as if they were children playing a prank. An Nuannuan didn''t dare move her hand. "Can you not eat my little trotters..." That sentence made Xu Musen feel as though he wasn''t nibbling on her hand, but her little pig trotters instead. sea??h th novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her soft little hand felt as if it had no bones, and Xu Musen was afraid that with just a little force, he would melt it in his mouth. An Nuannuan''s cheeks were somewhat flushed, but there was no dislike or any other emotion evident. In other words, it seemed she didn''t reject such behavior. Xu Musen released his teeth, looking at the stunningly beautiful face in front of him, and for the moment, he resisted the urge inside him. "Nuannuan, I''m doing this to you, aren''t you angry?" "Why should I be angry?" An Nuannuan''s eyes were clear, although the finger that had just been bitten gently rubbed against Xu Musen. "Because, generally speaking, this kind of behavior isn''t right between friends." Xu Musen gazed into her eyes. Such an action, even for a young couple, was very intimate. This friendship might soon deteriorate. An Nuannuan''s eyes remained bright, "That''s what you said, we''re best friends." She responded using Xu Musen''s words from the morning. Xu Musen now found that such vague answers were truly vexing. Was everyone a master at playing dumb? Xu Musen lay on the bed with her, as if creating a closed and comfortable space. The shortened distance and the slightly ambiguous actions could speed up the secretion of hormones and dopamine, causing an almost uncontrollable urge. He looked at An Nuannuan''s cheeks, fair like a freshly peeled egg. He stretched out his hand and gently pinched her cheek. "Nuannuan, what if I had bitten your face just now?" Xu Musen watched her, smiling. An Nuannuan opened her small mouth, revealing her white, neat teeth and her delicate, pink tongue. She pouted her lips slightly, and her big eyes finally seemed to ripple slightly as she blinked. "Then I would have to tell my grandpa and grandma." Xu Musen remembered the old man puncturing the wooden stake with a single powerful strike and thought that he wouldn''t survive such an encounter. Xu Musen gave a sheepish laugh and temporarily abandoned the bold idea. Life is precious. "So are you going to bite or not?" An Nuannuan tugged at the corner of his clothes with sparkling eyes. For some reason, he felt like she was teasing him on purpose. Xu Musen pinched her a little harder with his hand. "I don''t eat pig''s head meat." "You''re the pig''s head..." An Nuannuan pouted, thinking if he liked her ''feet'' so much, he surely must be a big trotter. Xu Musen ended the topic. But he didn''t notice the logic in those words. An Nuannuan was supposed to tell her grandparents, yet it seemed she could be bolder with him... "This bed is nice, should we buy this one?" For some reason, Xu Musen, even though it was his bed, asked An Nuannuan for her opinion. Maybe it would come in handy in the future? "Mm-hmm." An Nuannuan also sat up, gently swinging her legs, her fair little face still retaining a bit of rosy luster. Xu Musen walked over and gently lifted her into the wheelchair. "Hello, we''ll take this one, please set up a set for me." Xu Musen called over the saleswoman. "Sure, our bed linens come in single and double sets, which one would you like?" The saleswoman asked with a smile. Xu Musen subconsciously glanced down at An Nuannuan, a smile forming on his lips, and said, "The double set, please." At that moment, An Nuannuan also looked up at him. "It''s always good to have a spare set for laundering, just in case, right?" Xu Musen said with a serious smile. An Nuannuan nodded, her big eyes blinking. Find adventures on empire "Alright, one moment please." The saleswoman watched the young man before her and inwardly sighed. He was clearly looking for an opportunity to sleep with the young lady, and yet he was so good at making excuses. Indeed, most handsome guys are players. After choosing the bed, it would be delivered directly to the school that afternoon. The two of them began selecting daily necessities and toiletries nearby. After picking out toothbrushes and towels, An Nuannuan chose a set to place beside Xu Musen''s. "For unforeseen needs." An Nuannuan explained it thus, but it felt like her mood was peculiarly joyful. After touring around, they returned to school in the afternoon. The furniture arrived on time. Xu Musen helped the delivery crew assemble the bed, laying the most important mattress as well. Bed sheets, duvet covers, pillows, and the rest were also delivered. The people in the dorm knew Xu Musen was moving out. They came over to help. "Darn! Musen, you didn''t give us brothers any warning, you''re moving out just like that?" "You don''t understand a thing, Boss Xu is planning to fly high with the boss lady!" "Haha, Musen, take care of your health, lest your business venture crashes halfway!" "Go on, all of you die before I do." Xu Musen retorted without any mood, rolling his bedding and pillow into a bundle. The others were envy-stricken. For college students in love, being able to live together was absolutely the pinnacle of romance. The single guys looked on with envy. "Musen, are you really planning to live together with Boss An?" Chapter 163 The War between Cotton Socks and Silk Stockings. _2 "Same with you my foot, I already said I''m just moving in by myself."Xu Musen packed up his things. "Stop pretending, I think it''s just a matter of time, but have you two made it official yet?" "This is like trying before buying, if I''m not satisfied, I could just return it without a reason..." Zhou Hangyu chuckled weirdly. Ma Yaxing scratched his head, "I think it''s better to make it official sooner rather than later, to be responsible for the girl. That way, even if you''re cohabiting, it''s all aboveboard." Xu Musen couldn''t be bothered with them, but speaking of status... Xu Musen always felt that he and An Nuannuan were now no different from some of the other young couples. Moreover, Nuannuan seemed to have no resistance to some actions that clearly went beyond friendship. At least it showed that she had a favorable impression of him, because the subconscious reactions of the body can''t lie. Even when he had just been reborn and kept Yao Mingyue at arm''s length mentally, His body was still very honest once he came into contact with her. It was a kind of conditioned reflex, completely outside the control of the brain. But there''s still a difference between having a good impression and liking someone. If I don''t handle it well, wouldn''t I just become a clown again? Xu Musen thought about the scenes with her at the furniture mall that day. Actually, he wasn''t resistant to An Nuannuan''s approach either, was he? Which means, deep down, they both had a fondness for each other. Maybe he really could take the initiative... Xu Musen shouldered the quilt, while several people carried other items, and they all went with Xu Musen to the milk tea shop. The newly delivered bedding needed to be washed before use. Tonight, he''d use his own. As soon as they entered the shop, a few people saw An Nuannuan and immediately started giggling. "Congratulations to Boss Xu on the housewarming and starting a new life." "Madam, Boss Xu likes to hug something while sleeping. We can''t accompany him anymore, that''s for you to take care of." "Safe travels, may you have..." "Scram, scram, scram, if there''s nothing else, take the quilt to the dry cleaners." Xu Musen interrupted them irritably, placing the twisted-up quilt first on the bed. Luckily An Nuannuan seemed not to understand these words, just noticing Xu Musen moving in with luggage, her eyes sparkled. The school had a dry cleaning store, Xu Musen decided to have the new sheets and quilt cover washed first. In the store, Xu Musen''s luggage was placed in a small room. An Nuannuan curiously looked over Xu Musen''s things. Actually, there wasn''t much stuff, not even many clothes. Many boys typically only had a couple of outfits per season, especially when it came to underpants; they wouldn''t dream of changing the old ones until they were absolutely unserviceable. An Nuannuan eyed his clothes and some personal effects, walking over with the intention of helping him to tidy up. Zhao Lianmai also came over to look, noting An Nuannuan''s difficulty moving step by step with a crutch. "Nuannuan, let me take care of it." Zhao Lianmai stepped in, wanting to help arrange the bedding and his clothes. "No need, I can do it myself," An Nuannuan shook her head, hobbling with her crutch, folding Xu Musen''s clothes neatly before placing them in the wardrobe. Sarch* The ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. An Nuannuan usually spoke in a gentle manner, but her tone right now didn''t leave room for negotiation. Although there wasn''t much stuff, it was a big project for An Nuannuan, who relied on crutches. After folding Xu Musen''s clothes, she went to the restroom and arranged the towels and toothbrushes as well. She also took out her own set; their cups and toothbrushes were identical save for the colors. That way, if she didn''t feel like going back to the dorm after a meal, she could occasionally come here to wash her face and brush her teeth, she reasoned. With that thought, An Nuannuan placed their toothbrush sets together, neatly aligned. Zhao Lianmai silently observed. Is this... possessiveness? Zhao Lianmai watched An Nuannuan, who still limped along with a crutch. The first step for a girl who likes a boy is to manifest that possessiveness. But their relationship seemed to have never quite been defined. Moreover... Zhao Lianmai just saw the furniture and newly placed toiletries in the room, clearly meant for two people. Perhaps, this room might indeed accommodate two people in the future... She sighed quietly, replaced the door and turned back to continue selling milk tea in the shop. In the room. An Nuannuan''s gaze returned to the quilt Xu Musen had brought back. She sat down on the edge of the bed, unfolded the rolled-up quilt, and began to make the bed. To others, arranging bed sheets and quilt covers was a simple task, but for An Nuannuan it was quite a physical challenge. After painstakingly smoothing out the sheet, she wiped the sweat from her forehead and picked up Xu Musen''s pillow to arrange it. But on the underside of the pillow, there seemed to be something bulging. Enjoy new stories from empire Out of curiosity, she picked it up, unzipped it, and a pair of socks fell out. White cotton socks, with a little rabbit pattern. An Nuannuan recognized them at a glance, the socks she had once given to him. Her cheeks flushed. She remembered Xu Musen always adamantly claiming he wasn''t a pervert and had no interest in such things. But his body was honest, wasn''t it? Keeping socks under his pillow... "Pervert..." An Nuannuan murmured softly; she glanced at her own feet in sandals. He did like to nibble on feet. She picked up her socks, hesitating whether to take them back or pretend she hadn''t seen anything. Chapter 163 The War between Cotton Socks and Silk Stockings. _3 She was still thinking when she suddenly felt like there was something else stuffed inside her sock...She reached out and pinched a layer of mesh-like material. Like a magician performing a trick, a white silk stocking slowly emerged. An Nuannuan looked at the object before her, silently thinking that she didn''t recall ever wearing such a thing. But she had seen many other girls wearing them and knew these were called silk stockings, specifically for women to wear. So, whose were these? In an instant, An Nuannuan''s mind conjured the image of that tall figure. Her lips pouted immediately, and one hand lightly clutched at her chest. Continue reading at empire An emotion she had never felt before began to grow slowly in her chest. It was a little sour, a bit stifling, mingled with an unwilling sense of iffy hope... She didn''t know what this feeling was called, but it was indeed uncomfortable. Her thoughts drifted back to that night six years ago when he seemed like a messenger sent by the gods. In that hospital room filled with the smell of disinfectant, he brought her the first cake she received in years. Even though he felt sad that night, he still comforted her gently. From that day on, the name Xu Musen had been etched in An Nuannuan''s heart. She wasn''t good at interacting with others, having spent a long period in solitude, silently in her empty room. When An Nuannuan first transferred to high school, some classmates did try to talk to her, but they couldn''t handle her bluntness and straightforward thinking. Thus, she never really had any friends. An Nuannuan didn''t care, though, because she came to high school solely to find Xu Musen. But on the day she transferred, it just so happened to be the moment Xu Musen confessed his love for Yao Mingyue. She already lacked courage and was not good with words, especially seeing Xu Musen with eyes only for Yao Mingyue, so in the end, she quietly chose not to disturb his life. sea??h th N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was like that night six years ago. For Xu Musen, perhaps it was just a fleeting moment of warmth. In the end, he reserved all his tenderness and patience for his childhood friend. Yet, that fleeting warmth was enough for An Nuannuan to cherish for a lifetime. In those six years, he chose Yao Mingyue. It wasn''t until their senior year of high school that An Nuannuan finally had the chance to slowly be with him. She treasured those times dearly; in the past, she didn''t want to disturb Xu Musen. She was aware that the old Xu Musen genuinely loved his childhood friend. As long as Xu Musen still loved her, she wouldn''t come out and interrupt. But now, she was unwilling to miss the opportunity again, to wait another six years. And Xu Musen too did not want to continue with his life as before. So, they were both starting from the same starting line. She looked at the small cotton sock and the white silk stocking before her. In her eyes, this was no longer just about stockings and socks. It signified a new choice and pursuit. She clenched her fair, delicate fists silently. A sense of determination that she had never experienced before was also growing in her heart. She still didn''t understand what it meant to like someone as a lover. Yet, she knew that if she had to choose someone to share her life with, She hoped more than anything that it would be him... She also hoped that she could be someone whom he would never regret falling in love with. This "war" between the silk stockings and the cotton socks... Had quietly begun. Chapter 164 Yao Mingyue: You Must Take Responsibility for Me! The National Day holiday had ended, and a new month was about to begin.Xu Musen took everyone out for a team-building meal. Getting pumped was a given. After all, Xu Musen wanted to pick up a new car at the end of the month. All the employees, work hard, and at month''s end, the boss picks up an Audi. Of course, the offered incentives were quite tempting. "I''ve made up my mind, from now on I''ll just follow Brother Sen and work hard, forget about dating, what can''t you buy with money?" Li Rundong was tipsily rambling, he had been licking boots non-stop since he entered the school. First Lin Daiyu, then Zhu Yulan... he never even got the chance with this one. After that was some girl from the flight attendant program, turned out to be a textbook gold digger, he poured his whole month''s salary into her. In the end, he didn''t even get to hold her hand. Zhou Hangyu just chuckled and patted his shoulder, "Live and learn, there''s plenty of good girls out there." "What about you? Are you and her still good?" Li Rundong glanced over, those two girls were besties. "We split too, damn, she just came up and asked whether I''d put her name on my family''s house after we got married. Fuck, my family''s house in Hu Hai, she wouldn''t deserve it even if she were studded with diamonds!" Zhou Hangyu appeared quite unaffected. Sar?h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But indeed, a Hu Hai household registration and a house there were like a dimensionality reduction attack to people from other second and third-tier cities. That is reality, money is the real confidence for a man. The two brothers in misfortune rejoined the ranks of the single dogs, clinked their cups together, and began to drink, though they did look like they were drowning their sorrows in alcohol. Ma Yaxing shook his head; dating was just an expensive and exhausting affair, he might as well earn some more money for now. Zhao Lianmai acted as if she hadn''t heard a thing, head down and focused on her food. An Nuannuan was watching them. So when a relationship fails, you really can''t even remain friends. And dating seems so complicated, with all the talk about money, houses... An Nuannuan didn''t care about those things. But she could feel that Xu Musen really wanted to earn money. "Want some?" Xu Musen was eating crab, and noticing An Nuannuan''s gaze, he handed her a cracked open crab. An Nuannuan looked at his smiling face and nodded with glittering eyes. "You eat too." ... After the meal, Ma Yaxing supported Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong on either side. Both the brothers in predicament were emotionally charged today, and boys always talk tough. Usually following these steps: "Fine, we broke up. Who says there''s no good grass elsewhere in the world?" "Wasn''t I good to her?" "Actually, I still miss her a bit. I''m not saying I can''t let go, just can''t quite understand." "Fuck! I just miss her!" "What''s so great about her? Wait till I''ve made my money and got a house and car, I''ll find someone a hundred times better than her!" "Knowing that heartbreak is inevitable, why fall so deeply~" Stay updated with empire "There are so many people to love, why can''t I be one of them~" The two of them talked and sang, tipsy, and Ma Yaxing was utterly befuddled by them. Xu Musen trailed behind with An Nuannuan, watching the two staggering figures ahead and couldn''t help but smile. In some ways, this was youth, starting university with a hazy understanding of love, often giving it your all. Yet, most first loves tend to end in quiet admissions of regret. "Xu Musen, do all you guys act like this when you can''t find a wife?" An Nuannuan watched their retreating backs, her thoughts drifting to Xu Musen''s past. After failing to confess to Yao Mingyue, he too would drown his sorrows with a drink. Only before, Xu Musen didn''t drink alcohol, he would join He Qiang for some pineapple beer. But the intent of drunken warmth isn''t found in the beer; heartache lies in the heart. "Everyone''s a bit sad when their sincerity isn''t reciprocated, but it''s also a good thing. Love requires trial and error. One failure may precede meeting someone more compatible." Xu Musen said, locking eyes with An Nuannuan. Under the night sky and the moonlight, both their eyes softened considerably. They were like shadows of trees on the ground, overlapping and then drifting apart with just a gust of wind. A continual probing back and forth. "What about you, do you still want to find a wife?" An Nuannuan''s lips curved slightly, she held a cup of milk tea in her hand, trying to appear casual. But obviously, she fussed with the milk tea in her mouth without really taking a sip. Xu Musen watched her, smiling as he answered, "Are you implying that if I just give the word, you would bring a wife to me?" An Nuannuan, watched by his meaningful gaze, shyly averted her eyes, her feet dangling from the wheelchair. "Sigh, girls these days are so pragmatic, it''s not easy for a poor guy like me to get a wife. I should earn some money first; otherwise, the girls would just look down on me." Xu Musen feigned a sigh deliberately. An Nuannuan sipped her milk tea, and after walking for a while, she spoke up. "Not necessarily. My family owns a lot of houses, we won''t need to buy one and there''s plenty for living. And I really like walking; I don''t even like cars. Moreover, I''m easy to provide for; a daily tea is just fine..." An Nuannuan continued, as if comforting Xu Musen, yet sounding more like she was making a pitch for herself. She spoke bit by bit, then lifted her head only to meet Xu Musen''s amused expression. "I mean, there are plenty of good girls out there in the world, don''t you worry..." An Nuannuan even slipped into her hometown accent as she spoke. Chapter 164 Yao Mingyue: You Must Take Responsibility for Me!_2 Xu Musen couldn''t help but laugh."So that''s what you meant, I thought... alright then." As Xu Musen spoke, a slightly disappointed expression appeared on his face. Clutching her milk tea, An Nuannuan wanted to say something, but seemed to lack confidence as if timidness had taken hold of her. It was as if a little rabbit was scratching at her heart. She looked at the two guys ahead of her, still immersed in their sadness. And remembered how Xu Musen looked after his unsuccessful confession before. If the confession failed, they might not even be able to remain friends. A girl who had never been involved in a romantic relationship, no matter how smart, couldn''t pinpoint where that boundary lay. "Xu Musen." "An Nuannuan." The two of them said in unison. After a moment of eye contact, they both started laughing and said, "You go first, 2" "Alright, I''ll go first." Xu Musen looked at her, smiling gently. "You asked me before what kind of girl I would like, and I want to ask you, what kind of boy do you like?" This question seemed to touch on An Nuannuan''s blind spot in knowledge. A blank page that had never been written on might not even understand what ''liking'' truly meant. But, most feelings start from a moment of affection, more like an instinctual reaction from the genes and the soul. She looked at Xu Musen, all the memories of the past half year surfacing in her mind, not realizing how much time had already passed. Yet, every day spent with him never felt the slightest bit tedious. Instead, she found herself looking forward more and more. The kind of boy she liked... An Nuannuan looked into his eyes, her delicate lips pouting slightly: "I am not telling you." "Don''t be so stingy, just tell me, I''ll give you some advice..." Xu Musen didn''t notice the off-key response for a moment. The two chatted and laughed as they walked on. Zhao Lianmai, trailing behind, overheard their conversation. She sighed to herself. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I am not telling you... Yes, An Nuannuan didn''t tell him. Don''t you like him? Zhao Lianmai shook her head, wondering if they were both hoping and yet both nervous, both having been struck by failed loves? She couldn''t understand... But watching their chatting and laughing figures, there was a certain warmth to it. ... They arrived at the fork in the road leading to the men''s and women''s dorms. Xu Musen offered to walk An Nuannuan back. Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong were staggering and snickering drunkenly. "Boss Xu, don''t lock the door when you sleep alone tonight; you never know, someone might come looking for you in the middle of the night." "Hahaha, do you know for sure if Boss Xu really sleeps alone?" "Maybe Sadako will crawl into your bed in the middle of the night?" "Then let Sadako go on maternity leave! Hahaha!" "Dammit, screw off!" Xu Musen cursed, pushing An Nuannuan along as they left ahead. "Nuannuan, don''t mind what they said; they''ve had too much to drink." An Nuannuan blinked and looked up at him: "Xu Musen, are you afraid of sleeping alone?" "There are no ghosts in this world. A student doesn''t fear such things as long as they are upright." Xu Musen said with a smile: "Besides, there''s nothing I can do if I am afraid." "I can come and save you!" "You?" Xu Musen looked at her, then said with a laugh: "What if the ghost never leaves?" "Then I will just keep watching over you and not let the female ghost bully you." An Nuannuan was very serious. Wouldn''t that mean living together? But this kind of plot, where you pretend there''s a ghost at home to have someone come over to check, then take the opportunity to hide in their arms and eventually ''seal the deal,'' isn''t it usually used by girls to coax guys? "Alright, if I ever encounter a female ghost, you''ll be the first one I notify." Xu Musen responded to her earnestly. An Nuannuan snorted softly, looking at Xu Musen: "Xu Musen, I really like our life now, being able to be with you every day." "So do I." Xu Musen reached out and pinched her cheek gently. Being with An Nuannuan always felt easy and stress-free. And An Nuannuan was just like a soft and squishy cotton candy, irresistibly tempting to gobble up. An Nuannuan''s face being pinched by him felt as squishy as cotton candy. She looked at Xu Musen: "Are you thinking about biting my cheek again?" "..." Xu Musen''s hand paused, and he couldn''t help but laugh. "Don''t talk nonsense, that kind of action... can only be done with someone you like." Xu Musen said, observing An Nuannuan''s expression. But An Nuannuan simply nodded slowly: "Oh, I get it." And that was that. Xu Musen wondered if he had messed up, if he should have made it clear, maybe he could have had the chance to sneak in a bite? They waved goodbye. An Nuannuan touched her cheek, her eyes flickering as if contemplating something. ... Back at the milk tea shop. She hung up the ''Closed'' sign, ready to head to bed. Xu Musen returned to his room, finding it tidied and clean, clothes and everything neatly arranged in the closet. His bed was made, and when he went to wash up, Xu Musen noticed another set of toiletries. Enjoy exclusive content from empire A pink toothbrush, a towel with a little rabbit pattern, and several little girlish items. Xu Musen smiled faintly. If he and Nuannuan were together in the future, living together in this small room, it would indeed be cozy. "Knock, knock, knock..." A sudden knocking at the door echoed. The commercial street became particularly quiet once deserted at night. And places like schools, hospitals, and amusement parks, the more bustling they are by day, the scarier they become by night. Especially after having just discussed the topic of female ghosts. Xu Musen peeked through the door. But he saw no one there. Chapter 164 Yao Mingyue: You Must Take Responsibility for Me!_3 Musen was just about to turn around when the knocking started up again.He checked and still no one was there. "Damn!" Musen wondered if this place could really be haunted at night. He thought about it and realized that, as a virgin, his urine was supposed to dispel evil spirits. If he really did encounter a female ghost, he would just whip it out and douse her! "Thump thump..." The third knock at the door. Musen was sure he had not misheard, so he opened the door. He grabbed the feather duster at the entrance and stood at the door to look around. "Aha!" But at that moment, a figure suddenly jumped out from the side, as if to prank him and give him a scare. Read new chapters at empire However, Musen reacted on instinct, and his feather duster lashed out. "Smack!" "Ouch!" The sound was crisp, as though it had hit something very elastic. Huh? Why did that female ghost''s scream sound so familiar? In front of him, a tall girl with disheveled hair was holding her buttocks, her stunningly beautiful face flushed with pain. "Yao Mingyue?" Musen hesitated for a moment. "Musen!" Ming Yue gritted her teeth, her face distorted with pain, "Are you sick? Wielding a feather duster in the middle of the night to hit people." Musen looked at her; her perky buttocks had indeed taken a solid hit from the feather duster just now. "Why aren''t you sleeping in the middle of the night, running around scaring people pretending to be a ghost?" Musen tossed the feather duster aside. "I''ll scare you to death! Scare you to death, you damn pig!" Ming Yue felt pain in her buttocks as soon as she spoke. Actually, she had heard from the staff at the milk tea shop this afternoon that Musen had moved in. sea??h th N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was just that Musen had gone out to treat them to dinner in the afternoon, so she waited until now to stake him out. Musen knew he was in the wrong, "What are you doing here at this hour?" "I came to see if someone was secretly doing something decadent!" Ever since she was little, Ming Yue had a talent for catching people in the act. She squeezed past Musen into the shop and headed straight for the small room inside. The room was not large, but it was cozy, and there was only one bed, naturally no second person. But she still opened the wardrobe to check because she always felt there was a faint scent in the room that belonged to a girl. Musen watched with his eyelid twitching, "That''s enough from you." "Hmph!" Ming Yue snorted, was about to sit on the bed, but stood up again in pain. "Musen, you have to take responsibility for my butt!" "..." Musen was at a loss for words, thankful that there was no one else around, otherwise things could be hard to explain. "If you hadn''t jumped out and scared me, would all this have happened?" "I don''t care, if you don''t give me an explanation today, I won''t leave." Ming Yue acted like a stubborn hooligan, throwing herself onto Musen''s bed. Her buttocks, which had just been struck by a feather duster, were now slightly raised, not daring to touch the bed. The delicate and graceful curves formed a beautiful scenery that could not be contained in this small room. Musen rubbed his forehead, feeling a bit of a headache, and suddenly thought that moving away from the dorm might not be entirely a good thing. "What do you want me to do?" "My butt is swollen, what do you think?" "I''ll get you some ice to put on it." Musen turned around and opened the fridge; milk tea shops never run out of ice. "Do you need ice?" Ming Yue turned her head to look at him, snorted, and said with reproachful eyes, "Some people''s faces are colder than ice cubes, why not use your cold face to cool down my heat... Ow!" Before she could finish her sentence, Musen expressionlessly placed a bag of ice cubes on her. Ming Yue suddenly felt as if she was experiencing both fire and ice, with her buttocks initially burning and then feeling numbly tingly as soon as the ice cubes were placed. In an instant, Ming Yue quieted down, even feeling somewhat content. Musen looked at her, silently thinking to himself. This masochistic girl is beyond help. Chapter 165 Did you guys do something that might result in having a baby? ```At night, inside the small room. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yao Mingyue stubbornly stayed in his bed, deliberately rubbing her scent onto the blanket. Just like a little dog trying to mark her territory with her scent. The pert curves of her buttocks could bear a bag of ice cubes steadily, she had to admit, Yao Mingyue''s legs were very attractive. And generally, girls with good-looking legs also tend to have nice buttocks. It''s just that Xu Musen had seen plenty in his previous life. The present Yao Mingyue still lacked a bit compared to her full potential, but at eighteen, she really was tender. "Do you plan to sleep here alone in the future?" Yao Mingyue removed the ice bag but showed no intention of getting off the bed. "That''s right, and I will lock the door before ten o''clock every night, not opening it for anyone who knocks," Xu Musen said with double meaning. Yao Mingyue snorted. She glanced around the small room, which was not even as big as the bathroom where she bathed in her villa. But it had its charms, being very cozy, and despite its small size, it had everythingbathroom, kitchenette, and living room. And this bed, unexpectedly comfortable to lie in, was certainly more comfortable than the bunk beds in the dormitory. Yao Mingyue felt the pain in her buttocks subside. She lay on her side like a little fox, choosing a "noble lady''s" side reclining position on the bed, one hand gently propping up her cheek. "Aren''t you afraid of sleeping here alone? What would you do if a ghost comes to find you in the middle of the night?" "Crying wolf?" Xu Musen responded crossly. "I''m not going to eat you. Besides, if you beg me, maybe I''ll consider moving in with you, how about that?" Yao Mingyue looked at Xu Musen, her phoenix eyes glinting with temptation. "Fine, talk to Aunt Liu about it first, then come ask me," Xu Musen replied, standing up to continue washing his face in the bathroom. Liu Rushuang, although always trying to set them up, would definitely not agree to let the two kids cohabit without their relationship being confirmed first due to her personality. And the current Yao Mingyue hadn''t evolved into a state of yandere that could ignore everyone else. Yao Mingyue clicked her tongue, slowly got off the bed, and walked to the bathroom door: "Xu Musen, you..." She was about to say something when her gaze suddenly caught sight of the pink toothbrush and rabbit-patterned pink towel on the washbasin, including some products that only girls would use. Yao Mingyue''s eyes instantly turned sharp, those phoenix eyes suddenly took on a dangerous darkness: "Xu Musen, whose stuff are these?" Xu Musen glanced at the items without any intent to conceal: "Nuannuan''s." Nuannuan... Look how intimately you call her. And you''re addressing me by my full name now! Continue your adventure with empire Yao Mingyue stood at the door, her fingers nearly tearing her palms apart. "Why are her things here, are you living together?" She stepped forward, and the already small bathroom became even more cramped as she walked in, standing imposingly in front of Xu Musen. Xu Musen took a towel to wipe his face, looking at her like that, he simply said quietly, "I''m not living with her." "Then what''s with these things?" Yao Mingyue picked up An Nuannuan''s pink toothbrush, as if she wanted to snap the toothbrush in half. Xu Musen reached out, took the toothbrush back, and put it back in the cup. "This milk tea shop is hers, she can do whatever she wants with it, it''s not as messy as you think." Yao Mingyue knew that Xu Musen and An Nuannuan definitely weren''t living together now, but seeing their toothbrushes and towels put together. It was just like a couple''s. Pushing out what originally belonged to her and taking over! Yao Mingyue took a deep breath. "She can put her stuff here now, and in a while, she might move herself in. Do you still want to keep things so vague by then?" Yao Mingyue felt like her time was running out, she was really worried, if someday he ended up with her, she might go crazy. Xu Musen looked at her eyes slowly sinking into darkness, helplessly extending his hand to knock on her forehead. Seeing her wince in pain, her eyes regaining a bit of lucidity, Xu Musen spoke up. "I told you, I just want to live my own life right now. We can always be childhood friends, good neighbors, but in terms of feelings, we neither owe each other anything, and we both have the right to choose." "But for me, there''s never been a multiple-choice question, I only want you," Yao Mingyue declared firmly, her voice tinged with an aching determination. Xu Musen shook his head: "Love is about mutual choice. It won''t work if either side is missing. I have my own choices." "So, are you choosing her now?" Xu Musen looked at her, and after a moment, said, "I indeed enjoy the feeling of being with her, but love is not about who chooses whom, but about two people meeting each other halfway, letting things develop naturally." That statement was just a simple declaration. "Ming Yue, as we''ve always heard since we were kids, a melon forced off its vine is not sweet. You''re really great and being friends, childhood sweethearts, is completely fine, but anything else" He didn''t finish his sentence. A sudden whiff of fragrance drifted before him, followed swiftly by her figure approaching at high speed, Yao Mingyue''s cheeks coming dangerously close to his face. Xu Musen didn''t have time to react, and Yao Mingyue''s lips were already in front of him. Xu Musen only managed to slightly turn his face, but still, half of his lips met the girl''s soft pink ones. ``` Chapter 165 Did you guys do something that might result in having a baby?_2 The familiar touch, warmth, and faint fragrance of flowers seemed to stir up many memories from Xu Musen''s past life.Even, his body''s subconscious choice was to let the other person have her way rather than resist. "Hiss" But the next moment, Xu Musen suddenly felt a pain at the corner of his mouth and his cheek. This crazy girl, she actually bit someone again! "Are you insane?" Xu Musen pushed her away. Yao Mingyue''s eyes held a moist sheen, her eye rims were red, but there was a triumphant smile on her face. She touched her own lips with her hand. "Xu Musen, you can''t fool me, you still like me, that was my first kiss just now, whether you want it or not, I''ve already given it to you." This should be considered the first true kiss for both of them with self-awareness. Although, strictly speaking, only half. Xu Musen touched his left lip and cheek, feeling a bit of the teeth mark residue. "Yao Mingyue, this is meaningless." "I think it''s good enough, Xu Musen, you can choose not to be with me now, but my choice will never change, you said it yourself, we all have our choices, you can''t control that I like you!" Yao Mingyue''s triumph with this kiss was like finally adding a handful of wood to a fire that was about to go out. It made her feel temporarily settled again. Xu Musen listened, a bit silent. Yao Mingyue''s current condition was the same as his before. "I like you, and it''s none of your business..." That sentence used to be his sentimental QQ Space status. A love-struck fool cannot be woken with insults. Xu Musen had a headache, finally understanding how others used to see him. No wonder no one besides He Qiang wanted to hang out with him. Loyal dogs never end well. Yao Mingyue''s gaze drifted around the room, especially lingering on An Nuannuan''s things. She bit her lip, a hint of malice flickering in her eyes, then suddenly smiled at Xu Musen. "Well, I won''t bother you then, remember today''s kiss, I''ll get back the other half of the lips sooner or later!" Yao Mingyue licked her lips, her smile hinting at a prelude to her ''blackening'', carrying a sly undertone. "A twisted melon may not be sweet, but it can quench thirst. Better to be not sweet than to die of thirst." Yao Mingyue stood in the doorway, bathed in light, her phoenix eyes reflecting the stars. Deep, shimmering, captivating, and dangerous. She smiled brightly at Xu Musen. Then she turned and left. Xu Musen watched her figure slowly fade into the night. He reached out and touched the corner of his own lips; he hadn''t expected to actually get a forced kiss. For some reason, he didn''t feel very angry, just as she had said. Deep down, he didn''t really reject her. Xu Musen closed the door and returned to his room; his lips still felt a bit sore, so he subconsciously picked up the ice pack from the bed and pressed it to his lips. But as he was applying it, something felt off. Wasn''t this the ice pack he had just used on Yao Mingyue''s butt? Looking at the ice pack, there was a nicely shaped imprint of a butt. Did he... reuse the ice? "..." Xu Musen was genuinely feeling a bit depressed now, and it was not as if he could talk to his family about it. If he told Aunt Liu, she would likely feign ignorance and might even take the opportunity to push them closer together. If he told his parents, they would probably just pat their son''s shoulder with satisfaction, remarking "Good boy!" Throwing away the ice, Xu Musen burrowed into his bed, feeling miserable. Sleep! Go to class. Find exclusive stories on empire The next day, a few of them were eating at the milk tea shop. The space there was sufficient, and they could also take the opportunity to have a morning meeting over breakfast. Zhou Hangyu and the others kept looking at Xu Musen''s face. "Do I have flowers on my face?" Xu Musen glared at them. "No, there are the remnants of indulgence left uncleaned." "Go to hell!" Xu Musen almost spat out his soy milk. "Haha, but you do have some redness around your lips. Did you really shack up with her yesterday?" "Geez, did you kiss or were you cupped? The boss''s lady is tiny; I wouldn''t have thought... that''s pretty intense." They gossiped incessantly. Xu Musen couldn''t be bothered to argue with them. What could he say? I was kissed forcefully by the school beauty? And her kiss yesterday was quite fierce; there''s still a bit of redness on the side of my mouth. "Hey, the boss lady is here." At that moment, An Nuannuan came over with a crutch, accompanied by Zhao Lianmai. "Hello, boss lady!" Several people called out in unison. Sar?h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Mm-hmm, hello everyone." An Nuannuan really liked being called boss lady, nodding and greeting them. "How come you guys can''t be this enthusiastic when you call me?" Xu Musen was starting to feel that something was off. It seemed like even though he was the actual boss, they weren''t even a tenth as enthusiastic and respectful toward him as they were toward An Nuannuan. "Hehe, Musen, there''s a saying that goes, brown-nosing the boss might just get you a higher salary, but taking good care of the boss''s lady can lead to soaring success. One word from her beside the pillow beats ten years of bootlicking." Li Rundong chuckled, his native Shandong wit coming through in understanding human relations. That was well said. Mature bootlickers always start with those important to their leaders, since there are plenty of people wanting to cozy up to them. However, thinking about taking care of someone close to them would appear much more sincere. Xu Musen patted his shoulder: "You''d actually be quite talented if you weren''t playing the sycophant; keep it up." "Come on, can we stop bringing that up?" Li Rundong was a bit down but immediately stood up and vacated the seat next to him. Making room for An Nuannuan and Xu Musen to sit together. "Here''s the tofu pudding I prepared for you, it''s sweet." Xu Musen smiled as he pushed the tofu pudding he bought in front of An Nuannuan. "Mmm!" An Nuannuan really liked sweets; it was as if she was making up for the cake she missed out on before. "Xu Musen, what happened to your face?" An Nuannuan suddenly noticed the redness around Xu Musen''s mouth; it looked like something had bitten him. "It''s nothing, just got bitten by a mosquito last night." "There are still mosquitoes now?" An Nuannuan cocked her head. "Near the river, it''s normal to have some water mosquitoes. Try this candy cake; it''s quite good." Xu Musen changed the subject: "By the way, a new month has started, everyone has more tasks on their hands. This month, let''s try to contact all the colleges in Hu Hai, still going with the tea shop plus delivery combination, budgeting around two hundred thousand for each school. Zhou Hangyu, you''re a local, start by contacting your friends and see how it goes. Li Rundong, you''ll be in charge of maintaining relationships with the merchants. Ma Yaxing, continue to refine our user database; all this will be very useful in the future. Lianmai, you take care of finance and personnel management..." Xu Musen assigned tasks to everyone. "And what about you, Boss Xu?" They all looked at Xu Musen. "I have an even more important mission." Xu Musen spoke seriously as he gulped down the soymilk. "I need to help our boss lady with her leg training and medical rehabilitation. Who has a greater responsibility than me?" "Hehe..." The corners of their mouths twitched. An Nuannuan''s eyes sparkled, and she couldn''t help but shake her legs slightly under the table. After breakfast, An Nuannuan went to the small room to brush her teeth. Actually, brushing your teeth after breakfast is the most correct thing to do. After brushing, she placed her toothbrush back in the cup and glanced at Xu Musen''s toothbrush. Her big eyes blinked. Then she gently nudged his toothbrush a bit closer to hers, making it lean against her own. She then also pressed the edges of their towels together. "Hehe..." An Nuannuan didn''t know why, but she felt a bit unusually happy inside. She turned around, saw Xu Musen''s bed unmade, and just pushed aside carelessly. She went over with her crutch, wanting to tidy it up for him. There was still a bit of warmth in the bed, along with a faint scent of vegetation from Xu Musen''s body. An Nuannuan held the blanket but couldn''t resist bowing her head slightly. Hmm... why was there a faint smell, like that of a girl? She sniffed the corner of the blanket again. It was a unique floral scent; the aroma brought to An Nuannuan''s mind an image of a tall figure. Yet, she was the one who had made the bed yesterday, and they had been together all the time in between. The only time left... Was last night. An Nuannuan''s little hand gripped the blanket tight. But they were a boy and a girl, and they had been on the bed together... An Nuannuan was a bit flustered as she opened her mouth slightly. At this moment, Xu Musen happened to enter the room and saw An Nuannuan sitting on the bed, lost in thought. He asked curiously, "Nuannuan, what''s wrong?" An Nuannuan turned her head to look at him. She clutched the blanket in her hand tighter, her voice now contained a hint of something previously absent, akin to a tiny hint of jealousy. "Xu Musen, did you... did you do that kind of thing... that can make babies?" Xu Musen: ??? Chapter 166 I will only bully you from now on. (Please subscribe~) "Did you... do the thing that makes babies?"An Nuannuan clutched the quilt, and her words inevitably carried a slight trace of sourness. "???" Xu Musen had a puzzled expression, but seeing An Nuannuan gripping the quilt reminded him of last night''s events. "She indeed came to see me yesterday, but she just talked and left." Xu Musen approached her. He looked at An Nuannuan, who had a little face that seemed like she had just bitten into a sour plum, and he felt an inexplicable sensation in his heart. He smiled and pinched her little face, "Jealous?" "I don''t like vinegar, I like sweet things." An Nuannuan pursed her lips, not sure if she was genuinely clueless or just pretending. Xu Musen: "Then I''ll treat you to milk tea, how about I add extra pearls for you?" "I am the boss here, the milk tea and everything here are already mine..." An Nuannuan said as she looked around the small room. To An Nuannuan, it wasn''t about the milk tea shop; what mattered was the milk tea shop that had Xu Musen, the one that she and Xu Musen ran together. Plus, this bed, which she and Xu Musen had bought together, had not even been tested by her. Yet someone else had slept in it first... An Nuannuan unzipped the quilt cover, preparing to change it. "The new quilt cover was just washed today; let''s wash this one too. My grandma says we should change the quilt cover at least once a week, otherwise there will be dust mites," An Nuannuan remarked. Xu Musen didn''t stop her; after all, the quilt cover did need a wash. And probably, the little girl wanted to wash away not just the mites, but Xu Musen, the "little silver bug" who''d been unfaithful. Watching her busily moving about with her head down, the cotton socks on her feet swayed slightly with her mood. Xu Musen smiled, reached out his hand gently, and lifted her body onto the bed. "Ah..." An Nuannuan suddenly felt her body lift into the air. Then she was placed by Xu Musen in the middle of the bed, and the soft and bouncy mattress made the young girl''s body slightly undulate. Immediately after, Xu Musen began to take off his jacket. "Xu Musen..." An Nuannuan had not yet reacted; although she had never been in a relationship, she had read the biology textbooks. Boys and girls, lying on the same bed, then taking off their clothes to sleep together, would, would make a baby... This was something that she must discuss with grandma and grandpa. But Xu Musen just smiled and said, "The boss was right in her criticism just now. Please allow me to give you a massage as an apology." With that, Xu Musen gently held her little foot clad in the cotton sock, perfectly sized to fit in his palm, and the tiny toes quivered through the sock like pearls. Xu Musen held the girl''s feet but sighed softly. "Remember the first time I massaged your foot at school, it didn''t move at all." Back then, An Nuannuan couldn''t do without a wheelchair, but now she was able to walk slowly with the aid of a crutch. An Nuannuan''s eyes brimmed with memories, and her puffed cheeks slowly relaxed, resembling a little pufferfish finally easing off. "The first time you touched my foot was in KFC." "...Could that even be called touching?" Xu Musen felt a bit off whenever he thought of KFC. "Xu Musen, do you really like... feet and such?" An Nuannuan watched him massage her foot gently, saying it felt comfortable, but she never understood what was so fun about foot massages. Xu Musen paused for a moment, looking at An Nuannuan seriously. "Actually, it''s not that I like it, but because I wanted to see you get better sooner, I just wanted to help however I could." How could I possibly be a pervert with a foot fetish? It''s all for the greater good of humanity! An Nuannuan did not argue with him, she just kept her clear eyes steadily on him. A few seconds later, An Nuannuan spoke, "Actually, if you do like feet, I won''t mind at all, if you like, I can take off my socks too..." An Nuannuan''s face was innocent, but her words sounded like a siren''s whisper. Xu Musen had long found the little cotton socks unpleasant, looking at the pure white legs in front of her sock, her little foot must be even whiter and softer. "Actually, I think, for a massage, it''s better to find the acupoints more accurately if the foot is bare," he said. Xu Musen cleared his throat, ready to act on his words. But An Nuannuan pulled her foot back a little distance. "Pervert..." An Nuannuan''s sudden proclamation left Xu Musen quite embarrassed. "Nuannuan, this is entrapment, you know?" An Nuannuan said nothing, as if a child''s successful prank had finally brought some vindication, her two little feet quivered joyfully. Xu Musen grabbed her little foot, but suddenly tickled the sole of her foot. Now that An Nuannuan had regained her sense of touch, the tickling sensation came through. "Guh..." Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire An Nuannuan seemed to have forgotten how to laugh properly, and suddenly cooed like a little dove, her face flushing slightly. "Dare you not?" Xu Musen increased his strength, tickling the soft sole of the young girl''s foot. In ancient times, there was a form of torture where the criminal''s soles would be coated with honey, and then goats would be brought to lick the soles with their rough tongues, tickling the person to death. The milk tea shop has plenty of honey for making honey pomelo tea, and as for the goat''s tongue... Xu Musen might serve as a substitute! Sar?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 166 Ill Only Bully You in the Future. (Subscribe~)_2 "Musen... my feet... are so ticklish..."An Nuannuan''s pretty face turned all red from being tickled, her large eyes a little aggrieved. Musen let go of his hands, feeling that the words he said were becoming more and more awkward. Looking at the girl who now seemed a bit like she had been ruined, lying sprawled on the bed, Musen smiled and said, "Will you dare to do it again in the future?" An Nuannuan was warm all over at the moment, still short of breath, her eyes red and brimming with tears, looking pitiful. She stared blankly at Musen, eyes shining, being tickled on the sole of her foot as a joke was something she had seen in comic books, which often happened between close girlfriends. But An Nuannuan never had any close girlfriends, not even a single friend. Only her sister was by her side, but her sister was a very sensible child. Despite being very athletic, she always behaved well in front of her. Everyone else around her was like that, always taking care of her feelings, not even mentioning things like "singing and dancing..." around her. But the more it was like this, the more Nuannuan felt her powerlessness, wondering if she was causing trouble for everyone. But only he, only Musen, would play and frolic with her without any reservations. Like why many good girls in middle and high school always end up liking bad boys, it''s not that these boys have anything exceptional. They just provide the girls with the additional emotions that their hearts need from another perspective. While you''re still hesitating whether to give someone a piece of chocolate, someone else has already expressed their love with a bouquet of flowers; that''s the difference. The brave ones get to enjoy the best resources of this world first. People can really be moved by a moment''s impulse and cherish it for a lifetime. Musen was like a ray of light breaking into Nuannuan''s dull life. She just stared at Musen like that, her emotions becoming more intense. "Nuannuan... I was just playing with you just now, you''re not angry, are you?" Musen saw that Nuannuan was continuously staring at him, with her peach blossom eyes a bit watery, as if she had suffered a great deal. If her grandfather saw this, Musen figured he might be the next target for practice instead of the wooden stakes. "Musen, you bullied me..." Nuannuan looked at his expression and pulled the blanket over her cheeks. "Who asked you to entrap me... alright, I apologize." Musen wanted to say something else, but seeing Nuannuan''s expression, he could only laugh and admit his wrong. "Then you have to agree to a condition." Nuannuan''s eyes glistened as she blinked. You''re using this trick too? Musen felt a bit helpless, this style sounded somewhat like Yao Mingyue? But looking at Nuannuan''s current expression, he just shook his head with a smile. "Alright, go ahead." Nuannuan looked at him, blinked her eyes, and wiggled her little feet back and forth. She opened her tender lips, seriously looking at him: "From now on... you can only bully me, not anyone else." Musen: (Subway, elderly, cell phone, JPG.) ??? What sort of logic is this... Are you the weird one yourself? Noticing Musen''s expression, Nuannuan clutched the blanket: "People outside are bad, if you bully others you might get beaten up." "Would you beat me up?" Musen asked, trying to hold back a laugh. "I''ll have my grandfather beat you up." "Alright, alright, I haven''t even gotten married yet, let''s not trouble the old man." Musen immediately shook his head. Explore stories at empire Nuannuan''s lips curled up slightly, looking a bit smug: "Then you promise me." "Okay, I promise you, from now on I''ll only tickle your little feet." Musen raised four fingers solemnly. "Whap!" Nuannuan used a bit of strength to lightly kick her little foot into his arms. "Pervert..." Nuannuan''s voice was soft, like a little girl acting spoiled. In the confined room, Nuannuan''s still uneven breathing seemed to sweeten the air a bit. Musen picked up her little foot again, feeling an emotion that he didn''t want to suppress: "Nuannuan, we''ll have to find partners and get married eventually, and if we''re still just friends, we can''t stay together every day like this." Nuannuan listened, her eyes stirring: "Then you could just not get married." "..." You can''t understand what''s reasonable and what''s not, can you? Sarch* The ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "That won''t do, I''m a healthy man, and I also carry the great responsibility of reviving my family for three generations. If I can''t find a wife, I won''t even be able to enter the ancestral tomb, doomed to be lonely for life..." Musen patted his chest with a thump. Nuannuan looked at him, her clear eyes now flashing with emotion, her voice quiet but her gaze warmer. "I... I won''t let you be alone in the future, never." If the chance of two people meeting in this world and continuing together is only one percent, then I will be your absolute guarantee. Musen felt touched, wanting to say something, but Nuannuan gently pulled her foot back: "Musen, it''s time for class." "Okay." Musen thought, even if they needed to clarify their relationship, they should pick a romantic day. Musen escorted Nuannuan to the classroom. The two of them didn''t talk much along the way, but felt like they had grown a bit closer somehow. Chapter 166 Ill Only Bully You in the Future. (Subscribe~)_3 By the time Xu Musen had left, An Nuannuan watched his retreating figure, and her silly, cute face couldn''t help but turn red again.She took out her phone and dialed a number. "Auntie Xiao, come pick me up in a few days, I have something I want to say to Grandma..." ... On the other end of the call, Auntie Xiao hung up the phone. Although An Nuannuan hadn''t provided any specific information, Auntie Xiao had already keenly sensed that something was amiss. When Nuannuan spoke, she sounded three parts nervous, three parts delighted, and three parts shy, with the last part being like a well-tended cabbage in a greenhouse ready to feed itself to a wild boar. No, it seemed a young man with wild fire in him was about to carry away their little cabbage! Muttering to herself, Auntie Xiao immediately stopped her work and returned to the townhouse villa in the city center. Entering the study, the old lady was sewing clothes that were for Nuannuan and her sister to wear in the fall. "Xiao Xiang, why have you come back?" Grandma looked up at her. "Old Madam Liang, there''s something I want to discuss with you." Auntie Xiao cautiously phrased her words, "That... Nuannuan said she wants to come back for a bit in a few days." "Isn''t it just the beginning of the school term? This girl." Grandma naturally was happy to hear that her granddaughter wanted to come back. She continued to ask, "Is something the matter?" "There''s no big issue, it''s just..." Auntie Xiao paused slightly before saying, "I think what Nuannuan wants to talk about is related to that young man." The old woman''s hands, working on the clothes, paused, and her wise old eyes moved a little, followed by a nod that wasn''t quite a laugh or a sigh, "Ah, a young girl is finally growing up." "Old Madam Liang, do you think we should talk to Nuannuan first or say something?" Auntie Xiao said, being someone who had watched Nuannuan grow up; she naturally took such a significant matter to heart. Although Xu Musen was more than satisfactory in many respects and Nuannuan had already been in contact with him for half a year, even though Musen seemed inclined to make a move. But it was always very proper, and it was also something An Nuannuan had implicitly accepted. An Nuannuan''s quick recovery was also due to his contributions. Furthermore, his entrepreneurship journey over the past six months, including his conduct and ability to handle matters, as well as his patient care for An Nuannuan. Actually, for the elders, money or family background wasn''t important; as long as he was good to Nuannuan, that was enough. "No need, this girl Nuannuan, ever since her mother passed away and she had to lie in bed for so long because of her leg injury, hasn''t had someone to confide in for all these years. It''s hard-won that she has finally found someone she''s willing to be close to. Let''s just come back and listen to what the girl herself has to say." The old lady spoke slowly. Auntie Xiao nodded, "I understand." With that, she turned and left. The old lady, however, no longer felt like continuing her knitting. In the past, when she knitted clothes for the two young girls, she felt that she could finish a piece in just a few days, perhaps because she was younger. Now, it took her half a month to finish one. She looked at her hands, now full of calluses, realizing she really was old. The clothes she made for the children got bigger and bigger, and they were growing up little by little too. In her heart, the old lady didn''t want the children to be exposed to certain things so quickly. But how many more years could they accompany them? Especially in the case of An Nuannuan, her life over the past years had been almost a blank slate regarding the exciting world outside. The family could provide her with the best conditions but not a more colorful and enriched life. Well, children were meant to grow up eventually. Occasionally, they needed to experience the rain outside so they could truly mature. As she thought this, she too picked up the phone beside her and dialed a number. Find adventures at empire "Mom..." On the other end, a voice emerged with a slightly weathered male tone. The old lady sighed softly, "You, after all these years, are always busy outside and seldom come home. These next few days, you should come back for a visit." "Mom, I still have some matters to attend to here. Once they are settled, I''ll be able to return... How are Nuannuan and her sister doing?" "They''re quite fine. Don''t bother coming back; it''s not a big deal that Nuannuan might find a boyfriend anyway." "Wha, what?" On the other end, the man''s voice abruptly changed. "Mom, you''re not joking, right? How old is Nuannuan? How can she..." "When you and Nuannuan''s mother were expecting her, you were only a year or two older than Nuannuan is now." sea??h th novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "That''s not the same, children nowadays... Mom, I''ll come back in the next couple of days!" The old lady hung up the phone. She smiled a little too; after all these years, her son had finally come across something that could make him drop his work. It seemed that this young man called Xu Musen might truly change their lives. Chapter 167 The Moonlight is Beautiful, the Milk Tea is Sweet. "An advertising slogan? That''s my forte, watch this.""Sip on Auntie Shanghai''s, taste the wealthy lady''s flavor!" "I know exactly what Auntie tastes like! Silk stocking milk tea is genuinely exquisite!" Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong were shouting at the top of their lungs. The decoration of the Fudan milk tea branch was complete. The grand opening was just around the corner. Xu Musen called these "core members" of the company to come up with catchy advertising slogans for the opening day to attract customers. But when these two guys presented their slogans, the whole store went dead silent. "So the banner is saying that we''re destined to close, right?" Xu Musen''s mouth twitched as he delivered a punch to each of the two men. Are these the kind of slogans any sane person could come up with? Even if you put this on some minor website, it would have to be under some perverted category. "I knew I couldn''t count on you two. Lianmai, do you have any good suggestions?" Xu Musen asked Zhao Lianmai. Zhao Lianmai thought for a moment, "I think we need to highlight the selling point and give consumers a reason to buy with confidence." Zhao Lianmai took out a pen and paper and wrote down an advertising slogan. "Auntie Shanghai, no overnight fruit for sale." Xu Musen nodded approvingly, "Not bad." This reminded him of a pork chain store in his past life called a certain Dame''s. It rapidly won over customers with that advertising slogan and opened many stores nationwide. However, this made Xu Musen suddenly think of another brand that became China''s richest by relying on a single advertising slogan. We don''t produce water; we''re simply nature''s porter. This slogan could be said to be one of the most successful cases in the market over the past several decades. Xu Musen''s eyes lit up, he grabbed a computer to check, but unfortunately, this slogan had already appeared in 2008. It was not yet widely known, and a large-scale promotional campaign had not yet taken place. Xu Musen felt it was okay to use it. The advertising laws and such were not very established yet, and this sort of thing was hard to assess after changing the phrasing a bit. Plus, riding on the popularity of that company, Xu Musen didn''t have any qualms. Straight away, Xu Musen jotted down, "We don''t produce fruit; we''re simply the porters of natural fruit." A few people gathered around and their eyes brightened. "Wow, this slogan is brilliant; I remembered it in an instant!" "Awesome, just from this line, I feel like the fruit from this place must be the freshest!" Looking at the slogan, everyone praised it. Xu Musen chuckled, "Now we have an advertising slogan, but we still need a gimmick for the grand opening." Saying this, Xu Musen wrote down a few more lines. "The first cup of milk tea in late autumn, half price for the second cup for couples, a gift for your dearest ta." "The moonlight tonight is beautiful, this cup of milk tea is sweet, a cup of milk tea to express your feelings." Looking at the last sentence, some of the boys were a bit puzzled. "Musen, I''m kinda not getting this last one." "This was said by the Japanese writer Natsume Soseki. When men and women walk under the moonlight and confess their feelings, it''s more subtle and romantic. ''The moonlight tonight is beautiful'' represents a kind of implicit confession." Zhao Lianmai spoke in a faint voice. Xu Musen didn''t expect that Zhao Lianmai, the singleton, was quite researched in this area. "I''ve read his books," Zhao Lianmai explained briefly. Xu Musen said with a smile, "The main force buying milk tea in the school are couples. We have to tie milk tea to romance. Think about it, many people are too shy to confess directly, but a lot of them would use ''the moonlight tonight is beautiful'' to express their feelings. But right now, this line still requires some courage to say. If we can also give this meaning to our milk tea, it''ll be more subtle than saying ''the moonlight tonight is beautiful'' and also more acceptable. Even if someone gets rejected, it won''t be too embarrassing." Xu Musen shared his idea. The group was visibly impressed. "Damn, you''re a genius, Musen." "Boss Xu, spill the beans. Were you often rejected when confessing in the past, and is that why you''ve come up with so many clever ideas?" Zhou Hangyu asked excitedly. Xu Musen''s mouth twitched, not going to lie, he studied all sorts of tricks while chasing Yao Mingyue back then. An Nuannuan, who was sipping on her milk tea, shifted her gaze thoughtfully. The moonlight tonight is beautiful... so it has that meaning. Stay connected through empire Sarch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... Fudan Campus. Xu Musen arrived at Zhu Yulan''s shop, enjoying his tea. Watching the streets crowded with university students, three layers inside and three layers outside. Even before the shop opened, Xu Musen had already started hyping it up on forums and offline. Moreover, the new shop was very likely the talked-about Auntie Shanghai''s branch from the recent controversy. People''s appetite was truly whetted. Zhu Yulan, seeing so many people there to join the excitement, clicked her tongue sourly, "These people really have time on their hands; it''s just a cup of milk tea, and yet they''re queuing..." "Boss Zhu, this is also good for you. I surely won''t be managing the Fudan Campus as conveniently as you, so I''ll only be in charge of the financial management of the shop. I am entrusting all the staffing issues to you. Isn''t this amassing a huge database of people willing to work part-time for you?" Xu Musen said as though he were truly considering the other party''s interests. The students willing to work part-time in the milk tea shop and the Kangaroo delivery service generally come from families that are a bit hard pressed financially. During winter and summer vacations, these people also choose to take on holiday jobs. By then, Xu Musen and Zhu Yulan could transform into labor dispatch intermediaries. Don''t underestimate university labor dispatch. If you can land a big contract for the university''s summer jobs and arrange for students to work on the assembly lines in various factories, just the referral fees can net you four to five thousand per person. Chapter 167 The Moonlight is Beautiful, the Milk Tea is Sweet. _2 ```Getting hundreds or thousands of customers through the door. In just one summer, you could easily rake in millions. If we could take over all the nearby colleges, including some community colleges, it''s possible to earn tens of millions in pure profit over a single summer. Zhu Yulan''s family isn''t short on money, but she still wants to prove herself. She''s set a small goal for herself. To earn 10 million on her own. Musen had already discussed these development directions with her. Indeed, it was a feasible plan. However, she glanced at Musen and chuckled, "It seems to me you just want me to work for you for free. Leave all the hard and tiresome management to me while you just count the money, right?" "How could you say such a thing, Boss Zhu? In the future, you''ll be a strong woman managing big enterprises. Isn''t this just giving you a chance to practice in advance?" Musen said with a cheerful grin. "King of pits!" Zhu Yulan gave him a rather grumpy nickname. But the two of them were indeed in a win-win situation, so for now, she decided to accept it. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was about to start. Musen didn''t ask Nuannuan and the others to come. With the new shop opening, the headquarters also needed to launch some joint promotions to maximize traffic. He arranged for them to start activities at the same time at Hu Hai University. During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Musen and Zhu Yulan went on stage together. As the sound of firecrackers burst forth, the red cloth that had been covering the signboard finally fell. [Auntie of Hu Hai] The moment these four characters appeared, the surrounding crowd watching burst into cheers of surprise. "It really is that milk tea shop! I''ve been envious of the one next to Hu Hai University for so long, and they''ve finally opened a branch!" "Damn, the last two milk tea shops were such rip-offs. I wonder if Auntie of Hu Hai will follow suit and start cutting corners too." "Definitely not, my friend works part-time at the milk tea shop at Hu Hai University. She told me their back kitchen cleans toilets so sparkling white they''re whiter than the bowls you eat from!" "Go away, go away, I''m waiting for my milk tea here. Stop talking about such disgusting topics..." Musen watched the crowd''s reaction and felt even more confident. He picked up the megaphone. "Dear students, today is the grand opening of our Auntie of Hu Hai milk tea shop''s first branch. I believe many of you have heard about us before. For today''s grand opening, our signature fruit milk tea, not for ten yuan or even nine, just one yuan ninety!" sea??h th ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Musen''s voice travelled through the megaphone as if he was asking, "Isn''t that awesome?" "Wow, a cup of that tea for one ninety? Even buying a bottle of mineral water costs two yuan now. Surely it''s not a combination of technology and hard labor?" "One ninety for a cup of milk tea, what more do you want, a bike? Even if it''s just pure saccharin it''s worthwhile." The mood of the crowd was ignited. Musen then had someone pull off the red cloth covering the fruit display cabinet and reveal various promotional titles. The most eye-catching was the phrase, "We don''t produce fruit; we are just nature''s fruit carriers." "The moon is so beautiful tonight, and this milk tea is so sweet..." This slogan must be admitted as pretty cool. Zhu Yulan murmured a few times as she read over those advertised phrases, "Indeed, this sly guy always keeps the best for himself..." The shop opened smoothly. It was unexpectedly bustling. The four or five part-timers in the shop were working so hard they almost had afterimages on their hands. Many guys also queued up to buy milk tea, hoping to give it to the girl they liked and see if she would accept this cup of milk tea. Musen returned to Zhu Yulan''s store, looking at the endless queue outside the milk tea shop, and he couldn''t help but beam with joy. Zhu Yulan also looked through the glass window towards the street and shook her head: "People nowadays are so bored, a cup of milk tea can represent love." Musen replied, "You''re not thinking about it the right way. Diamonds are essentially just carbon, and besides cutting glass, they have little practical value. Yet aren''t they still the emblem of love for centuries? The sentiment behind it is priceless." "Just keep spouting nonsense. People nowadays are just bored, with nothing but love on their minds all day long." Zhu Yulan spoke with the air of someone with grand ambitions, feeling like youthful romantic entanglements would only hinder her from making her mark in the world. Musen glanced at her. Zhu Yulan was actually very attractive, scoring easily an eight or nine out of ten. As for Ming Yue and Nuannuan''s perfect ten, it was naturally because they both held a full score in Musen''s heart, past and present. Her figure was tall and slender, and she had a remarkable presence, though she was slightly too thin, which was the only slightly flawed aspect. But she''s a wealthy woman who drives a Ferrari every day. What''s the big deal with being slightly thin? It doesn''t affect the acceleration, right. "If young people don''t think about falling in love, it''s simply a disservice to their surging hormones. Haven''t you ever had a crush on any guy, classmate Zhu?" Musen bantered with a smile. Zhu Yulan crossed her arms and huffed before replying, "My goal is to become a successful woman like Dong Mingzhu, independent and strong, with great achievements. I look down on those boys whose heads are filled with nothing but love." Putting other things aside, Miss Dong who built a hundred billion enterprise on her own is definitely a powerful woman worthy of admiration. It''s normal that she''s idolized by many women. Musen, too, had great respect for entrepreneurial giants like Lei Busi and Gou Dong who started from scratch. Enjoy exclusive content from empire "Alright, I''ll be waiting for Boss Zhu to make it big in business one day, then find me a job closest to your office. The salary doesn''t matter; what''s important is learning from your entrepreneurial experience." ``` Chapter 167 The Moonlight is Beautiful, the Milk Tea is Sweet. _3 Musen laughed as he said that.Yu Lan was a bit confused, but she always felt this guy was up to no good. "Fine, I''ll arrange for you to have a job scrubbing toilets in the future." Yu Lan gave him a white look. Musen set down his teacup, "But I really should thank you for your help. Once the new store is stable, how about we have a meal together to show my appreciation?" Yu Lan looked at him suspiciously, "What''s your ulterior motive?" She really was afraid of being duped again. "It''s just purely to thank you and to connect on a more personal level." "I have no ''personal level'' to speak of with you stinky men, Mr. Pitfall" Yu Lan said irritably. Musen smiled, "Are you saying you prefer women then?" Yu Lan lifted her delicate neck proudly. "That would still be much better than you stinky guys." Read exclusive adventures at empire Just as she uttered these words, Yang Xiaotao happened to walk in with some documents. The moment she stepped into the room and heard their conversation, her plump little face became slightly wary. Is her boss really a lesbian? Yu Lan''s face flushed slightly and she glared at Yang Xiaotao, "What''s with that look? Hurry up and bring the stuff here." "Oh." Yang Xiaotao handed over the items. Musen then prepared to take his leave. Shortly after, Musen returned holding two cups of milk tea, handing one to each of them. "This is today''s special new item. You both worked hard today, so I''ll take my leave now." After saying that, Musen turned and left. Yang Xiaotao happily took a sip of her milk tea, then looked at the cup in front of Yu Lan and suddenly exclaimed. "Wow, your cup is today''s commemorative new product, ''The moon is beautiful''..." Yang Xiaotao read aloud, noticing the slogan sticker on Yu Lan''s milk tea cup. Yang Xiaotao''s expression suddenly took on a meaningful air. "What''s with that look?" Yu Lan asked, also taking a sip through the straw. "Zhu Sister, do you know what this milk tea signifies?" "Don''t beat around the bush." "This is specially prepared for couples to confess their love today. ''The moon is beautiful'' is a metaphor for a confession. By accepting his milk tea, it''s like you''re..." Yang Xiaotao rambled on, her chubby face full of gossip, and even pulled up the meaning of ''The moon is beautiful'' on her phone to show her. Yu Lan was momentarily stunned. She had no interest in all that romance stuff, so naturally, she didn''t grasp the metaphor. But looking at Yang Xiaotao''s phone, her face turned a shade rosier. No wonder so many guys were queuing up to buy milk tea for girls today; there was a reason for it. She almost spit out the milk tea in her mouth. "Pah! What a mess! He can kiss that idea goodbye!" Yu Lan was a bit flustered as she hurriedly pushed the cup of milk tea aside. Anyone who falls for this Pitfall King must have a screw loose! Yang Xiaotao''s eyes flickered, but seeing how her boss''s face turned red, she couldn''t help but say, "Zhu Sister, I read in a book that when a girl really isn''t interested in a guy, she''s politely indifferent, but the more intense her reaction is, the more it means she actually cares..." "Yang Xiaotao!" Yu Lan went up to her and pinched her plump cheek, then slapped her equally plump behind. "Waaa, Zhu Sister, don''t get angry..." "Keep talking, and I''ll smack you to death!" After a while, Yu Lan grew tired of hitting her and sat in a chair, while Yang Xiaotao sat on the side pouting, covering her butt. Feeling quite thirsty, Yu Lan subconsciously looked at the milk tea in front of her. The moon is beautiful "Zhu Sister, are you still going to drink this cup?" Yang Xiaotao typically had a short memory. She was now leaning in to look at the milk tea next to her hand. Yu Lan steadied her breathing. Indeed, why be so concerned if she didn''t like him? To be concerned was simply because she wanted revenge for being duped! "Drink it! Why wouldn''t I? I deserve it." Yu Lan took a sip, finding it quite sweet. She decided to go to his store daily to freeload food and drinks, recouping whatever she could. Thinking this way, Yu Lan felt like she had finally managed to play him for once. This thought dispelled all her gloom from earlier. Meanwhile, Yang Xiaotao stood to one side, watching her boss grow happy from just a sip of milk tea. She sighed to herself; her boss usually spends thousands on tea cakes. Yet now, she was this happy over a milk tea that only costs a few bucks. Keep freeload, she thought, sooner or later, you''ll be charmed by it... Sar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 168 The Proprietress Offers a Limited Edition with Childhood Sweetheart. Downtown.Several Maybachs parked at the entrance of a detached villa. In front, there was a stretched Lincoln. Five or six bodyguards in suits and sunglasses got out of the cars, opened the front door, and a middle-aged man with a cane stepped out. The man was clad in a tailored, vintage suit and had a slightly lean figure. As he walked, it was apparent he had a limp. Enjoy new stories from empire Yet his presence was so commanding it felt difficult to breathe. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You all go back first," he said. The man''s voice had a slightly more aged rasp to it than his actual years. "Yes," came the chorus of replies. The guards, after responding, got back into their cars and left. Only one bodyguard remained in the car, waiting. The man gazed at the detached villa in front of him. His eyes glazed over with memories of years past flooding into his mind, and at last, he sighed and entered. Walking into the house, The elderly lady continued to knit. "Mother, I''m back," said An Shanhai, his voice slightly hoarse. It had been a year or two since his last visit. The old lady put down her knitting, looking at her son. It had been so long, and though he was only fifty, he looked older than his peers. She had wanted to scold him, but all her reproaches turned into a sigh. "Sit down and have some water." An Shanhai nodded, went to the table beside his mother, and poured two cups of hot tea, watching the knitting in his aged mother''s hands. She was advanced in years; when she was young, needlework was an essential skill for any well-brought-up lady. In her youth, she was renowned for her knitting and embroidery skills. But now, her years weighed on her, and knitting seemed an effortful task. "Mother, you can just get clothes tailored now; don''t strain yourself," he said. "All I can do now is make some clothes, which Nuannuan and Xiao Xiang can still wear. Maybe in a few years, I won''t have the chance anymore," she replied. An Shanhai fell silent for a moment, "Mother, I''ve just been busy these past few years. In a little while..." "In a little while, Nuannuan might be getting married, and Xiao Xiang might hardly recognize you. No matter how busy you are, you only have these two daughters." Her words left An Shanhai in silence. His face, weathered beyond his years, was marked by guilt and a deep-seated sorrow he couldn''t quite let go. The old lady put down her knitting and began, "I know that ever since Nuannuan''s mother passed away, you''ve been blaming yourself for not being able to save her. Afraid that your daughters would hate or resent you, you''ve thrown yourself into your business. But children will eventually grow up, and you will always be their father." An Shanhai nodded quietly, then brought up another matter, "Mother, you mentioned, Nuannuan, something about a boyfriend. What''s going on?" The old lady briefly filled him in on recent events. Though he was rarely home, he constantly worried and felt guilty about his daughters, unsure of how to face them. But after all, they were his own flesh and blood, the last remnants of his spirit tied to his wife. When An Shanhai learned that Nuannuan was considering romance, he dropped everything and hurried back from abroad. He was afraid his daughter might fall for some bad guy. "This boy is the same one, six years ago, before Nuannuan''s surgery, who sent her a cake. She''s remembered him up to this day. She''s wanted to transfer to Fourth Middle School for two years now; looking back, it was probably to be closer to him." "That won''t do. Nuannuan, this girl doesn''t understand that gratitude isn''t the same as romantic feelings," An Shanhai frowned. The old lady shook her head, "Now I''m afraid it''s no longer just gratitude, the two children have been together for half a year. Kids their age develop feelings easily, and besides, Nuannuan said a few days ago that she wanted to come home to talk to us about something. It''s probably about this." "How could this be okay? Nuannuan has almost never been in contact with boys. She doesn''t have the discernment yet. What if she''s deceived?" An Shanhai spoke with growing unrest, "I could talk to the boy..." "What are you planning to say? Threaten them to break up or give the boy money to leave?" An Shanhai was taken aback; for a moment, he had indeed considered such ideas. Composedly, the old lady said, "I''ve met this boy a few times already. His character is quite good, and he genuinely cares for Nuannuan. And when they first met, he didn''t even know about our family''s situation. Xiao Xiang told me that at first, this boy even thought Nuannuan was poor and offered her fifty yuan to help him with a drawing." As she spoke, a knowing smile touched the old woman''s weathered face. An Shanhai, caught off guard, thought about it, fifty yuan. Nuannuan was quite talented in drawing; her childhood artwork had won many awards, with even a simple piece easily bringing in six figures. In truth, fifty yuan couldn''t even cover the cost of the drawing paper and pigments. "Even so, Nuannuan has just started university. Isn''t it too early? What if she''s made a mistake?" "It is a bit early, but as a girl grows up, she''ll have her own ideas." Looking at her son, the grandmother finally spoke with a rebuking tone, "As a father, how many times a year do you visit them? Even if Nuannuan has chosen the wrong person, it wouldn''t be her fault but yours. After all these years, we finally have someone Nuannuan is close to. It''s not wrong for her to like someone, but it''s our duty, especially yours, to help her choose the right person." The grandmother''s words calmed An Shanhai, who had been on the verge of losing his temper. Chapter 168 The Proprietress Offers a Limited Edition with Childhood Sweetheart. _2 Yes, after all these years, it was himself who let down Nuannuan and Nannan.Even if his daughter had misjudged someone, it was because he hadn''t set a good example for her in the past. He took a sip of water. "Mother, I still want to go and see for myself." This time, the old lady didn''t say much and nodded, "Nuannuan and he have opened a milk tea shop at Hu Hai University, and they even opened a branch today. You can go and take a look. When Nuannuan is with him, she does seem much happier." "Nuannuan started the business with him?" An Shanhai was momentarily stunned. The grandma smiled, "To be precise, the young man gave half of the shares of the milk tea shop to Nuannuan as a way to repay me for an investment I made in him before." Listening, An Shanhai finally nodded, "I understand." ... At this moment, inside Hu Hai University, the joint event was progressing vigorously. Xu Musen returned to the store and joined the workforce along with An Nuannuan. Your adventure continues at empire An Nuannuan, as the lady boss and mascot. Actually, she was just responsible for collecting payment and handing over milk teas. When she heard the crisp sound of money being dropped into the little rabbit coin bank, She would also happily kick up her little feet under the wheelchair and say in a soft and cute way, "Thank you for your patronage~" This made many girls come into the store every day just to hear that phrase. They felt healed. Even in the afternoon, there were still many people in line. "Oh my god, I''m so tired, my arms are about to give out," Zhou Hangyu slumped into the chair. He had made two to three hundred cups of lemon water alone throughout the day. "You''re exaggerating. I think it''s okay," Li Rundong flexed his arms a bit. "You''re used to it since you work out your ''Qilin Arm'' in the dorm every day." "Screw you, you''re the one who goes automatic every day..." The two of them bantered as usual, and Xu Musen smiled and said, "There''ll only be this many people for today''s event. I''ll take you guys for a massage this weekend to relax." "Really, Godfather?" "Damn! With those words, I can rest assuredlet''s do it!" The two of them seemed to be instantly revitalized. Indeed, attractiveness is the primary productive force. However, Xu Musen could somewhat feel a slight and distant gaze coming from the side. When Xu Musen turned around, he met An Nuannuan''s clear, large eyesthat gaze was just like the first time she saw the VIP card from Red Romance fall out of his pocket. "Seriously, it''s just a massage spa. You and Lianmai can go, too," Xu Musen explained with a cough. "No need, I appreciate the thought," Zhao Lianmai directly declined, feeling that such places always seem slightly disreputable. An Nuannuan blinked and gently tugged at Xu Musen''s sleeve, whispering, "You don''t have to go to those places, we can just massage each other..." "??!" Xu Musen hurriedly covered her mouth, thankful that Nuannuan spoke softly as her words might have tarnished his reputation if overheard. What kind of eyebrow-raising words were these? "Don''t talk nonsense," Xu Musen leaned over and whispered in her ear. An Nuannuan''s eyes were clear, as if completely unaware of the issue with what she had said. She looked at Xu Musen and pouted, "Don''t you want to massage each other anymore?" "It''s not that. Just don''t be so abbreviated in your speech from now on, alright?" "Oh..." "Don''t worry, Boss Lady, we''ll keep an eye on him for you and report back immediately if anything comes up!" "Exactly, Musen, you should just forget about going. Give us a few VIP cards, and we''ll enjoy on your behalf. You just focus on spending quality time with the Boss Lady." Zhou Hangyu and the others couldn''t hear what those two were saying, but from their actions, They made their own assumptions. After all, aside from not being officially announced, An Nuannuan and Xu Musen were no different from a couple. Naturally, a girlfriend wouldn''t want her boyfriend going to those kinds of massage places, even if they are legitimate. It''s like a girl going to a bar stating she''s just there to drink, but could you really be at ease? The group was teasing one another. Hearing them shout "Boss Lady" one by one, An Nuannuan''s lips curved into a joyous smile. "Off you go! Get busy working," Xu Musen kicked each of them. The store was bustling, with casual chatting and workingeven though it was exhausting, everyone was happy. At that moment, on the street opposite the milk tea store, Sar?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. An Shanhai had already been there awhile. He wore a long black coat, a gentleman''s hat, and sunglasses, with a plainclothes bodyguard standing beside him. He was silently observing the scene. Not having seen his daughter in a year, An Nuannuan now appeared healthier and more spirited, both physically and in demeanor. He remembered that ever since Nuannuan had been hospitalized, she would just stare blankly by herself every day, only showing some interest when drawing. But she had almost always stayed alone in her room. The shadows of the past had left her with deep psychological scars. But now, An Nuannuan was among a group of people, as if she finally had her own circle of friends. He couldn''t remember the last time he had seen such a sincerely delighted smile on his daughter''s face. Especially with that young man. He had just covered Nuannuan''s mouth a moment ago; such an intimate gesture clearly meant that it wasn''t their first time doing this sort of thing. He still didn''t know if the kid had done anything elseif he dared to bully Nuannuan... As her father, he almost twisted his walking stick in his hands with tension. However, seeing the knowing smile of An Nuannuan at this moment, saying thanks to every person who bought a milk tea, That cheerfulness and delight were truly what his quiet and bright little Nuannuan used to have. Chapter 168 The Proprietress Offers a Limited Edition with Childhood Sweetheart. _3 He sighed softly at last.He glanced at the milk tea shop called "Shanghai Auntie." "We don''t produce fruit; we''re just the porters of natural fruits." "No sale of overnight fruits, freshness you can see." "The first milk tea of late autumn..." Each and every one of these advertising slogans hit the pain point. An Shanhai watched and, although he wasn''t very familiar with this industry, he could tell from the size of the queue and these few slogans, including the integration with the delivery service, that this young man named Xu Musen had some abilities. Especially since he started from scratch, it wasn''t easy to come this far in such a short time. Even though his family had invested a little money in this young man''s venture, the young man had directly split half of the shares of his newly established brand and given them to Nuannuan. This act, in the dog-eat-dog business world, was quite commendable and rare. "Go buy me some milk tea to take back," he suddenly said. The bodyguard froze for a moment. Milk tea, something that even some white-collar elites were reluctant to drink, let alone a famous entrepreneur like An Shanhai. Nevertheless, he didn''t say much and immediately went over. After a while in line, the bodyguard returned with several cups of milk tea. "Mr. An, your milk tea," he said. An Shanhai nodded and took a cup. His gaze, however, turned towards Nuannuan. At that moment, An Nuannuan, with the money she got in hand, was happily stuffing the cash back into the piggy bank. An Shanhai watched this scene. In fact, he deposited a sum of money in the cards of Nuannuan and Nannan every year. By now, the numbers in the cards were enough for them to live a life of luxury for several generations. But, An Shanhai felt that no matter how much money he saved for her, it couldn''t compare to the happiness she got from tossing a coin into her piggy bank at this moment. Perhaps, this was the meaning of struggle, earning money was for the people you care about. An Shanhai felt a bit sour in his heart. His own silly little cabbage. He took a sip of the milk tea. The taste was pretty good. He watched his daughter''s warm and happy expression at this moment. He silently sighed. And left. ... Afternoon came. Everyone was quite tired, but thankfully there weren''t many people left in line. "Today''s sales definitely broke ten thousand! I didn''t expect it to be so popular today," they couldn''t help but exclaim while looking at the bills. If this momentum continues, one store could bring in two or three hundred thousand a month, and with two stores, that''s five or six hundred thousand. Plus the delivery business, well, one could become a millionaire in a month. Find exclusive stories on empire "Bro Musen, let''s not forget each other once we''re rolling in riches," someone said. "Today is like making a loss for the sake of popularity. After the costs, there''s not much left, but don''t worry, you won''t lose out if you work hard in the future," Musen said. Xu Musen himself hadn''t expected business to be so good today. It seems that indeed one has to create stunts and focus on marketing. At this rate, making a million this month might be unrealistic, but buying a car of his own shouldn''t be a problem. With a car, many things would become easier. Just as everyone was fantasizing about the future, a voice rang out. "Hello, I''d like a cup of milk tea," it said. "Sure thing, would you like the grand opening limited edition or the late autumn confession commemorative edition..." Zhou Hangyu began reflexively. But the moment he turned around, he was startled, his words abruptly stopping, and the rod he was using to pound the lemonade nearly slipped out of his hand. Everyone''s gaze followed suit, and upon seeing the person in front, they all paused in surprise. At the entrance of the milk tea shop. A tall and elegant young woman stood before them. Yao Mingyue stood with her arms crossed over her chest, her long hair naturally cascading down, her phoenix eyes settling on Xu Musen and An Nuannuan. Especially on Xu Musen''s left lip... Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She smiled a little, radiant before everyone''s eyes. "May I ask, boss, do you have a ''childhood sweetheart'' limited edition?" she asked. Everyone''s eyes were shifting back and forth between the three of them. She wasn''t here to buy milk tea. It was quite clear that two huge jars of jealousy had arrived to vie for favor... Chapter 169 Has Friendship Soured or the Fawning Dog Returns? Childhood Sweetheart Limited Edition. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.Yao Mingyue stood at the entrance of the shop, her gaze lingering with profound meaning. The title of "madam" might change in the future, But a childhood sweetheart is truly one of a kind. With a smile on her face, Yao Mingyue extended a finger, seemingly unintentionally placing it beside her lips, her exquisite beauty undoubtedly the object of longing in the adolescence of many boys. Her smile was sweet, yet there seemed to waft a faint scent of gunpowder in the air. Only Xu Musen knew what that gesture meant. "Now that we''re out of every special, would you like some pearl milk tea?" Xu Musen said. "Anything is fine, as long as it''s made by you personally, it would be the best kind for me." Yao Mingyue ignored everyone''s stares, her arms resting on the counter, cradling her delicate cheeks, her flawless skin still bright and clear without any makeup, not a single blemish. Only her lips seemed to be glossed with lip balm, looking especially rosy and soft, like a ripe peach, inviting and luscious. She gazed at Xu Musen from up close, as if inviting him to taste her allure. The corners of her eyes seemed to sparkle; there was no denying that Yao Mingyue was beautiful, especially with such a flirtatious air, with an animated yet slightly domineering charm, hard to resist. That was also what had enamored Xu Musen in the past. The bystanders, though firmly in An Nuannuan''s camp, found it very difficult to utter a word of rejection at this moment. They couldn''t deny that the full-on assault of this wealthy and beautiful girl was hard to withstand. Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong felt this the most acutely. Damn, they suddenly felt that if Xu Musen really couldn''t resist the temptation to play both sides in the future, it would be somewhat understandable. After all, who could resist such alluring advances? Xu Musen gazed at her, but in the end, his eyes turned to An Nuannuan. Then he suddenly asked with a smile, "Madam, do we take this order or not?" An Nuannuan had been a bit distracted. There was a lot she didn''t understand, but she knew one thing: that the person in front of her was trying to take someone very important away from her. Someone who had taken advantage of the right time and place and who had occupied his entire youth, Xu Musen''s once-favorite. Nuannuan wasn''t afraid of her, only worried that Xu Musen might look back... But at that moment, Xu Musen asked her with a gentle smile, as if he was handing her the initiative. Nuannuan clenched her small fists silently, her cute face lifting up. Her soft peach-blossom eyes met his sly phoenix eyes. A faint scent of gunpowder seemed to diffuse through the space. The onlookers exchanged puzzled glances, understanding this was a direct confrontation. If it were them, they definitely wouldn''t be willing to make milk tea for a rival in love. "Of course, we can. Selling one more cup of milk tea means earning a bit more money," Nuannuan''s response surprised everyone. She lifted her head; her clear eyes held no other emotion, but she seemed to emphasize the word "we" a little more. The smile on Yao Mingyue''s face remained unchanged, but a shadow flickered within her eyes. We... it used to be just me and him... "Alright." Xu Musen hadn''t expected Nuannuan to respond so directly, thinking that if she and Yao Mingyue were to switch roles, she probably would want to chop up the other person and make them into milk tea. Xu Musen prepared a cup of milk tea for Yao Mingyue, and although he claimed to be casual, he instinctively matched the sweetness to Yao Mingyue''s taste. "Here''s your milk tea." Xu Musen handed the milk tea to her. Yao Mingyue took it and drank a sip right away, the sweetness exactly to her liking. "Sure enough, you still remember my favorite level of sweetness. Thank you, my Brother Musen~" Yao Mingyue''s smile brightened, emphasizing "my" particularly clearly. As if to counterattack. Everyone inevitably turned their gazes back to An Nuannuan. But Nuannuan appeared unruffled, just silently lifting her eyes to Xu Musen, her gaze clear. "Actually, Musen has always been very attentive to remembering what others like to eat. It''s just that some people take it for granted and overlook it." Her voice carried no anger, only a hint of compassion for Xu Musen. That response was a knockout blow. Experience new stories on empire Xu Musen felt a shiver in his heart, though it was all a thing of the past and each had been willinghim being taunted as a lickspittle was common. But hearing someone finally stand in that position to think for him sent a tremor through his heart. That answer silenced Yao Mingyue. The milk tea in her mouth was sweet, but a hint of sourness rose in her heart, and she felt somewhat at a loss for words. She looked at Xu Musen. Yes, Xu Musen had always been good to her. It was her own capriciousness and greed that had led to the current situation. She composed herself, stroked the tea cup, and her gaze became resolute again: "So, I''ll slowly give back everything from the past, bit by bit." The milk tea shop became eerily quiet. Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong looked at each other. They suddenly realized that sailing two boats, especially those of wealthy women, was not easy. With this dialogue and atmosphere, they probably would have knelt on the spot if it were them. Chapter 169 Has Friendship Soured or the Fawning Dog Returns?_2 They were also wondering, had the friendship gone sour, or was the lovelorn finally turning back?Zhao Lianmai''s gaze flickered; as an observer who had never fallen in love, she saw things most clearly. Now, although Yao Mingyue was aggressive in her approach, Nuannuan consistently struck the most crucial points with just a sentence or two. This situation maintained a strange balance, but it seemed that the scales might have already started tipping to one side. Xu Musen glanced at An Nuannuan, then at Yao Mingyue. At that moment, the pride and willfulness that used to characterize Yao Mingyue were absent from her eyes, which were so fervent that Xu Musen felt a stir in his heart. She held her milk tea, her gaze sweeping over the few people standing opposite her, including Xu Musen and An Nuannuan. At this moment, Yao Mingyue seemed as if she were standing against the whole world. Yet at that instant, she also seemed to suddenly sense... Sear?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Was it possible that in those past moments, Xu Musen had also faced the scornful eyes of everyone else, but still chose to like her all the same? Clutching her milk tea, she looked at Xu Musen and did not continue to refute anything on her behalf. "Musen, my mom wants to take us out to eat in the next couple of days, do you have time?" she asked. Without any hesitation, Xu Musen nodded: "Sure." "Okay." Yao Mingyue gave him another look, a slight smile returning to her face, then she turned and took a few steps before suddenly turning back. "Dingdong..." She took out several coins and dropped them all into the rabbit-shaped piggy bank. "Here''s the money for my milk tea. From now on, I''ll give you everything that''s meant for you, and I won''t lose to anyone," she said. Yao Mingyue bit her straw, smiled radiantly at Xu Musen, and then turned and left. The milk tea shop was silent for a while. Everyone watched Yao Mingyue''s retreating figure, reminiscent of the final scene in ''A Chinese Odyssey'' when the Monkey King walks away. The sun was slowly setting on the horizon, its gentle rays providing some solace to the crowd that had grown weary from the day''s events. In a mutual understanding, everyone decided not to continue the topic but instead talked about where to go to have a good time over the weekend. "We''re going to head back and get some rest," said Zhou Hangyu as the three of them prepared to leave. Xu Musen decided to close the shop for the day since all the prepared ingredients were used up, and it was time for a little rest. Inside the shop, Xu Musen was cleaning, while An Nuannuan was tidying up the accounts. After finishing cleaning, Xu Musen saw Nuannuan listlessly lying on a chair by the window, staring at the sunset outside. Her cheeks were pressed against the table. Xu Musen had taken good care of her recently, and her face looked a little plump, like a white rice cake lying on the table. Xu Musen walked over and lay down on the table alongside her. "What are you thinking about?" he asked. "Xu Musen, do you think I was... a bit too harsh today?" Nuannuan suddenly asked, as if somewhat unsure in her query. Xu Musen was slightly startled, then couldn''t help but say, "Harsh? I thought you were going to be jealous and not give her milk tea." Nuannuan''s cheeks turned a faint pink: "I''m not jealous, I just like sweet things..." "Even friends can get jealous. If one day Nuannuan starts hanging out with someone else every day and ignores me, I''ll be really jealous, because jealousy comes from caring," he said with a laugh that tried to mask his true feelings. "But, I don''t want there to be unhappiness between you two, after all, you''ve been childhood friends..." Nuannuan''s lips curled into a small, joyful smile, but the last part had a slightly sour tone, sweet and tart like a plum. The setting sun''s light fell on her cheeks, making her look incredibly cute. Seeing her like this, Xu Musen thought, could it be that this naive girl also had such worries? "Nuannuan, if, and I mean if, one day I make up with her and she tells me not to talk to you, would you not get angry?" he asked. Xu Musen suddenly asked, always observing her little expressions. An Nuannuan pursed her lips, and indeed, a flicker of emotion crossed her small face. She propped her delicate and petite chin on the table, slightly turning to face him. "I won''t be angry, but I will be very sad." An Nuannuan, as if she could never get angry, met Xu Musen''s eyes, then suddenly added, "But I know you wouldn''t do that." "Why are you so sure of me?" Xu Musen asked. "Because I trust you," An Nuannuan spoke, her eyes bright: "We''re supposed to be good friends for a lifetime. If it''s for a lifetime, then we must trust each other completely. As long as I trust you, I won''t be afraid of anything." Every word she uttered seemed to carry endless strength into Xu Musen''s heart. He couldn''t help but pinch An Nuannuan''s soft little face: "Don''t you ever have that thought, where you only want me to be especially good to you?" In fact, if there''s affection, there definitely will be possessiveness, which is one of the charming and enchanting aspects of being in love. An Nuannuan seemed to ponder seriously for a moment, her lips pouting and her face flushing slightly before she finally said, "Yes... " "But, I think if two people can be together for a lifetime, that''s already the best thing. I hope that I''m the icing on the cake for you, not the one stopping you from seeking help in the snow. First and foremost, you need to be yourself. If you are kind to me, I''ll be happy. If one day you stop being kind to me, it must also be my problem. You''ve already been very good to me. As long as I remember your kindness, I won''t be afraid of anything." In An Nuannuan''s words, there seemed to be no complaints or the slightest bit of negative energy. Just like her name, warm and intimate. "Then why did you suddenly say that last sentence?" Xu Musen recalled the last thing An Nuannuan had said to Yao Mingyue. "Because... I don''t want the things you''ve done before to be wasted," An Nuannuan''s tone had a touch of emotion, but it wasn''t out of anger for herself, but for Xu Musen. It was as if she was defending the Xu Musen who had once given his sincere heart. Xu Musen''s breath became irregular, yet his mind was clear. He knew what he found appealing about her. It was the unprecedented sense of trust, respect, and the freedom of heart-to-heart connection he felt with An Nuannuan. True security wasn''t constant companionship, but rather knowing that even if worlds apart, two hearts would never stray from each other. Xu Musen took a deep breath, a wave of warmth filling his chest, and he gently pinched her soft face: "You''re so silly. If I sold you, would you still help me count the money?" An Nuannuan shifted her head slightly, allowing herself to stretch out a fair finger and gently poke his nose: "You don''t sell me, and yet I''m helping you count money every day." Enjoy new chapters from empire Xu Musen paused, looking at the bills on the table, and the money jar on the counter. Yes, this adorable little boss lady had already volunteered herself to count money for him. "Nuannuan, if you keep this up, I''m afraid our friendship might start to turn into something else," Xu Musen couldn''t hold back his thoughts and didn''t really want to restrain them, either. "Our shelf life is a lifetime," An Nuannuan''s lips curved slightly, her dazedly cute face showing a rare hint of a smile. Sunlight fell on her fair skin, long eyelashes, casting a golden glow over her. At that moment, she really was beautiful, a warmth and comfort in her charm outshining even the twilight''s afterglow. "Nuannuan, I have a suggestion..." Xu Musen''s words were left unfinished. An Nuannuan suddenly poked his lips, her clear eyes shining with the dazzling light of a setting sun. "Xu Musen, I''m so tired today, can we wait until the next few days to have dinner together at my place?" A dinner invitation again. Xu Musen agreed without a moment''s hesitation: "Sure." The thoughts and impulses that had been amassing in Xu Musen in that instant did not fade, but as if tacitly understood, they lay in wait. Waiting for a moment when, like waters rushing from all directions, everything would naturally fall into place. Chapter 170 Mother-in-Laws Divine Assistance! The weekend arrived.Xu Musen discovered he owed several dinner engagements. An Nuannuan, Yao Mingyue, and Zhu Yulan. Of course, the latter was mainly to thank her for her help. Xu Musen self-assessed that he''d never tricked her, but indeed he had taken advantage of her quite a bit. Without her help, his branch wouldn''t have been set up so smoothly. And Zhu Yulan obviously came from a not-so-simple family background, plus she was somewhat easy to manipulate (quite gullible). Such a good networking resource shouldn''t be wasted. In the afternoon. The wind of autumn is always plentiful, and many trees have begun to shed their leaves, rustling against the windows, which can sound quite eerie in the dead of night. The first appointment was with Liu Rushuang. In the evening, Xu Musen arrived at the girls'' dormitory. Yao Mingyue was also ready, wearing a camel-colored trench coat, her long hair slightly curled with a curling iron, flowing like the most delicate silk in the breeze. She seemed to be wearing light makeup; those phoenix eyes seemed born with the effect of eyeliner, noble and elegant. Continue your saga on empire On her feet were a pair of small leather shoes, her long, slender legs wrapped in a layer of black silk, faintly visible beneath the trench coat. This mature look was something Xu Musen found himself unable to forget every time he saw it. Yao Mingyue could always spot him first in a crowd. The moment she saw Xu Musen, she couldn''t help but smile. She came over to Xu Musen, a gentle breeze blowing, the two of them standing face to face, a handsome man and a beautiful woman, always attracting a lot of attention. "Do I look good?" Yao Mingyue liked to ask when she already knew the answer. "The wind is strong today, aren''t you afraid of catching cold?" Xu Musen''s gaze briefly swept over her long black-silk-clad legs, giving a concise comment. It was deep into autumn, and there was some mist in the air today; perhaps it would rain a bit at night. "Of course, it''s for you to feast your eyes," she said, smiling. She even playfully lifted the corner of her trench coat as if to give Xu Musen a better view of her long black silk-clad legs. Xu Musen pretended not to have seen it. Yao Mingyue looked behind him. "She isn''t with you today?" she asked deliberately. "If you miss her, I can call her over to keep you company right now," Xu Musen casually replied. Actually, An Nuannuan had been picked up by Aunt Xiang at noon. Yao Mingyue deliberately asked, and Xu Musen deliberately answered. Yao Mingyue stepped forward, extending her hand to loop through his arm. "Then there''s no need, after all, one clingy pest is enough for you," she said. Her familiar scent of flowers wafted over, along with a rush of warmth. Xu Musen avoided her gesture, "Don''t pull and drag, mind your image." "But in others'' eyes, we have always matched, haven''t we?" Yao Mingyue said, smiling as she looked at him. Although she didn''t link arms, she stayed close to his side. "No, in others'' eyes, I was just a failed ''leech'' before, not worthy of you, Miss," Xu Musen shook his head and turned to walk out of the campus. Yao Mingyue followed his pace, her beautiful eyes never blinking as she watched him, beaming, "Now I''m your little ''leech'' too, so we''re just mutually doting on each other now, aren''t we?" "..." Xu Musen''s eyelid twitched. What kind of nonsense was that. He ignored her. Yao Mingyue wasn''t in a hurry, just quietly walking with him. By mid-October, the evening sun didn''t provide much warmth. The sparse sunlight stretched their shadows on the ground very long. "Click!" The sound of a camera. Xu Musen turned his head to see Yao Mingyue taking a photo with her phone of their two shadows on the ground. She seemed to like taking pictures a lot lately. It was the same during their trip to Laojun Mountain; she took non-stop photos all the way. "I didn''t catch your face," Yao Mingyue said with a laugh, explaining as he looked her way. "I remember you didn''t use to like taking pictures so much." sea??h th N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Yeah, before I always had you with me, so of course I didn''t need photos to commemorate anything, but now... at least I can take some pictures. You won''t slip away in the pictures, right?" Yao Mingyue looked at him, the corners of her mouth smiling. But her words felt like a jar of vinegar had been overturned, spilling everywhere, and as the sunlight evaporated it, the air began to smell sour. Xu Musen looked down at the overlapping shadows of the two on the ground. The shadows were long, difficult to separate even when their steps weren''t in sync. Just like the nearly twenty years of their past. Childhood sweethearts. A twist of fate, yet also a curse. Being together is best, but if not, it''s inevitably unforgettable throughout life. But now, the image of An Nuannuan was increasingly clear in Xu Musen''s mind. "Ming Yue, I know I can''t persuade you, but I want to choose my own life now." "I know, I know, but can we not talk about this today, please?" Yao Mingyue interrupted him. She matched Xu Musen''s pace, and their shoulders occasionally touched. "Today we''re going to have dinner, just like when our moms used to take us out to eat when we were kids, okay, Brother Musen?" Xu Musen felt his heart tremble. She really had changed a lot. Perhaps the essence of her ''yandere'' nature hadn''t changed; in her last life, she was like a hedgehog bristling with spikes. Anyone who got close was bound to get hurt. This time around, she occasionally showed her softer side below those spikes. Xu Musen looked at her beautiful face in the evening sunset C her temples, eyelashes, eyes, nose, lips... Chapter 170 Mother-in-Laws Divine Assistance!_2 Infinite beauty."Let''s go, don''t make Auntie anxious," Xu Musen''s tone softened. If they were just childhood sweethearts, he had no reason to refuse. In this life, those future things hadn''t happened yet. So, there was no need to easily destroy the beauty of the past. Walking with the setting sun. At the entrance of the university. Liu Rushuang''s red Bentley was already waiting. She stood beside the car, and today, she was still dressed in a refined cheongsam, beauty unfading with time. Moreover, Liu Rushuang was just over forty, and her phoenix eyes added a charming allure to her appearance. Her figure was also well-maintained, embodying the allure and intellect unique to mature women. Without needing any fancy attire, a well-fitted dress could flawlessly outline the most breathtaking beauty. Students passing by, regardless of gender, couldn''t help but take several glances. Even the gatekeeper would willingly step out of his room, pretending to stand guard while actually stealing a few peeks. "Xiaoyue, Xiaosen!" Liu Rushuang, ever so beaming, waved at the two. As soon as they approached, she gave her daughter a big hug. Xu Musen looked on; they were like two different flowers. Liu Rushuang was like a peony, rich and elegant. And Yao Mingyue was like a red rose with tender thorns. "We won''t dine out today; I''ll take you to where I live," said Liu Rushuang, stepping on the accelerator. Read latest stories on empire In the security room by the entrance, a young guard clicked his tongue twice, chewing betel nut, "Luxury car, beautiful woman, tsk tsk..." ... The car stopped in a villa district. It seemed slightly smaller than the villa in Zheng City, but in Hu Hai, where land was gold, having such a villa already meant reaching the ceiling. Although it wasn''t in the city center. But after a few years, it would easily be worth over a hundred million. In those crazy years of domestic real estate, buying property was the best investment. Entering the villa. There was a housekeeper inside who had already prepared a lot of food, and after tidying up everything upon Liu Rushuang''s return, she left. The villa''s interior was simply decorated, but all the furniture was of rosewood, even the handrails of the stairs were solid wood. The entire villa was suffused with a faint scent of wood. Just these pieces of furniture alone could probably fetch a house in a second-tier city. After washing their hands, the three sat at the dining table, and Liu Rushuang even opened a bottle of red wine. "It''s been a long time since we''ve dined together. Today we finally have the chance to gather," she said as she poured the red wine, handing a glass to Xu Musen. Watching him look around, she asked with a smile, "Xiaosen, what do you think of this house?" "Of course, it''s very nice. I''m afraid the majority of people couldn''t earn the cost of these furnishings in their whole lives," Xu Musen replied with a smile. Liu Rushuang also smiled, "It might be a bit difficult for ordinary people, but our Xiaosen isn''t an ordinary person. This place isn''t too far from your school, so you and Ming Yue could stay here on weekends when you''re free." As Liu Rushuang spoke, her gaze shifted back to her daughter. Xu Musen inwardly smiled wryly. Stay here alone with Yao Mingyue? He was afraid he''d wake up the next day and find himself locked in a dark room. "Come on, let''s eat, we must all be hungry by now." Liu Rushuang didn''t give Xu Musen a chance to respond, immediately urging them to start eating. The cooking skills of the housekeeper hired by Liu Rushuang were naturally excellent, and the ingredients were of high quality too. However, Yao Mingyue seemed to have a bit of a poor appetite. With a table full of seafood, she only peeled the meat and served it to Xu Musen and Liu Rushuang. "Ming Yue, do you have a poor appetite today?" "Hmm... I''m fine." Yao Mingyue awkwardly twisted her legs, her complexion unnaturally flushed. Xu Musen looked at her and, recalling the significance of today''s date, it was almost like a reflex that he remembered something. After thinking for a moment, he put down his chopsticks. "Aunt Liu, I''ll go make some porridge. Eating just meat is a bit greasy," Xu Musen said, then directly rose to head into the kitchen. The kitchen was well-stocked; Xu Musen picked up some red dates, red beans, and some fish maw. He donned an apron skillfully, and set about cooking. The kitchen was semi-open, and Xu Musen didn''t close the door. They sat at the table and could just stretch their necks to see the busy scene in the kitchen. Liu Rushuang suddenly seemed to remember something. "Xiaoyue, you have your period today, right?" "Hmm" Yao Mingyue nodded. "And you''re still dressed so lightly today, chasing style over comfort." Liu Rushuang eyed her daughter''s legs, still clad in thin black stockings, but she had to admit, the girl''s legs were indeed very attractive. Indeed, she had inherited good genes from her mother. "But Xiaosen actually remembered, even more clearly than I did. Look, with the red beans and red dates and fish maw, it''s obvious he''s preparing it for you," Liu Rushuang said with a smile, "The relationship between you two seems not bad at all right now." Yao Mingyue also thought back to Xu Musen''s actions. He had almost instantly noticed something was off with just one glance at her. But she had never told him about her cycle before. How did he know? sea??h th Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Still, the way he didn''t hesitate to stand up and make porridge for her, that was quite flirtatious. Yao Mingyue''s lips couldn''t help but curl up slightly, feeling some relief from the grievances accumulated over the past few days. Her gaze lingered affectionately on Xu Musen, who was now wearing an apron and attentively making porridge. Dressed in a simple shirt, his fit physique, broad shoulders, and a defined facial profile made him strikingly different from the Musen from before, who always used to bully her. Chapter 170 Mother-in-Laws Divine Assistance!_3 At this moment, Xu Musen already had a hint of a "husbandly charm," becoming more mature and more attractive."Don''t say, Xiaosen will definitely be a compassionate and family-oriented good man in the future, Ming Yue, you better hold on tight," Liu Rushuang looked at Xu Musen, with the satisfaction of a mother-in-law eyeing her son-in-law, growing more and more pleased. Yao Mingyue pursed her lips, "What more can I do, it''s he who..." Her thoughts turned to An Nuannuan, and she felt a vague unease, always feeling as if she was about to lose something very important to her. "You two, it''s just that you were too wilful before. Xiaosen might be holding a bit of a grudge now, after all, boys have their own little moods too. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But at the very least Xiaosen does still care about you, remembering this special day of yours and going to make congee for you without a second word, just like he used to care for you," Liu Rushuang began to say. Yao Mingyue, of course, knew all this, but it was also on her mind. Caring for her as he used to. It was the same as before, like an older brother to a younger sister, like childhood sweethearts'' care. But what she wanted now was more than just the care between childhood sweethearts. "Alright, there''s a saying that Rome wasn''t built in a day. Xiaosen has pampered you for so long, now it''s only right for you to take the initiative. I believe in the charm of my Ming Yue," Liu Rushuang spoke softly. There was a glint in her eyes, thinking, isn''t it time to create more opportunities for them. Before long, Xu Musen came out with a bowl of red bean and jujube porridge, along with a bowl of fish maw soup. "Have some," Xu Musen hadn''t explicitly prepared it for Yao Mingyue, but she was still thrilled and smiled brightly. "Xiaosen is really a jack-of-all-trades good man now. If only I had such a great son, or maybe you should just stay here and not leave," Liu Rushuang was also looking at Xu Musen, her phoenix eyes sparkling brightly. It seemed as though she was just about to accept him as her son-in-law. Xu Musen looked at the mother and daughter pair. Both had the same phoenix eyes, each more passionate than the other. Xu Musen felt as if he had fallen into the Pansi Cave. Why do they all want to lock me up in the villa? "It''s just something I threw together. You two try it, it''s cold today so warm yourselves up," Xu Musen served a small bowl to each of them. "Hmm~ Xiaosen, your cooking skills are really good. How about joining us for dinner at home every week?" Liu Rushuang tasted it, and it was genuinely good. "Of course, that won''t be a problem if I have the time," Xu Musen nodded with a smile. He regarded Liu Rushuang as half his own mother. Yao Mingyue also took a sip of the porridge, which tasted really good. She was quite picky. But everything Xu Musen made was just the way she liked, including many little details. Even those she didn''t notice herself, Xu Musen would pay attention to. It was as if... they had been together in a past life. The understanding and habits couldn''t possibly be just between childhood sweethearts; they were more like... the feeling between a married couple. Yao Mingyue suddenly remembered something Xu Musen had once said if they had already been together in their past life. He spoke so vividly of those details, as well as their life and end as a married couple... On many nights, Yao Mingyue had thought to herself, if not for Xu Musen''s sudden change. Their lives, would seemingly indeed be on this trajectory. As she looked at Xu Musen at this moment, she suddenly felt a bit dazed. Could he really be someone who had traveled back in time? She didn''t know... But, the porridge was really delicious. After dinner, Xu Musen had intended to leave. But outside, a fine misty rain had begun to fall. Though it wasn''t heavy, the rain in October was already cold. "Don''t leave today. Your rooms are all prepared, just rest here for the night," Liu Rushuang spoke from the side. Having had a bit to drink, Xu Musen looked at the light rain outside, "Wouldn''t that be a bit of trouble..." "It''s no trouble, your pajamas are all ready," Liu Rushuang pulled Xu Musen as if she had long been planning not to let him go. Yao Mingyue was also looking at him, her eyes filled with subtle emotions. Xu Musen then didn''t make excuses. After all, with Liu Rushuang there, it wouldn''t be inappropriate. Experience more content on empire Xu Musen went to the prepared room to change into the pajamas that had been laid out. After changing, Liu Rushuang in the living room suddenly picked up a phone call. "An emergency meeting, okay, then wait for me to come over," After hanging up the phone, Liu Rushuang turned her head and looked at Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue, saying, "Oh dear, there''s a bit of an issue at the company, I need to go back and handle it. You two go ahead and rest; don''t wait up for me." Upon hearing this, Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue exchanged glances. If she were to leave, it would mean they were the only two left in the villa. A bit excited. And a bit scared. "Aunt Liu, I could follow you and leave as well..." "You know, the meeting is quite urgent, I''m just gonna head out first. You two should rest early," But Liu Rushuang didn''t give them a chance to respond and promptly stood up. The car had already arrived at the door; she walked out the door and into the vehicle and drove away. Xu Musen chased to the doorway only to see Liu Rushuang waving goodbye. "Don''t worry, the security here is great; there won''t be any bad guys. You and Ming Yue get some rest early!" With that, the car drove off. "..." Xu Musen turned back to see Yao Mingyue, who was looking rather eager. The biggest bad guy is already in the house! Meanwhile, Liu Rushuang on the road had a slight smile on her face. She had long recognized Xu Musen as her future son-in-law. But without a clear move from them, she didn''t want them to engage in forbidden fruit and risk any accidents. Today, being Ming Yue''s special day, even if the two stayed together, they shouldn''t cause any trouble, and they could further promotion of their relationship. Liu Rushuang smiled. "My foolish, silly daughter, don''t thank your mother too much~" Chapter 171 In the middle of the night, Ming Yue knocks on the door. Xu Musen watched as Liu Rushuang''s car disappeared from view.The drizzle outside was continuous, and the wind was actually getting a bit cold. A hand stretched out and gently closed the door. Yao Mingyue stood in front of him with an undisguised pleasure. "Don''t catch a cold from the wind, go take a shower first, don''t worry, I won''t peek." Yao Mingyue pursed her lips, smiling. However, Xu Musen always felt that the way she spoke should be his lines. "You''ve had a tiring day, take a shower," "Your body smells so nice, your skin is so white," "I''ll just hug you," "Don''t leave tonight, okay," "I''ll just hold you, I promise I won''t make a move," "Don''t worry, I''ll definitely take responsibility for you..." "You go first." Xu Musen went to prepare a cup of tea. Yao Mingyue sat on the sofa, took off her trench coat, and slowly lifted her legs, starting to remove the black stockings from her legs. Underneath the stockings, her smooth and white legs were dazzlingly white under the light. "What are you doing?" Xu Musen asked her. "Changing into pajamas, aren''t we supposed to take a shower?" Yao Mingyue replied with a smile. She closed her legs together, rolled the stockings she had just taken off into a ball, and threw them onto the sofa right next to Xu Musen. Xu Musen glanced at her while making tea. "Don''t just throw your smelly socks around." "You''re having tea, right? I just gave you a teabag, maybe it even smells like jasmine?" Yao Mingyue giggled. Xu Musen was at a loss for words, but indeed, there was always a floral scent on Yao Mingyue, and it varied slightly throughout the year. Sometimes it was like rose, sometimes gardenia, sometimes like lotus, jasmine... Maybe this is what people online talk about, the body''s hormone selection. If you can smell the other person''s natural scent, it''s your body''s genes choosing them. Xu Musen ignored her and continued to make tea. As Yao Mingyue was holding her pajamas, heading to the bathroom, she poked her head out and said to Xu Musen, "You''re not planning to sneak off while I''m taking a shower, are you?" Xu Musen took a sip of tea and nodded, "That''s actually a good idea." Upon hearing this, Yao Mingyue craftily smiled, "Too bad you don''t have the chance. I bet your clothes are already in the washing machine, so if you want to go back, you''d have to wear pajamas." Xu Musen''s pajamas were very thin. Wearing them to stroll back to the school would probably land him on the forum the next day. He took out his phone; An Nuannuan had sent several messages, all about some food she was looking forward to him making the following day. "Okay, I''ll make it for you tomorrow." "Hehe, you''re so nice to me. (Bunny nodding)" The happiness could be felt through her texts. Xu Musen smiled as he replied to the messages. "So with me being so good to you, how will you repay me?" There was a pause on the other side of the phone, and then she sent a picture. In the picture, there was a drawer arranged neatly, filled with various colors and types of little socks. It was like the merchandise neatly displayed in a supermarket for people to pick out. "?" "You can pick one." "??" "Two is also fine." "???" Xu Musen was speechless. What''s with the young girls these days? It was all about stockings and little cotton socks, as if they were trying to confirm his perversions. ... The bathroom door opened, and Yao Mingyue came out after her shower. She was wearing a pale red nightgown, her long, lush, and soft hair naturally draped over her shoulders, making her look as delicate as a newly blossomed lotus. She came in front of Xu Musen with her long hair still damp, holding a hairdryer, and asked, "Could you help me blow-dry my hair?" "Do it yourself." "But my hair is too long, I can''t reach the back, and you wouldn''t want to see me catch a cold, would you?" Yao Mingyue said, sounding somewhat pitiful. Indeed, the night was particularly cold, and without the heating on in the empty villa, it felt even chillier. She continued, "You said it yourself, we''ve been friends since our childhood, can''t you fulfill such a small request? You even said you''d properly thank me later." The ''last time'' Yao Mingyue referred to was when she led people to smash a warehouse to help Xu Musen find evidence. Xu Musen certainly hadn''t forgotten; he was someone who clearly distinguished gratitude and resentment. The accounts of their past lives had already been settled. In this life, there was nothing between the two of them that couldn''t be resolved. What he was worried about was that Yao Mingyue might still fall deeper, just as she had in their past life. As childhood friends, and with Liu Rushuang in the picture, he still hoped that Yao Mingyue could have a life of her own. If it were just a matter of helping a childhood friend, naturally, it wouldn''t be a problem. Xu Musen sighed quietly. "Sit tight." "Mhm!" Yao Mingyue immediately showed a delighted expression, sitting on the sofa while Xu Musen plugged in the hairdryer. He began to help her dry her hair. The girl''s hair was very soft to the touch; Xu Musen gently lifted her strands, the scent of shampoo and the girl''s faint floral aroma blending together intoxicatingly. Girls'' hair really is hard to blow-dry, and you have to be extra careful, too. "Musen, I remember when we were little, you also helped me blow-dry my hair like this." Yao Mingyue suddenly spoke, unable to hide her smile, "It''s just that back then, you would either use the cool setting or blast hot air, almost frying my hair, and you got a beating from Auntie for that." Recalling the long-ago event, Xu Musen also had some memory of it; it should have been back in elementary school. There was no one else at home, and after Yao Mingyue washed her hair, she couldn''t dry her long hair by herself. Sar?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He volunteered to dry her hair, but he almost scorched her scalp, nearly turning Yao Mingyue into a little baldy. Chapter 171 In the Middle of the Night, Ming Yue Knocks on the Door. _2 Mom beat me up after finding out.Thinking back on the past, Xu Musen also felt a bit sentimental. "You could have reminded me too, my hair was almost roasted, and you didn''t make a sound." "I didn''t want to damage your confidence. Some people, when they got angry in the past, wouldn''t eat for a whole day." Yao Mingyue thought of the Xu Musen of the past, still a childish ghost. Xu Musen laughed. The him from before was like most boys, mischievous and naughty, unable to do anything right, always making a mess of things despite trying to help, and yet he had a pretty strong sense of pride. He''d "fast" in protest or run away from home at the slightest dissatisfaction. "Those are all things from a long time ago." Xu Musen spoke softly, his technique of drying Yao Mingyue''s hair now far more skilled than some Tony stylists. In their past life, Yao Mingyue would always nestle in his embrace after a shower, letting Xu Musen dry her hair for her. Her hair quality, her preferred temperature, the strength he used to smooth her hair, he mastered it all perfectly. Yao Mingyue hummed in comfort, like a content little kitten getting its fur stroked by its owner. "Musen, I always feel that no matter what it is, you find the perfect way to make me comfortable. Do you think we might have been husband and wife in our previous life? Otherwise, how could we have such perfect understanding?" Xu Musen paused slightly with the hairdryer. In their past life, they really were husband and wife. "Let''s focus on getting through this life first. Being childhood sweethearts isn''t so bad, and changing roles might not necessarily be as fitting." Xu Musen said softly, feeling a bit of nostalgia in his heart. Yao Mingyue didn''t respond to that statement. Her back was to Xu Musen, but she slightly leaned back into his embrace, "Musen, thank you for the porridge you made me today." "It was no trouble at all." "But how did you remember the timing of my... that?" Yao Mingyue felt a little flushed, as such matters were very private for a girl, and she didn''t recall ever telling Xu Musen. Xu Musen couldn''t tell her the reason he remembered that date so clearly was that, in their past marriage, those few days of the month were when he could finally take a break from sex. Before marriage, a hurdle; after marriage, a savior. "I remembered it back when I was chasing you like a lovesick puppy." Xu Musen made up an excuse on the spot. "Pfft..." Yao Mingyue couldn''t help but laugh, finding this way of chatting very enjoyable. "So now that I''m your little lovesick puppy, should I also remember your..." Her voice trailed off, her beautiful face blushing slightly, her eyes sly. Xu Musen put down the hairdryer. "I''m going to take a shower now." Xu Musen stood up and headed to the bathroom. "Oh, you can drink some of the water on the table if you''d like." Xu Musen added. On the table, he had casually prepared a cup of brown sugar water. Yao Mingyue watched his retreating figure, feeling as if today, with the two of them at home, eating together with him making porridge for her, and him drying her hair after a shower, it felt as if they were married and living together. Yao Mingyue truly wanted to preserve this moment forever. She got up, took the cup of brown sugar water, and went to the bathroom door. If she entered at this moment, turning uncooked rice into cooked rice with him, perhaps it could become reality. But now, she wasn''t afraid of a little pain, but she was slowly discovering more of Xu Musen''s qualities that she hadn''t had the chance to appreciate before. Yao Mingyue looked at the bathroom door, touching her soft, fluffy hair that had just been blow-dried. Forget it, good things should be savored bit by bit. At the very least, he was no longer rejecting her outright like before. They could gradually get better. She took a sip of the brown sugar water, sweet. ... After his shower, Xu Musen returned to the bedroom to find a cup of water still on the nightstand, also reddish, with some goji berries soaking in it. There was also a note underneath the cup. "Here''s your return gift, you should really replenish yourself~???-?" Xu Musen set the note aside, did his robust body really need to drink something that middle-aged people would typically consume? It was just hateful! Xu Musen lifted the glass and observed it carefully for a while, it seemed there was nothing else in it, but he still didn''t dare to drink it. Once bitten by a snake, one is scared of a well rope for ten years. Xu Musen watered the small succulent pot on the bedside table a little, then lay down to rest. In the middle of the night. The wind was fierce and the sky vast, the drizzle intensified a bit, wild winds began howling outside the villa, which was good in all respects. The only downside was that in the vast empty room, if only one or two people lived there, it could really be a bit creepy late at night. After all, the nearest neighbors were a hundred meters away. The trees outside the window, whipped by the wind, creaked and shook, slapping against the windows, just like the tiger coming to eat children you were scared of as a kid. "Squeak, squeak..." There was a sound of the doorknob being turned, accompanied by some other noises. Xu Musen, somewhat particular with his sleeping environment, hadn''t been sleeping deeply, and the noise at the door woke him up. He didn''t speak but looked towards the door, the rainy weather made the night very dark. However, he could see the faint light at the doorway, the doorknob was indeed turned. Xu Musen''s brow twitched. This little malingerer couldn''t really be planning to drug and attack me in the night, could she? He glanced at the goji berry water on the bedside table that he hadn''t dared to drink, now seriously suspecting that it was definitely spiked with some peculiar little pill! The kind that would leave his body limp and asleep, but a certain region exceptionally active and firm. Is she trying to trick me into giving up my body with these shameless means? I, Xu Musen, will definitely not fall into the same pit a second time! Xu Musen slowly sat up, the doorknob at the doorway was still slowly turning, but Xu Musen had already preemptively deadbolted the door. The door didn''t open, but it seemed they still hadn''t given up. Xu Musen picked up a pillow, ready to knock her back to her senses. Moving slowly to the door, as expected, he heard Yao Mingyue''s voice. "Musen... Are you asleep?" Her voice was not loud. Haha, woman, are you here deliberately to check if the drug you gave me was strong enough? The wind outside, mixed with raindrops, hitting the windows sounded particularly unnerving. "Musen... will you open the door, please..." Yao Mingyue''s voice came through the crack of the door, wavering and unsteady, like a ghost come to claim lives in the middle of the night. Xu Musen''s hand was on the doorknob, he quickly opened the door, lifting the pillow in his hand intending to hit her. But at the door, the girl in a pale red nightgown had been leaning against it, and when the door suddenly opened, she stumbled and fell sitting on the ground. "Yao Mingyue, you really are..." Xu Musen was about to scold her for playing the old drugging trick on him. But the next moment, the words in his mouth were swallowed back, and the pillow in his hand also paused. In the warm light of the corridor, the girl sitting on the ground in a pale red nightie, her hair disheveled, her face pale. Her pair of phoenix eyes, were now moist at the corners, her clear, defined eyes shimmering with a fragile gleam at this moment. The wind and rain outside, mixed with falling leaves, battered against the windows with force, in the silent villa, the sound was especially unnerving. "Musen..." Yao Mingyue got up from the ground, stumbling and unsteady, then plunged into his embrace, like clutching at the last straw before drowning. "Musen... I''m scared..." Yao Mingyue''s voice trembled slightly, on every stormy night. She was no longer the arrogant Yao Mingyue, nor the careless malingerer. At this moment, she was just the young girl from six years ago, who received news of a loved one''s departure amidst a thunderstorm, powerless to help. Xu Musen''s heart was as unsettled as the storm outside, as he looked at Yao Mingyue now curled up in his arms. He silently sighed. I really don''t know if I still owe you... S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 172 The mountain does not see me; I alone go towards the mountain. The night was deep, in the room.Xu Musen sat on the sofa, watching Yao Mingyue, who at the moment was curled up on the bed, wrapping herself tightly in the quilt. She no longer possessed any of the arrogance or assertiveness of the past. Outside, the wind was fierce, carrying with it the fallen twigs and leaves of autumn, each time they slapped against the window, they made Yao Mingyue tremble. It was as if she had returned to that despairing night many years ago. Watching her, Xu Musen''s heart also felt heavy. If it had been his own father who hadn''t made it through that night, perhaps he wouldn''t be much better off than Yao Mingyue now. Looking at the girl''s trembling body, she had already been feeling unwell today, and now she had stood at the door for who knows how long, dressed only in her thin nightgown. Just as Xu Musen stood up and was about to step out Yao Mingyue, as if frightened he would leave, immediately attempted to get up in a flurry to grab him. "You mustn''t go..." "I''m going to pour you a cup of hot water." "You really won''t leave?" "It''s still raining outside, where could I go?" Xu Musen gently shook his head, "Just sit and rest for a while." After those words, Xu Musen left to prepare the hot water. Yao Mingyue sat on the bed, the quilt still retaining the scent and warmth of Xu Musen, just like that night six years ago when he held her in his arms to comfort her. This made her feel much more at ease. Sear?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She gently nuzzled the quilt, much like a kitten reluctant to leave its master. In a short while, Xu Musen returned with a kettle, poured a cup of hot water, and handed it to her. "Thank you..." Yao Mingyue stretched out her hand to take it. "Being so polite now?" Xu Musen teased her. Holding the cup, Yao Mingyue looked up at Xu Musen and bit her lip slightly, "You were the one who was being formal with me first..." Xu Musen touched his nose and looked outside, the storm had come on fast and probably would also pass quickly, unlikely to last until the next day. Yao Mingyue took a sip of water, but her gaze was drawn to the cup of goji berry tea she had made for Xu Musen on his bedside table, which appeared untouched. Yao Mingyue picked up the cup and said to Xu Musen, "Do you not even want to drink the water I pour for you now?" Looking at her, Xu Musen replied, "Autumn is dry, easy to catch fire, I''m afraid of nosebleeds if I drink too much." Yao Mingyue looked at Xu Musen; of course, she knew he was lying. Her eyes filled with a sense of injustice, "Only the weak bleed from nourishment." Xu Musen didn''t want to argue over this. He took a spare blanket from the wardrobe, planning to make a bed on the floor. Thankfully, the villa''s carpets were soft so it wouldn''t be a problem to sleep there. "You don''t need to make up a bed on the floor," Yao Mingyue said softly, watching his actions. "You''ve taken over my bed, where else can I sleep if not the floor? If I were to go to another room, you would follow," Xu Musen said, fully understanding of Yao Mingyue''s need for companionship at this time. Even if he chose to sleep on the sizable sofa in the living room, she would still follow him. If she ended up catching a cold from the chill tomorrow, he wouldn''t be able to explain it to Aunt Liu. There seemed to be a tinge of impatient resignation in Xu Musen''s voice. However, hearing it, Yao Mingyue felt warmth in her heart, at least he still cared about her. It''s just that his words were much sterner than before. She slowly loosened her grip on the cup slightly, "Actually, you could sleep on the bed too, it''s big enough..." "Forget it, men and women shouldn''t get too close." "But we often slept together in the past, didn''t we?" "Things from before primary school don''t count. When I was a kid, I even went to the women''s bathhouse with my mom. If I went now, I''d definitely be beaten to death," Xu Musen said offhandedly. Yao Mingyue couldn''t help but giggle, her pale face gaining a touch of healthy color. "But we are childhood friends, and it''s not like we would share a blanket." She spoke softly, her exquisite cheeks appearing translucent under the dim light, "Besides, I don''t need anything from you today... so what''s there to be afraid of?" She lay by the edge of the bed, looking at Xu Musen who was laying on the floor beside it as if she were a little spirit tempting a man''s desires. Xu Musen, looking into her eyes, said, "Being childhood friends doesn''t give us a free pass, and we''re both adults now. We should maintain a proper distance." "Xu Musen, you must have been a little turtle in your last life, you sure can endure." Yao Mingyue''s tone carried a touch of dissatisfaction; she had hinted so broadly, and yet he showed no inclination to share the bed. Yao Mingyue knew she was very attractive, suitors could line up all the way to France, yet here she was offering herself and he wouldn''t even take a bite. Listening to her slightly frantic tone, Xu Musen chuckled, "I''m a healthy man, of course I have those thoughts, but I''m also a man. If I can''t be sure of the future, I wouldn''t easily provoke a relationship. Actually, even when I pursued you before, I had ulterior motives. We should both take the time to really think things through." Yao Mingyue lay by the edge of the bed, the dim bedside lamp casting a soft glow on both of their gentle features. Yao Mingyue watched Xu Musen, and at this moment, he no longer seemed confrontational. As she lay by the edge of the bed, with just an outstretched hand she could reach Xu Musen. "But, I like it when you''re not so pure with me." Her words were soft, her cheeks flushed. When someone likes a person, it''s natural to like everything about them, whether it''s their looks, body, personality, family, everything. "So, to like everything about someone, you must accept everything about them, and also understand that the other person isn''t your possession. If you forcefully change someone, would they still be the person you liked?" Chapter 172 The mountain does not see me; I alone go towards the mountain._2 musen spoke to her evenly and composedly, his words would have had no effect on her in a previous life, or even a few months ago, but now, they could finally have a proper conversation.as yao mingyue listened, the luster in her eyes flickered uncertainly because these indeed had been her issues before. instead of hastily rebutting like she would have done in the past, or reluctantly so, she pondered seriously for a long time. because she had seen all of musen''s changes over this period. he truly had become better and better, increasingly charming and intellectually capable, with small acts of warmth that could easily touch someone''s heart. compared to the old musen who only had her on his mind, the current musen naturally shone brighter and was more outstanding. but the only thing was, she seemed to be getting farther and farther away from his heart... "but at least in one aspect, no matter what you become, i will still like you, and in the future, i will slowly learn even more ways to like you, musen. could you give me a little more time?" yao mingyue lifted her eyes, gazing at him unwaveringly. musen looked back at her for quite a while, but no matter how hazy his vision was, another figure always seemed to emerge. "as childhood friends, i look forward to your future changes and life, but if it''s anything else, i can''t make promises right now." musen didn''t want to deceive her; false promises would only hurt more in the end. yao mingyue''s body shuddered slightly, she opened her mouth wanting to say something, but looking into musen''s eyes at that moment, she ultimately lowered her gaze lightly, "childhood friends... that''s good too. at least in the future, don''t be so distant with me." sar?h the ovlfire .net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "that''s doable." musen nodded and both of them fell silent for a moment. "let''s go to sleep, it''s getting late." musen pulled up the covers and closed his eyes. yao mingyue remained propped up by the bed, staring at him without blinking, her eyes filled with too many emotions. she was certainly not satisfied with just being childhood friends, but now, just being able to hold onto that status was nearly all she could muster. i''m sorry i never learned to like you properly before. now, just give me a little more time. as long as it''s myself, that would be fine... she stretched out her hand and finally, gently poked musen on the tip of his nose. "goodnight, brother musen." yao mingyue whispered softly, at least, having him so close this night, she could really get a good night''s sleep. ... the next day. when musen woke up, he found his bed empty. he looked at the bedside table and saw the cup of goji berry water was taken too, and the succulent plant looked a bit more hydrated but nothing else was different. it seemed that the little tsundere hadn''t evolved to the point of outright drugging him yet. musen also got up, looking out the window to see sun brightly shining, the sky clean and bright as though washed by the rain. he walked out of the room, only to smell something burning. in the kitchen, a figure was a little frantically busy. yao mingyue had wanted to fry a sunny-side up egg, but evidently, with her lack of experience in the kitchen, even frying an egg proved challenging, its edge already blackened and charred. "give it to me." musen approached and suddenly broke the silence. yao mingyue, nearly burned, looked embarrassed by the charred egg in the pan, "actually, i was about to succeed." musen glanced into the trash can, which already contained several failures. "if a hen knew you wasted so many of its eggs, it might scold you for a year and a half." he took the frying pan, quickly washed it, then drizzled it with olive oil: "when frying eggs, you have to wait until the oil heats up and just begins to smoke so it won''t stick and char." as musen explained, he skilfully began frying an egg, and in one minute a perfect sunny-side up with a runny yolk was ready, sprinkled with a little pepper, immediately giving off a delicious fragrance. yao mingyue watched from the side, never realizing that even something as simple as frying an egg had so many little tricks. watching musen, squeezed together with him in the kitchen early in the morning, it really did feel like they were living life together. "i''ll try again." yao mingyue was eager to have another go. "sure?" "of course, i''m smart, i''ll learn just by watching!" musen handed her the pan, and yao mingyue followed his method, finally managing to fry her first proper egg. "how''s that?" yao mingyue raised her slightly burnt egg, looking for praise from musen. "it leaves much to be desired." musen commented and asked, "what made you want to cook today?" "because i don''t want certain people to keep despising me for not knowing how to live, only knowing how to be a pretty vase," yao mingyue said as she looked at him. "many people wish they could be a vase, but don''t get the chance." "so tell me, is this vase prettier, or is she prettier?" suddenly, yao mingyue asked again. she was still in her pajamas, but the slender figure of the young girl was the most captivating combination; her stunning beauty made it hard for anyone to look away first thing in the morning. musen''s gaze swept over her once, and he said, "each has its own advantages and disadvantages." "???" yao mingyue looked down and could only vaguely see a bit of her toes. but every time she thought of her... yao mingyue couldn''t help but grit her teeth. your next chapter is on empire what''s the use of all this fat? i''m the most proportionate! liu rushuang also returned. seeing the two in the kitchen, they were like a young couple. she couldn''t help but smile, checking her daughter''s walking posture to make sure there were no problems. "did you two get a good rest last night?" sitting at the dining table, eating fried eggs and drinking milk, liu rushuang asked with a smile. yao mingyue didn''t say a word; after all, she had monopolized musen''s bed yesterday. sleeping on the floor was never as comfortable as in a bed. "pretty good, aunt liu," musen said with a smile, "i have some things to do in a bit, so i won''t stay here." "good, i''ll drive you back to school later." liu rushuang nodded, the villa was nice, but after all, it wasn''t the familiar home, and staying here was actually quite boring. after eating, liu rushuang drove the two of them to the entrance of hu hai university. musen got out of the car, but yao mingyue didn''t. "i want to spend the day with mom today," yao mingyue said, looking at him: "you go ahead if you''re busy." musen looked at her and nodded, "okay, aunt liu, i''ll be heading back now." after greeting her, musen walked into the school. "what happened between you two last night?" liu rushuang sensed that their relationship seemed to have undergone a slight change. if it had been before, her daughter would not have let him leave so easily. "nothing much, we''re both good," yao mingyue chuckled and shook her head. "mom, from now on, i''ll learn to do business with you on weekends." yao mingyue said. "actually, you don''t need to start so soon; you can still enjoy your college life. you''ve got mom," liu rushuang felt a bit sorry for her. ever since that day, yao mingyue had been somewhat resistant to the idea of doing business. but now, she was taking the initiative to face the very thing she was most reluctant to engage in. "i feel like i can''t wait, and i have to overcome myself. i want to become better," maybe she would even be able to help him someday. yao mingyue spoke with determination. liu rushuang sighed softly but seeing her daughter now so full of fighting spirit, was like a young sprout slowly emerging in a withered desert. everyone was changing, and at the very least, this version of yao mingyue was more like a living person. "okay," liu rushuang nodded. yao mingyue watched as musen''s figure slowly disappeared from her sight. she silently daydreamed and then chuckled lightly. some people really can''t be confined. never mind, if the mountain won''t come to me, i''ll go to the mountain... Chapter 173 Mr. An: So Im the outsider. he was going to visit an nuannuan''s home in the afternoon.and for some reason, xu musen always felt that something might happen this time when he went to see an nuannuan. xu musen had specifically prepared some ingredients, as an nuannuan''s family had helped him a lot. giving money or gifts, the little money xu musen had in his pocket was really not impressive, so he could only cook a few dishes to express his gratitude. he also bought some snacks, mainly to please an nannan, that little girl. maybe she would be his future sister-in-law? meanwhile. an shanhai was seated in an expensive rolls-royce, his brow furrowed, seemingly troubled by something extremely headache-inducing. the driver, observing his boss in this state, was also a bit surprised. his boss had weathered many storms; even negotiations for deals worth hundreds of millions never made him this anxious. "xiao li." an shanhai suddenly spoke, interrupting his train of thought. "yes, mr. an, what is it?" the driver immediately responded, sensing from his boss''s serious tone that it must be a significant matter. "tell me, do you know what little girls these days like?" "ah... what?" driver xiao li was taken aback, then quickly realized, "is this... are you preparing this for the two young ladies?" "hmm." an shanhai nodded, realizing he hadn''t let the old lady tell the sisters he was coming back. having not seen them for so long, an shanhai naturally felt he owed them and thought he should bring some gifts. it would make him feel a bit more at ease. driver xiao li hadn''t expected that this business tycoon, whose very footsteps could keep countless people awake at night, would be so anxious and restless facing his own daughters. "well, girls generally like dolls or skincare products, among other things." xiao li wasn''t very knowledgeable about such matters. an shanhai listened but honestly didn''t know what to buy. he had looked in supermarkets but didn''t know what kind of dolls his daughter would like. eventually, he saw the claw machines placed at the entrance, filled with various kinds of dolls. and many young girls seemed very fond of them, gathered around. "xiao li, go take care of it" sar?h the n??elfir.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... the afternoon arrived quickly. "sister, is that guy really coming over today?" in the old western-style house, an nannan, clutching her little wooden stick, would come over every so often and ask an nuannuan. an nuannuan practiced walking slowly in the yard, looking at her sister who kept rushing over to ask. "are you thinking about him coming?" an nuannuan stroked her little head. "i''m not thinking of him, i was just asking" an nannan retorted, but her little mouth couldn''t help swallowing saliva as if she was. after all, xu musen always brought some snacks they were usually not allowed to eat. seeing the greedy-cat look, an nuannuan reflected on whether she used to be like that as well. it was somewhat embarrassing... just then, the doorbell suddenly rang. an nannan''s eyes lit up, and she instantly bounced over, "i''ll open the door!" an nuannuan also moved slowly towards the door, leaning on her crutches. stay updated with empire "toot~toot, toot toot toot~" an nannan hummed a complex tune, apparently happy about the impending "junk food." she arrived at the door. "who is it!?" she always deliberately asked loudly like this. after all, apart from xu musen, hardly anyone else came to this little courtyard. in the past, xu musen would always play along and answer. but this time, there was a moment of silence behind the door, as if someone was steadying their breathing. "nannan, it''s me." that somewhat weathered voice made an nannan freeze, unable to guess who it was for a moment. she approached and gently opened a crack in the front gate. when she saw the person in front of her, a flurry of emotions flashed across an nannan''s bright eyes. her small mouth instinctively wanted to shout "dad," but she swallowed the word back. the expression of a wronged child was unhidden at her age. "nannan, it''s daddy, i''m back..." an shanhai was looking at his little daughter, feeling unexpectedly nervous and at a loss. an nannan held onto her wooden stick, stepped back twice, and with a petulant pout, she couldn''t utter a word to the dad who seemed both familiar and strange. "nannan." at this moment, an nuannuan approached step by step with her crutches. when she saw her father standing at the door, she too was momentarily stunned. "sister." an nannan ran over and hugged her sister around the waist, peeking at their dad. an shanhai felt bitter, but it was his own fault, yet seeing an nuannuan finally able to walk on her own, he said with relief, "nuannuan." "daddy..." an nuannuan looked at her father, her voice soft, but she still called out. an shanhai, hearing this single word "daddy," felt a joy that might surpass the thrill of signing any multi-million-dollar deal. "i''m back i brought you some presents, xiao li, bring them in!" an shanhai hurriedly called the driver. xiao li and two bodyguards actually carried in a claw machine, and behind them, two others were laden with various skincare products and exquisite little dresses and purses. each item was a luxury that ordinary girls would treasure just one of. yet both daughters didn''t spare them more than a glance. Chapter 173 Mr. An: So I am the outsider._2 "nuannuan, are you feeling better?"an shanhai walked over, looking at an nuannuan who could now walk a bit with the help of crutches, his eyes filled with excitement and relief. "yes, pretty good." an nuannuan nodded, "dad, why did you come back today?" in other families, the question is usually why dad hasn''t come back yet. but in their case... an shanhai felt a bit bitter, but even more so, he felt guilty. "dad came back especially to see you." an nuannuan nodded, she patted nannan''s little head: "nannan, say hello to dad." an nannan pouted her little mouth, she usually listened to her sister very well, but now she looked a bit aggrieved. "it''s okay, it''s okay, i''m not going anywhere these few days now that i''m home." an shanhai immediately changed the subject when he saw his younger daughter''s expression. "i''m back, let''s all go inside." at this moment, grandma also walked over, looking at the three of them standing there, she called out softly. in the room, the family chatted with each other off and on. an shanhai always felt like his daughter didn''t seem to like the gifts he brought, which left him feeling a bit down. an nannan couldn''t sit still, and she ran out into the yard, muttering two words under her breath. but in the end, she didn''t say them out loud. she was somewhat downcast, looking at the claw machine in the yard, she had no interest in playing with it. she twirled a little stick in her hand, creating a few flourishes like gun tricks, trying to distract herself. "ding-dong~" the doorbell rang. an nannan walked over sluggishly: "who is it?" "it''s a handsome guy who can bring you candied hawthorn sticks." xu musen''s voice, full of cheerfulness, came through. this was the first time an nannan felt so happy to hear his voice. she walked over and opened the door a crack. xu musen indeed was holding a bag, and in his hand, he also held two candied hawthorn sticks, shaking them at her. "hello there, nannan the little beauty." an nannan was now in middle school, about the same age as when xu musen first met an nuannuan in the hospital. after all, they were sisters, and they did indeed look very similar. at this age, she also knew what beauty and ugliness meant. and little girls, well, there were none who didn''t like to be praised. being called a "little beauty" made her quite happy. "hmm, you sure have a way with words. out of my great magnanimity, i''ll let you in!" an nannan spoke with the astuteness of a little adult, but her gaze never left the candied hawthorn sticks in xu musen''s hand. "here, take these. one is for your sister, don''t you dare eat it, not even a lick." "i wouldn''t eat it anyway." an nannan huffed with a flushed face, retracting her eager little tongue, still bouncing happily off to call her sister. "sister! he''s here!" in the room, an shanhai''s heart stirred instantly. what had to come, had come. xu musen followed an nannan into the living room, first greeting the elderly lady: "hello, grandma." "xiaosen, come, have a seat." the grandmother had a very good impression of this young man, smiling and beckoning him to sit. an nannan ran in with the candied hawthorn sticks and handed them to her sister. but at this moment, an nuannuan only had eyes for xu musen, the corners of her mouth lifting uncontrollably. on the side, an shanhai witnessed the whole scene. a sense of defeat rose within him for no apparent reason, wondering why his daughters seemed so much happier to see this young man than their own father. xu musen also noticed an shanhai. "xu musen, this is my dad." sear?h the n?velfire.nt website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. an nuannuan spoke up at this moment, the solemn and serious tone of her voice didn''t seem like she was introducing just a casual friend. "xu musen, i''ve heard about you from my family." an shanhai called his name, extending his hand. "uncle, nice to meet you for the first time." xu musen took a step forward and shook his hand as well. an shanhai didn''t let go of his hand, in fact, his grip had become a bit firmer. xu musen also looked at him with a slightly lowered stance, actually feeling that the other person looked somewhat familiar. but in this lifetime, he should have never met him, yet this sense of familiarity was extremely real. "i''ve heard about the situation, thank you for taking care of nuannuan at school." an shanhai released his hand and looked at xu musen. if he were judging from the standpoint of scrutinizing a prospective son-in-law, he would certainly be extremely picky. but from his daughter''s perspective, he really needed to thank this young man. "it''s only right, in fact, nuannuan has also helped me a lot, i''m very happy to have such a friend." xu musen smiled in response. an nuannuan swung her little feet joyfully on the side, even without eating candied haws, she felt exceptionally sweet. an shanhai looked at nannan, who was happily eating the candied haws, and nuannuan''s delighted expression. he sighed softly in his heart, his own gifts had not drawn even a glance from his daughter. but a string of candied haws could make them so happy ready to eat, xu musen took the ingredients he had prepared, ready to go into the kitchen and stir-fry a couple of dishes. an shanhai was somewhat surprised, "they''re even letting him cook." the old lady said with a smile, "this young man is quite a good cook, the few dishes he stir-fried the last time he came over for a meal, nuannuan and nannan, these two girls, really enjoyed eating." an shanhai was momentarily at a loss for words, he looked into the kitchen, nuannuan was helping to pass vegetables, nannan was eating her candied haws, and occasionally she would share a piece with her sister. the last piece, she even generously fed to xu musen, urging him to make the food taste even better. it was a scene full of joy and harmony. "how come i feel like i''m the one who''s here as a guest" an shanhai muttered to himself. the grandmother sighed, "it''s because you don''t come back often, you see? what matters isn''t the expensive gifts but the companionship you can offer when they need it." an shanhai gave a bitter smile, "but i can''t let nuannuan make decisions lightly, this is a big deal." explore hidden tales at empire "that''s up to you, the father. as children grow up, they will inevitably face these situations. you have your considerations as a parent, but you also have to consider from the child''s perspective. there are some gaps between you and your daughters, but i think the appearance of this young man is a good opportunity to bridge those gaps." the grandmother spoke earnestly. an shanhai also nodded for a long while. before long, xu musen brought the dishes to the table, all of them were homely, but complete with color, aroma, and taste. an shanhai too was surprised by his cooking skills. a dish of sweet and sour ribs. nannan was happily eating, her little mouth shiny with grease. an nuannuan picked up a rib and almost instinctively tried to give it to xu musen. but xu musen cleared his throat. "uncle an, my cooking skills are limited to a few home-style dishes, please try some." with that, xu musen gently touched an nuannuan''s arm. an nuannuan blinked and placed the rib she was holding into the eager hands of her father beside her. "dad, try this, xu musen''s cooking is really tasty." an nuannuan offered the food to her father, but the tone of her voice was proud as if boasting about her man''s capabilities. "ah, alright, i''ll try it." an shanhai nodded, he had seen xu musen''s subtle gesture and felt a bit uncomfortable. but he also acknowledged the thoughtful little act. and eating the food his daughter offered washed away some of his sourness. "indeed, not bad. it''s rare for a guy to be able to cook such good dishes." an shanhai commented as he nodded. "i''m glad you like it, and when there''s a chance, i will try other cuisines for you to sample." xu musen answered humbly. but to an shanhai''s ears, these words seemed a bit awkward no matter how he listened. "sure." "yay!" and when he said that, an nuannuan and an nannan''s eyes sparkled, eager to get their father''s agreement on his behalf. as a father, he felt a bit melancholy. it was as if he had complimented a street racer, telling him his racing skills weren''t bad. then the street racer said, given the chance, he''d take his daughter out racing every day. and it would have been one thing if only nuannuan had reacted, but seeing nannan get excited too was just too much. an shanhai looked at xu musen, surrounded by his two daughters, one on each side. suddenly, the taste of the ribs in his mouth wasn''t appealing at all. fine, fine, so i''m the only "outsider" in this house, huh? Chapter 174 Scissorhands under the Sunset, is >s favorite. dinner party.an shanhai always felt like he was the one who didn''t belong. xu musen, on the other hand, was very sociable. it was one thing to get along with both daughters, but he even managed to blend in seamlessly with the old lady and xiao xiang during their conversation. read new adventures at empire yet, looking at nuannuan''s current optimistic and open demeanor, he couldn''t find the words to say. compared to the daughter who would stay in her room every day, barely uttering a word. the nuannuan of now seemed more like what a girl her age should be like. but was it still too early for her to be dating? he had specifically come for this matter this time. however, he found it difficult to broach the subject. after some thought, an shanhai decided to take the initiative to probe. "xu musen." an shanhai spoke with a gentle tone, but the inherent authority of a superior still inadvertently manifested. "uncle an." xu musen put down his chopsticks to listen. "i heard that you''ve started a bubble tea shop and a kangaroo delivery project at school, and it''s quite a success." "you flatter me, uncle an; it''s just a small business, and there''s a long way to success," xu musen said modestly. "it''s quite an achievement for someone your age, and i''ve also heard that you gave half of your first bubble tea shop''s shares to nuannuan?" an shanhai steered the conversation towards an nuannuan. xu musen glanced at an nuannuan and smiled, saying, "i received a lot of support from your family in the early stages, so it''s only right." "investment is one thing, but it''s not easy starting a business. isn''t such a choice too big a sacrifice for you?" an shanhai said suggestively. "not at all. actually, nuannuan works hard at the bubble tea shop every day; in fact, i am more of a hands-off manager." xu musen spoke honestly. "i''m the boss lady, i don''t mind the hard work." an nuannuan suddenly spoke from the side, always proud of the title ''boss lady.'' an shanhai was at a loss for words. silly girl, being called ''boss lady'' is not something to be taken lightly. a hands-off manager, a boss lady. and both seemed more than happy with it. it felt like his daughter was about to get married, not only refusing a dowry but also willing to contribute a bigger portion to her future in-laws. an shanhai, an old father, felt a bittersweet sensation. "young and promising..." an shanhai calmed his emotions, praising out loud, "to have such accomplishments at your age, there must be many girls who like you. do you have a girlfriend now?" xu musen could sense that nuannuan''s father seemed to be aiming for a direct approach. "not at the moment." "is it that you don''t want to date, or is it that you haven''t met the right one?" an shanhai chatted like a friendly neighbor inquiring about a child''s significant matters. but there was still an undercurrent of pressure. an nuannuan had stopped eating at this point, blinking her big eyes and nervously intertwining her feet beneath her stool. xu musen didn''t exhibit the shyness or embarrassment typical of boys his age, smiling as he said, "it would be a lie to say i don''t want to, and i do have a type i like, but i worry i can''t offer the conditions a girl might want right now. besides, these matters depend on mutual satisfaction. i''ll wait for the right fate." when xu musen said this, the table fell quiet for a moment. the old lady took a sip of her soup, not expecting the young man to be so direct with his thoughts. an shanhai felt even more so, that the young man had directed those words at nuannuan. he chuckled once more. sar?h the novel(f~)ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "then what type of girl do you like? i have many colleagues and old classmates whose daughters are about your age. should i introduce one to you?" an shanhai shifted his tone, half-jokingly making the suggestion. "no, not necessary." those words came from an nuannuan, and as she blurted them out without thinking, her fair face instantly reddened. "i mean... xu musen is very busy every day. a man shouldn''t be distracted when starting a business, that''s what you used to say, dad..." an nuannuan tried to explain, but she only made things worse. the old lady silently ate her meal, sighing inwardly, aware that possessiveness is a sign of budding affection. it seemed that her granddaughter was beginning to show signs. an shanhai, as someone who had been through it all, could see it clearly in his daughter''s expression. and without any prompting, his daughter was the one getting worked up. still, he looked at xu musen, maintaining a calm smile, "what are your thoughts?" xu musen''s gaze fell on an nuannuan, whose small hand holding the chopsticks was nervously clenched, her eyes meeting his as she looked up. xu musen let out a gentle smile, "i guess i''ll listen to the boss lady. otherwise, if i get too distracted and she fires me, that would be unfortunate." his playful remark enlivened the atmosphere around the table. aunt xiang and the old lady were somewhat taken aback, yet amused. an nuannuan''s cheeks were flushed, and xu musen''s phrase "listen to the boss lady" made her feel like her ears were melting. she picked up a rib, carefully removed the bone and placed it on xu musen''s plate as if rewarding him for his flattery. an shanhai had not anticipated xu musen''s response. are the young people of today really this shameless? alright, afraid that dating will distract from work, so you go straight for the boss lady to settle it all? Chapter 174 Scissorhands under the Sunset, is >s favorite._2 ironically, nuannuan now is indeed the owner of a milk tea shop, so this statement is perfectly reasonable.an shanhai felt a bit gloomy as he looked at the wine on the table, "can i have a drink?" "you can if you keep me company." "good, then let''s have some." this man, when struggling to find a topic of conversation, would start drinking. after all, once the wine is gone, it''s all just "drunken words". treat it as if i never said anything once sober. after three rounds of drinks. "at your age, we''re not worried about much else, just interpersonal relationships. university is like a small society; people have complex motives, especially in business. as the saying goes, men fear choosing the wrong profession, and women fear marrying the wrong man. you have to be wary of those who are double-dealing." experience more on empire an shanhai''s earnest advice was for xu musen, but also for an nuannuan. especially the last part was for them to see if the shoe fit. an nuannuan then lifted her head and suddenly said, "xu musen is a really good person, and... he''s definitely not the double-dealing type." an nuannuan''s voice was soft. if dogs are said to be the most loyal creatures in the world, then those who dote on them excessively are even more loyal! xu musen was once such a devoted soul. he pursued yao mingyue without looking back for years, and the whole school knew it, since they were childhood sweethearts. indeed, very few could match his level of focus. xu musen guessed what an nuannuan was referring to, he felt touched but also a bit frustrated. can we not bring up this dark history? but an nuannuan didn''t care because while xu musen was pouring his heart into that girl, she was also secretly paying attention to him... an nuannuan spoke, glancing at her father from time to time. the usually simple-minded her was exceptionally serious in this moment. an shanhai coughed dryly, "of course, of course. i''m talking about other people, just a gentle reminder." sear?h the n??el fire.nt website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. an shanhai still felt a guilty and somewhat pusillanimous sense of obligation toward his daughter. in the outside world, he was a domineering business tycoon, but at home, his standing in the family still came after nannan''s. "uncle an, rest assured, nuannuan has quite a few classmates around her, and we all work, study, eat, and chat together every day. we''re all quite happy and won''t let anyone bully nuannuan." xu musen also spoke up. an shanhai had seen it yesterday: in that small milk tea shop, nuannuan and a few classmates were busily and cheerfully engaged. that scene could not be compared to the happiness his daughter derived from the many gifts he bought for her or the excellent material conditions he provided. "that''s good." an shanhai held up his glass; many words seemed better kept bottled up inside for now. anyway, the two kids hadn''t officially breached the subject, he just hoped his daughter wouldn''t be shortchanged. after dinner. xu musen didn''t rush to leave but walked around the yard with an nuannuan and played with the claw machine with an nannan. without the vendors secretly adjusting the machine''s sensitivity, it was really one grab, one success. "it''s my turn, my turn!" "let me grab another one for your sister." "no, no! if you''re going to give one, it should be from me. let me grab it!" xu musen and an nannan were like two kindergarten kids fighting over the claw machine. an nuannuan sat on the swing chair off to the side, her pale face reflecting a soft glow. the corners of her mouth were always gently curved, as if smiling knowingly. upstairs, an shanhai and the old lady stood by the window, watching the harmonious scene of the three people in the yard. "what are you thinking now?" the old lady asked. an shanhai exhaled a breath laced with alcohol, "now it''s about seeing what nuannuan thinks. judging from today, this young man called xu musen has a good personality, but i always feel he''s a bit slick, avoiding the important issues and focusing on the trivial. i think we need to observe him more closely..." he has the look of a smooth talker that could easily sweet-talk girls. another worthless man. the old lady smiled, "between people, the first impression is the most important. when you first met nuannuan''s mother, weren''t you dead set on marrying her too?" an shanhai touched his nose, "times have changed; the kids these days are all too clever." "times may change, but human nature never does. you can take your time to observe; that''s your duty as a father. but as for the kids'' matters, let nature take its course." "but isn''t that a bit too hasty? after all, nuannuan has never had any contact with boys before." an shanhai was still a bit worried. the old lady laughed, "don''t forget, the little boy who brought nuannuan a cake six years ago is him. calculating it... nuannuan has been thinking of him for six years and watched him for three years in high school. three years, long enough to see someone clearly. this is already a choice nuannuan has seriously made." an shanhai was stunned, watching the bustling scene of the three people in the yard below, his daughter''s joyful happiness reminding him of many years ago when their own family was just as carefree and happy. an shanhai was silent for a long while, then sighed softly. it was time to leave. an nuannuan walked him to the door. the setting sun hung low, bathing the surroundings in a warm amber light. ``` "xu musen, my dad kept asking strange questions today, don''t mind it." an nuannuan tugged at the hem of his clothes. xu musen smiled, squatted down, and ruffled her hair, "how could i? if it were me, and a boy suddenly showed up next to my pretty and cute daughter, i''d probably inquire thoroughly too. it means your uncle cares a lot about you." listening to him, an nuannuan felt a warm glow inside: "xu musen, you''re so nice." "that''s because you are nice too. uncle came back today, have a good chat with him." xu musen stretched out his hand wanting to pinch her cheek, but then he realized they were at the front door of her house and it might not look good if someone saw them. just as he was about to retract his hand, he felt a soft touch between his fingers. an nuannuan voluntarily rubbed her tender, white, bun-like cheek against xu musen''s palm. for a moment, their eyes met, cheeks flushed pink, and their gaze was clear, yet not entirely innocent. "xu musen, i like being with you." an nuannuan sounded as if she was boldly confessing on the spur of the moment. xu musen had already experienced her earnest appearance when driving. or maybe it was just the kind of liking friends feel for each other, just as he rather enjoyed fishing with he qiang. but at this moment, an nuannuan''s eyes, bathed in the setting sun outside, were earnest in a way that made it difficult to look away. "is it friend-like fondness, or..." xu musen asked softly. "of course, it''s" an nuannuan lifted her gaze, giggled at him, and then suddenly raised her right hand horizontally in front of her eyes and made a ''scissors'' gesture. the unexpected cute act caught xu musen off guard. before he could ask, a car drove up, aunt xiang came to pick him up, smiling at them: "nuannuan, i''ll take him back to the university." "then i''ll be off." xu musen felt it wouldn''t be proper to continue asking, so he got into the car. waving goodbye, an nuannuan watched his receding figure for a long time, gently kicking a pebble on the ground with her foot braced on a crutch: "dummy..." ... the rolls-royce arrived at hu hai university. getting out of the car under the envious gaze of the gate guards, xu musen said. "thank you, aunt xiang." aunt xiang smiled. "you''re welcome." as she spoke, she took out a black business card from her bag and handed it to him. "by the way, this is a card nuannuan''s father asked me to give you." xu musen took it, feeling the card''s metallic texture. it was simply inscribed with three characters: an shanhai, and his telephone number. an shanhai... only then did xu musen learn an nuannuan''s father''s name. a thought suddenly occurred to him, it was a name he felt he had heard before... "i''ll be on my way now. nuannuan was very happy today, keep up the good work." aunt xiang started the car at that moment, laughing lightly and breaking his train of thought. with that, she pressed the accelerator and left. xu musen stood still. keep up the good work? he remembered the words he had said to an nuannuan at the doorway of her house. is it friend-like fondness? an nuannuan didn''t answer but made a ''scissors'' hand gesture. for girls, acting cute usually meant ''to get by cutely''. not to consent, in effect, meant to refuse. xu musen felt a pang of melancholy as he looked up at the sunset in the sky, still slightly dazzling. xu musen also raised his right hand, making a ''scissors'' gesture in front of his eyes. suddenly, he paused. the ''scissors'' gesture made with his right hand horizontally, wasn''t it just like a ">" sign? is it friend-like fondness? it''s > friend-like fondness. a feeling surged within xu musen. is it greater than friend-like... that kind of fondness? ``` Chapter 175 Dont Make Enemies on the Path of Freeloading. at night, xu musen held the business card an shanhai had given him.he remembered why that name sounded so familiar. in his previous life, yao mingyue had suddenly gone abroad after university. during the year or two gap, xu musen relied on his computer science expertise to stay in hu hai and found a job. he remembered it was with one of hu hai''s leading enterprises. although hu hai university was a prestigious institution, it still fell short compared to those truly top-tier universities. moreover, xu musen didn''t have much work experience, but even so, he was lucky enough to be hired. upon entering the company, he was enthusiastically brought into the core projects by his supervisor, and he received his year-end bonus and various benefits in full. if things had proceeded normally, and yao mingyue had not returned, xu musen could have made a name for himself in the company within a few years. even without becoming incredibly wealthy, at the very least, he could have settled his family''s debts and lived a decent life. it wouldn''t be long before he might get promoted and receive a raise, become a general manager, the ceo, marry a rich and beautiful wife, and reach the pinnacle of lifean exciting thought indeed... of course, all of that changed with yao mingyue''s return. upon reflection, xu musen realized that if yao mingyue had not come back in his previous life, his life seemed to have been planned out by someone elsestep by step, it could have been quite good. the reason xu musen was familiar with the name an shanhai was because of his supervisor. after a team-building event, while drunk, the supervisor had grabbed him and asked if he had any connection to the major shareholder of the company. that major shareholder''s name was an shanhai. and this wasn''t the only time he had heard it. previously, xu musen hadn''t paid much attention. but after meeting an nuannuan this life, he suddenly felt that his previous life''s events weren''t so simple. after all, an nuannuan had been silently watching over him since high school, only choosing to keep silent and not disturb him due to yao mingyue. thus, it was only after yao mingyue left that an nuannuan chose to start helping him in secret. otherwise, how could he have been so lucky to be chosen in such a competitive job interview, and taken care of by a supervisor he had never met before, with promotions coming so smoothly... he had not realized it in his last life, but thinking carefully now, there was definitely an nuannuan''s shadow behind it all. xu musen was somewhat silent. he always felt that in his last life, he never escaped the shadow of being kept. however, yao mingyue was not one to be coerced. an nuannuan, on the other hand, had secretly fed him the ''soft rice.'' he somewhat understood why an shanhai, or perhaps an nuannuan, had done what they did in his last life. it''s better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish. perhaps, as xu musen gradually matured, an nuannuan would appear in front of him in another way... or maybe, this was an shanhai''s way of repaying xu musen. after all, in his previous life, he and an nuannuan didn''t have the relationship they have now. getting him a good job was already quite generous. of course, these were all his conjectures, but the reality probably wasn''t too far off. xu musen exhaled deeply, looking at the business card of an shanhai in his hand. if things were really as he thought, then an nuannuan''s silent devotion to him was too great. the matters of his last life couldn''t be verified anymore. sar?h the n?vel(f)ire.et website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. xu musen didn''t want to dwell on his previous life; it served no purpose. he only knew that in this life, he had a good impression of an nuannuan, and that was enough. xu musen put away the business card. he thought of the hand gestures an nuannuan had made towards him. liking him more than a friend... was that a hint that they could move a step further? if so, read exclusive adventures at empire xu musen rubbed his hands together, and as an eighteen or nineteen-year-old with a healthy mind and body, it was impossible not to think of other things. being reborn, he should at least have a proper romance, shouldn''t he? xu musen smiled and surprisingly looked forward to the start of school. ... meanwhile, in the villa, an nuannuan lay on the bed, the rosy hue on her delicate face persisting as if the warm evening sun had settled upon her cheeks. she hadn''t expected her father to suddenly return today, but she could sense that he had probably come back for this very reason. "nuannuan." at this moment, there was a knock on the door. the elderly lady walked in. "grandma." an nuannuan sat up and gently rubbed her little face with her hands. adorably a bit silly. the elderly lady, with a kind smile, sat down beside the bed and gently stroked her granddaughter''s head, "what are you still thinking about?" "nothing much." "are you still thinking about what happened during dinner?" "um..." an nuannuan nodded slightly. "grandma, does dad seem to dislike xu musen a bit?" "why would you think that? it''s not that he dislikes him. in fact, he thinks this person is very important, which is why he asked a few more questions." the elderly lady spoke gently, "our opinions don''t really matter; what''s important is your own thoughts. can you share them with grandma?" with her grandma''s comforting tone, an nuannuan felt the anxiety in her heart calm significantly, her big eyes twinkling. shyness, nervousness, a mix of emotions... all intertwined at the age when first love blooms, making it so easy to be seen through. "grandma, i feel that i... i, i want to be... a little closer to xu musen..." an nuannuan, normally slow-witted, was now so nervous that she was stammering, with her pretty face flushed red. all girls in the throes of young love are the same. Chapter 175 Dont Make Enemies on the Path of Freeloading. _2 the old lady smiled."nuannuan, do you want to be in a relationship with him?" as someone who had been through it all, the old lady was direct in asking. the words "be in a relationship" burned like a branding iron, leaving an nuannuan momentarily unsure whether to nod or shake her head. "i don''t know." "you don''t know? do you have any concerns?" the old lady asked patiently. an nuannuan shook her head, her pale little hands clasped together, "i''m afraid that he might not like me" the old lady was momentarily stunned, then couldn''t help but burst into laughter, "silly girl, if he didn''t like you, why would he take such good care of you, why would he come over especially to cook for you, and even give you half of his milk tea shop?" "he said it was to thank me." "if it was to thank you, wouldn''t it be better to just give you money? why go to all the trouble of doing so much?" the old lady chuckled, "and besides, didn''t you start out wanting to thank him too?" with those words, an nuannuan''s face turned even redder. indeed, she had intended to thank him, but in the end, it seemed like she was the first who couldn''t restrain herself from corrupting their friendship. "grandma, you guys don''t object?" an nuannuan suddenly realized, after all her grandmother had said, there seemed to be no intention to stop her. "you''ve grown up as well, and we can understand you having someone you like, but what we worry about most is that you at this age might not be able to control yourselves." the old lady stroked her granddaughter''s head, speaking earnestly, "and dating is a gradual process. we don''t oppose you seeing him, but there are certain things you just mustn''t do too lightly, you know?" "like what?" an nuannuan blinked her large eyes. the grandmother pondered; her mindset was already out of sync with the young people nowadays. in the past, one couldn''t even touch hands before getting formal approval. but now, premarital cohabitation is commonplace. "for instance," "it''s like you two shouldn''t spend the night together in the same bed." the grandmother put it more tactfully. an nuannuan thought of xu musen''s little room in the milk tea shop. the bed in xu musen''s room was chosen by her, after all; taking a nap on it during the afternoon was so comfortable. not staying overnight was one thing, but a nap should be fine, right? "also, there are some parts of a girl''s body that shouldn''t be seen or touched by others." the old lady continued to give nuannuan her preventive advice. an nuannuan nodded thoughtfully; since she was little, her mother told her there were parts of a girl''s body that absolutely could not be touched by others. especially not by boys. she looked down at her chest... "grandma, why would... someone want to touch here?" she didn''t quite understand; what was so good about them? they were just aching her shoulders every day. the old lady looked at her granddaughter''s figure and couldn''t help but smile, "that''s because these parts are treasures given to girls by heaven, saved for the person you like the most; that way, the person who likes you the most will also cherish you more." "i see." an nuannuan had an epiphany and nodded; saved for the person she liked the most, huh... she kind of understood; it was like how she used to love cotton candy the most, and if she could have a taste, she would be happy for a long time. if he liked it then... an nuannuan fidgeted slightly. the old lady would probably never know that her well-intentioned "big cabbage avoiding scumbags guide" was rapidly transforming into a "big cabbage feeding pigs guide" in an nuannuan''s mind. ... the old lady left an nuannuan''s room, and at the door, an shanhai had been waiting. "mom, what did you and nuannuan talk about?" "i''ve said all that needs to be said; the rest is up to the young people''s fate. nuannuan may lack some social tact, but she''s clever, so don''t worry." the old lady glanced back at nuannuan''s room door. "since her mother passed away, she''s now the most willing to open up to him; as long as nothing goes wrong, we should just let nature take its course." hearing this, an shanhai could only sigh silently. the image of a tender figure surfaced in his mind; if she were still here, nuannuan would probably be more willing to talk to her... an shanhai sighed and had no choice but to turn around and leave first. ... weekend. xu musen wasn''t idling either. he handed things over at the shop, as these past few days zhao lianmai was quite busy, running around for materials to apply for a scholarship for impoverished students. for her, this was a must-win. and of course, with bai xin around, it shouldn''t be much of a problem. xu musen made a call to zhu yulan. "hello, what''s up?" zhu yulan sounded unenthusiastic from the start. xu musen spoke with a smile, "didn''t we agree the other day? i''d invite you out for a meal when i had some spare time." "you''re inviting me for a meal?" "mind joining me?" "tch, i''ll make it clear then, i won''t bring a penny, just my mouth!" zhu yulan certainly wouldn''t pass up a chance to take advantage of him. "of course, all you need is your mouth." "then wait for me." zhu yulan hung up the phone directly. "zhu, are you heading out?" yang xiaotao just walked into the office. "yeah, going out for a meal." "with that xu musen?" yang xiaotao seemed to have read her mind. sar?h the n?vel(f)ire.nt website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. zhu yulan glared, "who says that going out to eat has to be with him?" explore more stories at empire "because, besides him, who dares to invite you out for a meal" yang xiaotao mumbled. zhu yulan was indeed very pretty and quite tall... it wasn''t that she was picky; it was all relative. and she was a rich woman who drove a ferrari. at the start of the semester, many had pursued her, but they were soon discouraged by zhu yulan''s temperament. Chapter 175 Dont Make Enemies on the Path of Freeloading. _3 the only one who still dares to chat with her every day for no reason is actually xu musen.in other words, no matter how dominant zhu yulan seems every day, she''s actually quite pitiful, without even a few friends. "yang xiaotao!!" however, the fleeting pity in yang xiaotao''s eyes infuriated zhu yulan to no end. what does that mean? who''s the one without friends? people would line up all the way to paris, france, just to be friends with me! yang xiaotao hurriedly covered her butt and ran to the side, "i didn''t say anything, i''m just afraid he''ll cheat you again, zhu sis." zhu yulan regained her composure and huffed, "he won''t trick me this time. i''m just bringing my mouth over there, let''s see if he dares to cheat me and i won''t bite him to death!" yang xiaotao looked at zhu yulan''s lips, the two petals were pinkish with a bit of rosiness, slightly tender but the natural curve was especially enticing. she suddenly thought of some vulgar jokes. "smack!" zhu yulan slapped her. yang xiaotao covered her butt, feeling a bit wronged, "zhu sis, why did you hit me again?" "your eyes were too lecherous." "wuuu" ... xu musen also arrived at the school gate. zhu yulan was the type to be very energetic and assertive. even though she''s a second-generation rich kid, others, not to mention weekends, live a luxurious life every day. but zhu yulan insisted on doing entrepreneurship. xu musen wanted to slack off during the weekend, but instead, she was still dedicated to staying at the company. xu musen felt somewhat ashamed. but her eq and social experience were a bit concerning. after all, she''d had an easy life since childhood, not knowing how hard it is to earn money, naturally getting easily conned at first. how many second-generation rich kids were swindled out of their shorts when they first started a business. xu musen felt that it was better for him to deceive her rather than let others do it. sear?h the ovelfire.et website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. consider it as tuition for mr. xu''s class. experience tales with empire xu musen stood at the school gate waiting for her to come over. "handsome guy, waiting for someone again?" suddenly, the security guard at the gate approached and even offered him a cigarette. "waiting for someone, don''t smoke." xu musen smiled and shook his head. the security guard seemed to be in his mid-twenties. he looked at xu musen with a bit of envy. he had seen it all these past two days. on friday night, this guy left in a luxurious bentley, which seemed to belong to a pair of sisters. then on saturday, he got dropped off by a rolls-royce. today, sunday, he''s starting to wait at the gate again. he glanced at xu musen''s very casual attire; indeed, he looked pretty ordinary, though admittedly quite handsome. but all this handsomeness wasn''t enough to call for a different luxury car every day, was it? "handsome guy, can i ask you something?" "sure." "do you have any tricks for making friends?" the young security guard seemed to have his own ulterior motives, apparently aspiring for the life of a kept man. xu musen looked at him, patted his shoulder earnestly, and said, "don''t look for shortcuts, young man. your job is actually pretty good. it saves you forty years of detours." the corner of the young guard''s mouth twitched. what kind of advice was that? if he had other options, he wouldn''t be working as a damn security guard. you don''t give advice, how about recommending a recipe or something. just then, the sound of an engine approached. a ferrari made a stylish swing to a stop in front of the two men. as the window rolled down, zhu yulan''s attractive face, cool yet with a hint of arrogance, came into view. "get in, time to eat." zhu yulan''s words were brisk and to the point. but accompanied by her school beauty-level looks and the ferrari, it really left no room for refusal. xu musen smiled, patted the young guard''s shoulder again, "i''ve got to go." the young guard watched dazed as musen got into the ferrari, then took off with a press of the accelerator, disappearing into the distance. only a glimpse of the taillights was left to see. "pah!" the young guard spat. telling young people not to take shortcuts, my ass... it''s just that you''re afraid of competition on your path of being a kept man! Chapter 176 Another Pair of Childhood Sweethearts. zhu yulan had been eagerly planning to hit xu musen with a hefty bill.driving her ferrari around the center of hu hai city, as a local heiress, she had been to every high-end restaurant from childhood. after looking around, she realized that none of the restaurants had average costs below four digits, and suddenly, she found that she had no appetite at all. zhu yulan felt a bit frustrated, lacking the motivation to rip him off. "haven''t decided what to eat?" xu musen asked her. "i''m tired of these places. do you have any good recommendations?" xu musen thought for a moment; in his last life, he had frequented the city center with yao mingyue and knew some decent places. "there''s a french restaurant at the oriental pearl tower that''s not bad." "don''t want to go there, western food is the most boring to eat." "then there''s a japanese restaurant on huanghe road that''s also quite good." "japanese food is all raw, without a drop of oil." "then let''s have chinese food. i know a good restaurant." "hmmph, the tasty chinese places require advanced reservations. don''t think you can fob me off with some cheap stir-fry." zhu yulan huffed. xu musen was beginning to feel a headache. "so what exactly do you want to eat?" "anything." "..." xu musen felt he was stiffening up, his fists were hardening. going out to eat with a girl, the most annoying thing is this "anything". xu musen looked at the commercial district in the center of hu hai city. in such a prime location, even finding an ordinary diner was impossible. to meet all her criteria suddenly, xu musen''s eyes lit up, and he began to smile, turning to zhu yulan, "i do know a place." "what is it?" zhu yulan always felt she was about to be tricked whenever he smiled. "don''t worry, this place will definitely meet your needs." xu musen pointed to a commercial area: "let''s walk ahead; i remember it''s just up there." zhu yulan looked at him skeptically, but by this time, it was after twelve, and her stomach was starting to growl. ten minutes later. zhu yulan, clutching her six-figure lv purse and jangling the ferrari key, stood silently under the benevolent smile of a white-bearded old man''s sign. kfc... zhu yulan felt she had been conned, without a doubt. "this is the place you were talking about?" what kind of college student invites someone out to eat at kfc!? moreover, places like kfc were something zhu yulan had never visited before. after all, kfc and mcdonald''s abroad are fast-food joints meant for the working class. they don''t even compare to the likes of local sha county foods in china. in the environment she grew up in, there was simply no chance to eat this kind of food. "it''s exactly based on your requirements: no need for reservations like at chinese restaurants, it''s not the watery affair of japanese meals, and with so many combos, dining here is definitely interesting." your adventure continues at empire xu musen said with a cheerful grin. wasn''t it you who said "anything"? zhu yulan rolled her eyes at him: "i might as well kill you for being stingy. how am i supposed to fleece you here?" "you had your chance just now, didn''t you refuse to go? besides, for us village kids, having kfc as kids was a treat equivalent to acknowledging a godfather." xu musen looked at the kfc sign, remembering when he first went to kfc with he qiang, and how the two of them hoarded nearly a thousand yuan in their pockets before daring to enter. after entering, they spent over a hundred on a family bucket and couldn''t even finish it. "stingy is stingy, making excuses" "then why don''t you recommend another place?" xu musen shrugged. zhu yulan pouted, feeling a bit indecisive. she didn''t necessarily want to extort a lot of money from him, she just wanted to see him look a bit pained that''s all. she looked up at the kfc outlet; though she occasionally had fried chicken, it had been a very long time since she last visited a store. looking at the store, with adults and children alike munching on fried chicken, it actually smelled quite good "growl~" sea??h th novel?ire(.)ne*t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. to fleece this meal, she had skipped breakfast, and her stomach rumbled a little louder. she turned to look at xu musen, who was barely maintaining his composure not to laugh, her cheeks flushed red, and she glared at him: "tch, fine, i can''t be bothered to fuss with you today. let''s just eat here." they entered the store. zhu yulan''s poise was still intact, especially with her lv bag and ferrari key in hand, drawing envious glances from the young lady at the counter. "hello beautiful, what would you like to order?" the young lady at the counter asked enthusiastically. zhu yulan looked at the menu, noticing the most expensive items like the so-called seafood burgers were all under a few dozen yuan, and a family bucket was just over a hundred. she looked up at xu musen beside her, realizing she wasn''t going to be able to rip him off after all. zhu yulan felt a little unresolved disappointment. the young lady at the counter, noticing how zhu yulan was indecisive, recommended with a smile: "our new combo meal comes with a strawberry milkshake, perfect for the two of you." the young lady pointed at a corner of the menu, glancing back and forth between zhu yulan and xu musen. well, xu musen, though dressed simply, exuded a relaxed, self-assured charm, and being tall, he had a sunny, handsome smile that made them seem well-matched. and she was pointing to the combo. "the lovers'' combo..." these four words made zhu yulan feel as if the floor were electrified. she immediately felt uncomfortable all over: "who''s his lover!?" but as she flushed red trying to explain, she looked like a little girl caught in her first love affair, making her seem even more misconstrued. the nearby patrons'' attention was drawn to them, and they all laughed gleefully at the scene. Chapter 176 Another Pair of Childhood Sweethearts. _2 "just the most popular combo will do, and two orange juices, thanks."xu musen spoke up next to her, wondering what the point was in explaining anything to these npcs. having said that, xu musen found a table and sat down. zhu yulan also walked over and quickly sat down to avoid everyone''s gaze. but under the table, she couldn''t help but give xu musen a light kick. "hey! why didn''t you explain just now?" zhu yulan glared with her large eyes. her eyes were a delicate combination of almond and willow eyes, carrying a charming naivete amidst the refinement, a sense of youthful innocence. if an nuannuan was clarity with a touch of silliness, then she was silliness with occasional bursts of clarity. xu musen laughed and waved his hand, "why explain to a bunch of npcs?" "npc... what does that mean?" "it means these people aren''t going to cross paths with you much in the future. the world is vast, you don''t have that many onlookers, so why care about what others think? if you stand straight, you don''t fear a crooked shadow." "easy for you to say." zhu yulan didn''t bother to argue further, otherwise it might seem like she was the one who couldn''t let go. "don''t just sit there with your mouth idle. weren''t you going to treat me to a meal? i''ll make sure you get your fill today." xu musen grinned as the waiter brought over their combo. golden fried chicken, a few exquisite desserts, and juice. in reality, to humans, a mix of fat and sugar is always the most attractive. anyone who''s tried dieting knows that after cutting out carbs and sugary foods for a while, being able to eat a piece of fried chicken and soda is like living the dream! "eat up." xu musen didn''t stand on ceremony and directly picked up a drumstick and started gnawing on it. zhu yulan watched his crude way of eating... and despite herself, found it quite appetite-stimulating. zhu yulan also picked one up and started chewing. as she took a bite, her eyes lit up. it was actually pretty delicious. she was quite picky with food, which was part of why she had managed to maintain such a slim figure. it had been a long time since she''d eaten something this greasy. she had almost forgotten what fried chicken tasted like. "ding dong..." her phone chimed with a message, yang xiaotao sent her a message: "zhu sister, what gourmet meal are you eating for lunch?" zhu yulan glanced at xu musen. "tsk, this guy is so stingy, he only treated me to kfc." "kfc is delicious, too! but my mom says that kind of fried food is junk and has growth hormones. it makes you grow sideways instead of tall, and i wasn''t allowed to have it a long time ago. she told me to learn from you, zhu sister, and get taller. (sob sob~)" "..." zhu yulan silently looked down and wow! she could see her long legs clearly! cough spit! she remembered that yang xiaotao, though barely over 160 cm tall, had developed quite nicely where it mattered. she must have eaten too many hormones! zhu yulan felt uncomfortable inside. although a successful woman isn''t defined by her figure, who doesn''t want to look even better? discover exclusive content at empire it''s pleasing to oneself as well. zhu yulan: "eat, eat, eat, that''s all you know!" yang xiaotao: "???" what had she done to upset her again? "alright, i''ll bring you a portion when i go back. after all, he''s the one treating. you keep holding down the fort." zhu yulan vented her feelings, then sweetened the pot again. sea??h th novel(f~)ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. yang xiaotao, the little foodie, immediately perked up at the mention of food: "okay, boss!" zhu yulan closed the chat window and noticed there were a few unread messages, just by looking at the annotations above them. zhu yulan chose to ignore them. "who are you messaging?" xu musen, seeing her snarling and grinning moments before, couldn''t help but ask. "xiaotao." zhu yulan put away her phone. "that girl is quite cute. it''s not easy with your temperament to trick someone so obedient to be your worker bee. treasure her," xu musen said with a laugh. but the next moment, he was kicked again. "what do you mean? there are plenty of people who want to be my friend, so you don''t need to worry about it, and don''t you dare have any ideas about xiaotao!" zhu yulan glared with her almond eyes, round with dissatisfaction, and hummed unhappily. a server was delivering a meal to the table next to hers when she suddenly noticed something. "hm? why do they all have little gifts and we don''t?" zhu yulan looked around; every table with a child had some small gifts on it. xu musen looked and felt like this scene seemed oddly familiar. "this toy comes with the children''s meal, not the regular meal," the waiter explained with a smile upon hearing this. children... zhu yulan resisted any word that suggeted "juvenility," even though she found the toys rather appealing... "then forget it." she slowly shifted her gaze away from the toys. xu musen caught all of this, silently sighing to himself. he felt the hundred yuan in his pocket. he had originally thought that today''s meal would settle at two hundred yuan. looks like it was going to cost him another hundred. alas, what a loss! ... at this moment, a silver lamborghini appeared at the entrance of zhu yulan''s company near fudan university. it parked conspicuously at the company''s entrance. the car door opened, and a young man wearing a designer suit with gold-rimmed glasses and blonde-dyed hair stepped out. he was also holding a large bouquet of roses, looking quite handsome; clearly the rich second-generation type. he immediately drew quite a few gazes. the young man entered the store and looked around, but didn''t find the person he was looking for. "hello, are you looking for a job..." yang xiaotao came out to greet him, but considering the man''s appearance, he didn''t seem to be there for a job. "is zhu yulan here?" he asked with a smile, holding the roses in his arms. "zhu... ms. zhu, she''s gone out to have lunch with someone, to kfc of all places" yang xiaotao muttered slightly resentfully. she''d had to work overtime on the weekend already, and now the boss had slipped out for a nice meal while she had to stay and work. went out with someone? huang tianming''s brow furrowed slightly at that. in his mind, zhu yulan was not one to dine out with others often. most people simply couldn''t stand her temper. even he, who had returned from overseas and had been her childhood friend, had been trying to invite her out for days, but she kept giving him the cold shoulder. that''s why he had decided to come over and surprise her directly today. yet unexpectedly, she had gone out to eat with someone else. "is it a friend of hers?" "a friend? more like a ''scam-friend''... always thinking about freeloading off each other and scamming each other," yang xiaotao murmured under her breath. huang tianming: "?" he was confused, but what she had just said about zhu yulan going to kfc was even more puzzling to him. wait, the zhu family was a well-known enterprise in hu hai; as the zhu family''s princess, there was no way she would go to a place like kfc if she was dining out with her ladies. he pulled out his phone and checked it. he had been sending her messages for several days, inviting her out to dine with a chef he had specially flown in from france. but zhu yulan had replied with a chilly "no time" three days ago. just moments ago, he had texted her again, but as usual, there was no reply. and just like that, she turned around to have a meal with someone else. a powerful intuition gripped him. "you said she went to kfc? with a man or a woman?" huang tianming asked again, somewhat incredulously. "of course, it''s... eh, do you have business with my boss?" yang xiaotao blurted out subconsciously, but when she caught sight of the roses in his hands, she suddenly realized something was off. huang tianming didn''t answer her. the more he thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong. he left the roses aside and stormed out without another word. "eh..." yang xiaotao watched as he drove away, suddenly worrying if she had inadvertently caused some trouble. the young man was clearly an admirer of zhu yulan; moreover, he seemed quite familiar to her. but right now, zhu yulan was having lunch with xu musen. what if they met? wouldn''t they end up fighting? yang xiaotao instinctively wanted to join in the drama. however, if it came out that she had leaked the information... yang xiaotao immediately clutched her behind. should she consider putting on a few extra pairs of underwear? so that it would provide some cushion when she got a spanking later? Chapter 177 Childhood Sweethearts Often Meet a Sorry End. (Two in one, subscribe!) huang tianming.the young master of the hu hai huang family enterprise, two years older than zhu yulan. grew up on an old street and was, as people commonly say, childhood friends with her. huang tianming was a typical rich second generation, always causing trouble since he was a kid, got expelled from high school for fighting and almost crippling a classmate, the public outcry was too severe for other schools to even consider taking him. later on, he was sent abroad by his family, got a degree for show at a prestigious university, and then seemingly made a lot of money overseas with some business, turning himself into a paragon of hu hai''s entrepreneurial rich second generations. moreover, the huang family and zhu family had a good relationship, with the elders having some business dealings between them. sear?h the n??el fire.nt website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. plus, with huang tianming and zhu yulan being childhood friends, the families had initially some plans for a powerful alliance. however, following huang tianming''s multitude of ridiculous deeds, the matter was shelved. but these past two years, huang tianming''s overseas business operations appeared quite impressive, and he himself seemed to have changed, humble and polite to everyone, giving off the vibe that the prodigal son had returned, refusing to exchange his newfound wisdom for gold. after returning, huang tianming actively brought up these matters again, and regarding zhu yulan, he had been infatuated with her since they were kids. thus, both families were preparing to bring up the old topic once more. all of this could be summed up with a mary sue-style headline. "rebellious youth, endures three years abroad to become a dragon king, returning only to win his childhood sweetheart''s heart!" of course, this "dragon king" was now so frustrated he was almost bending his mouth out of shape! before coming back from abroad, he sent zhu yulan many messages, but she always ignored them. even when he blatantly and covertly invited her out to eat, she simply gave him an indifferent "i''m busy." that''s why he thought of extending an invitation in person, believing the stubborn girl would be unable to resist a persistent man, especially with their childhood friends buffhe was convinced zhu yulan would be his someday. but unexpectedly, she was out dining with someone else, and judging by the reaction of that young girl just now, it was likely a guy! huang tianming was almost about to twist the steering wheel into pieces. there are a lot of kfcs in hu hai. but huang tianming knew zhu yulan well, she usually only dined in the business districts in the city center. finally, driving his car, huang tianming spotted that ferrari parked by the roadside. his gaze turned to a kfc storefront not far away. right by the street-side window, he saw the figure he had been longing for. in his memory, zhu yulan was always cool and behaved like a typical young lady. but at that moment... "hey! that chicken wing is mine! you''ve already had quite a few." "you haven''t even finished your crispy strip, who told you to eat so leisurely. give it here!" "pah! i''m maintaining table manners, you have the nerve to fight me for food when you''re treating me, give it to me!" zhu yulan might have gotten used to the atmosphere of dining in such places, where surrounding kids would clamor and squabble over food. she just reached over and snatched the chicken wing from xu musen''s hands, biting into it and leaving a neat row of teeth marks, then put the wing down again, triumphantly saying, "see if you dare to fight me for it now." her triumphant look could have made one think she had snatched a project worth billions from someone else. xu musen couldn''t help but chuckle, "not maintaining table manners now, are we?" zhu yulan''s delicate cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but she still glared at him, "mind your own business, i''m still way better than you." zhu yulan had started her meal using disposable gloves and a napkin, delicately eating the fried chicken. but xu musen just grabbed and gnawed, and after finishing, even sucked on his fingers. that made her go "eh." "that''s so unhygienic." after all, the table manners she had been taught since childhood didn''t even allow for directly touching food, let alone lowering one''s head too much while eating. however, such dining etiquette clearly wasn''t suitable for the lively atmosphere of kfc, where everyone ate with their hands, and sucking on one''s fingers after eating made it seem especially delicious. experience more content on empire no wonder they say finger-licking good. "what''s so unhygienic about this? eating this is just like eating spicy strips, it''s all about sucking on your fingers at the end, why don''t you try it?" xu musen held out his own fingers for her to see. zhu yulan spat disdainfully, but gradually she too started eating the drumstick directly, her delicate lips catching some oil. it looked like she had applied a layer of lipstick, and her white slender fingers got stained with seasoning, as if she had put on a layer of nail polish. xu musen smiled, "actually, when you eat like this, it feels a lot more normal. there''s a way to enjoy a western meal, and there''s a way to eat fried chicken properly, eating with your hands like this is much more delicious." "using tools is the biggest difference between humans and wild beasts." "you can''t say that, anyone who uses a fork and knife for hot pot, i could laugh at them for a lifetime." "pfft..." zhu yulan instantly had that image in her mind and couldn''t help but laugh, then choked on the fried chicken and coughed a few times. xu musen passed her some tissues. zhu yulan, wiping away the tears that she coughed up, looked at him, "you and your twisted logic!" the two of them bickered back and forth, indeed resembling the way friends interact. zhu yulan also had to admit, although the meal wasn''t elegant, it was truly enjoyable. normally in those high-end restaurants, even speaking required controlling one''s tone. Chapter 177 Childhood Sweethearts Often Meet a Sorry End. (Two in one, subscribe!)_2 even at home, they can''t touch their chopsticks until the elders do, and they must announce when they''re done eating before leaving the table...but here, surrounded by the happy chatter of children and adults cheerfully accompanying them. she quite liked this atmosphere. she looked up at xu musen, and although this guy always tricked her, anything he promised, he''d get done. when she first started her business, there were others who wanted to partner with her, all with ulterior motives. some wanted to get close to her, others wanted to take the chance to curry favor with her family. only xu musen actually treated her like an entrepreneur and as a friend too. even though she always harbored some resentment toward him, deep down, zhu yulan didn''t reject him. otherwise, she wouldn''t have agreed to come eat kfc with him. plus, playfully bickering with him was actually quite fun. it was like the good girl was suddenly enticed by a wild and unrestrained lifestyle outside... even thinking that in the future it would be fine to occasionally hang out in places like this to eat, it was really relaxing. "today''s meal, is ms. zhu satisfied?" xu musen noted that her mood seemed pretty good. "so-so, but do you think you can get rid of me with just a meal at kfc? isn''t that a bit too casual?" zhu yulan replied nonchalantly, but her tone clearly hinted at something else. xu musen smiled knowingly, "then how about i treat you to a better meal next time we have the chance?" "that''s what you said, i didn''t force you." "of course, i have to cherish the chance to flatter ms. zhu." xu musen played along with her remark. zhu yulan''s delicate face slightly flushed; the unspoken understanding between them made her give him a slight glare in the end. but there was a hint of girlish playfulness in that glare. "pack one more for me. i want to bring it to xiao tao... and also, get two more chicken wings, and a drumstick." "no problem." xu musen stood up and conveniently walked to the counter. zhu yulan was about to finish off the last chicken wing when she looked at her fingers smeared with sauce and hesitated. seeing xu musen still at the counter, she turned her head to check if anyone was looking, then lifted her fingers to her mouth... the tender lips gently enveloped her slender, pale fingers, the remaining sauce like a final reward for a food enthusiast. the aromatic sauce and the scent of her fingers lightly blended togetherit was quite flavorful indeed. sarch* the n?vel?ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. slurp, slurp~ finding the action somewhat embarrassing, zhu yulan was about to withdraw her fingers. suddenly, a voice came from nearby. "yu lan, so you''re here." zhu yulan hurriedly pulled her fingers from her mouth, nearly choking in the process. when she turned her head, she saw huang tianming dressed in a suit, smiling at her. his gaze lingered on her shiny lips and moistened fingers, with a hint of admiring surprise in his eyes. the icy princess of the zhu family also enjoyed kfc and even sucked on her fingers! experience more on empire surprisingly cute. truly worthy of being a woman i, the dragon king... young master, have my eyes on! huang tianming''s smile grew even brighter. upon seeing who was there, zhu yulan''s pleasant mood seemed to have collapsed in an instant. and to be caught in such an embarrassing moment, especially by someone with such a detestable grin, made her even more irritated. "what are you doing here?" her tone was cold, not at all like someone talking to a childhood friend they grew up with. moreover, she had always ignored him; how did he know she was here? "we are childhood friends, maybe it''s just our special connection," huang tianming replied with an unfazed affectionate smile. "it''s been a while, yu lan." huang tianming, admittedly handsome in his expensive suit and with the air of a wealthy young heir, particularly with the lamborghini car keys at his waist, drew the attention of many. "don''t call me that; we''re not that close." zhu yulan frowned, her eyes openly displaying her disgust and coldness. amidst the murmurs of a few young onlookers: "jeez, this guy getting snubbed straight away even after showing up in a lambo to woo a girl." "that girl was holding a ferrari key earlier; she must be a rich woman who''s not short on money." "tsk tsk tsk, rich folks sure are funny, skipping fancy restaurants to eat kfc." "for them, kfc might just be a whim, but for us, it''s the most expensive thing we can afford." "come on! do you have to put it so bluntly?" ... huang tianming, watching zhu yulan meticulously wiping her hands, indifferent to him, felt a bit irritated, though he kept smiling: "yu lan, i know i''ve made some mistakes in the past, but i''ve changed. can you give me another chance?" "what you are doesn''t concern me. at most, we''re just neighbors. don''t act like we used to be close, okay?" as zhu yulan finished wiping her hands, she frowned deeper upon hearing his words. Chapter 177 Childhood Sweethearts Often Meet a Sorry End. (Two in one, subscribe!)_3 "lan, i may not have become much better now, but i''ve certainly established my own business. don''t you also want to start a company? i can help you.""what, showing off your wealth to me?" zhu yulan snorted coldly. the scale of the zhu and huang families'' enterprises were not too far apart. but the zhu family still had numerous people in politics, which businessmen could never compare with. "if you''re wealthy, why don''t you go show off by throwing money in the streets? that would be much better." zhu yulan was also not one to consider the feelings of others when she spoke. the gazes of the people around them had become increasingly curious. huang tianming eventually felt like he couldn''t hold back his frustration. he adjusted his breathing, slowly opened his mouth, and said, "lan, we can put aside the matters between us for now. who was that person you were eating with just now?" "what business is it of yours who that was?" zhu yulan said offhandedly. this attitude finally caused huang tianming to lose control of his temper. he pressed his voice lower. "lan, you know that both our families want us to be together, and yet here you are out with someone else, especially in a place like this. i don''t think uncle zhu would let you carelessly dine with some unknown young man, now would he?" huang tianming was somewhat trying to use his family''s rules to pressure zhu yulan. after all, while these people fear neither heaven nor earth, deep down they knew their confidence all came from their family. therefore, they usually didn''t dare to contravene the stringent demands of their families easily. especially at their age, when the children were slowly starting to represent the face of their families, and arranged marriages for business purposes were definitely not just something from tv dramas. a powerful alliance was the choice of most wealthy people. experience new stories on empire however, for zhu yulan, what annoyed her most right now was exactly this. she was just about to speak. another voice tinged with laughter broke in. "i''m not some random person, and i also have a name." a kfc family bucket, neatly packed, was placed between the two of them, along with a cup of plum drink set on the table in front of huang tianming. xu musen looked at him with an amused glance before turning to zhu yulan and asking, "is this your friend?" zhu yulan, seeing his smiling facea clear signal he was about to trick someonefelt a sudden sense of complicity, and the corner of her mouth involuntarily curled up as she said, "i don''t know him." "you don''t know him? well, then it''s a bother, but could you make room? i don''t want my friend to be harassed by some unknown person so casually." xu musen had already stepped in front of huang tianming, his height and well-proportioned figure imposing enough to intimidate tianming. huang tianming''s face darkened, feeling incredibly irked by their coordinated responses, his dislike for the way they seamlessly played off each other growing. but looking at xu musen''s casual attire, he estimated the value of musen''s entire outfit to be less than that of one of his own shoe insoles. getting angry at such a person would only show his lack of sophistication. he remained motionless, as if xu musen didn''t exist, and chuckled at zhu yulan, "lan, it seems the world has truly changed in the years i''ve been away from hu hai, where anyone can have the nerve to become friends with you." zhu yulan''s brow furrowed. although she had her own small grievances against xu musen, the king of tricks, she considered him her own because he came out to eat with her today. even when beating a dog, one should look at the owner! "i''m flattered, but i still need to learn from you when it comes to thick skin. actually, i quite enjoy making friends too. could you teach me how to forcibly befriend someone even when they don''t agree to it?" xu musen asked with the earnestness of one seeking genuine guidance. but the more earnest he was, the more huang tianming felt a burning sensation on his face. huang tianming: "..." "pfft..." zhu yulan almost burst out laughing, finding huang tianming''s darkened, berated face unexpectedly formidable for the first time. huang tianming clenched his teeth, glaring at him fiercely, perhaps picking up on a hint of xu musen''s accent, and sneered, "so, you''re from out of town. probably only recognize kfc and mcdonald''s in a big city. lan, i''ve invited a five-star french chef who makes excellent desserts, so how about coming to my house tonight? it''s much better than this junk food." huang tianming''s pride was ingrained in his nature, and he indeed had the right to be proud. the people around them, who were devouring their chicken legs and burgers, twitched at the corners of their mouths. damn! just because you''re rich doesn''t make you better! am i not a person too? xu musen, still not in a rush and with his usual smile, shook the family bucket in his hand and said cheerfully, "what''s so great about a five-star chef? over here, we have colonel''s chicken nuggets; don''t i rank higher than you? boss zhu, would you rather have a michelin five-star chef or a family bucket with colonel''s chicken nuggets?" xu musen left the decision to zhu yulan. sarch* the novl?ire.n(e)t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. huang tianming''s face turned iron blue. since the beginning, zhu yulan hadn''t stopped smiling. seeing huang tianming''s face looking as if he had eaten a fly, she replied cheerfully, "have the wings and drumsticks i wanted also been added in?" "of course, double portions." "that''s good." zhu yulan didn''t answer directly, but she had effectively smacked huang tianming''s face with two slaps. "young master huang, i''ve got my dinner plans sorted now, so i won''t bother you, and we''ll be on our way if there''s nothing else." zhu yulan stood up, deliberately making a sarcastic remark. "zhu yulan!" huang tianming finally lost his temper. in his heart, he had long considered zhu yulan to be his own. Chapter 177 Childhood Sweethearts Often Meet a Sorry End. (Two in one, subscribe!)_4 today, if she just walks off with this guy, where on earth would i put my face in the future?he looked at zhu yulan and spoke. "i am sincere about you, and my family knows it. you can reject me for now, but you shouldn''t hang out with this sort of person. our family cares about face." "care about face? who has lost more face than you? huang tianming, i''m telling you once more, it''s my freedom to be with whoever i want. even if i liked a pig, i wouldn''t look at you!" zhu yulan coldly dropped a line, seemingly out of spite, and grabbed one of xu musen''s fingers, who was a spectator nearby, and walked out with him. xu musen suddenly felt a bit offended. are you grabbing a pig here? ... in the restaurant, people around were enjoying a juicy scene. this sort of drama where a rich young master gets showed up by a handsome commoner taking away a wealthy beauty was just too good to watch. huang tianming watched their retreating backs, especially the action of zhu yulan grabbing xu musen''s hand. he felt as if he could crush his teeth from anger. even though he knew zhu yulan might be doing this to provoke him deliberately, he also understood zhu yulan. with her missy temper and pride deep down, to be used as a shield by her, he must hold a certain position in her heart. his brows were tightly knitted as he picked up his phone, which had a photo of the moment xu musen and zhu yulan were fighting over chicken wings. he glanced at it and clenched his fist tightly, "you must be mine." just as he was about to stand up and leave, a waiter stopped him. "you''re stopping me too?" huang tianming was in a very bad mood. the waiter cleared his throat and pointed to the spot where huang tianming had just sat. "no, this glass of sour plum drink, four yuan." huang tianming: "..." ... at this moment, inside zhu yulan''s ferrari. xu musen moved his pinky finger around: "could you not suddenly pull on my fingers next time? it can''t take the strain." zhu yulan thought back to how she had impulsively grabbed his finger. if she had held on a bit more, it would have turned into hand-holding. she gave xu musen a sidelong glance, her cheeks slightly flushed: "who cares to touch you, i just didn''t want to see him, that''s all." "speaking of which, who is this guy anyway? he can''t be a stranger to you, right?" xu musen also asked somewhat irritably. "he''s nothing but a neighbor at best. i have nothing to do with him." zhu yulan spoke of him, her tone filled with undisguised coldness and disdain. "neighbor..." xu musen felt this sounded oddly familiar. "tch, don''t tell me you two were also childhood sweethearts?" eh? why did i use ''also''? "pfft! childhood sweetheart with him? i''m just unlucky to have such a neighbor, like a sticky plaster." zhu yulan started up the car, slamming the gas pedal as if she were stepping on huang tianming''s thick face. xu musen felt a damned sensation of being pushed back. "this is the first time i''ve seen childhood sweethearts... no, neighbors, neighbors, who hate each other so much." feeling zhu yulan''s gaze, xu musen quickly corrected himself: "that said, even if you don''t have feelings for each other, it wouldn''t lead to fighting the moment you meet, right?" continue reading on empire "who decided that neighbors must have a good relationship?" zhu yulan glanced at him, still remembering the last time they went out to eat and a childhood sweetheart of his came to pick a fight. their relationship, it seems, wasn''t that good either. xu musen felt somewhat powerless to rebut: "she''s a relic of history between us." "i simply look down on him. don''t let his presentable appearance fool you; he''s nothing but trash inside." zhu yulan spoke dispassionately, seemingly having a very clear view of the true character of her "childhood sweetheart." xu musen raised an eyebrow slightly: "you... haven''t been hurt by him, have you?" zhu yulan turned her head, giving him a "are you courting death?" look. "he wouldn''t dare bother me directly, but that doesn''t stop him from harming others. he''s no good." zhu yulan brought up past incidents with undisguised contempt. "your circle is really chaotic." xu musen spread his hands, not quite understanding the childhood life of the rich, but he could imagine. if his own family had wealth and power, he certainly wouldn''t be low-key. that''s human nature; honest people aren''t necessarily noble, and most of the time, they just can''t afford to splurge. "but i just heard him say, your family isn''t still trying to set you two up, are they?" xu musen asked again. zhu yulan frowned and finally spoke slowly, "i''m in charge of my own affairs, what others say doesn''t count." although zhu yulan had the temperament of a spoiled young lady, deep down she was very proud. she didn''t need to make an effort to live a life of wealth and luxury as a mere decoration. but she chose to strive and struggle, even though she lacked social experience, she was very serious about her business. otherwise, with her temperament, how could she have been fooled by xu musen so many times? in xu musen''s mind, he could already imagine the reasons why zhu yulan wanted to start her own business. actually, xu musen was the same. in his previous life, he chose to live off someone else, and the price he paid was the loss of his freedom and soul. that''s why he was so intent on making money in this life. both were people striving against fate. xu musen suddenly felt a sense of empathy for zhu yulan. and he always felt that there were actually many childhood friends, but it seemed that most of them ended in regret. "what''s with that look?" "nothing, i just suddenly feel like we have some things in common." zhu yulan glanced at him and snorted, "what would you know..." in this world where fairness existed, because she enjoyed a lifestyle that most people could not, she naturally had to shoulder more responsibilities. for the average person, free love and work are their most basic rights. but for her, she had to establish a career to prove herself. otherwise, she would only be arranged like a puppet in her future life... "it''s okay if you don''t understand, but there''s one thing we have in common," xu musen said with a smile, "and that is making money and achieving a career. we have the same goal, and i think we''ll definitely be successful." the midday sun was warm, shining through the car window, making xu musen''s smile especially bright and comfortable. zhu yulan took a sideways glance at xu musen under the sunlight, and her heart skipped a beat for a moment. it wasn''t about anything else; from her childhood, almost everyone she knew, every word she heard, was filled with their own purposes and selfish intentions. sear?h the n?vel(f)ire.et website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. but xu musen was the only exception. he would truly work hard for a common goal and dream. in fact, she had also felt the similarities between him and herself for a while. it seemed they were both striving for the life they wanted. this sincerity, like sunlight, left zhu yulan feeling somewhat enlightened. the car arrived at the entrance of hu hai university. "thanks, boss zhu. oh, and this is for you." xu musen took out a small toy from his pocket, a tiny panda charm. a gift from a kfc kids'' meal. "this... where did you get it?" zhu yulan looked at the cute panda, her tone suddenly becoming a little unnatural. "from kfc, of course. who isn''t a precious eight-year-old plus one or one hundred and twenty-something months?" xu musen said with a chuckle, handing over the panda toy, "your surname is zhu, so a panda should suit you." looking at his shameless grin and the silly yet adorable panda, zhu yulan''s heart truly skipped a beat this time. this guy. "you really have a thick skin..." zhu yulan muttered under her breath, but quickly took the panda, "but seeing as you meant well, i''ll graciously accept it." "as long as boss zhu likes it, then i''ll see you next time." xu musen smiled and waved goodbye, then walked away. zhu yulan held the panda charm, watching the figure of xu musen as he walked further away. she hadn''t expected to go to kfc for lunch today, let alone all that had happened. she touched the small panda charm in her hand and smiled lightly. she looked again at the retreating figure of xu musen, fell silent for a while, then hung the panda charm in the most prominent place on the rearview mirror. with its silly yet cunning eyes, it felt as if she was looking at someone. thick-skinned, but sometimes quite cute... she took a deep breath. then let''s keep pushing on. with a press on the accelerator, she drove off again. Chapter 178 Children Shouldnt Pry into Adults Affairs. (Subscribe for more, please!) starting school.xu musen waited for an nuannuan to come, but this time, the person bringing an nuannuan over was not aunt xiang. it was an shanhai. "hello, uncle an." xu musen went over to greet him. an shanhai helped an nuannuan out of the car; by now, an nuannuan could basically walk on her own with the help of crutches. an shanhai assisted an nuannuan to xu musen''s side. looking at the young man in front of him, his eyes were still somewhat complicated. over the past couple of days, he had been thinking about the two children''s matter. he had also conducted a slight background check on xu musen. the background was quite clean; when his family went bankrupt, his parents didn''t choose to run away without paying their workers. instead, they worked hard and slowly picked themselves back up, enduring several hard years. experience more content on empire now, their situation was gradually improving. there''s no parent under heaven who doesn''t wish for their children to lead a better life; he had thought about arranging a suitably matched partner for nuannuan. but he also understood his daughter''s temperament; if she was determined about something, it would be very difficult to change her mind, otherwise, she wouldn''t remember a cake from six years ago until now. moreover, he had heard about the recent events from the elders. this xu musen had indeed been very good to nuannuan, and so far, the young man did not seem to be unruly. he had a good character, knew how to take care of nuannuan well, and was also quite capable. at his age, creating his own brand and company. plus, the potential in his milk tea and delivery businesses was not small; if they could flourish, his future achievements might not fall short compared to some rich second-generation kids. an shanhai, as a father, reasoned that someone like xu musen, who had both good character and capability and also had a clean backstory, he could control and, at the very least, wouldn''t let his daughter suffer too much. the child had grown up, and it was inevitable to face this day. so, even though an shanhai felt complicated inside, he still thought that the young man right in front of him could pass as a prospective son-in-law... barely acceptable. "i entrust nuannuan to your care. you can call me anytime if there''s anything. i may not often be in hu hai, but i still have some say in many places," an shanhai''s words were both encouraging and had a hint of warning. xu musen could understand, after all, if his own daughter suddenly brought home a boyfriend, he probably would have been considering what size sack to throw him into the sea with. "rest assured, uncle an." xu musen nodded in response. an shanhai silently watched him for a second, then slowly pushed nuannuan to his side. "nuannuan, take good care of yourself at school too, and tell dad if anything happens i''ll come back more often in the future," an shanhai patted his daughter''s head. "mm-hmm, take care of yourself too, dad" an nuannuan nodded lightly. an shanhai drove away. sar?h the n?velfire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. an nuannuan watched her father''s leaving figure, and her bright eyes couldn''t help but show a hint of loss. after all, who knew when the next meeting would be. the warmth from her father''s rough hands still seemed to linger on her head. "uncle is a man of his word; you''ll see him again soon." another warm hand was placed on her head. xu musen looked at her with a light chuckle, "let''s head back to the shop, my little boss lady." an nuannuan''s fair face turned a shade pinker, and in regards to being called the boss lady, or rather, his... she was so happy~ they hadn''t walked far when an nuannuan suddenly stopped. "what''s wrong?" xu musen bent down and asked. "the crutch is making me a bit uncomfortable," an nuannuan said softly. xu musen looked at the situation; the crutches basically required supporting the weight with the armpit and arms. an nuannuan''s arms were also fair and delicate, seeming as fragile as a puff of milk. "what should we do? do you want me to carry you?" xu musen pinched her face. an nuannuan shook her head: "no, i need to exercise more right now." after she spoke, her clear eyes blinked: "otherwise, could you support me on one side? if i alternate walking, it won''t hurt as much." "smart." xu musen smiled and nodded, took down one of the crutches for her, and extended his hand to support her arm. an nuannuan''s flesh was indeed very soft, just like a pool of water. it felt as if a slight squeeze could turn her bones to mush; holding onto her, there was a reluctance to let go. "let''s go," xu musen said as he supported her and was about to move forward, but an nuannuan wobbled as if she had not stood stably. "it''ll get better with more practice," xu musen said, but at the next moment, he suddenly felt another soft and smooth little hand slip into his. xu musen paused for a second, looking down at his hand holding an nuannuan''s delicate little hand, which seemed to be only half the size of his palm, small and bunched up like a piece of sticky rice cake. "this way, i won''t fall," an nuannuan looked up at him, her clear eyes now moisturized by the morning''s luster and extraordinarily bright. but the redness of her earlobes still betrayed the unrest in her heart. xu musen looked at her, then at the little hand that had slipped into his palm. the classic dilemma arose, should he be a beast, or worse than a beast? without hesitation, xu musen held onto her hand. holding warmth like jade, the delicate touch, the tempting warmth, led both to exchange an unspoken glance. it seemed that between them, the lifetime of friendship was not too far from becoming "bedmates for life." Chapter 178 Children Shouldnt Pry into Adults Affairs. (Subscribe for more, please!)_2 xu musen couldn''t help but laugh, and at that moment, his heart felt as youthful and lively as his eighteen-year-old body."what are you laughing at?" an nuannuan watched him giggling foolishly, oblivious to the fact that her own voice sounded a bit lacking in confidence. "i''m laughing because i''ve been pinching your foot for so long, but it took until now to hold your hand." xu musen looked down at her. the two of them walked along the school roads, the weather growing colder, yet today felt exceptionally warm. the fallen leaves swirled underfoot, like blooming yellow flowers of late autumn. "so, do you still prefer hands, or do you like feet more?" an nuannuan''s hand twitched slightly, and the corners of her eyes curved. xu musen said with a smile, "i love pig''s trotters and chicken feet alike, who can resist when they''re both so tasty?" the words xu musen spoke were not much different from usual, but the atmosphere between the two became somewhat more ambiguous with their hands now entwined. an nuannuan pursed her lips, "you''re just like nannan, always loving to eat..." "the one who loves to eat is obviously you, look at you, even carrying two little steamed buns with you." xu musen chuckled as he poked her cheek. an nuannuan was the type with a lot of soft flesh; she wasn''t heavy, but she had a plump look about her. especially when her little face puffed up, it resembled two freshly steamed buns. of course, she also had two big buns on her... what filling was inside them, who knew... an nuannuan cooperated by puffing her cheeks slightly, looking endearingly cute. "have you had breakfast yet?" "just had a bowl of porridge." "then shall we eat a bit more?" "what''s there to eat?" "how about steamed buns?" xu musen proposed meaningfully. an nuannuan quickly sucked in her cheeks, "i haven''t washed my face, you can''t eat me." "no worries, i''ll just pretend it''s seasoned with a pinch of salt." "xu musen, you''re disgusting..." xu musen laughed heartily, holding her small hand as they approached the milk tea shop. "yo, boss xu and the missus are back... holy shit!" the dorm mates now had a tradition of eating breakfast together at the milk tea shop every day. zhou hangyu was just about to greet them when he suddenly spotted their joined hands. he blurted out in astonishment. in their hearts, xu musen and an nuannuan had long been a couple. but the pair had always claimed to be just friends. and sure, xu musen would pinch nuannuan''s face now and then, something one might pass off as friendly banter. for some shameless folks (like boss xu), even wearing a label doesn''t make it official. but today, with the two holding hands, that ''just friends'' excuse no longer seemed plausible! the group was wide-eyed with shock. even zhao lianmai appeared with the countenance of a gossip-hungry onlooker. your adventure continues at empire an nuannuan seemed a tad embarrassed by their stares, her small hand twitched, but xu musen held it firm. not even a hint of letting go. "morning." xu musen, holding an nuannuan''s hand, slowly approached the group and greeted them with a smile. sear?h the novlf~ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "boss xu, you and the missus are... tsk, tsk, tsk." "who''s feeding us dog food this early in the morning?" the group howled and complained. "just eat your food." xu musen replied irritably, though the smile on his lips was unrestrained. he helped an nuannuan sit down next to zhao lianmai and ordered, "steamed buns, please. one basket." xu musen served nuannuan with a steamed bun. after biting into it, nuannuan found the pork filling a bit greasy, "i want to try yours with mushroom filling." "sure." xu musen ate the half-bitten bun she had and handed over his half-eaten one with mushroom filling to her. nuannuan took it and ate willingly. "tastes good?" "mhm!" the crowd:... "boss xu, could you two tone it down a bit? the flavor today is overwhelming!" zhou hangyu felt as though his meal had turned into canned dog food. li rundong joined in cheekily, "are you guys still just good friends now?" their teasing gazes dared the couple to keep up their ''just friends'' pretensewasn''t it obvious they couldn''t hold back any longer? "kids should mind their own business." xu musen retorted. "ah right, right, we''re the kids, and boss xu is about to become an adult, huh!" zhou hangyu laughed oddly on the side. an nuannuan didn''t seem to catch the more adult jokes, but she didn''t dislike the insinuations every time they teased. xu musen, however, looked at an nuannuan. her reaching out to him today couldn''t have been just to avoid a fall. yet, they hadn''t made their relationship official... "have some too." as nuannuan enjoyed the steamed bun, she picked up another and held it to his mouth. xu musen opened wide and took it in. with a gentle smile, he reckoned it was time for him to take the initiative. however, such romantic gestures needed some preparation. in his past life, he had never experienced a serious relationship, so in this one, he couldn''t rush it. ... after finishing their meal, xu musen discussed some matters with the others. zhao lianmai and an nuannuan worked together, cleaning up the front counter of the milk tea shop. nuannuan held her little rabbit coin bank and gave it a shake, listening to the ringing sound inside, her eyes narrowing in delight. zhao lianmai watched the scene, feeling as though it was like nuannuan saving up for her dowry. Chapter 178 Children Shouldnt Pry into Adults Affairs. (Subscribe for more, please!)_3 "nuannuan, are you really with boss xu now?"zhao lianmai couldn''t help being gossipy. listeneing to this, an nuannuan''s bright eyes trembled, and she turned her head slightly to look at xu musen on the other side. then turned back around, her tiny feet swinging: "me? i''m still waiting for notification..." zhao lianmai: ... i''m waiting for notification. this was the first time zhao lianmai had heard such a response, inexplicably cute and coy, yet eager and naive, like a young woman in charge yet brimming with confidence... she had to admit that, at this moment, even her heart, sealed by steel and concrete, felt like it was harshly struck by a term called "youth" for an instant. ah... that must be the confidence of mutual commitment. zhao lianmai hadn''t spoken for a long time, glancing back and forth between an nuannuan and xu musen on the other side. hopefully, this couple will always stay locked in. ... the end of the month was approaching. the milk tea branch and delivery business of fudan university were gradually stabilizing. this month, xu musen had done a rough calculation, and the total sales from the two schools'' milk tea and external business had already exceeded eight hundred thousand. minus the costs, there was still about five hundred thousand left. the number wasn''t huge, but it was enough to satisfy what xu musen had been longing for. that was to get himself a car. after all, having started a company, buying a company car could at least save some taxes... what the law doesn''t prohibit is permissible. and for one''s first car, forget bentley or rolls-royce. even a high-end bba would be difficult. but affording an a6 shouldn''t be too much of a problem. stay updated through empire however, car dealerships always have their schemes, and buying a car in hu hai, the real challenge is the license plate. getting a hu hai a license plate is not easy. if you have connections, it''s much easier; without them, you''ll probably have to spend more money. he was about to become a millionaire. but considering he would soon start setting up branches and expanding the business, it was best to be frugal. buying a car was a real need, after all, when going out for business talks, one couldn''t keep riding a ya di scooter. don''t look at how people like ma yun present themselves in plain shoes and t-shirts during business meetings, and how he says he never wears a watch to stand out. that''s because he no longer needs any of it. but in his early entrepreneurial days, he, too, donned suits and polished shoes, combing his hair sleekly before going out to drum up sponsorship and investment. to do business, these things are necessary. you can''t always have zhu yulan picking you up and dropping you off, right? speaking of zhu yulan... a thought flickered in xu musen''s eyes. getting a license plate would be easy for nuannuan''s family, but xu musen didn''t want to bother them over such a small matter. otherwise, it would seem like he would be living off a woman''s charity in the future. here in hu hai, as a wealthy heiress, zhu yulan surely had her own extensive network. he made a call to zhu yulan. the phone was quickly answered. on the other side, zhu yulan cleared her throat before emitting an aloof word: "what''s up?" obviously, this short phrase carried a deeply hidden hint of anticipation. "can''t i chat with boss zhu without a reason?" xu musen said with a smile. "hmph, a weasel pays a new year''s visit to a chicken with no good intentions." "boss zhu shouldn''t say that. actually, it''s not good for you." "..." zhu yulan didn''t quite catch on at first. after a moment of thought, she ground her teeth so hard they almost crunched! "xu musen! wait till i get a car and run you over!!" xu musen, trying to suppress his laughter, hurriedly said, "don''t, don''t, don''t, i was just joking. i actually want to ask you about something related to cars." "don''t worry, i''ve got tens of millions in insurance, so if i run you over, it''s covered!" zhu yulan was fuming, as if she really wanted to hit him at least once. "if you run me over, then there''ll be no one to take you to kfc. not for my sake, but at least for the chicken wings'', right?" xu musen said with a chuckle. zhu yulan''s mood eased slightly, and she snorted, "what''s the big deal? i can buy my own..." though she said this, she still asked, "what do you actually want to ask?" "i''m thinking of buying a car recently. does boss zhu know anyone locally who can handle a hu a license plate?" "license plate... that''s not hard. are you looking for plates with several sixes or eights?" zhu yulan asked. upon hearing this, xu musen couldn''t help but sigh to himself, thinking she truly was a local rich beauty. the moment license plates were mentioned, she instinctively thought of getting bombastic numbers like 666 or 888. "i can''t afford the sequential numbers, just any hu a will do." "just that?" zhu yulan seemed somewhat deflated, as if she couldn''t earn a huge favor from xu musen. "that would be great already. i''ll have the money ready in advance when it''s needed." xu musen figured that even if he found someone, he''d still have to pay a token fee. "who cares about your stinky money? did i say i''d help you?" "i understand boss zhu''s character: kind-hearted, warm and generous, understanding, with a heart of a buddha, magnanimous... cough, cough, in short, you wouldn''t watch a good friend in trouble, right?" xu musen quickly reined in his last sentence, lest he anger her again. zhu yulan listened to his sweet-talking, such flattery with no technique involved at all. and the more casual he was, the more zhu yulan found herself enjoying it, unable to stop the corners of her mouth from turning up. "tsk, anyone can talk a good game..." "how about another meal at kfc, then?" "do you know who i am, zhu yulan? do you know how much a hu a license plate costs..." "three meals?" "deal!" sar?h the n?vel(f)ire.et website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. there was silence at both ends of the phone for a moment before both couldn''t help but chuckle softly. "okay, it''s a deal then." having said that, xu musen hung up the phone. it was a bit surprising. it seemed that sometimes it was quite easy to deal with this missy. the phone call ended. zhu yulan was looking at her phone screen, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned, and her eyes seemed to sparkle. at this moment, yang xiaotao walked in holding a bucket, the smell of fried food wafting through the office. "what''s that?" "family bucket! i didn''t get my fill yesterday, so i bought another, sister zhu, there are originally four chicken wings and two drumsticks in the family bucket, but the one you brought back yesterday was weird, there was only one wing and one drumstick..." yang xiaotao muttered, but she didn''t see zhu yulan looking a bit guilty, like a little mouse that sneaked some oil. "give me one to eat too." zhu yulan asked for a chicken wing and nibbled on it, but she frowned slightly, "are you sure you bought this from kfc?" "yeah, the one in the city center, what''s up?" yang xiaotao, with her mouth full of grease, asked. zhu yulan felt that today''s chicken wings seemed to lack something, not as tasty as before... "nothing." she spoke lightly, unsure of what was missing. maybe it was because there was no one to fight over them with? zhu yulan didn''t know, but remembering the three kfc meals xu musen owed her, the corners of her mouth still curved slightly upward. trying to shut me up? let''s see what you''ve got~ Chapter 179 Being Honest with My Family, I Like Another Girl. ```"mom, i''m thinking about getting a girlfriend. what do you think?" xu musen had called his mother. at first, she was stunned, then her tone carried a hint of disbelief. "really? you?" xu musen couldn''t help but laugh and cry, "mom, your son is at least a handsome guy. it shouldn''t be hard to find a girlfriend, right?" stay updated via empire these days, xu musen and an nuannuan had been waiting for each other''s "admission notice" just the same. as a man, the final move had to be made by xu musen. after all, this was what he had been looking forward to. he had been suppressed too badly in his last life. in this life, he must stand tall! "no, i mean, has ming yue agreed to date you?" his son was already an adult and had been admitted to university, so naturally, xu''s mother hoped that he could find someone there. and preferably, yao mingyue. they were already childhood sweethearts and knew each other inside out. after so many years, any conflicting traits would have become familiar. there certainly wouldn''t be anything like a seven-year itch. moreover, considering reality, yao mingyue''s qualifications were impeccable. if xu musen could marry her... sear?h the ovlfire .net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. at the very least, they would no longer have to worry about their son for the rest of their lives. during this time, they had also sensed some changes in yao mingyue. she obviously liked xu musen too. childhood sweethearts and mutual affection; they were truly a match made in heaven. on xu musen''s end of the phone, he anticipated his mother''s words. after all, in his last eighteen years, the only person he had set his heart on was yao mingyue. thinking of yao mingyue, xu musen just silently pondered for a moment. the grudges and grievances of his last life had all been wiped clean in that final car accident. he didn''t hate her; after all, it was his own choice in his last life. but in this life, he just wanted to experience a normal person''s love life. he wanted to start over with a new way of living; no one was at fault. and if xu musen''s guess wasn''t wrong, an nuannuan had actually been quietly helping him from behind in his previous life. even without the events of his previous life, xu musen also liked the current an nuannuan very much. emotions don''t always make sense, especially since the two had already known each other for half a year. after experiencing so many things together, big and small, xu musen would not regret his current decision. besides, such matters must always be shared with the family. "it''s not her, it''s another girl." xu musen paused slightly in his speech. the moment his words came out, the other end of the phone fell silent. xu''s mother paused for a good four to five seconds, still sounding somewhat incredulous, "what did you say? it''s not..." "it''s not ming yue. it''s another girl, called an nuannuan, from my high school, and now also at hu hai university." xu musen spoke calmly. on the other end of the phone, the flowers xu''s mother had been arranging fell to the ground. she was still a bit slow to react. "son, this isn''t something to joke about. haven''t you been getting along well with ming yue lately? why change your mind so suddenly?" "i''m not joking. i''ve already told you that yao mingyue and i are not suitable." xu musen sighed slightly; he could understand his parents'' perspective. after all, with xu musen''s previous circumstances... if he could marry yao mingyue, their family would really be blessed, and they wouldn''t have to worry about the rest of their lives. besides, yao mingyue was so beautiful; any children they had would surely be smart and pretty. also, the two of them had been childhood sweethearts; their emotional foundation was not something the average person could match. everything seemed to point to them ending up together. "xiaosen, haven''t you had a fight with ming yue again and are acting on a whim? you still have a lot of time at this age; please don''t do anything impulsive that you might regret later." xu''s mother still couldn''t quite believe it. she knew her son''s temperament. after all, he had revolved around ming yue for so many years. just as their relationship seemed to be improving, xu musen announced he wanted someone else as his girlfriend. it seemed like something he would say out of spite after an argument. "i''m not acting on a whim. i''m very clear-headed. i know you need some time to adjust, so i''m telling you in advance." xu musen''s voice was serious. at heart, he was quite a stubborn person, and once he was set on something, it was hard for anyone else to change his mind. even his parents couldn''t. after all, getting married meant finding a wife for himself, someone he would spend his whole life with. the opinions of the parents could be considered, but the final decision definitely had to be his own. on the other end of the phone, as xu''s mother listened to her son''s tone, she knew he wasn''t joking. she fell silent for a while and sighed. "son, it''s your freedom to be with whoever you want. mom just wants you to have a better life, but with our two families... i think you should still talk to ming yue. she''s also a pitiable child. if it weren''t for uncle yao... sigh, in any case, you should think it through. ming yue is just as stubborn as you. does she know about this?" xu''s mother''s tone was complex. "i haven''t defined my relationship with nuannuan yet, but they had already met before." xu musen continued. upon hearing this, xu''s mother sighed again. they had already met before, which meant that yao mingyue had known all along during that previous period, but she had never shown it. ``` Chapter 179 Coming Clean to My Family, I Like Another Girl._2 but now that i think about it, since graduating from high school, ming yue always finds ways to stick around musen or comes to the store to help.looking at it this way, perhaps this is a manifestation of her lack of security... "an nuannuan, someone from your high school?" mother xu thought about the name but didn''t have much of an impression. "yeah, she once came to eat with me on snack street, just never met you, she''s the girl in the advertisement i shot who didn''t show her face; you once complimented how cute she was eating, that''s her." musen said with a chuckle. mother xu also thought about it, recalling how her son had shot advertisements for the snack street shops, which featured a girl whose face was never shown. even without showing her face, her fair skin and the shiny lips as she ate made it clear she was a pretty girl in the making. mother xu liked to watch the commercials her son shot, and had even asked who the cute little actress they hired was. by this account, they have already been together for at least a half a year. emotions can develop between people in just a couple of months; many get married after just two or three months, so it''s not uncommon for young people to spend half a year together continuously. so musen''s decision definitely isn''t a spur-of-the-moment thing; he''s considered it seriously. "have you really thought it through?" "yeah, i''ve thought it through. i do like her, and my adolescence is passing by without even talking about love." musen said with a light laugh, eighteen years old, which was actually the last one or two years at the tail end of adolescence. mother xu could tell from his tone the mood of her son. they did not oppose the idea of him dating. in fact, for boys, it''s beneficial to start dating a bit earlier. all parents are like this: they protect their own family''s "cabbage" without gaps and would rather have their own "boar" go out and plow someone else''s garden every day. "we won''t oppose what you do, but you must talk this over properly with ming yue, don''t let her be too heartbroken, there are some things... sigh, you should consider them more." mother xu left some things unsaid. but in matters of life, she still respects her son''s choice. after all, they can''t accompany him foreveronly the person he loves can be with musen for a lifetime. "i understand." musen hung up the phone. actually, inside, he felt a bit unsettled too. yao mingyue... musen couldn''t pinpoint his feelings for her now; he definitely couldn''t say he didn''t like her at all. but musen was also unable to discern whether his affection was for the pleasant memories of childhood sweethearts or for the familiarity of being spouses in a past life. friendship, love, kinshipthe proportions of these feelings meant their relationship was complicated from the start. but a result like their previous life''s was surely the worst possible outcome for both of them. if being together would only repeat past mistakes, it would be better to choose another path. they could be childhood sweethearts or neighbors, perhaps even like family. but as a couple, as husband and wife, they simply weren''t suitable now. musen hoped she could live a better life, truly heal her own emotional wounds, and find her own way of living. similarly, he wanted to experience a genuine love affair for once and find his own life. that way, it would be best for both of them. only...musen often wondered if he got together with an nuannuan. could yao mingyue really let him go? if she couldn''t let go, would she become another professor gao? but if yao mingyue truly moved on and found another guy... musen exhaled a deep breath and suddenly felt an even heavier sense of melancholy. damn! musen raised his hand to his forehead, smacking it slightly. what difference was there between these thoughts and being morbidly possessive? wanting the one in the bowl and longing for the one in the pot. even if he didn''t eat, he also didn''t want someone else to take it away. can one truly never change their spots? musen felt a pang of sadness; they say that fundamentally, spouses are of one kind. he suddenly wondered if some of yao mingyue''s issues were actually a reflection of aspects of his own personality? ... afternoon. zhu yulan called to say the license plate issue had been settled, asking him to come take a look. stay tuned for updates on empire when musen arrived at the school gate, zhu yulan was already there. "to trouble you, the owner zhu, to come pick me up, i really feel embarrassed." musen greeted her with a grin, but he had already adeptly settled into her ferrari. "you''re the one with the thickest skin." zhu yulan huffed, but she didn''t notice herself. the reason she came to pick musen up had changed from not wanting to waste time at first to now... wanting to waste time. "what''s that you''re holding in your hand?" zhu yulan noticed the bag he was carrying. "i prepared a little something for the meeting, you can''t go wrong with a gift." musen said with a smile. if you''re asking for a favor, you should always bring something. sarch* the n??efire.et website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. although to zhu yulan, a car plate number doesn''t really count for much, musen wanted to be clear. once he gave a gift, that favor would be considered repaid; otherwise, it would appear ungracious to let zhu yulan help without acknowledging the favor. zhu yulan looked at him sideways for a bit before speaking sarcastically: "a gift can''t offend, how come some people have never brought me a gift?" Chapter 179 Confessing to My Family, I Like Another Girl._3 xu musen cleared his throat, but his gaze suddenly caught the panda charm hanging from the rearview mirror."didn''t i give this as a gift?" xu musen pointed at the panda charm. zhu yulan glanced at it, her cool, pretty face showing a fleeting emotion before she snorted, "hmph, it''s just a freebie" "then if you don''t like it, give it back to me." xu musen said as he reached out to grab it. "you dare!" zhu yulan, baring her teeth, floored the accelerator, nearly sending xu musen, who hadn''t fastened his seatbelt yet, flying out of the car. "pfft hahaha." zhu yulan couldn''t help but cover her mouth and laugh at the slightly disheveled state of xu musen. "boss zhu, you drive a ferrari, can''t you act a bit more mature and composed?" xu musen helplessly buckled his seatbelt. zhu yulan glanced at the panda charm and then began to speak, "i learned from you, isn''t everyone a baby of eight years and over a hundred months?" xu musen looked at her and laughed, "boss zhu can even make jokes now." zhu yulan didn''t respond to him, but she indeed felt much better in her mood after exchanging a few barbs with him. the car arrived at a tea house. this tea house was quite well-known among the business circles of hu hai, with many people choosing to discuss business or meet important clients here. in a private room sat a middle-aged man in a suit and shirt who immediately stood up to greet zhu yulan as she entered. "miss zhu, this must be mr. xu, my name is gong ziqiang." the man introduced himself cordially and extended his hand. xu musen noticed his demeanor and figured he must be someone in a director-level position at least. however, he was still very respectful and somewhat ingratiating in the presence of zhu yulan. it seemed the zhu family really wasn''t simple. "hello, my name is xu musen, i apologize for the trouble of asking you to come here today." xu musen didn''t ride on zhu yulan''s coattails. politeness was still required. the three of them sat down. zhu yulan didn''t speak, but she started brewing tea, first handing a cup to xu musen and then passing the second cup to gong ziqiang. "thank you." gong ziqiang seemed a bit overwhelmed with gratitude, displaying a low profile in front of this young woman, who was about the age of his daughter. having shared tea with zhu yulan numerous times, xu musen naturally didn''t stand on ceremony, casually taking the cup and having a sip. gong ziqiang observed this interaction and originally thought the two were merely acquaintances meeting for a chat. but given the way they interacted, it seemed their relationship was quite close. the zhu family had some influence in hu hai, and he, a small-time director at a car registration office, usually had no access to them. this was a good opportunity for him. "mr. xu, i heard from miss zhu that you''re looking to get a car registration?" gong ziqiang took the initiative to ask. "yes, i''m not a local resident, so i thought it would be convenient to have a local car plate when driving in the city center." xu musen went straight to the point. although he didn''t want to owe zhu yulan too many favors and was maintaining his decorum, he couldn''t appear too submissive either. frankly speaking, sometimes acting more high-profile can actually earn you more respect from others. "the hukou isn''t an issue, we always encourage people to develop their business in our city. do you have any particular requirements for the car plate?" "not really, anything close enough would do." xu musen said with a smile. gong ziqiang inwardly snorted. the hidden message of "anything close enough" was basically "you figure it out." why do young people nowadays all talk in such roundabout ways? "no problem, why don''t you come over in the next two days? i can prepare a selection for you to check out in advance." "sure, thanks a lot, director gong." "hey, we''re all in hu hai, it''s only right to help each other out." gong ziqiang was all smiles, trying to earn favors from both ends through his words, but his main target was actually zhu yulan. "i''ll remember this kindness, and if there''s anything i can help you with in the future, i''ll do my best." but at this moment, xu musen lifted his teacup, and with one phrase, directed all the favors back to himself. your journey continues at empire gong ziqiang maintained his smile but gave him a few more careful looks. these young people are quite tactful and sensitive indeed. conversation over. gong ziqiang had to leave, and xu musen went out alone to see him off, carrying the prepared gifts. as gong ziqiang got into the car, xu musen placed the items he was holding onto the passenger seat. "look at you, what is this? we already agreed that today was just a friendly favor" gong ziqiang voice his protest, but the increased smile on his face was quite noticeable. after all, the license plate number was one of his invisible sources of income, exchangeable either for money or for favors. today''s favor seemed not so easily escalated, but receiving gifts was naturally pleasant. "i took the liberty of requesting your presence today, afraid that it might interrupt your work, so let this be a little fuel for your car. please take extra care with the license plate issue." xu musen said with a smile, as he closed the passenger door. sar?h the ovelfire.et website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "boss xu will be a great man in the future; we should keep in touch when there''s nothing urgent." gong ziqiang handed him a business card. "well, thanks for that." xu musen didn''t refuse and took it right away. they waved goodbye. xu musen looked at the business card in his hand, realizing that the gift he gave had indeed been effective. back at the tea house, zhu yulan looked at him and hummed slowly, "are you satisfied now?" "boss zhu''s face is truly unbeatable; i''m impressed." "are you implying that i''m shameless?" zhu yulan gave him a glance, but still raised her delicate cheeks. zhu yulan was on the thin side, her face completely devoid of any excess fat, and her bone structure was excellenther beauty was already at the upper limit of human aesthetics. as for the extra point to make it perfect, it belonged to the beauty seen through the eyes of a lover. actually, if zhu yulan wasn''t so flat, her height and temperament would likely make her look pretty good in a cheongsam. "so, to express my gratitude, should i wechat you fifty to go eat at kfc?" "pfft, at least a hundred!" "deal!" the two of them exchanged smiles and left the tea house together. just as xu musen had only just climbed into his ferrari and left. right behind him, two tall figures walked down from the tea house. "eh, that figure just now... why does it look so familiar?" liu rushuang muttered to herself as she watched the departing ferrari. yao mingyue, on the other hand, narrowed her eyes instantly; her highly efficient infidelity detection satellite had already been activated. she watched the ferrari disappear around the corner, grinding her teeth quietly. "xu musen..." Chapter 180 Yao Mingyue and her daughters quiet eavesdropping. kfc.xu musen and zhu yulan stood at the front desk, ready to order. "hello, today we have special meal deals available." the cashier pointed to the poster in the store. it read, "kids'' meal comes with an exclusive pendant." "couples'' meal comes with a strawberry milkshake." "family meal comes with a tropical salad." yulan already had a pendant, and the strawberry milkshake did look tempting. but, glancing at the couples'' meal offer, yulan''s finger slipped and pointed to the family meal next to it. "we''ll have this one." "family meal?" the cashier repeated, glancing at them, their appearance clearly not fitting for a family. "i''m his sister, don''t we look alike?" yulan tugged at musen, the proud daughter of the zhu family, claiming a younger brother for the sake of a salad. musen nodded seriously, "sis, will you be paying then?" "scram!" sarch* the novel?ire(.)ne*t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. yulan kicked him but couldn''t help a smile spreading across her face. "alright, no problem." the cashier tried to contain a smile. after all, those meal deals didn''t have any strict criteriaanyone could get anything. the two chose a spot and began clicking away, picking out a family bucket. unbeknownst to them, after they headed towards their table, two sneaky figures approached. yao mingyue and liu rushuang also entered the store, their eyes on the spot where musen and yulan were seated. "hello, what would you like we have family meals today, would you like one?" the cashier looked at them, their tall and perfect figures, their matching phoenix eyes, obviously family. "sure, one family meal." find your next read on empire rushuang nodded, wondering why she was following her daughter in a mission "to catch a cheater." after all, it''s quite normal for young people to have friends of the opposite sex, but mingyue just couldn''t stand it and insisted on coming. they chose seats separated from musen and yulan by a partition. "xiaoyue, i think there''s no need to be so sensitive, right? they seem like just friends having a meal." rushuang tried to quietly reason with her daughter, who seemed eager to eavesdrop. "i''m just here to eat too" mingyue retorted stubbornly. rushuang shook her head but indeed, it had been a long time since she had been to places like kfc or mcdonald''s. she remembered the days when she used to bring them both along, back when they were little... meanwhile, musen and yulan were having a chat. "now that you''ve decided on the license plate, what car do you plan to buy? i can recommend one for you." yulan obviously knew a thing or two about cars, considering not many girls drove ferraris. "forget it, i can''t afford the cars you''d recommend. i''m thinking of something within four to five hundred thousand at mostthat''s already the limit for ordinary families like us." musen spoke, implying that a car worth over two hundred thousand would be a ceiling for most households. "with your shrewd business skills, you''ll probably be able to afford a luxury car in no more than a couple of years." yulan munched on a chicken wing, confident in his ability to make money. musen smiled, "let''s drop that for now. how about you? that childhood friend of yours hasn''t continued to bother you, has he?" as soon as huang tianming was mentioned, yulan felt less savory about her chicken wing. she snorted. "just the thought of him makes me sick. how could there be such a thick-faced person in this world? i''ve told him clearly since we were kids that i don''t like him, but he still keeps at it every day." yulan felt harassed beyond words. "childhood friends are like that. because of the long time spent together, they subconsciously treat each other as possessions, thinking of themselves as the most important person to the other. the familiarity breeds actions closer than you would have with ordinary friends. when you reach the right age, whether you like each other or not, in the hunt for a partner, you''ll subconsciously compare others to your childhood friend. maybe that''s what others mean by ''the lethality of an old flame.''" musen sounded a bit reflective. little did he know, right behind his seat, mingyue, pressing her ear to the partition, couldn''t help but smile at his words. yes, that''s the lethality of an old flame alright, an invincible one that''s been part of their lives. look at him, the hard-mouthed guy. he still can''t forget about me~ "look at your silly face." rushuang, who overheard the conversation, smiled and handed a chicken drumstick to her daughter. "pfft! i''m nobody''s old flame; i''m just unlucky to be born on the same street as him." yulan spoke with clear annoyance, feeling even more upset remembering how she once had to begrudgingly call him brother. "it''s normal. with childhood friends, the outcome is either you end up together or you fight every time you meet. you''re too familiar with each otherparents might not know, but you can''t hide anything from a childhood friend." musen shook his head, smiling like mingyue. although her last life was nearly controlled by him, she''d still act nicely whenever she returned home for the holidays. of course, it''s also because musen never decided to leave her, so he naturally wouldn''t let his family sense his difficulties and grievances. "tsk, whenever we start on this topic, you always have so much to say... oh, right, you have a childhood friend too." Chapter 180 Yao Mingyue and her daughters furtive eavesdropping. _2 zhu yulan recalled the last time they ate together, her impression of that girl who came with an attitude of "catching an affair" was still very deep.she was quite vindictive. "doesn''t she like you a lot? why don''t you be with her? don''t you like her?" zhu yulan turned the tables. but this topic immediately pricked up yao mingyue''s ears next door; she wished she could stick to the partition like a bat. xu musen fell silent for a while, then shook his head with a smile, "of course i like her. i won''t lie to you. my old state was pretty much like that of your childhood friend... the neighbor who''s chasing you now. stubborn like a bull, not turning back until hitting the south wall." xu musen admitted it very frankly. this surprised zhu yulan a bit. yao mingyue was even more surprised; she felt her earlobes soften slightly, regardless of what her character was like inside. but facing the person she liked confessing their like for her, her heart couldn''t help but leap for joy. "then why don''t you accept her?" zhu yulan asked again. "because i feel that kind of like from before doesn''t count as real liking." "what do you mean?" sea??h th novlf~ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. zhu yulan put down the chicken wing she was eating, yao mingyue also put down the chicken leg in her mouth. one asked aloud, the other asked in her heart. "it means that liking someone as a childhood friend is actually very complicated. after all, growing up together since childhood is a fate arranged by heaven. with years of contact, both of you have become a part of each other''s lives, it becomes a dependency. as you grow up, naturally as childhood friends, both families would interact from time to time. the jokes among the adults, as well as the family-like daily life, eating together, going to and from school together, traveling together... these are more intimate than what little lovers would do. it looks like happiness, but in reality, it has long exhausted the passion of love. after all, a relationship needs some impulsiveness. however, childhood friends have already gone through these impulses. that''s what many childhood friends mean when they say, ''it''s hard to make a move when we know each other too well.'' actually, probably most childhood friends confuse dependency and habit with liking, mistaking friendship for love..." xu musen slowly spoke. yao mingyue listened silently; musen had already discussed these topics with her more than once. yao mingyue admitted there was some truth in these words, but she believed that even if she confused friendship and love, it didn''t necessarily mean the proportion of love was less than that of friendship. "isn''t that pretty good? many people are only together because of various reasons or out of confusion. being able to be like this is already pretty good." zhu yulan''s eyes also sparked some memories, it seemed she had seen a lot of such situations. "yeah, if it was just that, i could also accept it, but..." but yao mingyue''s pathological possessiveness destroyed all the beauty, that suffocating kind of love really made one struggle for breath. actually, if uncle yao hadn''t had an accident, yao mingyue hadn''t suffered that blow and psychological trauma, maybe they really could have been together happily for a lifetime. regrettably, there are no ''ifs'' in this world. moreover, in this lifetime, nuannuan was the first to enter his heart. an nuannuan brought xu musen the greatest good, that is, she gave him a man''s respect and the most measured freedom. like gentle water. something nuannuan once said, "if you take me with you to play, i''m happy to join you. if you don''t take me, i''ll just wait by myself until you have time to take me along..." "i like you, but i hope even more to become the person you like..." this feeling gave xu musen the respect and freedom he desperately lacked in his past life. it''s like something said online, why some bigshots are also calculated by beauties. what you think of as a beauty''s trick: "handsome guy, are you lonely?" high-level beauty''s trick: "silly boy, why do you still like sleeping in class as before?" if xu musen was a beam of light for yao mingyue, then an nuannuan was also a beam of light for xu musen. in the end, xu musen shook his head, "my situation with her is a bit special. no matter what happens in the future, i will take good care of her. this is what i promised her." xu musen''s words were ambiguous, leaving one unable to tell if it was a rejection or an agreement. but for such a question, the lack of an answer is, in fact, an answer. yao mingyue sat aside, biting her lips silently; her heart was unsure of what it tasted like. there was loss, but also a sense of being moved. she knew that xu musen was unlikely to be with her now, and furthermore there was also an an nuannuan watching closely. these days, yao mingyue had been restraining herself from seeing xu musen too often, because every time they met, especially when she saw him together with nuannuan, she would always feel as if dropping into an abyss; at the same time, a kind of extreme emotion she was afraid of seemed to arise in her heart. she was like a drowning person, longing for that last straw to grasp onto. stay connected with empire as long as she didn''t cling desperately, there was always a glimmer of hope. and xu musen''s final words were like that straw, at least... he still remembered her. this was also what yao mingyue liked most about him, always treating her well without any boundaries. yao mingyue felt a slight sourness in her heart; she had seriously reflected on her own problems. now, she hoped to gradually balance things out between them. Chapter 180 Yao Mingyue and her daughters sneaky eavesdropping. _3 searching for that point from the past again.childhood friends, huh. actually, when you think about it, the two of them have never really gone out on a proper date... liu rushuang sat a bit further away, not catching every word of the conversation, but she watched her daughter go from happy to gloomy to dejected. she couldn''t help but sigh. the two kids had always been fine; how did things suddenly become like this? however, she did catch the last few words from xu musen. actually, the reason ming yue liked him so much was probably because of this aspect of his personality, as he was always taking good care of people. that''s why ming yue relied on him so much and wanted to keep him by her side. she just hoped that it wasn''t too late. enjoy more content from empire "mom, let''s go back," ming yue suggested. yao mingyue put down the chicken drumstick she had only taken one bite from. liu rushuang nodded, "okay." ... meanwhile, zhu yulan took another bite of her chicken wing and said, "didn''t i remember you having a somewhat clueless-looking girl by your side?" "you mean nuannuan?" xu musen smiled, "she''s just a bit of a dunce." zhu yulan observed his smile, which seemed as if the mere mention of the word nuannuan made him as happy as someone with an upturned mouth. "she''s not a dunce at all... maybe she''s just that way around you." zhu yulan recalled how last time they were eating together, that girl could render his childhood friend speechless with just a few words. "you and her?" "not together yet," musen said. but it was likely to happen soon, considering the two of them sometimes lived together. he was referring to napping. "so, that''s the reason," yulan said in a wistful tone. "it turns out boys do prefer cute and easy-to-bully girls." actually, zhu yulan and yao mingyue had a very similar demeanor. cool and aloof beauty, the future ice queen ceo. of course, if it came to being cunning, even ten zhu yulans combined couldn''t match yao mingyue. "she''s not that young, either," musen said casually. by his calculation, nuannuan was a year younger than he was. zhu yulan''s action of eating her chicken wing paused as she instantly thought of something massive in her mind. then, she couldn''t resist looking down at her feet, hmm, the leather shoes she was wearing today were indeed pretty. cough, spit!! she suddenly felt a bit annoyed but didn''t know how to vent her frustration, so she just huffed and continued eating, channeling her sorrow into appetite and snatching away the corn musen had just picked up. "you''re taking the corn too?" "mind your own business!" women do tend to get angry for no reason. musen was used to it; nuannuan was still his cute little darling. no matter how he teased her, the most she would do is whimper. yulan looked up at musen who was smiling foolishly, as though he was clearly a smitten young man. sarch* the n?vel_fire.et website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. yulan silently scolded in her heart. but she couldn''t help wondering, if he and that girl made it official, would they still be able to come out and have meals like this? she genuinely enjoyed this feeling of hanging out and chatting with friends, occasionally bantering back and forth, just friends having a meal, zhu yulan felt very open about it. but surely that girl would be a little concerned, right? still, she couldn''t resist asking absent-mindedly, "hey?" "what is it?" "you still owe me several kfc meals; you''re not going to weasel out of it, are you?" "of course not. it''s just a few kfc meals; i wouldn''t run away with my bedding." musen responded with a smile. yulan looked at his grin and suddenly felt a bit sentimental, wondering why other people''s childhood friends... actually look quite handsome when they smile. Chapter 181 No matter a thousand steps, you are always my centerpiece. it was november.the weather became increasingly colder, and the temperature in hu hai actually didn''t fluctuate as intensely as in the north. but near the riverside, the cold wind at night carried a chill with it. an nuannuan wore a long skirt suitable for autumn; she usually wouldn''t go out aside from attending classes, except to sit in a milk tea shop. thus, she didn''t have to worry about catching a cold, but ultimately, wearing a skirt did make it easier to catch a chill. xu musen walked over, his hand slipping over her shoulder skillfully, gently cradling her full and soft cheeks. they felt like slightly cool little white cotton candies. the warmth of xu musen''s palm made an nuannuan feel as if she were being placed in an oven, feeling warm and safe. "it''s getting cold, and you''re still wearing a skirt?" xu musen held her small face, gently kneading it in his hands. "don''t you like me wearing skirts?" an nuannuan slightly lifted her skirt, revealing a small section of her clean, fair leg, and her little feet clad in white cotton slippers. after all, xu musen was a real "foot enthusiast." sear?h the novelfire.net* website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "i like it, but you also have to pay attention to the temperature. anyway, we''re free today, why don''t we go out and buy some clothes?" xu musen asked her with a smile. "sure!" an nuannuan''s eyes also lit up; in truth, she wasn''t too picky about clothes, as there were basically only skirts of one color at home. after all, she used to lie in bed or sit in a wheelchair, and wearing pants was inconvenient. but as long as she could go out and walk around with xu musen, she felt very happy. "don''t rush, put on your shoes first." xu musen took her into a small room. it was said to be his room, but things belonging to an nuannuan started accumulating little by little. her coats and shoes that she changed out of were usually kept there. thankfully, xu musen wasn''t the type of creature that got turned on by fabric; otherwise, how dangerous would that be? an nuannuan sat on the bed, her little toes in cotton slippers swinging cheerfully, seemingly expressing her owner''s delighted mood. xu musen brought over a pair of white sneakers, kneeling in front of her. "i can put them on myself." "can you tie your shoelaces yourself?" "no~" "well, there you have it." xu musen laughed as he grabbed her ankle, touching the smooth skin. he took off an nuannuan''s white cotton slippers, revealing her feet, even paler than the slippers. find adventures on empire upon such a close inspection, he found they were flawless. each toe resembled a crystal-clear grape, the nails were trimmed round and neat, like thin slices of crystal with a tender pink color... "xu musen, i washed my feet this morning too." an nuannuan suddenly told him very seriously. it seemed she was boasting that the safety of her "food" was absolutely not an issue. "that you don''t need to specially tell me that." xu musen coughed, expertly putting on the small cotton socks for her first, then helped her into the shoes, tied the laces, and made a beautiful bow. "all done, pretty, isn''t it?" "yes, so pretty." an nuannuan looked at the bow on her shoelaces, her eyes filled with fondness. she then looked at xu musen. "but why do i feel like you''re so skilled at this?" xu musen couldn''t tell her that it was because in his past life, he had gotten used to tying yao mingyue''s shoelaces. not to mention putting on socks or shoes, xu musen could even undo a bra with one hand and slip off stockings with two fingers without breaking a sweat! "it must be a talent." xu musen boasted shamelessly. an nuannuan never contradicted his words, only muttering softly, "born foot enthusiast" "let''s go." xu musen extended his hand, skillfully grabbing an nuannuan''s small hand, soft in his palm, making one reluctant to let go. an nuannuan now used a cane, and her walking had become more and more proficient. "xiao mai, take care of the shop for me." xu musen waved to zhao lianmai. "okay." zhao lianmai nodded, watching an nuannuan, who had a happy face, as if she''d just fallen in love... no, as if she were a girl already deep in love. it was actually quite beautiful to see. the two walked on the street. an nuannuan walked slowly, and xu musen was not in a hurry, occasionally supporting her on the left, then on the right. they didn''t walk far from the school before resting under a bench next to a park. xu musen gently massaged her legs. "otherwise, shall we take a taxi to the mall in a bit?" an nuannuan shook her head and pointed towards the direction of the school with a soft, proud look on her face. "no need, this is the first time i''ve walked such a long distance, and besides, now i can finally walk with you." for someone who nearly lost her legs, being able to walk like a normal person was already something to be proud of. xu musen gently pinched her little face with a feeling of heartache and consolation. "it''s going to get better and better. maybe one day you''ll be able to run, and i won''t even be able to catch up with you." "that won''t happen." an nuannuan shook her head and reached out to gently grasp his fingers, "my legs are getting better partly thanks to you. whether i can walk a hundred steps in the future, or a thousand or ten thousand, but the central axis from which i started will always be you." an nuannuan wasn''t one to speak clichd phrases of a young girl''s infatuation, but she always managed to say something so earnestly that it made your heart melt. this was a feeling of being depended on and relying on each other, also the feeling that most satisfied xu musen''s "masculinity." it was something he had not experienced in his previous life. after all, even if a man lived off a woman, he would still prefer to be like "the tiger of the serious crime squad," tackling his soft rice hard. Chapter 181 No matter a thousand steps, you are always my centerpiece. _2 but in his past life, he was almost completely dominated by yao mingyue, yet with an nuannuan, he had finally experienced the sense of initiative that belonged to a boy.xu musen, looking into her bright eyes, couldn''t help the smile tugging at his lips, "why does it sound like i''m the one who has tied you down?" "i''m willing though." an nuannuan, too, lifted the corners of her mouth, her fair and pretty face under the sunlight so beautiful that it was hard to look away. yes, isn''t that what a relationship is all about, to "tie" each other down? but such a willing "shackle" is something many people can''t even beg for. liking someone means trying every way to stay by their side, right? xu musen pinched her soft cheek, "sweet talker, let''s go, i''ll foot the bill today." "can i have an ice cream too, pretty please?" an nuannuan suddenly giggled, shaking his hand. "are you just sweet-talking me because you want ice cream?" xu musen also tugged at her cheek, "it''s too cold now, no ice cream." "then just half of it." "that''s not okay either." "then just one bite." "nope, one bite from you is half the portion." "how about you just let me lick it, just one lick, i promise i''ll be gentle~" "..." bystanders who occasionally passed by couldn''t help but give sidelong glances upon hearing this bizarre conversation. "alright, alright, i''ll buy it for you." xu musen stood up helplessly, what else could he do when it came to the girl he liked but to spoil her. s~ea??h the ovelfire.et website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "yay." an nuannuan passed her hand to him, and the two of them slowly continued towards the mall. he bought her the ice cream, said to let her lick it just once, but still ended up letting her have half. the other half was fed to him by an nuannuan. the pair arrived at a clothing store. this season, sweaters and down jackets were already on sale. an nuannuan usually wore dresses custom-made at home, while xu musen wasn''t too picky about clothes. as long as they covered the body, kept warmth and were comfortable, that was enough. of course, the first time he took nuannuan shopping for clothes, he still went with branded items, where at least the material was guaranteed to be good. a girl''s skin is so delicate, it would be terrible to run into some fake cotton material. as an international metropolis, hu hai had all kinds of brands available. xu musen glanced around, armani, versace, gucci... but these clothes all emphasized design, and it was debatable whether they were just a "stupidity tax." after all, for a rich person, buying a shirt for a few thousand bucks was akin to an ordinary person buying a bun on the street. if they don''t spend like crazy, they can''t even outpace the interest the bank gives them. damn capitalism. however, in terms of practicality, xu musen still looked at some other winter clothing brands. canada goose was not bad, with a simple and generous design, and solid materials. he often came here to buy clothes in winter. upon entering the store, the sales staff greeted them with enthusiasm. xu musen and an nuannuan looked around for a while, and a white down jacket with a plush collar seemed quite nice. your next journey awaits at empire "do you want to try this on?" xu musen asked an nuannuan. "sure." an nuannuan nodded her head. but suddenly xu musen realized a problem: "nuannuan, can you change by yourself?" the fitting room only had small stools. "are you going to help me?" an nuannuan asked, batting her eyes at him. xu musen silently scanned over an nuannuan''s body and swallowed saliva. he really didn''t mind, but the thought of the old man''s wrathful counterattack kept him from being too bold in broad daylight. who knows if an shanhai had arranged for bodyguards lurking around to surreptitiously watch? yet xu musen was still a bit worried, what if she fell while changing clothes. "uh, would you mind helping her change?" xu musen asked the female sales assistant beside him. the sales assistant looked at the young couple and noticed an nuannuan was also using a crutch. at first, she wanted to say you two lovebirds are just shy, why not go in together? but then she felt these two must be in a new relationship, and still thin-skinned about it. "no problem." the female sales associate smiled and nodded her head. an nuannuan was assisted by her into the dressing room. the dressing room was quite spacious. the sales associate still helped an nuannuan take off her skirt. actually, there were leggings and a top inside the skirt, but at the position of the small belly, one could still see the delicate skin. an nuannuan''s skin was exceptionally good, like milk, it seemed even the traces of pores were invisible. "your skin is really nice." the sales associate couldn''t help but comment, and this girl was indeed beautiful, the first time she had seen such a pretty girl. "is the handsome guy outside your boyfriend?" while helping her unzip the skirt, the sales associate chatted with a smile. this question would have made an nuannuan say they were just friends before, but now an nuannuan just waggled her little foot slightly. the sales associate chuckled, seeing this cute little sister, she thought she was just shy. such a lovely age, with the first bloom of love, it''s the time when one can enjoy the sweet and sour taste the most. actually, isn''t the most memorable part of being in love the ambiguity and unspoken understanding before a relationship is confirmed? "you both are still so young, take it slow, and i can see he cares a lot about you" the sales associate said beamingly, ready to give this young girl some sisterly advice from the perspective of someone who''s been through it. but the moment when she took an nuannuan''s skirt off and turned around, she suddenly swallowed the rest of her words isn''t it? what are those two big things? at that moment, the sales associate felt as if she had been flash-banged by a pair of headlights. an nuannuan was still wearing a white tank top, and with the skirt no longer covering, it presented an intimidating curve, extremely fierce, silencing the self-proclaimed sisterly sales associate. "big sister, what''s wrong?" seeing her suddenly stop talking, an nuannuan asked curiously, tilting her head. the big sister silently looked down at herself suddenly, she felt life was just like that, she forced a smile: "it''s nothing, it''s nothing, little sister you are so pretty and and generous, he will definitely like you very much." an nuannuan blinked, not quite understanding what she meant. "besides, i think you need to buy a new one of these little clothes although but you''re still at an age where you might grow, you need to change them in time or else they''ll get deformed or something" the sales associate added another comment, which was actually a sort of consolation, given that she never had to worry about deformation or anything like that. that could also be considered a "rich person''s problem," in a sense. "oh" an nuannuan nodded off, half-asleep, half-awake. it wasn''t long before an nuannuan came out of the dressing room. dressed in the white fleece-lined down jacket, she looked like a young, snow-white seal, fluffily adorable. she came over to xu musen: "how does it look?" "it looks very nice." xu musen couldn''t help but ruffle her cute face. an nuannuan saw that xu musen had also put on a down jacket like hers, and standing together wasn''t that what they call couple outfits in comic books? "then let''s take this one." an nuannuan''s mouth couldn''t help but shape a sweet curve. "don''t you want to look for more? what if there is something you like better?" xu musen asked her. "as long as you like it, it''s fine, it was you who brought me clothes shopping," an nuannuan said. she was quite reasonable; if you take me out to eat, i''ll eat whatever you choose; if you take me shopping for clothes, as long as you like it, i''ll be happy with it. the sales associate on the side couldn''t help but reflect, that love should actually be that simple. but the reality is many guys are practically worshipping the woman they are with. they buy them gifts and all, and yet they have to be picky, complaining at the slightest dissatisfaction, "you don''t understand me at all; i shouldn''t have to tell you, you should know; is it the gift? it''s just the thought that counts, you''re so disappointing" she, a woman herself, felt the boot-licking culture in today''s society was becoming more and more absurd. card swiped, bagged. two down jackets, even with the discount, totaled over six thousand. but money, after all, is for spending. the two continued to stroll through the mall, xu musen asked her, "is there anything else you want to buy?" an nuannuan looked around at the stores nearby, her eyes landing on one in particular. she suddenly remembered what the sales associate had said earlier and, leaning close to xu musen''s ear, pointed in a direction. "i want to buy some little clothes..." little clothes? xu musen followed her pointing direction. "ladies'' lingerie section" Chapter 182 Lingerie Shop, The Assertive Zhu Yulan ladies'' lingerie shop.xu musen stood at the door, feeling that entering would be a bit too embarrassing. the store had females of all ages who seemed even more enthusiastic about these little items that they wouldn''t easily show to others. discover more content at empire and women''s underwear designs were far more varied than the uniformity of men''s boxers. cotton, lace, hollowed out, one-shoulder... xu musen dared not look too closely, for fear of being labeled a pervert. "nuannuan, why don''t you go in by yourself?" "why?" "because... i don''t have any experience either." a man needs nothing more than a pair of big boxers; who needs all these dazzling array of fabrics? "neither do i." an nuannuan spoke up, saying that all her clothes before were bought by her family, and although shopping for clothes is okay, this thing... how do you even compare? "there are attendants inside; they can help you pick." xu musen really wanted to go, but the store wasn''t too far from the university town, and if he was seen by someone he knew, he would be socially dead. "i''m afraid they''ll cheat me. grandma said these salespeople are very persuasivesomething that costs ten bucks could be sold to you for a hundred, and they''d still claim they''re taking a loss." an nuannuan blinked, grasping xu musen''s hand and refusing to let go, her big eyes seemingly brimming with excitement: "xu musen, can you please stand next to me, okay? i''ll haggle myself!" her mother had told her that bargaining was a required skill for a girl, one of the hallmarks of becoming a mature woman. being frugal was a quality that would score points with the guys. this was her first time bargaining, and with xu musen by her side, she felt especially confident. s~ea??h the n?velfire.nt website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. xu musen looked at her eager little expression, thinking that everything here had clear pricing, and besides, this wasn''t a vegetable market; for him, a grown man, to haggle over these things... xu musen silently looked at an nuannuan, to be honest, considering the fabric coverage on an nuannuan''s clothes, it would already be decent if they didn''t upcharge her. but seeing her hopeful expression, xu musen swallowed his words. to buy intimate apparel for his future girlfriend, he still had to oversee it himself; caring for his future wife would be a credit to his manhood! "alright, i''ll go!" xu musen made up his mind, thinking that the more casual he was, the more upright he appeared. it''s just a bunch of fabric, right? but as soon as he walked into the store, xu musen immediately felt numerous gazes upon him. this lingerie store was quite famous in hu hai''s bourgeois circle. those who shopped for underwear here were either well-off ladies or girls from wealthy families. people with money generally had good looks and temperament, and several young women in the store who seemed to be around his age... when they saw xu musen come in, their faces flushed as they quickly lowered the underwear they were holding in their hands, and then hid to the side, curiously watching him. after all, it wasn''t common to see a man accompany his girlfriend to buy lingerie. "how come there''s a guy coming in?" "this place isn''t just for women; unless you want to change in public, haha..." "oh my, don''t talk nonsense. but this guy is quite handsome." "fancy him? i doubt you stand much of a chance; look at his girlfriend... she must be a c++ at least, just in numbers she''s already crushing you, little miss flat-chested, hahaha." "you''re talking again! watch me pinch you to death!" the two girls whispered among themselves, then started to playfully squabble. some older women with elegant demeanor watched xu musen with interest. by their age, they wouldn''t blush at the sight of a young man; on the contrary, they boldly compared various bold styles of underwear against their bodies. proudly displaying the feminine grace that came naturally to them. "hello, do you need any recommendations?" the saleswoman came over with a smile to inquire. she wasn''t surprised by the sight of a man helping his girlfriend choose lingerie; she''d seen it plenty of times before. an nuannuan instinctively looked at xu musen. acting as if it was all up to him to decide. xu musen still felt a bit pressured: "it''s her purchase, you should ask her." "pfft~" as soon as xu musen finished speaking, the saleswoman and one or two other female customers couldn''t help but let out a laugh. it was an obvious statement. it wasn''t her purchase; could it be him trying the lingerie on instead? sure enough, he was still a youngster, ultimately getting nervous. xu musen coughed dryly, deciding it was best to speak less. "alright, have you taken your measurements? i can start with recommending a size for you," the saleswoman quickly returned to a professional tone, smiling at an nuannuan. "measurements?" an nuannuan''s clear eyes swirled with confusionwhat data was needed to buy clothes? height and weight? she looked at xu musen, a bit puzzled. "..." that look only added to xu musen''s sense of pressure. what did it mean? he definitely didn''t have the ability to discern a woman''s measurements with just one glance. of course, he remembered yao mingyue''s quite clearly... the surrounding gazes conveyed a hint of innuendo as they looked at an nuannuan''s figure, all thinking that this young man was truly fortunate. "please wait a moment; i''ll take your measurements," the saleswoman quickly figured out the situation and smiled as she took out a tape measure from her pocket. "let me measure you." the saleswoman was about to extend her hand to help measure her, the tape measure just wrapping around her chest. the tape measure tensed slightly. Chapter 182 Lingerie Shop, The Assertive Zhu Yulan_2 an nuannuan instinctively let out a gasp and covered her chest, stepping back.her fair and pretty face was tinged with red at the moment. the female sales associate was clearly used to seeing shy young girls, especially when it came to getting their measurements taken for the first time; they often felt this shy and sensitive. "don''t worry, i''m just measuring your size, it will be done quickly." the female sales associate prepared to continue. sar?h the n?velfire.nt website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. but an nuannuan instinctively avoided her again, recalling something her grandmother had told her. there are some places on a girl''s body that should not be touched by others, those are treasures reserved only for the person she likes the most... "if you keep doing this, i can''t give you a precise recommendation." the female sales associate smiled helplessly. an nuannuan stood behind xu musen, pursed her lips, and reached out to shake xu musen''s hand. "musen, can you help me... please?" "???" xu musen didn''t react immediately, "me?" xu musen looked down at the young girl''s blushing cheeks behind him. "that might work; you could measure more meticulously." the female sales associate caught on immediately and handed the measuring tape to xu musen, giving him a knowing look. a girl who won''t even let other women touch her, but is willing to let a guy do it? such adorable sentiments truly embody youth. xu musen took the measuring tape, looking down at an nuannuan: "are you sure you want me to do it?" xu musen was no fool; he naturally knew what this gesture meant. an nuannuan also looked up and met his gaze for a moment, lightly nodding her head. everything was understood without words. "okay." a smile appeared on xu musen''s lips; in this moment, he felt no embarrassment whatsoever. ah, taking measurements for his own girlfriend was his exclusive right, wasn''t it? xu musen held the measuring tape and gently wrapped it around her from behind, and for the first time, he was looking directly at the numbers... the difference between the upper and lower was already twenty centimeters, she''s truly outstandingly proportionate, at least a large c+. "mhm..." with a slight pull of the tape measure, an nuannuan involuntarily hummed as if it was a reflex action. the light scent of fruit mixed with the smell of milk wafted around her, tempting one to draw closer involuntarily. xu musen met her eyes and both, somewhat tacitly, looked away. next was the waist. an nuannuan''s waistline was not particularly slender; after all, it was difficult for her to work out her abdomen regularly. there was still a bit of soft flesh. but it was not excessive, and compared to her more prominent assets, it was like a sturdy branch bearing heavy fruit. then there was the hip measurement. an nuannuan''s flesh knew precisely where to be, and her hips were no exception. the female sales associate looked on with envy; just like men, women have their own obsessions about certain areas. she recorded the data and spoke with a smile: "alright, let''s take this beautiful lady to make her selection. you can wait for a while." the fitting rooms lay further inside; to avoid any accidental embarrassments, men were not allowed to enter. "okay, i''ll wait for you outside. take your time choosing, there''s no rush." xu musen nodded and spoke to an nuannuan. "okay." an nuannuan also felt a shy sensation at the bottom of her eyes as she looked towards xu musen because of what had just happened. xu musen sat in a chair to the side. ignoring the teasing laughter from several women around him. he maintained an attitude of ''see no evil,'' considering taking out his phone, but decided against it in a lingerie shop. otherwise, should a little fairy suddenly burst in with addiction issues and falsely accuse him of secretly photographing her, uncle hat coming from kfc would surely want to check his phone. stay connected with empire even without evidence, his phone still contained a few pictures of an nuannuan and yao mingyue''s feet. this could easily saddle him with the label of a pervert. he decided to rest with his eyes closed. then he suddenly heard the enthusiastic voice of the saleswoman. "miss zhu, you''re here." "yes." a cool voice followed. xu musen''s ears perked up; why did this sound so familiar? he opened his eyes and saw a slender and outstanding figure. it was zhu yulan. today, she wore a lambswool jacket and a simple pair of jeans that highlighted her long and beautiful legs to perfection. her hair seemed slightly curled, looking very stylish as it naturally fell over her shoulders. she also wore sunglasses that made her almond-shaped face appear even more delicate and aristocratic. and with a six-figure handbag and ferrari keys in hand, she was utterly enchanting. xu musen took his time before deciding to greet her. "miss zhu, our designer''s new collection just arrived today." the sales associate, who was the store manager, approached warmly, clearly recognizing the power of zhu yulan''s money. "let me have a look then." zhu yulan nodded. "is it the same size as before?" the manager asked. "yes..." zhu yulan nodded subconsciously but then looked down briefly. she hadn''t skimped on kfc lately. with the fried foods and her frequent visits to xu musen''s milk tea shop, she had gained a couple of pounds. she had a confidence that maybe those two pounds had gone exactly where she wanted them to! yes, that had to be it! "wait a second." zhu yulan suddenly called out to the manager about to fetch the new collection. "do you need anything else?" the manager immediately turned back with a smile. "measure me again." zhu yulan spoke, subtly thrusting out her chest. Chapter 182 Lingerie Shop, The Assertive Zhu Yulan_3 xu musen sat to the side, peering through the colorful lingerie to witness the scene, holding back a laugh.so self-deceiving. "okay." the store manager immediately measured her and, while looking at the data, whispered in a subdued voice, "miss zhu, this is it''s different from before... there''s a bit more." the store manager wanted to tell the truth, but faced with the temptation of money, she compromised her conscience by subtly loosening the measuring tape by a centimeter. experience tales at empire "mhm, okay." zhu yulan nodded contentedly, thinking that the hormone rumors about fried chicken and soft drinks were true, hmph! she''d have to trick him into a few more treats! the store manager went to fetch the lingerie. "pfft" a laugh couldn''t help but escape slightly. zhu yulan immediately narrowed her eyes. she took off her sunglasses slightly and followed the sound, only to be met with xu musen''s smiling gaze. "what a coincidence." xu musen waved at her. since he couldn''t hold back his laughter and they had met, he might as well greet her openly. at the sight of him, zhu yulan''s pretty face first registered shock, then astonishment, and then slowly flushed red with a touch of angry embarrassment! "you, why are you here!" zhu yulan''s aloof image collapsed in an instant. seeing xu musen''s smile, she felt a tingling annoyance. what does this mean!! the store manager, returning with the lingerie, was startled although she wasn''t aware of zhu yulan''s identity. zhu yulan was usually generous and a diamond customer of the store. normally, she was frosty to everyone, showing no smile, but now, in an instant, she was like a shy girl whose thoughts had been exposed. noticing xu musen nearby, the store manager thought there might be some misunderstanding between the two and hurried over. "what''s going on with the two of you" "it''s alright, i''m her friend." xu musen said as he smiled and walked over to zhu yulan. his gaze shifted to the lingerie styles that the store manager brought for zhu yulan, and he couldn''t help thinking although zhu yulan''s assets were somewhat disappointing, her taste really was quite good. the designs did look nice. to him, it was like garen wearing a sorcerer''s hat; stats didn''t matter, looking good was the key. "what are you looking at! not afraid of getting sty in your eye!" zhu yulan reached out to gather up the lingerie, but remembering his laugh from before, she changed course and tried to poke him in the eye. xu musen quickly blocked her fingers with a knife-hand in front of his eyes. "what''s this, miss zhu? reacquainted after three days only to poke each other in the eyes?" xu musen teased. "no need to get excited, the two of you." the store manager was terrified at the side, fearing they might offend customers. zhu yulan also calmed herself down a bit, realizing her loss of composure, and took a deep breath. she put her sunglasses back on and addressed the store manager, "it''s nothing, you can go about your business." "are you sure" the manager started to ask, but met with zhu yulan''s firm gaze, quickly nodded, and left. zhu yulan shielded the lingerie she had chosen with her purse, her delicate cheeks still slightly flushed. "pervert! what''s a guy like you doing in a place like this, awakened some sort of fetish?" "you can''t just say anything, i came here to help someone buy clothes." "helping someone?" zhu yulan paused for a moment, images of two people flashing through her mind. "who?" "...miss zhu, let''s not question my character." sea??h th n?vel(f)ire.nt website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "haha." zhu yulan could guess from his expression who it might be, and she huffed coldly, "oh, just a few days ago you said you weren''t in a relationship, and now you''re buying lingerie with them, what, are you getting married in a few more days?" "then when the time comes, please make sure to send a big red envelope my way, miss zhu." xu musen responded with a smile. truth be told, every time he saw zhu yulan, he couldn''t help but want to tease her a bit. after all, this rich lady really did burst with gold coins! zhu yulan knew she couldn''t outwit him verbally, but her eyes seemed to catch on something, and her lips curved up suddenly. "so, in a few more days, maybe you''ll be coaxing her to have kids with you? "i''m too poor at home to dare consider having kids. but if miss zhu is willing to give me a big red envelope, i might think about it and let the kid call you godmother." "tch, some people are just all talk, too scared to even confess to the girl they like, not like my red envelope will ever need to be sent out..." zhu yulan''s tone carried a hint of teasing. "don''t be so sure, if you dare to send, i dare to confess" as xu musen spoke, he suddenly caught the reflection in zhu yulan''s sunglasses of someone behind him xu musen turned abruptly, locking eyes with an nuannuan whose expression carried a mix of various emotions. shoot, he was had! Chapter 183 Xu Musen, Would You Like to Date Me? Go for It, Little Cutie A! xu musen turned around, but noticed that an nuannuan had somehow appeared behind him without him knowing.he wasn''t sure how much of his conversation with zhu yulan she had overheard. but seeing her cheeks tinged with red, he knew she must have heard everything, both what she should and shouldn''t have. xu musen turned round, looking at zhu yulan who was now holding her arms and wearing a smug expression. it seemed like she had finally managed to trick him for once. "ah, an nuannuan, right? we meet again." zhu yulan greeted an nuannuan proactively; she still had a vivid memory of the cute girl from their last meal together. especially when... her gaze fell on a certain part of an nuannuan, and she suddenly felt a sense of helplessness. that was a gap that not even several ferraris could bridge "mm-hmm, hello." an nuannuan sounded a bit airy as she greeted zhu yulan too. zhu yulan was also quite memorable. she was tall and dressed fashionably with a great sense of style, cool in her demeanor. "is this your first time here?" zhu yulan walked over, bypassing xu musen and asked an nuannuan directly. "mhm, i felt my old clothes were getting a bit small." an nuannuan nodded, lightly patting her chest, as the new outfit she had just changed into was indeed more comfortable. the old clothes had been a little small... zhu yulan couldn''t help but look down at an nuannuan''s chest upon hearing that, thinking that if the two of them were to stand chest-to-chest, there wouldn''t be a single gap left! it was just too much! especially since an nuannuan wasn''t short, but overall, she was definitely on the slender side. how could she be so exaggerated here? could it be a case of "padding deception"? zhu yulan, looking at her, felt a strange and serious competitiveness being stirred within her. no, she had to see it with her own eyes to rest assured! "i... know the manager of this store, would you like me to recommend some new styles for you to try?" zhu yulan changed her mood and suddenly spoke up. "but i''ve already chosen." "that''s okay, girls need to change things up often, so it''s good to have a look." zhu yulan said, her eyes drifting back to xu musen, "i''ll take her to pick a couple more, you don''t mind, right?" "that''s fine, if you pick well, i''ll pay for it today." xu musen smiled and nodded, giving an nuannuan a look, as it surely would be more appropriate for girls to choose lingerie together. an nuannuan hardly had any friends, so it was even better for her to have a girl to accompany her. "bah! i don''t need you to buy!" zhu yulan flushed slightly as she spat at him. giving lingerie like this would at least require the status of a boyfriend; otherwise, it could be considered harassment. she took an nuannuan further inside. the manager brought out lingerie in the right size for an nuannuan. the same style as zhu yulan''s, but the material usage... seemed to be several times more. zhu yulan felt even more gloomy inside. "this one has special soft gold wires for better support, and it fits the skin without discomfort, making it very suitable for those of us with fuller figures..." the manager began introducing to an nuannuan, while also being considerate of zhu yulan''s feelings. an nuannuan didn''t understand these material terms, but looking at these lingerie styles, they all seemed a bit... odd. all that lace, some that seemed completely transparent, and others that looked like they could only cover half... "do you have something more, like, ordinary?" an nuannuan couldn''t help but ask. "this, actually, is quite conservative already, and a good figure has to be matched with good styles, not just comfortable for oneself, but also to please the boyfriend." the manager had observed the relationship between the few people and took for granted that the small girl and the boy just now were a couple. she whispered with a smile. an nuannuan''s face blushed, and at last, she nodded her head. she picked out a white lace piece, the most conservative one available, and went into the dressing room. zhu yulan waited eagerly outside the door. "nuannuan, have you changed yet? need any help?" explore stories on empire zhu yulan waited for quite a while and felt no movement inside; she suddenly wondered if nuannuan was secretly padding something again. "um... i can''t quite fasten it..." an nuannuan cracked the door open a bit, her big eyes looking out at her. "then let me help you with that." zhu yulan, not wanting to miss this opportunity to verify the truth, pushed the door open and went in. at that moment, an nuannuan was facing away from her; she used to wear those convenient clasp-type bras. sar?h the ovlfire .net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. but this one needed a little hooking. it was a bit uncomfortable starting to wear. "this is easy, just hook the two fasteners at the back together..." zhu yulan closed the door, sounding casual as she leaned in, but her gaze under her sunglasses was almost glaringly intense. the perfect shape encased by the lace bordered lingerie was brimming full, with not a single gap left to be squeezed. zhu yulan suddenly remembered the first time she met an nuannuan. she was holding a sign. "conscientious merchant, satisfaction guaranteed, quality goods, honest to all ages!" indeed, she was selling milk tea... such good milk tea... zhu yulan suddenly felt as if she was facing a dimensionality reduction attack. "nuannuan, can i ask you a question?" "sure." an nuannuan nodded her head. "just... what do you usually eat?" Chapter 183 Xu Musen, would you like to date me? Little cutie A, go for it!_2 zhu yulan decided to ask about the recipe anyway."what are we going to eat..." an nuannuan''s eyes lit up without hesitation, "xu musen ah!" "???" a hint of something particularly dirty began to surface on zhu yulan''s face. what... what are we going to eat? "xu musen will take me out to eat, i''ll eat whatever he gives me, and he can cook too, it''s really delicious!" an nuannuan''s face was tinged with a touch of pride, as if she were showing off her husband like a newlywed. zhu yulan fell silent for a moment, suddenly feeling a sour taste in her mouth, what was that about? and, that pit king can cook? zhu yulan snorted in her heart and suddenly felt even kfc wasn''t that enticing anymore. "nuannuan, so, you and he, you must be about to start dating, right?" zhu yulan suddenly asked impulsively. thinking of what xu musen had just said, an nuannuan''s cheeks turned rosy, "i''m waiting for notification..." although zhu yulan always touted herself as an independent and strong woman. love would only hold her back from success. but after all, she too was a girl of eighteen. seeing an nuannuan experiencing the sweetness and bashfulness of first love, mixed with nervousness and anticipation, zhu yulan felt a bit light-headed from the mixture of sour and sweet emotions. "and if he notifies you... i mean, if he confesses, will you accept?" zhu yulan asked again. an nuannuan''s eyes flickered as if many memories came flooding back. she remembered xu musen once giving yao mingyue flowers again and again, only to leave disappointed and alone, discarding the flowers on top of a garbage can... back then, xu musen was like a forsaken puppy, and she could only silently watch from behind him. but now, she could finally be by his side, and, she didn''t want to give him a disappointing answer anymore. "if he dares to say it, i dare to answer." an nuannuan spoke softly, yet with absolute sincerity. zhu yulan was momentarily distracted, feeling that this seemingly naive and simple girl sea??h th n?vel(f)ire.et website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. was perhaps bolder and purer than most. such a girl would commit to someone for a lifetime once she made up her mind. that pit king... really did quite a number on people. at the entrance of the store. the manager happily packed up the lingerie, having sold double the amount that day, earning her no small commission. xu musen took out his card to give to the manager, ready to settle the bill together. but the manager smiled and said, "no need, sir, miss zhu has already paid." xu musen looked towards zhu yulan and said with a smile, "boss zhu is quick to pay the bill, let me transfer the money to you." the lingerie wasn''t cheap, and even though it wasn''t much for zhu yulan, xu musen had his principles. he might tease you, but he would never take advantage of you. "no need, i have a card that gets a discount." zhu yulan shook her head, her gaze shifting between an nuannuan and xu musen, and finally let out a slight hum, "consider it an early red packet for the two of you." "how generous of the boss." xu musen didn''t insist, knowing he could repay her another time. stepping outside the store. the mall was still bustling, with an array of restaurants upstairs. as the time reached late afternoon, xu musen checked his watch, "it''s almost mealtime, shall we have dinner together?" zhu yulan was clearly tempted but seemed to remember something and depressingly said, "maybe next time, i still have some things to take care of shortly." "alright, i''ll treat boss zhu to a nice meal next time." "tsch, i''m not expecting you to be too generous. nuannuan, i''ll be leaving then." zhu yulan smiled and waved to an nuannuan. "mhm, bye, sister zhu." an nuannuan waved back. zhu yulan walked away, leaving the mall. leaving the two of them. a subtle atmosphere began to surface between them. xu musen was holding the bag with the lingerie, he cleared his throat, "what would you like to eat?" "it''s up to you." an nuannuan confidently placed her hand in his, for her, as long as xu musen was willing to take her, she was willing to go. continue your journey on empire xu musen looked down at her and slowly tightened his grip on her soft little hand, saying with a smile, "alright." in november, the days got dark quickly. after eating hotpot, they started walking back to school. the city was bustling, the crowd was dense. their hands clung tightly together, warding off the slight chill of the night. when they reached a riverside, despite it being the dry season, the center of the lake still sparkled with light. the neon lights of the skyscrapers reflected in the water. xu musen and an nuannuan sat on a bench by the river to rest. "your feet must be sore after walking so much today, right?" xu musen hugged her legs onto his own, gently massaging her calves. "my feet aren''t sore..." an nuannuan pouted, her feet always soaked for a long time and were consistently fragrant. "no, i mean... you must be tired." xu musen couldn''t help but chuckle; it was true that girls cared a lot about smelling nice. "but i''m really happy though, my feet used to not feel anything before, and now this sour sensation is quite interesting." an nuannuan was always optimistic about everything, her small feet wiggling around. "so silly, things will only get better, seeing nuannuan hopping around every day, you''ll surely be great at sports once your leg is better C i might not even be able to catch up with you then." Chapter 183 Xu Musen, Would You Like to Date Me? Go for it, Little Dumb Cutie!_3 Xu Musen just liked her always silly, happy disposition, which gave a very relaxing feeling."Xu Musen." "Hmm?" S~ea??h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "When my legs are better, will you still hold my hand and walk with me?" An Nuannuan suddenly leaned closer, extending her little hand to gently poke his fingers. Xu Musen looked at her; the night wind by the river carried a chill, but her hand was warm and soft. Find more chapters on empire Xu Musen gently pinched the finger she had poked towards him, cradling her hand in his own. An Nuannuan''s hand was really small, appearing even tinier in his, white and delicately translucent. Xu Musen gazed at her, and in a daze, the bits and pieces of their time together over the past six months surfaced one by one in his mind. Counting it up, the two of them had already shared meals, gone shopping, and even owned joint property; Xu Musen had also met her parents... It could be said that their relationship had progressed faster than some engaged couples. However, they had never taken the initiative to pierce that thin layer of paper between them. Xu Musen had planned to find a suitable place, prepare thoroughly, and give her a formal confession. But sometimes, romance really doesn''t give you any time to prepare. It was also time to pierce through that layer of paper. "Nuannuan, I want to ask you, when you can take care of yourself in the future, will you still let me stay with you?" Xu Musen asked with a light chuckle. An Nuannuan felt the warmth spread from his hand, and she gently held Xu Musen''s fingers. "That''s a question I should be asking you, Xu Musen. Are you taking care of me just out of pity?" "Of course not." Xu Musen shook his head, although their first meeting was indeed through their own pains at the hospital. If he could choose, Xu Musen would obviously prefer that they had met each other normally. "That''s right then, since we didn''t come together because of such things, why should we separate over them?" An Nuannuan said earnestly, holding Xu Musen''s hand tightly. Xu Musen felt a warmth in his heart, undeniable that because of his past life''s events, he was overly sensitive and cautious about matters of the heart. He also worried whether their relationship might, like with Yao Mingyue, mix other emotions and blur the true nature of love. This was once Xu Musen''s sore spot, but looking at An Nuannuan''s clear and bright eyes, his heart settled. "Nuannuan, I have another question. Are you with me because of the cake I brought you six years ago... so you''re here to express your gratitude?" When Xu Musen asked this question, it pressed heavily on his heart, for it was his most sensitive issue. He didn''t notice his hand was trembling slightly. Once bitten, twice shy; he did have some innate psychological shadows. He watched An Nuannuan''s eyes, unsure of what answer he hoped for. An Nuannuan also silently met his gaze for a while before saying softly, "Yes." "..." Xu Musen suddenly felt a sinking feeling, an indefinable emotion spreading through his heart. Although he knew that the emotion of liking someone is complex, made up of a mix of various feelings: being moved, being dependent, admiring, choosing, loving someone''s appearance, personality, talent, ability, and even economic standing. All of these are part of liking someone. But Xu Musen still wished for something purer. Because love, that started with appearances, will one day fade as looks wither; love founded on wealth could also end over financial issues. But love that begins with affection, despite seeming ethereal and fragile, could also be the purest and firmest. If An Nuannuan was with him only because of gratitude for something six years ago... "I see..." Xu Musen managed a smile, but it was somewhat strained. But the next moment, his hand was gripped even tighter. An Nuannuan curled up her legs, slowly moving her body to get even closer to him. Those clear eyes, now reflecting the light, were exceptionally bright. "At first, I really wanted to thank you, and I just thought about whether I could thank you in person. But then, on my first day at the new school, I saw you confessing to her. I witnessed your excitement and nervousness and also saw your solitude and sadness afterward. That was when I decided that I also wanted to help you." An Nuannuan''s na?vely charming cheeks now flushed with a gentle hue. "But at that time, you only had eyes for her, and I didn''t dare to disturb you too readily because I could sense that you''re someone who fixates on things. But you are also a very kind person. Back then, you seemed to be short on money, yet you would always buy her small snacks, bring water and a towel for her during gym class, and when it rained after school and we only had one umbrella, you would tilt it towards her, getting half-soaked yourself" "I don''t know what she thought, but all the things you did made me see you as an extraordinarily kind person." An Nuannuan revealed these feelings, even though they were actions Xu Musen had done for another girl. Perhaps, at that time, Yao Mingyue had taken them for granted. But An Nuannuan was moved by these small details time and time again. Unknowingly, she had completed a sort of self-guided conquest. Xu Musen was startled for a long time, with a bitter smile in his heart. Perhaps this was what it meant to unwittingly nurture a shade tree. The ice block he''d tried desperately to heat bore no fruit, yet the little sun secretly watching over him had quietly risen. Chapter 183 Xu Musen, Would You Like to Date Me? Little Cutie A, Go for It!_4 "So, are you pitying me?"Xu Musen looked at her. If she had appeared a bit earlier back then... would he have changed his direction? "It''s not pity, but I really feel for you." An Nuannuan shook her head and reached out a hand to pinch his face. "Actually, I used to be so envious of her and couldn''t understand why she didn''t cherish someone willing to treat her so well." "Then, back then, did you like me?" Xu Musen asked again. An Nuannuan''s eyes blinked, and in the end, she shook her head, "Back then, I didn''t know what kind of liking it was, but if possible, I wanted to make your life a little better." After all, at that time he was still wholeheartedly devoted to Yao Mingyue. As long as they were still together, An Nuannuan might never have taken the initiative to appear. It''s a bit humble, like the moon in the sky, only daring to quietly spread its own light at night. It might not be as dazzling as the sun, but in the pitch-black night, it can still light up the path home. Xu Musen''s heart was in turmoil; it turned out that when he was being a lovestruck fool, there was such an adorable "little love-kitty" behind him. He chuckled, "So, when I finally decided to break up with her, you finally chose to show up?" "Hmm..." An Nuannuan''s pretty face was a bit flushed, also a bit like the joy of a long drought meeting a sweet rain. "Actually, I was really happy that day, but I was afraid to tell you. I worried it might scare you." "Scare me?" Xu Musen muttered softly, looking into An Nuannuan''s clear eyes, seeing in them a reflection of his own past self. Yes, when he had first returned from rebirth, he subconsciously resisted feelings of emotion, especially those that mixed destiny and childhood memories. He hadn''t even noticed it. But this silly girl was so sensitive. Xu Musen suddenly felt that maybe he was the fish in the pond, and An Nuannuan was the one who used herself to bait him on the hook. "Actually, at that time, I was also worried that you might go back to her. I thought to myself, I''ll take this time to treat you a little better, to be a good friend, and that was enough for me. But later..." An Nuannuan said, her gorgeous cheeks misted over with a pleasant and happy emotion. "But later, you would accompany me shopping, worry about me getting hungry and buy me tasty food, you''d carry me on your back for a long walk to send me home, and you always talked and massaged me during PE class. In college, you braved the sun to walk me back to my dorm, helped me make my bed, wandered around with me every day, came home with me, and you even let me be the owner of the milk tea shop" "I liked the kind brother who sent me cakes and encouragement, but I like you even more now..." Your next chapter awaits on empire An Nuannuan recounted bit by bit the little events between them, her smile at the corner of her mouth a bit goofy, goofy enough to make anyone''s heart smile along unconsciously. Unawares, the two of them had gone through so much together. In Xu Musen''s heart, the shadows that once loomed seemed to be smoothed out, little by little. Actually, wasn''t he also gradually attracted to An Nuannuan? When he first started his business, Nuannuan took out all the money she had saved from selling flowers, not to mention the investment help from her family. As a somewhat famous young artist, she helped him by drawing illustrations and being his food model for only fifty yuan each. During military training, thinking he had suffered from heatstroke, she climbed to his dorm floor alone, despite her ailing leg, just to bring him a bowl of mung bean soup. sea??h th n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When he was framed, she was the one who pushed a wheelchair by herself, traveling several kilometers to call for help... Xu Musen took a deep breath, looking at the girl in front of him. Xu Musen''s inner thoughts were so resolute. Confessions need a sense of ceremony, but how could one prepare in advance for a heartbeat like that? And those hesitant thoughts were really unfair to An Nuannuan. The matters of his past life needed to be digested by Xu Musen alone, and the hurts from before couldn''t become stumbling blocks in this life for his brave pursuit of love. Love requires two people to rush towards each other, but often it takes one person bravely taking the first step! Xu Musen looked at her, the confession is now! No matter the outcome, he would not regret it. "Nuannuan, I was too tangled up before, now I want to tell you..." But he didn''t finish his sentence. An Nuannuan stretched out both hands, just like how Xu Musen usually pulled on her cheeks, she also tugged at his. Those ordinarily clear and a bit silly eyes now seemed to hold a pond of honey sweet enough to drown a person. Her chest rose and fell gently, and her fair pretty face stood firm with shy and determined emotions. "Before, I was also too tangled up, always thinking, hoping that I could become the person you liked. But I know that your past confessions never got the answer you wanted, and I don''t want to put you through that scene again." An Nuannuan took a deep breath, her pretty face blushing, but the emotions in her eyes were shining brightly even in the dark night. Since she had decided, why couldn''t she also be brave? She liked him, it wasn''t his fault he had been wronged in the past. So from now on... her boyfriend, of course, she would dote on him herself! She moved closer to Xu Musen, hugging his cheeks, as if their roles had been swapped. Her voice trembled slightly but was extraordinarily firm. "Xu Musen, would you... like to be in a relationship with me?" Chapter 184 Its my first time being your girlfriend, I have no experience yet. This was an unfolding that Xu Musen had never imagined."Xu Musen, are you willing to be in a relationship with me?" The girl in front of him held her trembling hands slightly, her eyes reflecting the splendid lights of the night. Nervousness, uneasiness, shyness, expectation, it was a leap of faith for someone who was moved in their adolescence. This confession should have been initiated by Xu Musen. Stay tuned for updates on empire Yet unexpectedly, she took the initiative and said it first. And Xu Musen knew exactly what she meant by the words she had just spoken. Throughout high school, Xu Musen lost count of how many times he confessed to Yao Mingyue, but he never received the answer he had always desired. That was also the frustration deeply buried in Xu Musen''s heart; after all, he really did like her at that time. Each rejection, he threw away the confession flowers, and his heartache at the moment was real. This was why Xu Musen had never confessed his feelings to An Nuannuan. In truth, he was somewhat uncertain whether An Nuannuan was with him out of genuine affection or to repay a debt of gratitude. He worried that if he were to confess hastily and get rejected again, he would truly become a clown in both past and present. But An Nuannuan took the initiative to tear through that uncertainty. It had always been him being rejected in his confessions, yet this was the first time he was being confessed to so earnestly. A maelstrom of emotions swirled in Xu Musen''s heart, like a clown performing in a circus to please others. Finally, he had met someone who would ask if he was tired... Xu Musen reached out and gently covered An Nuannuan''s hands that were on his face. Having lived another life, this was the first time he felt the rush of a youthful, racing heartbeat. So this was what a confession meant, the thrill and joy of two people who liked each other revealing their feelings. "Nuannuan, these words should be said by a guy first. Will you be in a relationship with me?" Xu Musen moved closer to her, the distance between them now close enough to feel each other''s breath. An Nuannuan''s cheeks blushed crimson, she pouted her lips, "It was me who asked you first... you answer me first." "But I hinted at it so long ago, if you think about it, I was actually earlier." Xu Musen joked and played dumb; he had indeed hinted at it several times before. An Nuannuan seemed to always pretend to be clueless. Of course, An Nuannuan remembered those incidents, she pursed her lips and tugged at Xu Musen''s cheeks again, "That doesn''t count, just tell me, don''t let me down, I''ll count to three..." When An Nuannuan got a little emotional, her local accent would slip out, and she shook Xu Musen''s head. She had mustered her courage to confess, but his first response wasn''t a direct acceptance. What a jerk! With her naively honest nature, An Nuannuan was starting to think of retreating into her shell. A chuckle couldn''t help but escape Xu Musen''s heart. Could it be that girls from Sichuan, even the gentle and simple ones, are actually fiery at heart? "One, two..." An Nuannuan actually began counting, but she didn''t get to three, as she was pulled into a warm embrace. Xu Musen held her tightly against him, her soft body felt like heaven''s best gift to him. Sar?h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xu Musen whispered into her ear, "I''m willing." Three words, like a red-hot branding iron, put a first full stop on their relationship and simultaneously, their warmth intensified. An Nuannuan felt like jello just out of the steam room, her entire body going limp, even the tips of her ears trembling with a rosy hue. Feeling the warmth of his embrace, seemingly able to hear the thumping of his heart, her hands slowly wrapped around his body. An Nuannuan was clueless about love, but she instinctively knew she wanted to get even closer to him. A little closer, and even closer still... This embrace wasn''t at all irrelevant to romance now. The pulsating hearts and the provocative warmth were a bit scorching, a bit overwhelming. "However, Nuannuan, it''s still the man''s job to confess. Wait for a few days, and I will properly confess to you again." Xu Musen gently rubbed her head. Confessing was something Xu Musen was quite fixated on; it couldn''t be too hasty. Confessions were always tied to flowers. An Nuannuan had picked up so many flowers for him, yet she hadn''t received a special bouquet from Xu Musen himself. An Nuannuan also slowly lifted her head from his embrace. Flowers, she didn''t really care about them. The words "I''m willing" she just heard were already the answer she desired the most. But looking into Xu Musen''s eyes, her heart felt as sweet as if she had eaten a marshmallow. "Actually, as long as I can be with you, I''m happy." "That won''t do, my girlfriend should have everything that others have." Xu Musen chuckled softly, saying the word girlfriend didn''t come easy. Life should be filled with a sense of ceremony. Hearing the words girlfriend, An Nuannuan''s pretty face couldn''t help but flush red. Girlfriend she was his girlfriend now... She looked at Xu Musen. Even though they were now dating, she was still clueless about what to do in a relationship. With a mix of nervousness and shyness, she slowly spoke, "Xu Musen I, I''ve never been a girlfriend before If there''s something I don''t know how to do, please don''t blame me, I''ll learn slowly..." Chapter 184 Its my first time being your girlfriend, I have no experience yet._2 An Nuannuan clenched her little fists, seeming a bit tense as if she were psyching herself up to be brave, as if being someone''s girlfriend made her as nervous as if she were asked to be the emperor.Xu Musen looked at her like this and felt his heart about to melt; she was indeed a simpleton. Xu Musen rubbed her cheeks, "It''s okay, it''s also my first time being someone''s boyfriend in this life, so please give me your guidance in the future." Xu Musen wasn''t lying; this was indeed his first time being in a relationship. "Mhm, hehe~" An Nuannuan nodded her head and revealed a silly smile, a rarity for Nuannuan who usually didn''t smile much. But lately, she too had learned to smile, with the corners of her mouth turning up ever so slightly, her dazed and cute face always possessed a kind of magic that made people feel extremely comfortable at first glance. In love. Yet, the way they interacted didn''t seem to have changed much. Perhaps one could say that their relationship before becoming boyfriend and girlfriend hadn''t been much different. In fact, this way of being in love might be the right one, with no unexpected impulses, everything just naturally falling into place without a spoken word. The night grew darker, and the temperature dropped lower and lower. Xu Musen looked at An Nuannuan, his little girlfriend, "Then, shall we head back?" "Mhm." He took her hand, and together they slowly started walking back into the school. The world is wonderful. In the morning when they left the school gate, they were lifetime best friends. By evening, they had become boyfriend and girlfriend. Xu Musen held her hand, now with a bit of pride. "By the way, Nuannuan, are we going to tell your family about our relationship?" Xu Musen asked. An Nuannuan''s large eyes blinked, her cheeks turning red, "My grandparents... they already know." Xu Musen was taken aback for a moment, looking down at her. They already knew? So that meant... An Nuannuan had been ready for this all along? This feeling of being watched from early on, why did it feel so familiar? Discover more content at empire "So it seems... Nuannuan, have you been plotting against me for a long time?" Xu Musen looked at her seriously. Seeing her gaze shift away slightly, her big eyes filled with bashful but still shining brightness, she spoke as she looked at her legs which could now slowly walk again. "Yes, I''ve wanted to be with you for a long time, but I was afraid that if my legs didn''t heal... Now, I can finally express it." An Nuannuan didn''t hide her true feelings, even though she was very shy, her words were still so genuine and pure. Only then did Xu Musen remember, every time he approached the subject indirectly, she would act dumbfounded. And she would also glance at her legs from time to time. An Nuannuan''s legs, in the days gone by, had almost been lost. A sensation that common people couldn''t understand. Even for a simpleton like her, there were inevitably feelings of insecurity inside, afraid of becoming a burden to him. So she always waited until she could finally walk slowly before she dared to reveal her feelings. Understanding, to the point of being heart-wrenching. Xu Musen looked at her, smiled, and said, "Actually, I also told my mom a few days ago." An Nuannuan''s eyes blinked in surprise, suddenly feeling a bit nervous, "Ah, what did you say to Auntie...?" "I said that I''ve fallen for a girl named An Nuannuan, but I wasn''t sure if she liked me back yet, so I was just waiting for the notice." Xu Musen answered with a smile. An Nuannuan''s steps felt a bit wobbly, "How could you say it so early..." Since ancient times, the relationship between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law has been rooted deep in the genes of women. "Didn''t you also bring it up early? Maybe that''s our understanding of each other," he said with a smile, "Don''t worry, my family respects my decisions a lot." Suddenly touching on the subject of parents, An Nuannuan was a bit nervous, stammering without being able to speak clearly. "Nervous? You should have seen how calm I was when I met your family; parents are actually easy to talk to." Xu Musen said, trying to comfort her as he looked at her nervously fidgeting figure. He finally understood why the last time he met the old gentleman and An Nuannuan''s father, they seemed to carry some "antagonism" toward him. Turns out, An Nuannuan had already sold him out beforehand. An Nuannuan pursed her lips, looking at Xu Musen''s grinning face, she hummed, "Because you''re thick-skinned." "...Nuannuan, don''t think that just because you''re my girlfriend now, I won''t bully you anymore!" Xu Musen reached out to pinch her plump cheeks, unable to hold back his laughter, "Look, it''s really your face that''s thick." "It''s you, it''s you..." Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. An Nuannuan also reached out to pinch his face. The two of them teased and played, and soon, they had arrived at the entrance of Nuannuan''s female dormitory building. The two of them, now with their relationship confirmed. But it still felt like nothing had changed. They arrived at the dormitory building. There was never a lack of male college students keeping watch at the female dormitory. Many couples were still hugging each other, reluctant to part. This pungent smell of love, Xu Musen finally didn''t have to envy anymore. "Xu Musen..." An Nuannuan suddenly called out to him. "What''s the matter?" "It''s just... I feel like, why does our dating feel just like before..." An Nuannuan didn''t quite understand; although she didn''t know what people usually did while dating, there must be some changes, right? Xu Musen found it difficult to answer her because others would only start getting physical after they started dating. Chapter 184 Its my first time being your girlfriend, I have no experience yet._3 But they started getting handsy directly. Enjoy new adventures from empireAnd what about shopping together, eating together, going home together, even meeting each other''s parents and such. Many couples find it hard to reach this stage. So, it''s like they''re dating, but also like they''re not, as if they are... Both of their gazes subconsciously drifted to their surroundings, those couples hugging each other, with deep affections, still embracing and kissing fervently. Yeah, if you''re dating, aren''t these sort of things exclusive to it? Xu Musen''s body was exactly eighteen years old, in the prime of youth, brimming with energy, a completely unused brand new product! Xu Musen looked down at An Nuannuan, who was very beautiful, and at first glance, she had that kind of comforting beauty, her fair skin flawless. Her exquisitely arranged features outlined stunning beauty, those tender lips were like peaches without the peel, revealing enticing juice, irresistibly drawing one in for a careful taste. "Xu Musen, do you want to bite me?" Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Perhaps because Xu Musen''s gaze was too intense, An Nuannuan spoke up a bit shyly. She remembered that he had thought about biting her face before. Xu Musen slowly lowered his head and pinned An Nuannuan against the wall behind her. "Nuannuan, don''t you want to know what people do when they''re in love?" Xu Musen''s hand reached out, gently pinching her delicate chin. "You see those other people." Xu Musen''s gaze swept to a place nearby. Those couples huddled together, as if they wanted to cup each other''s faces with kisses. When young people start dating, even a kiss can be measured in hours. Having just confessed and gotten together, even if they can''t kiss, a peck on the face is always okay, right? An Nuannuan was like a little white rabbit cornered by a big bad wolf, blinking her eyes and looking at the kissing couples nearby, then back at Xu Musen''s fervent eyes. Actually, she was a bit shy, because kissing... that was a forbidden zone she had never touched before. But as she observed the embracing people around her, she could feel such things... were surely exclusive to couples. In the end, she appeared to make up her mind, slowly tilting her fair and lovely face upward. "Then, we agreed... you can only bite a little." An Nuannuan said, puffing up her cheeks subconsciously, like a little white bun, and she closed her eyes, her tender lips slightly pursed, catching a glint of shiny gloss. Ready to brave the nibble. Xu Musen looked at her, after all she was a girl who had never been in a relationship. Xu Musen''s finger gently caressed the corner of her lips, while An Nuannuan didn''t dare to open her eyes, nor did she speak, only her dense lashes trembled slightly, and her fair face puffed up, as she held her breath. Xu Musen stared at her lips, sensing that An Nuannuan was still a bit nervous inside. If they kissed just after confirming their relationship, it might be too soon for her. However, since An Nuannuan had mustered such courage, if he didn''t take a bite, wouldn''t that make him worse than a beast? Xu Musen slowly lowered his head. "Boop~" An Nuannuan suddenly felt a warmth on her cheek, she truly got a peck, but it was her cheek that was nibbled. Xu Musen did it like he was savoring a soup dumpling and even sucked in slightly. Luckily An Nuannuan never wore makeup, so the feeling on her cheeks was that of natural skin and a faint fruity milk scent. Otherwise, with this single bite, he would have ingested a hefty amount of foundation and powder. An Nuannuan opened her eyes, her sparkling pupils showing a slight surprise. "You... you bit my face..." "What else?" Xu Musen said, but suddenly paused, then realized what had happened when An Nuannuan pursed her lips and leaned in. Could it be... she was hinting that he could kiss her? Well, well, well, he never thought he would be the conservative one! He moved a bit closer to An Nuannuan. "Nuannuan, how about I bite you again? This time I''ll pick a different spot..." But before he could finish his sentence, An Nuannuan slipped away from his wall pin. After she slowly walked to the door of the girls'' dormitory, the right side of her cute face still bore the mark of Xu Musen''s bite. "Idiot... I won''t let you bully me today." Girls need to save face too, okay? Inside An Nuannuan''s heart, a girl''s modesty was automatically triggered by the confirmation of her love, adorably naive. Xu Musen smiled, not in a hurry anyway, and waved to her, "Then get some rest early, see you tomorrow." At the entrance, the dormitory guard aunt watched him hawkishly, as if to say, "Take one step forward, and I''ll show you the severity of a mop." An Nuannuan''s eyes glowed as she looked at Xu Musen, "Then, good night." "Good night." My little girlfriend. Xu Musen waved to her. He watched An Nuannuan return to the dormitory building before he turned and left himself. The stars seemed especially bright that night, and the fallen leaves on the road seemed to dance with the wind. On his way back, he passed by the familiar girls'' dormitory again. This route was necessary to get back home, and it was also where he used to come every night in his previous life. Adjacent to the dormitory building was Yao Mingyue''s room. Xu Musen subconsciously stopped his steps. He looked up at this dormitory building, at one of the windows, which belonged her room. He had taken that step with An Nuannuan, but how was he to explain it to Yao Mingyue and Liu Rushuang? Although when it comes to matters of the heart, no one is at fault, and he had simply chosen the life he wanted. Still, both families had feelings for each other, and his choice today might change the relationship between them. To Liu Rushuang, Xu Musen saw her as a revered elder. To Yao Mingyue, Xu Musen hoped she would truly heal her heart and embrace her life once again. But once Yao Mingyue heard the news, would she really be able to accept it at once? Xu Musen shook his head as he looked at the dormitory building. In his previous life, he often waited for her here to go shopping, or to bring her milk tea and cake... The moon in the sky was a perfect half-circle, while the other half was hidden by dark clouds. Walking under the streetlights, the moonlight and lamplight split his shadow into three parts. As if three people''s lives were intertwined together. Raising my cup to invite the glowing moon, the shadows form three people... Chapter 185 What if he likes another girl? Yao Mingyue was not at school.In fact, she hadn''t been in the school dormitory for several nights already. At this moment, Liu Rushuang had just finished today''s evening meeting, and looking at the time, it was nearly ten o''clock. Liu Rushuang looked at the documents in her hand that still needed her directives. She slightly rubbed her brow, and although she was accustomed to such intensity of work, it was still inevitable to feel tired after being busy alone until eleven or twelve at night every day. "Director Liu, are we still going to process these documents today?" The secretary brought over a cup of hot tea. "Let''s not do it for now, you should head off as well." Liu Rushuang shook her head, took a sip of the tea, but then seemed to remember something, "Has Ming Yue gone back?" "No, the young miss has been in your office the whole time." Liu Rushuang nodded and stood up to go to her own office. In the office, there was still a figure sitting. In front of Yao Mingyue lay a pile of densely-packed documents, and her expression showed slight fatigue. On the desk, many of the planning books were handwritten by her. Her eyes were slightly red from fatigue, and her long hair was simply tied in a high ponytail to not obstruct her vision. In front of her lay a piece of dark chocolate and some fruit candies. Discover stories at empire It was bitter, but good for staying awake when tired. The fruit candy could help replenish energy. Ever since Yao Mingyue decided to learn about business, she had actually been spending most of her time at the company, learning from Liu Rushuang. She had begun to manage many of the event planning and corporate strategies as well. Liu Rushuang looked at her daughter working earnestly, true to being her daughter, Yao Mingyue actually had a natural talent for business. These past days during meetings, Liu Rushuang had been using the planning books written by Yao Mingyue. Although there were some aspects that were not considered, the overall quality was sound. Several proposals had even been adopted by the shareholders of the company. Liu Rushuang felt reassured, at least her daughter had the capability and she wouldn''t have to worry about her future livelihood. But following that reassurance came a pang of heartache. She herself worked so hard not because she was a workaholic, but because the responsibilities of the household had forced her to get used to it. But what about Ming Yue? Liu Rushuang knew without guessing that her hard work was for someone else. "Silly girl, you shouldn''t work like this, it''s time to rest." Liu Rushuang placed the hot tea in front of her. Yao Mingyue snapped back from her work, her voice a bit hoarse, "It''s okay, Mom, I''m just finishing the last one." Yao Mingyue took a sip from the cup, which soothed her throat somewhat. Liu Rushuang sat down beside her, looking at what she had written, all about the market research for takeaway food containers. Xu Musen''s bubble tea and takeaway services both needed a large quantity of disposable utensils, and the size of his business now made it difficult to negotiate a very good price from disposable utensil suppliers. However, Liu Rushuang owned shares in a disposable utensils factory, which she had handed over to Yao Mingyue to manage. If Yao Mingyue wanted to help him, she would naturally offer him the lowest price possible, but if the price was too low, the factory staff would certainly not be pleased. Finding this balance that satisfies both sides was not easy, requiring dealing with many people and conducting extensive market research and analysis. These days, Yao Mingyue had been running back and forth almost daily between the company and the factory, finally completing this report. With this report, the cost of bubble tea cups and takeaway boxes could be reduced by thirty percent. Don''t overlook these thirty percent. Currently, a set of disposable utensils costs between twenty to fifty cents, saving a few cents or one dime per set. But the consumption of utensils is extremely high. As the scale expands and the consumption of food boxes surges, it would be possible to manage a turnover of several billion a year if they could take on a large factory. "You, don''t push yourself so hard in anything you do. Your health is what''s most important." Liu Rushuang said softly beside her. "I know my limits. He needs this right now." Yao Mingyue moved her wrists, her slender wrists making cracking sounds. "Xiaosen must have fed you some kind of love potion, can''t you live without him? You don''t even care about your mom to this extent, hmph..." Liu Rushuang''s mouth twisted as she let out a sour hmph, acting as though she had been deprived of affection. She lay on the desk, pressing her cheek to it like a child. Yao Mingyue glanced at her mother despite being a mother herself, she always seemed more girlish when throwing tantrums. In the past, it was indeed her mother''s personality to always suggest that she and Xu Musen call her sister. Sar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After her father passed away, she seldom played and messed around with them like that. Yao Mingyue picked up a fruit candy and fed it directly to her mother''s mouth. Liu Rushuang opened her rosy lips, revealing a row of white, even teeth, and bit down on the fruit candy. "Consider yourself filial." "Mom, can we act a little more grown-up?" Yao Mingyue said somewhat helplessly, why did it feel like her mom was more clingy than her? "Mommy has always been very mature, okay!" Liu Rushuang puffed herself up with a smile. Yao Mingyue assessed her mother''s appearance. Today Liu Rushuang wore a black suitnot even such a solemn and proper outfit could hide her mother''s exceptional figure. Her clothing was stretched tightly, emphasizing her shapely figure. Beneath the suit, that white shirt struggled not to pop open from the pressure. Yao Mingyue snorted, no big deal, just wait a few more years till I''m fully developed! Chapter 185 What if he likes another girl? _2 Liu Rushuang also saw her daughter''s gaze and suddenly leaned in with a mischievous smile, placing a playful slap on her daughter''s behind."Don''t worry your pretty little head, girls can have a second growth spurt after getting married. With your mom''s genes, there''s no way you''ll be lacking. Besides, my Xiaoyue''s legs are quite attractive, enough to completely enchant Xiaosen." When Liu Rushuang was alone with her daughter, she always acted like a big schoolgirl, all giggles and mischief. "Mom." Yao Mingyue''s face turned red, and she pulled away her mother''s wandering hand, huffing, "Who cares about him? I''m quite satisfied with myself as I am." "Look at you, still playing coy. By your age, your dad and I were almost meeting the parents. If you''d been a bit more proactive before, maybe we could''ve been discussing your engagement this Chinese New Year," Liu Rushuang said with a chuckle. Yao Mingyue pursed her lips and felt an indefinable emptiness within. She thought back to a few days ago, the conversation she overheard at KFC between him and that girl. Even though Xu Musen had said he would always take care of her, it felt more like a confirmation of status and a growing distance. Yao Mingyue didn''t want to be just childhood sweethearts or just friends. She wanted more, she wanted what rightfully belonged to them. But she felt as if they were growing further apart Instead, he seemed to be getting closer to that girl. Yao Mingyue had been feeling a tightness in her chest all day, taking another bite of dark chocolate, its bitter taste spreading in her mouth. But it also cleared her head a little. "Mom, did you and Uncle Xu really set up a child betrothal for us back then?" Yao Mingyue suddenly asked. "Well, it was mentioned back in the day, but it was just a verbal agreement, no formal betrothal gifts or anything," Liu Rushuang replied, looking at her daughter with a teasing smile, "Why? Do you lack confidence in yourself?" Yao Mingyue was at a loss for a response; she indeed lacked confidence right now. "Silly girl, I still understand Xiaosen. He surely cares about you. Even if you both have a falling-out, if something serious happened to you, he wouldn''t just stand by. He might just have some concerns right now, but everything will get better gradually." "Mom, if just if, Xu Musen one day likes another girl... what would you think?" Yao Mingyue hesitantly voiced her concern, feeling like she could no longer keep up with his pace. Liu Rushuang sensed something wrong upon hearing her daughter''s words. She knew her proud daughter well. If she was expressing such doubts, it meant she was feeling extremely insecure. Liu Rushuang had long since regarded Xu Musen as her future son-in-law, confident in entrusting her daughter to him. Despite Xu Musen''s recent changes, that Liu Rushuang observed, she still believed the two were a good match. With Xu Musen''s burgeoning sense of entrepreneurship, Yao Mingyue wouldn''t have to work as hard, and being mutually supportive was the ideal outcome. However, it seemed there were significant issues arising between them. After pondering for a while and crunching on her candy, Liu Rushuang gently stroked her daughter''s head. "Your Uncle Xu and I, we hope you two can end up together, but if it doesn''t happen, then maybe it just wasn''t meant to be. At the very least, you''ll always have your history as childhood sweethearts. As long as you both are happy, that''s enough for us." Liu Rushuang spoke softly, hugging her daughter tenderly while looking into her flickering eyes, her playfulness replaced by warmth. Yao Mingyue pursed her lips, feeling the warmth from her mother calming her restless heart considerably. "Alright now, you''ve got a solid foundation as childhood sweethearts no one can compete with that. If Xiaosen can''t appreciate that, watch me spank him when I get back!" Liu Rushuang chuckled, recalling how they used to spank the mischievous Xu Musen back when he was a child, sometimes even flicking his little ''bird''. "Don''t, you''re not allowed to hit him." Yao Mingyue quickly shook her head, feeling that only she had the right to pat her future husband''s behind! Liu Rushuang was momentarily speechless, looking at her daughter who seemed to have completely fallen in love. She sighed. Well, as a mother, she thought, for the sake of her daughter''s future happiness, she''d better support them both. And Xiaosen really, why has he become so ungrateful as he grew up? If only she''d flicked his ''bird'' a few more times when he wore split pants! ... The next day. Everybody was enjoying breakfast together in the milk tea shop. Everyone watched as Xu Musen and An Nuannuan fed each other. They couldn''t help but sense something different about them today. Although the two had always fed each other before, An Nuannuan seemed particularly entitled as she fed Xu Musen today. Xu Musen was equally attentive; whatever An Nuannuan wanted to eat, he would feed it to her mouth as soon as she glanced at it. Xu Musen ate with gusto, leaving a bit of millet porridge on the corner of his mouth. "Boss Xu, you''ve got some soup on your face," Zhou Hangyu pointed out, reaching for a napkin. "I''ve got it," An Nuannuan said, stretching out her fair hand to gently wipe the porridge off his mouth. sea??h th N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 185 What if he likes another girl? _3 Then, she didn''t choose to wipe her hands; instead, she directly stuck her fingers in her mouth and licked them.She then continued to bury her head in her meal. At that moment, The people sitting around the dining table exchanged glances with each other; that gesture... if you say you''re just ordinary friends again, we''re really going to flip the table! "Boss Xu, you and the madam are..." Xu Musen smiled and looked at An Nuannuan''s dazed expression; he cleared his throat. "I''d like to make an official announcement; from now on, Nuannuan will be your true madam." "Waaaah!" A few people glanced at each other and then started to scream and howl. "Ahhhh! We''ve finally reached the day when you two made it official." "Such great news, shouldn''t we celebrate with a red envelope?" "Kiss each other, kiss!" Zhou Hangyu and the other two were howling and making faces at Xu Musen. Zhao Lianmai even stopped using her chopsticks, watching both of them and silently daydreaming. Riled up by everyone''s teasing, An Nuannuan still felt a bit shy; her pretty face turned slightly pink as she hid a little behind Xu Musen, but under the table, she couldn''t help but happily wiggle her feet. It seemed that for this girl who had just started dating, kissing in public was still too soon. "Get out of here! Cut the racket, haven''t had enough dog food, have you?" Xu Musen teased them, but couldn''t hide the smug tone in his voice. "Geez, Boss Xu, now that you and our madam are together, going forward do we listen to you or to the madam?" Zhou Hangyu spoke on the side with a cheeky tone. "Nonsense, I listen to the madam; who do you think you should listen to?" Xu Musen said earnestly, as obeying his wife was nothing shameful, as long as he wasn''t living off her. Everyone couldn''t help but laugh out loud. Actually, there was no need to guess who would listen to whom. Given An Nuannuan''s character, Xu Musen figured even if he sold her, An Nuannuan would make sure to inquire if he had undersold her and possibly negotiate for a higher price. And Xu Musen never refused An Nuannuan''s requests. That was what truly meant to make a mutual commitment. After eating, An Nuannuan went to the small room to brush her teeth; now, the wardrobe in the small room was stuffed full of An Nuannuan''s things. A couple of dresses and the down jacket she had just bought, including her slippers and little socks. It was getting cold. The shop had heating. An Nuannuan usually wore cotton slippers in the shop, but she would definitely need to wear shoes when going out for classes. Xu Musen took out the camel-colored wool boots he had prepared for her. She was wearing a knitted wool sweater, also with a fluffy scarf wrapped around her, and to prevent her hair from getting messy, he even put a round hat on her head, making her look like an adorable little snowman. "Nuannuan, you''re so cute." Xu Musen couldn''t help but pinch her cheek. "Of course." Sar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. An Nuannuan was well aware of her own attractiveness and wasn''t oblivious like those with divine beauty. "You''re not modest at all." Xu Musen scraped her little nose and tied her shoelaces. An Nuannuan looked down at him, thinking that after starting a relationship, they would feel nervous, awkward, or overly excited. But it didn''t seem like anything had changed; it was just like usual. However, An Nuannuan liked this feeling, this stable and happy daily life, which to her was the greatest happiness. By the time Xu Musen had finished tying her shoelaces and looked up, he saw An Nuannuan leaning forward to look at him. "What''s..." Before Xu Musen could finish his sentence, An Nuannuan suddenly leaned in and lightly nibbled on his cheek. It was more of a nibble than a bite, as the round and smooth set of teeth were barely pressing down, the soft touch of lips like a tiny spark of electricity. An Nuannuan covered her cheek and quickly sat back up, her face flushed as she looked to the side, pretending as if nothing had happened. "Oh, you''re bold, picking on me!" Xu Musen also felt a tickle in his heart from her action and directly moved forward to wrap his arms around her soft waist, lifting her onto the bed. Looking at the girl''s fair cheeks, the pink and lustrous corners of her lips, and that shy expression, he felt his youthful heart stirred at all times. "Nuannuan..." Xu Musen whispered, his fingers lightly touching her lips, and not a single word was exchanged between them. But the distance was getting closer and closer. "Nuannuan, I''ve got your drawing board for you..." Just at that moment, the voice of Zhao Lianmai sounded at the door, which was left ajar. Zhao Lianmai walked over, holding An Nuannuan''s drawing tools, but before she could finish talking about the painting, she saw the scene before her eyes. Six eyes met. "I''m interrupting." Zhao Lianmai stiffly and swiftly turned around. "Class is about to start..." An Nuannuan also gently pushed his chest, her pale face now so red it looked as if it could drip blood. "So, is it okay when class isn''t in session?" Xu Musen pinched her cheek and whispered in her ear. An Nuannuan didn''t speak; she sat up on the bed and looked at Xu Musen, thinking how his hands had been a bit too unruly just now... "Bad boy." An Nuannuan said. Xu Musen smiled, "Alright, then this bad boy will take the little princess to school." Xu Musen reached out his hand to her. An Nuannuan: "(????)" But she still extended her hand without hesitation. At the door, Zhao Lianmai stood at quite a distance, her expression slightly thoughtful. Xu Musen walked over. "You guys... are finished, that was quick..." Zhao Lianmai spoke the last two words. Xu Musen wondered why he always felt there was such a strong sense of attack? "It''s all right now, I''m taking Nuannuan to class." Xu Musen took the things in her hand and went to join An Nuannuan to the studio. ... After dropping Nuannuan off, Xu Musen prepared to find He Qiang. The takeaway and milk tea store at Fudan University was now quite stable. The success of the Fudan University branch, had also sparked considerable attention on college forums. After all, almost all milk tea brands were established old brands, and new ones weren''t very popular yet. Auntie Shanghai emerged out of nowhere, coupled with genuinely good reviews and the success at two colleges. Now many colleges were calling for branches to be opened. Xu Musen''s monthly income was now stable, enough to pave the way for two more colleges each month. Schools with personal connections were naturally the best choice. And He Qiang had been planning this for a while; his good brother had indeed been good to him. He would never forget such prosperity in this lifetime. Xu Musen took out his phone, just about to call He Qiang, when another call came in. Aunt Liu. Seeing this contact, Xu Musen didn''t hesitate to answer. "Aunt Liu, are you looking for me?" "Yes, you shouldn''t have class this afternoon, right?" "I''m free this afternoon." "That''s good, it''s November and getting cold; I''m worried you''ll catch a chill. Let''s go out and buy some clothes this afternoon." Liu Rushuang said smilingly. Xu Musen subconsciously thought about it. Actually, there was no need to think; Yao Mingyue would definitely be there. But Xu Musen felt there was no need to keep avoiding her; it was time to find an opportunity to clear things up. Although it always seemed that these issues wouldn''t easily come to an end, Xu Musen didn''t want to drag it out either. What was meant to come would come, and maybe it was better for both parties to understand sooner rather than later. "Okay." Chapter 187 The Correct Way to Use Cheesy Love Lines. Ten minutes ago.Yao Mingyue was sitting in a corner of the library, her heart fluttering a bit as she read the message that Xu Musen had sent. Although she knew he was only so proactive because his mother had told him to, at least they could be together now... Looking at the document in her hand, she felt as if she had more motivation now. "Excuse me, is this seat taken?" Just then, a male voice broke the silence. In front of Yao Mingyue, a boy approached. He had a handsome appearance and looked to be in great shape, his smile radiating like sunshine, his face was very clean. He was the puppy-like type, very popular with girls at the university stage. Definitely on the level of campus heartthrob. His presence made quite a few girls'' eyes gleam as they whispered excitedly among themselves, clearly indicating he had some fame around the school. "It''s him, remember? He''s from the performing arts department, Wu Yifan. I heard he already signed with a talent agency. He''s really good-looking. Looks like he''s making the first move to strike up a conversation?" "He does look good, and that girl is pretty too, yet she has such a cold look about her. But the two of them seem like a high-and-mighty queen with a puppy-boy combination, haha..." The whispers around him made Wu Yifan feel a bit proud, after all, being discovered by a talent scout as a freshman wasn''t something ordinary people could achieve. He had always maintained the persona of a single, scholarly type, visiting the library deliberately to give the impression that he loved reading, a persona that he could cite later on if he became famous. As someone who aimed to enter show business, he naturally encountered a lot of beautiful women. But when he first laid eyes on Yao Mingyue, he was astounded by her beauty, unlike many stars who needed makeup and dressing up to elevate their demeanour. Yao Mingyue rarely wore makeup unless she was meeting Xu Musen; her natural beauty without any adornments gave Wu Yifan the feeling that he was looking at a fairy-like elder sister. He couldn''t resist trying to hit on her; maybe he could even lead her on the path to the entertainment world. If he could build a "Golden Boy and Jade Girl" partnership fresh out of college, he might become an overnight sensation. Besides, Wu Yifan was very confident in his looks. After all, he was considered a star among campus heartthrobs, and dealing with an amateur should be a cinch, right? However, Yao Mingyue had merely looked up at the sound of his voice, glanced at him, and then went back to her work without a change in expression. Not even a single glance was given to him. "..." This was a first for Wu Yifan, being left out in the cold when he took the initiative to talk to a girl. Sear?h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yet that brief glance from Yao Mingyue had been enough to send his heart racing. "Hi, my name is Wu Yifan. May I get to know you?" As Wu Yifan spoke, he naturally took a book and started to sit down across from Yao Mingyue. Yao Mingyue frowned slightly, taking another look at him. Wu Yifan''s smile was infectious. But Yao Mingyue spoke indifferently, "Go play somewhere else, don''t loiter around me." "..." Wu Yifan was stunned. How could someone who looked like a divine beauty be speaking such authentic Beijing riffraff talk? But looking at her face, Wu Yifan immediately felt that all of this was forgivable. "Don''t get me wrong, I just happened to be reading here." "Then keep your eyes to yourself. Don''t let them fall to the ground." Yao Mingyue was sensitive to people''s gazes, and she hated the attention from any man other than Xu Musen. Yao Mingyue was always concise with others, but her words were piercing. Wu Yifan was left somewhat speechless, the scenario unfolding differently from what he had imagined. Although he had sensed Yao Mingyue''s aloofness earlier, he hadn''t expected her to be a chilled chili C cold and fiery. Instantly, a keyword came to mind for Wu Yifan. Good, woman, you''ve successfully caught my attention. He maintained his elegant smile, every gesture professional, striking a pose with a hand propping up his chin. "I was just admiring the scenery, but you happened to enter into it. Honestly, I find it a bit odd." Wu Yifan chuckled lightly, "Odd enough to make someone want to be your friend." Saying this, he pushed the bottle of water he had prepared towards Yao Mingyue, speaking gently, "Have some water to moisten your throat." Although a bit cheesy, Wu Yifan''s handsome appearance combined with this flirtatious line was like a player scoring on the basketball court only for Liu Yifei to come over with water and a towel, saying with affection, "Brother, you look so cool playing ball..." It''s hard for most people to resist. Yao Mingyue grew increasingly irritated; she never had any patience for others. Especially with someone trying to flirt with her, she generally wouldn''t engage in more than three sentences before politely making her feelings known. Setting down her pen, Yao Mingyue glanced at the smiling Wu Yifan. "Get lost!" The surrounding area went quiet for a moment following her blunt command. There were those who were dismissive, but they typically wouldn''t be this straightforward, usually trying to save face. But not Yao Mingyue; she had no qualms about offending someone outright. Of course, in her eyes, aside from a very few individuals, there was nobody she couldn''t afford to offend. Because of his two sentences, her writing speed had slowed by three seconds. Chapter 187 The Correct Way to Use Cheesy Love Lines. _2 That meant losing three seconds of time with Xu Musen!What will you compensate me with?! Wu Yifan was completely stunned, as this was the first time he had been directly told to get lost. "You..." He almost couldn''t maintain his sunny college guy persona, feeling the gaze of those around him, his face burning hot! "Classmate, I just wanted to make a friend, you didn''t need to say it like that..." "Bang!" Yao Mingyue precisely threw the water bottle she was holding into the trash can next to her. Wu Yifan felt as though his face had been thrown into the trash can as well, and he couldn''t hold back any longer. But as a future public figure, he didn''t explode on the spot, of course, it was also because of Yao Mingyue''s face, which was so pretty it was hard to really get angry at her. "Sorry for the disturbance." Wu Yifan''s face turned a shade of blue and black, and as the surrounding eyes looked his way, he couldn''t save his face any longer, stood up, and left. "Hahaha, that was the most awkward attempt at hitting on someone I''ve ever seen, I''d probably have to move to another planet if I were him." "Serves him right, a pretty boy really thinks every girl would like him, huh." "But this girl is really cool, not giving any face at all, no chances for dragging things out, not leading anyone on, now that''s a good girl..." Many of the surrounding guys had actually been looking at Yao Mingyue too, with more than a few having designs on her, and some had been about to make their move. sea??h th ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But with this precedent set, they suddenly became more reserved, fearing if it were them, they might not be able to mix in at Hu Hai University anymore. As for Yao Mingyue, she seemed unfazed and took a bite of chocolate. She continued her work, and a few minutes later, a familiar voice rang in her ears. "How many times have I told you not to eat this stuff?" A hand reached out and took the chocolate from in front of her. Yao Mingyue lifted her head to see Xu Musen holding a milk tea and was initially startled. "Tsk tsk tsk, here comes another one, guess how long it''ll be before he gets scolded away?" "Haha, he even brought milk tea this time, probably gonna end up in the trash too." "This little brother also seems quite handsome, and looks more manly and sunny than the guy before..." When another guy approached, everyone connected it to Wu Yifan''s earlier action and once again started to look forward to the drama. However, Yao Mingyue, upon seeing Xu Musen coming over with the milk tea, the frown she had just moments ago smoothed away. The coolness on her face instantly melted away in the face of everyone''s anticipation for drama. Her somewhat tired eyes suddenly relaxed, the bitter taste of the dark chocolate in her mouth seemed to take on a hint of sweetness, and she revealed a smile. Find your adventure at empire "I just chew on one when I''m feeling sleepy, it''s quite refreshing." "If you''re sleepy, you should rest, not look for ways to stay awake for work." Musen looked into her eyes, which showed a trace of red veins, and then at the documents she had just put away, "How much overtime pay are they giving you to make you burn the midnight oil like this?" Yao Mingyue''s lips curved upwards, her hand gently resting on the folder, looking at Xu Musen with a profound expression, "Who knows, maybe it''s all for nothing, after all, not everything gets paid back, right?" Just like the many times Xu Musen had confessed to her, there had never been a result; now, Yao Mingyue also understood that feeling. Musen didn''t pick up on her cue and handed her the milk tea, "Drink this to soothe your throat, don''t eat that stuff anymore." Musen took away her dark chocolate, remembering that in their last life, Yao Mingyue liked to eat this while working. Yao Mingyue took the milk tea, indeed it was her favorite flavor. She took a sip, and the sweet richness seemed to flow directly into her heart with each swallow. "Why did you just now say you''ve told me not to eat this before?" Yao Mingyue recalled Musen''s first words, but she had only started eating this dark chocolate in the past few days. Musen couldn''t explain to her and said, "Just remember it, there''s nothing good about eating something so bitter." "Without the bitterness from before, there wouldn''t be the sweetness of the milk tea now; sometimes, people really need to go through hardships to appreciate how sweet their previous lives were." As she spoke, Yao Mingyue was nibbling on the milk tea straw, her eyes fixed on Xu Musen. In the past six months, the two of them had been like the chocolate and the milk tea, both bitter and sweet. Yao Mingyue felt she had finally grasped something, yet at the same time, it seemed to be moving further away from her. "You have to experience the full spectrum," Musen said. "The library is so huge, how did you find me? You haven''t got someone watching me, have you?" Yao Mingyue asked with a smile. Hu Hai University''s library is much larger than a football field, and with so many floors, looking for someone here is nearly as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack. But in just about twenty minutes, Xu Musen had made the milk tea and found her, clearly knowing where she was right away. Xu Musen looked at her; in her last life, she liked to come to this corner of the library because it was usually quiet and especially peaceful. "I''m monitoring you?" Xu Musen chuckled, saying that the reverse seemed more likely. "Then it must be the tacit understanding between childhood sweethearts, just like how I can always spot my Brother Musen in a crowd~" Yao Mingyue sipped her milk tea, her phoenix eyes bright and shining, her voice sweetened by the drink. "This is the first time you''ve taken the initiative to bring me milk tea since we started university." Yao Mingyue looked at Xu Musen, her eyes and brows seeming to melt with sweetness. In the past, Xu Musen often brought her milk tea, but she hadn''t treasured those moments as much. Now drinking it, she felt it was so precious. "If you like it, just pick it up from the shop, I''ll give you a discount," Xu Musen said with a light laugh. "That''s not the same." Yao Mingyue shook her head, looking at Xu Musen; she always felt that today''s Xu Musen seemed to be in an unusually good mood. No longer having that cocky air he had a few months ago. "Shall we go out and buy clothes now?" Yao Mingyue''s eyes sparkled, meaning they could spend the whole afternoon together. "Sure." Xu Musen nodded, looking at the joy on Yao Mingyue''s face, something stirred in his heart. Never mind, there was no rush to confess as soon as they met; he would wait until after clothes shopping to find the right moment. "Then I''ll go and change my clothes first." "You''re going out to buy clothes, what''s the point of changing?" "Of course I have to look pretty when I go out; I can''t embarrass you, can I?" Yao Mingyue said, laughing, her beautiful face radiant with excitement. Xu Musen stood up, looking at Yao Mingyue''s bag packed with heavy books and documents, he reached out to take it from her. "Give it to me." Yao Mingyue paused, looking at Xu Musen: "You''re acting a bit strange today." "Strange how?" Xu Musen asked with an open expression. Yao Mingyue squinted her eyes at him for a good while, although she didn''t know what trick he was playing today. But she really liked this feeling. She narrowed her eyes, the corners crinkling into a captivating curve: "Strange in a likable way. You''ve been so good today, should I give you a reward?" She leaned in close to Xu Musen, smiling radiantly. The cheesy line, when spoken by a beautiful girl, had no greasy feel at all; her rosy lips had traces of milk tea, looking particularly tempting. The cheesy pick-up line she had just scoffed at, now felt effective when spoken to someone she liked~ The library was quiet, and Yao Mingyue''s words brought onlookers'' gazes. Just now they were guessing whether this guy would be scolded away or something. But looking at this moment, it seemed the goddess already had someone she liked. They looked at Xu Musen with a mix of envy and jealousy. The girl had leaned in already; the meaning behind her words was clear it wouldn''t be a problem for you to kiss her! It was like a scene out of "A Chinese Odyssey." The Sunset Warrior and Zixia stood atop the city wall, facing each other. While below, a crowd shouted, "Are you going to kiss her or not? If not, let me do it!" Xu Musen looked at Yao Mingyue''s beautiful face, so close to his own, and silently averted his gaze. "Let''s go, if we''re late the mall will be closing." With these words, Xu Musen started walking ahead. Yao Mingyue followed behind, sipping her milk tea again, sweetly murmuring. "Dum-dum." But today she felt very happy, her step light as she caught up. Just like when she was a child, the little girl who always loved to follow behind Brother Musen... Chapter 188 So You Bought Her Lingerie? Below the female dormitory.Xu Musen didn''t wait long before Yao Mingyue came down in a change of clothes. As expected, her style was the same as the day she and Xu Musen had met for a matchmaking date in her previous life. It was as if she knew that wearing this outfit, Xu Musen would always take an extra glance at her. The brown Korean-style trench coat was tricky to pull off; it required a certain height and temperament, otherwise, one might look like a security guard, but worn well, it resembled the cool, suave female tycoons from Korean dramas. Her long hair was slightly curled, styled into a wavy center-parted length that highlighted her signature melon-seed face, making it even more exquisitely perfect. She was truly beautiful, possessing a charm that could captivate the vast majority of mendelicate and elegant, yet retaining the vivacity of a young girl. She was at the perfect age. Seeing Xu Musen waiting for her, she narrowed her phoenix eyes into a beautiful arc and trotted over to him. Her long, pale legs were dazzling. "Do I look good?" Every time Yao Mingyue dressed up, she would ask him this. Just like how girls always ask their boyfriends if they love them, needing to hear it every time, always wanting to listen. Of course, Xu Musen couldn''t betray his conscience and say she didn''t look good, as his gaze lingered on her pale, long legs beneath the trench coat. "You''re not wearing pants in such cold weather?" "Hmph, haven''t you heard of something called ''bare leg artifact''?" Yao Mingyue huffed, stretched out her hand, and lightly tugged at her leg to reveal a layer of sheer white fabric being pulled up. "Why don''t you feel it for yourself? The texture is quite nice." Yao Mingyue kicked her leg lightly, lifting her slender right leg near him, within arm''s reach for Xu Musen. "In public, stop acting like a little dog peeing." Xu Musen commented mockingly on her leg-lifting gesture. Yao Mingyue was taken aback at first, then she also recalled the scenes of little dogs lifting their legs to pee against lampposts, her face flushing instantly. "You''re the dog!" Yao Mingyue gave his leg a light kick, still huffy. "Let''s go, it''s getting late." Xu Musen checked his watch and started walking towards the school exit. Yao Mingyue walked by Xu Musen''s side, feeling that his attitude towards her had been pretty good throughout the day. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. People, perhaps, only appreciate the sweetness after having endured hardship. When they used to go shopping together, Xu Musen was always warmly attentive to her. Now though, he didn''t say much, but walking quietly down the road together, she felt an extraordinary sense of happiness. "Click, click~" Yao Mingyue took a couple more pictures with her phone. Xu Musen turned to look at her. "Don''t worry, your face isn''t in them." Yao Mingyue hummed, looking at the photos in the album on her phone, her lips curling into a smile. Xu Musen didn''t mind; since they were kids, they had taken countless photos together. Walking along, Yao Mingyue continued to snap away, seeming particularly keen on taking pictures today. "Behave while walking." Xu Musen watched her walk and take pictures, subconsciously positioning her on the safer side of the path. This small gesture pleased Yao Mingyue. The two had left in the afternoon. Though the sun hadn''t set yet, the wind on the road made it feel a bit chilly. "Xu Musen, my hands are so cold." Yao Mingyue huddled close to him, her slender, fair hands rubbing together pitifully as she looked at him. Xu Musen glanced at her, remembering that they had held hands before, but that was a long time ago. Moreover, Xu Musen was now a "married man." "They won''t be cold if you put them in your pockets." Xu Musen said. "Oh, is that so." Yao Mingyue nodded, slipping her right hand into her own pocket, while her left found its way into Xu Musen''s pocket. "Hmm~ much warmer now." Yao Mingyue''s face bloomed with a smile, her hand already snug in his pocket, impossible to shake off. "You said to put them in pockets, but you didn''t specify whose." She argued defiantly. Yet the girl''s pretense of innocence was especially endearing. Xu Musen looked at her, his heart stirred, and in the end, he didn''t forcefully pull her hand out. Today, he would let her have her way. Find adventures at empire Xu Musen continued walking. Yao Mingyue followed, her hand in his pocket gently shaking. She looked at Xu Musen today. She pressed her lips together pensively, "Xu Musen, you today..." She wanted to say something but eventually swallowed her words. "What?" Xu Musen turned to ask her. "Today, when we buy clothes, are you picking up the tab? After all, you are the big boss now." Yao Mingyue''s face instantly brightened again, pressing closer to Xu Musen. After a moment of thought, Xu Musen nodded, "Alright." Hearing his response, Yao Mingyue''s eyes twinkled a few times with emotion, but she eventually flashed a smile. The familiar mall. This was the largest mall near the college town, a place where they''d often wandered in her past life. She glanced at various brands of clothing. In the end, Yao Mingyue''s gaze settled on that familiar Canada Goose store. "Shall we take a look here?" Yao Mingyue suggested pointing at the store, Xu Musen pausing momentarily as he looked over. Indeed, their tastes hadn''t changed... "Is that not okay? I didn''t pick the most expensive thing." Chapter 188 So You Bought Her Underwear?_2 Yao Mingyue looked at Musen, who seemed a bit hesitant. In fact, over the years, the two of them rarely went shopping for clothes together anymore.Usually, it was Liu Rushuang who took them both shopping for clothes, and Musen was okay with that. But now, Musen was also a small business owner, and he definitely had the spending power. And this Canada Goose brand, placed in the Hu Hai mall, did indeed count as an average brand. Some were expensive, casually picking up a down jacket could cost tens of thousands. However, those clothes were meant to show off one''s status, practicality wasn''t really a point worth mentioning. "Let''s go." Musen nodded, and the two walked into the store. "Welcome, may I help you two... eh?" The female sales associate approached enthusiastically, finding the pair of handsome man and beautiful woman a feast for the eyes. But when she saw Musen, she immediately recognized him. Wasn''t he the handsome guy who came to buy clothes with a cute little girl a few days ago? But the girl with him today... eh? Equally stunning, but obviously not the same person. Did he switch to another one? She let out an inadvertent ''eh'', but seeing Musen''s expressionless face, she quickly coughed: "May I recommend something for you?" Yao Mingyue squinted her eyes slightly, looked at Musen who was expressionless, and let out a light laugh: "No, thank you. We will look around by ourselves." "Of course, of course. Just call me if you need anything." The sales associate tsked to herself, thinking young people sure knew how to play. The two browsed the store, and actually, the good-looking styles of the clothes were limited to a few designs. Moreover, as childhood sweethearts who grew up together, their tastes were quite similar. Yao Mingyue watched as Musen stood in the store, his gaze inadvertently drifting to several styles of clothing, but not expressing any opinions. She narrowed her eyes, took his arm, and pretended to casually wander over. She spoke: "What do you think of these styles?" Musen looked up, one of the white ones was the same style he had bought with An Nuannuan a few days ago. "I think these designs are a bit outdated." "Then I''ll take this style." Yao Mingyue cut in decisively, then slowly added. "What color would you like the least if you had to choose from here?" "White, I guess, it gets dirty easily and..." "Hello, could you please bring me two of this style in white?" Yao Mingyue called out to the sales associate directly. "..." Musen looked at her, she was definitely doing this on purpose. Could this be the terrifying sixth sense of a woman? Yao Mingyue, however, raised her lovely face and looked at him: "Any problems?" "No." After all, this style was this year''s bestseller, and it wouldn''t be strange to encounter others wearing the same thing on the streets, right? The sales associate came over, looked at the color Yao Mingyue had chosen, then glanced at Musen''s expression, and tsked to herself again. Thinking to herself, modern folks, if you say it''s pure love, well, he''s just brought a different girl to buy clothes. If you say he''s sketchy, yet the girls he seems to like have similar tastes. Could this also count as staying consistent? The sales associate brought over the clothes. "Aren''t you going to try it on?" Yao Mingyue handed one of them to him. Musen looked at the down jacket in his hands, identical to the one he had bought a few days ago, and felt that trying it on or not made no difference. But he still nodded: "Okay." In a moment, both came out of the changing room, looking at each other''s reflection in the mirror, both wearing the same style of clothing. For a moment, they both lapsed into a trance. Discover exclusive content at empire In fact, in terms of matching in height, looks, or aura, their compatibility was the highest in the eyes of others. Looking at their reflections, they looked like a perfect golden boy and jade girl, which was probably said about the two of them. Yao Mingyue and he stood close together, both wearing down jackets, looking like two chubby little snowmen on a snowy day. Yao Mingyue took out her phone and snapped another picture of the two in the mirror. Musen looked down at her. Sar?h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This time he saw for sure, it definitely captured their faces. Yao Mingyue, holding the phone, had an air of justified confidence: "Can''t I show it to my mom?" Musen, seeing her unconcealed reaction, thought it was just as well; it was like fulfilling the task assigned by Aunt Liu. Yao Mingyue did indeed send it to Liu Rushuang. Liu Rushuang replied quickly: "Yo yo yo, you two look so well-matched. Did you buy something for this empty-nester too?" Yao Mingyue''s face couldn''t help but show a trace of shyness, and she hummed: "Mom, you don''t suit white anymore. How about I buy you something in red?" "Ha ha, doesn''t your mother know you well? You''re just afraid someone will wear the same couple''s outfit as you two, right? Silly girl, even jealous of your mom. Liu Rushuang replied with her message, and it was as if one could sense the melancholy from the elderly mother. "Alright alright, I''ve prepared something for you. I won''t chat now." Yao Mingyue put away her phone and had the sales associate prepare an off-white one, just to make a bit of distinction. On the phone, Liu Rushuang looked at the picture of the two, and it reminded her of when they were children. They also wore white cotton-padded jackets back then. The two even made a snowman together in the snowy field. When winter passed and the snowman melted, little Ming Yue cried for several days. She said she hadn''t protected the snowman that Brother Musen had made well, crying while pointing at the sun and scolding for many days. Chapter 188 So You Bought Her Underwear?_3 Such a silly cutie.Liu Rushuang couldn''t help but curve the corners of her mouth. Looking at the two people in the photo, they had already grown up without realizing it. The days ahead... If they could always continue like this, that would be great. But she always felt things might not go that smoothly, anyway, it was up to their fate. Meanwhile, the two people had left the down jacket store. They strolled around the mall leisurely. Yao Mingyue suddenly tugged at his clothes, "I want to buy something else." She pointed in a certain direction. Xu Musen followed her indication and was momentarily speechless. Ladies'' lingerie section... Not that, but why did it feel like today''s route was so coincidental? "Is it also for Aunt Liu?" Xu Musen turned his head to look at her. Yao Mingyue''s face puffed up, "Can''t I buy for myself?" As she spoke, she slightly lifted her chest and parted her trench coat a little, revealing the graceful curves of her youthful body under the white knitted sweater. "I just feel... I''ve grown a bit recently, hmph!" "You must have gotten fatter." "Xu Musen! Can a dog''s mouth spit out ivory?" Yao Mingyue was furious, girls are usually very sensitive about this area. And every time this bit was mentioned, the image of An Nuannuan with her baby face and giant... Darn it! "Let''s go!" She dragged Xu Musen directly into the lingerie store. "Hello, welcome... Eh?" The sales associate had just seen off another customer and started to greet a handsome couple enthusiastically. But when she got a clear look at Xu Musen, she subconsciously exclaimed. Wasn''t this the young man who came to buy lingerie with that cute girl with big dolls a few days ago? How come today...he was with another one? Xu Musen silently shot her a look, and the sales associate immediately corrected, "Hello, would you like to get your measurements taken first?" Yao Mingyue nodded but, taking the measuring tape from her, said directly to Xu Musen, "Can you measure for me?" Xu Musen''s brows jumped, feeling the onlookers'' stares a bit too intense. Looking at Yao Mingyue''s slender figure, though not as approachable as An Nuannuan''s flat E, the proportions were beautifully perfect. Measuring the measurements of such a beautiful girl, the other girls around seemed quite eager to try. After all, Yao Mingyue''s proportions were exceptionally good, like the golden ratio mentioned in books. If only they could also have such proportions, they''d wake up smiling from their dreams. However, Xu Musen looked at the measuring tape handed to him. Shopping together for clothes could be considered mutual care between childhood friends. But this gesture was a bit presumptuous. "No need to measure, she should fit within these sizes." Xu Musen took the tape measure, marking three spots without measuring. Yao Mingyue, who often measured herself just for the sake of it, saw these three figures and was stunned to find they were almost identical to her own measurements. It was as if he had taken the measurements himself. This proficiency surprised even the sales associate, who looked at Xu Musen with an admiring gaze. She thought about how tough it was for boys these days, needing to remember girls'' birthdays, anniversary dates, and even their girlfriends'' menstrual cycles. Now, they even had to be clear about the bust-waist-hips numbers... However, this last item seemed to be for their own benefit. Smiling, she started to prepare lingerie in that size. Yao Mingyue watched him, unfazed and calm, her cheeks blushing slightly. She was absolutely certain that she had never told him her measurements. And normally, boys wouldn''t even know what the measurements mean, right? But how could he know so clearly... Could it be that he secretly checked while she was asleep? Yao Mingyue poked him lightly and whispered, "How did you know..." "I''m good at math, I have a bit of a gift for calculating the radius of spheres and using trigonometry functions, it''s easy to see." Musen replied coolly. Yao Mingyue was at a loss for words, her face turned red; she knew about the radius of a ball, but those trigonometry functions... "Xu Musen! Go to hell!" Yao Mingyue seemed to think of something and angrily kicked him again. After a while, Yao Mingyue had chosen the style of the lingerie, and of course, she didn''t forget to select something for her own mother. Liu Rushuang was touched, after all, a mother usually accompanies her daughter to buy her first lingerie. The daughter giving lingerie back to her mother was also special as a gift. But when she saw the three figures sent by her mother, she fell into deep thought, then felt a bit embarrassed and indignant. "I didn''t bring enough money today, I won''t buy for you! (Hmph!)" Liu Rushuang: "???" Yao Mingyue continued chatting with her mother on the side. On this side, Xu Musen reached the front desk, preparing to pull out his bank card to pay. "Oh, it''s Mr. Xu." At this moment, the shop manager came over, greeting Xu Musen, "Here you are buying lingerie for your girlfriend again, you''re really good to your girlfriend...eh? But isn''t the size you picked a bit small..." The manager was packaging the lingerie and glanced at the receipt, still clearly remembering the impression the girl with the big dolls made. The size today was not to be underestimated either, but it was obviously not the same size. Xu Musen hadn''t had a chance to speak, but suddenly felt a chilling sensation behind him, as if it had suddenly become January with hail piercing his skin. The footsteps behind him were soft but seemed like the harbingers of doom. Yao Mingyue had, at some point, appeared right behind Xu Musen, her gaze unsettlingly empty and ominous. She caught two keywords. "Buying lingerie for the girlfriend again..." "This size seems much smaller this time..." "Hehehe..." Yao Mingyue looked at Xu Musen, a guy buying lingerie for a girl. S~ea??h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Could this be something that just a lifelong friend would do?! Chapter 189 In the next life, I wont be your childhood sweetheart anymore... (Truth Time.) Facing the menacing Yao Mingyue.The temperature in the lingerie store seemed to drop several degrees. When a guy buys lingerie for a girl, unless they are relatives, it can only mean they are a couple. After all, if opposite-sex friends give each other such gifts, to be frank, the giver is definitely not what you''d call a fine person, unless they''re gay. Yao Mingyue had felt all day that Xu Musen was acting a bit off, as if his attitude towards her today was a little too good. S~ea??h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was as if he was lavishing his pet with the best canned food before abandoning it. "Let''s go out first," Xu Musen thought about at least completing the task Aunt Liu had given him. After buying the clothes, he figured he would explain everything to her. But seeing the current situation, it seemed impossible to keep it a secret any longer. Xu Musen didn''t want to discuss these matters in front of others. Yao Mingyue didn''t want to talk about their relationship in public either, but at this moment, she truly felt incapable of controlling her emotions. Xu Musen reached out, grabbed her wrist, and led her out directly. Only the shop manager was left behind, a little dazed. Wondering if she had... let something slip. Xu Musen pulled Yao Mingyue out of the mall. The sky outside had darkened. In the city of Hu Hai, which never sleeps, the nightlife was just getting started, with people bustling aboutthose off work, shopping, or simply taking an evening stroll. This became the center of liveliness. The night is always bustling and is also the time when emotions are most chaotic and active. There is a saying, "Don''t make any decisions at night." Because thoughts at night are too emotional. Yao Mingyue was being led by him. If it were any other day, she would definitely hold his hand back happily, but at this moment, she felt like she was being dragged to an execution ground, watching Xu Musen who remained silent. She always felt that the line that had been connecting the two of them was about to break. Riverfront park. Xu Musen stopped walking on the other side of the bridge, right where he and An Nuannuan had confessed their feelings to each other a few days ago. The night view here was beautiful. Although it didn''t match the Bund''s glitz, there was a unique feeling of sitting quietly and watching the bustle. "Xu Musen!" Yao Mingyue forcefully grabbed Xu Musen''s arm, her voice trembling slightly as she looked at him. "What... are you going to tell me?" Yao Mingyue still didn''t directly express her thoughts. She always thought that as long as she didn''t bring up certain matters, they could continue to be together just like before. Just like an ostrich burying its head in the sand, if you don''t see danger, it doesn''t exist. But she knew all too well that these were self-deceiving thoughts. Yet even now, she still clung to that last bit of hope... maybe it hadn''t reached the stage she feared? As long as he denied it, the two of them could keep getting along as before. "Ming Yue." Xu Musen softly called her name. It was like being called out to before execution. He looked at the girl trembling before him, the eighteen-year-old Yao Mingyue, who was not yet as mad and extreme as in her past life. Her heart was still so sensitive and fragile. Xu Musen knew the things he was about to say today would be extremely hard for her to accept, but a short pain is better than a long one. He sighed softly in his heart, lowered his head, looked into Yao Mingyue''s eyes, and began to speak slowly. "Nuannuan and I, we are officially together now." The river wind was cold, but not as much as this sentence, which fell like a hail of ice on Yao Mingyue''s heart. Her heart seemed to stop for a few seconds with that sentence. Although she had already guessed it, hearing those words with her own ears made her head spin. The bitterness from all directions, like the chill night wind carrying the mist from the river, swept through with falling leaves, yellow and dead... Yao Mingyue didn''t scream or become hysterical. She felt as though someone was strangling her, stifling every breath. A cold hand seemed to grip her heart tightly; it hurt so much, she could hardly feel it anymore. Her body swayed, the hands that held Xu Musen''s now powerless. She staggered as if she was about to fall to the ground. Xu Musen moved to support her, but Yao Mingyue instead grabbed the nearby railing. Her eyes became red and brimming with unbidden tears. "Don''t come near me!" Yao Mingyue bit her lip, nearly piercing it. Perhaps this was the first time she had ever told Xu Musen to stay away. Xu Musen''s movements faltered as he looked at Yao Mingyue in this state. Leaning against the river''s railing, the cold wind felt like spikes piercing into her heart with each breath, her eyes filled with tears. Those phoenix eyes now brimmed with fear and confusion, reminiscent of six years ago, the night she lost her father. The dark moment when she was abandoned by her dearest love. At this moment, she was like an abandoned pet, clueless, scared, sad, confused... Xu Musen wanted to reach out, but he didn''t know how to comfort her anymore. Neither of them owed the other anything; the debts of their past life had been settled. In this life, Xu Musen wanted to choose his own path; both were blameless. However, even though words were easy, facing Yao Mingyue in her current state, Xu Musen''s heart couldn''t stay as calm as he had imagined. Chapter 189 In the Next Life, I Will Never Be Your Childhood Sweetheart Again... (Truth Game.)_2 "Why... why, didn''t we agree before? You told me to find everything I like about you slowly... you said it..."Leaning on the railing, Yao Mingyue''s last hope seemed to be extinguished at that moment. "I''ve also told you before not to waste your time on me. You''re really good, but now I prefer to live my own life. Maybe I''m not suited to be anyone else." Xu Musen said softly. "But I''ve been trying so hard to change!" Yao Mingyue''s voice squeezed out, her eyes brimming with tears, her limbs trembling: "I''ve really been trying so hard, I endure not thinking about you, not seeing you, not disturbing you, not bothering you Clearly, we''ve been getting along so much better lately, haven''t we? Why... why won''t you wait for me just a little longer..." Yao Mingyue''s tears rolled down her cheeks, her heartbreak carrying a shattered pain, like desolate leaves falling in this season, breaking at the slightest touch. Xu Musen had actually been telling her all along not to waste her time on him. But looking at Yao Mingyue at this moment, Xu Musen felt his own chest tightening. "I''m sorry, but at this point, saying these things is meaningless. Ming Yue, you should also have your own life, not let the past constantly hinder your future." Xu Musen''s tone was complicated as he looked at Yao Mingyue now, feeling none of the pleasure he once had when reborn that he could finally get rid of her. Instead, some inexplicable emotions were bumping around in his heart like headless flies. Sar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "But you are my future!" Yao Mingyue bit her lip, suddenly supporting herself, she staggered in front of Xu Musen, stretched out her hand, and clutched his clothes tightly. She looked up, those already tired eyes now filled with bloodshot, she opened her lips. "Xu Musen won''t you please not be with her I can continue to change, I can become even better, won''t you please wait for me, let''s pretend what we just said never happened can''t we go back to how we were before?" Yao Mingyue''s words seemed to lack logic, her tone carrying a rare plea, she clutched Xu Musen''s sleeve tightly, using the most humble tone. She now dared not ask for the two of them to be together, she would even settle for going back to when Xu Musen treated her indifferently, because at least then, she always had some chance. Xu Musen looked at Yao Mingyue now, just like that night six years ago, her entire body trembling, hoping for an answer. Unfortunately, there are no do-overs in this world. "I''m sorry," Xu Musen shook his head, he knew Yao Mingyue had changed a lot, and for this proud and sensitive girl, these changes required a great deal of determination. But some things aren''t about right or wrong, and not all efforts necessarily lead to results. In this time, An Nuannuan''s appearance gave Xu Musen many things he lacked. The freedom from the soul confirmed his choice. Yao Mingyue''s body shuddered, the last flicker of light in her eyes seemed about to fade away, the hopeful and meek look on her face turning dark. Clenching her fists, she pounded on Xu Musen''s chest: "You can''t be with her! Xu Musen, break up with her now, and I''ll pretend nothing happened, I''ll still be good and stay with you!" She growled, her throat hoarse as she hit Xu Musen, but after a couple punches, she suddenly withdrew her hand, her angry expression again becoming somewhat helpless. She gently touched the spot she had just pounded, deflating like a popped balloon. "I''m sorry, I''m sorry Xu Musen I really can''t be without you, please don''t leave me, you promised me before, you said you would be with me for a lifetime" Yao Mingyue''s emotions seemed out of control, like duckweed on water. Her former willfulness was because Xu Musen would always silently endure her caprices behind her. But now, it was as if she had nothing, the feeling of powerlessness made her like a person drowning, unable to grasp the last straw. To her, Xu Musen was a beam of light in the darkness, giving her hope to continue living. But now, he was about to take that light away. How can someone who has seen the light continue to endure the darkness? "I did promise you I would always look after you, but Ming Yue, even if I always stay with you, will your heart feel at peace?" Xu Musen slowly began to speak, actually, he had discussed this topic with Yao Mingyue several times before. Yao Mingyue bit her lip, she knew, of course, but she truly couldn''t leave Xu Musen. She understood her own heartache, but Xu Musen was the only cure she had at the moment, without him, Yao Mingyue wasn''t sure she could even endure until tomorrow. Xu Musen sighed, stretched out his hand, and placed it on her head, comforting her just like he did six years ago. "Ming Yue, I won''t break my word, I will help you as much as I can in the future, after all, we grew up together, and our families are like relatives, no matter what our statuses are, if you face troubles, I won''t stand idly by, but I hope we both have the ability to solve our problems, the issues in your heart, you''ll eventually need to face them yourself." Chapter 189 In the next life, I wont be your childhood sweetheart anymore... (Truth Time.)_3 The warmth that came from above her head provided Yao Mingyue, whose body trembled, with a sliver of comfort. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.Yao Mingyue pressed her reddened lips together, her eyes filled with bitterness, "I know, I know everything, but I really can''t live without you. I know I have issues, but I also know that even if I really got better, I still couldn''t live without you, Xu Musen. You can say that I haven''t realized the truth about myself, but you can''t deny that I like you. It might not be as pure as you said, but I only know, I only like you, in the past, now, and in the future!" As Yao Mingyue spoke, she looked at Xu Musen and couldn''t help but hug him tightly, this warm embrace. It made the cold night seem to welcome its last bit of warmth. But she understood Xu Musen; since he had made this choice, she knew she couldn''t win him back today. She had spoken firmly just now, yet she couldn''t help crying, her tears soaking through Xu Musen''s clothes. She held him tightly because she knew, once she let go, she might really never have another chance again. He said he always took care of her, but that was only as childhood friends. Childhood friends... Discover exclusive content at empire Once her proudest identity, but now she felt it was more like a curse. Since ancient times, could it be that childhood friends never win against a fateful encounter from heaven... This layer of identity that had always made her proud had now become a Milky Way lying between them, an enormous river they couldn''t cross. The river breeze came with a bone-chilling coldness. Xu Musen wanted to push her away, but Yao Mingyue''s grip was very tight. "We should each start our new lives now. You''re tired today, go back and rest early," Xu Musen didn''t know what to say to her. At this time, he could only wait for time to slowly fade everything away. Yao Mingyue was in his embrace, she didn''t speak, at this moment, she was unable to say a word. It was as if someone had brutally carved out a piece of her heart, she understood everything, but she really couldn''t accept it. She slowly let go of Xu Musen, but her eyes were already vacant, as if all the light had been drawn from them. She numbly looked at Xu Musen, her lips trembling dryly, the type of pain that felt like unraveling and peeling away, almost numbing her breath. "Okay..." The word was squeezed from her lips. Her steps wavered. Xu Musen silently watched her for a while, then he turned to pick up a bag of clothes they had bought today from a nearby bench. "Xu Musen..." The girl''s voice, already devoid of any emotional fluctuation, rang out. Xu Musen turned his head, and in that instant, his eyes suddenly widened. There was Yao Mingyue, already teetering on the railing at the river''s edge, a scene all too familiar. But this time, Yao Mingyue''s face was ashen. Looking at Xu Musen, her eyes bloodshot, she revealed a tragic smile, one of her canines biting her lip as if trying to draw blood... "Yao Mingyue!" Xu Musen shouted as he threw away the bag in his hand and rushed toward her. But Yao Mingyue just gave a pitiful smile. Desperation, resentment, and realization tangled in her bloodshot eyes. She looked at Xu Musen charging towards her. Just like in their childhood, whenever she faced danger, he would always be the first to rush over and protect her, Brother Musen. Childhood friends, oh, it was fate decreed by the heavens, the best gift bestowed by the gods. But if one day this gift was taken away, it would be pain akin to having one''s marrow sucked out. It was also because of their status as childhood friends that they gained a lot, yet it seemed they also missed out on a lot... At this moment, she thought, if they weren''t childhood friends, if they could also have an encounter like this, then could it be, their outcome now would be different? Yao Mingyue''s lips curled into a complex, meaningful smile as she looked at Xu Musen, who had come to face her. "If there is a next life, I definitely won''t be childhood friends with you..." The wind blew, and the sound of splashing water rose Chapter 190 The Small Room, Tian Jiang and Zhuma Meet Again. In November, even though the temperature in Hu Hai is not as visibly cold as in the north,the chill that seems to carry a magical harm can penetrate the body even more. As Yao Mingyue fell backward, the sound of her plunging into the water followed. Xu Musen did not hesitate to jump in after her. Although the two of them may never become husband and wife or lovers in this lifetime, the affection between their families and the bond between them, Xu Musen certainly couldn''t just watch her get into trouble. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Splash!" The sound of water hit in quick succession. This was not the Bund, where there''s a gentle riverbank for cushioning; as Xu Musen hit the water, he immediately felt the river enveloping him with an indescribably cold chill. It was like countless needles were gradually piercing through his skin, infiltrating every pore, hitting the marrow with excruciating pain. In such a temperature, jumping in rashly, an average person could likely cramp up immediately. Xu Musen clenched his teeth; there was no time to think about the cold. He opened his eyes, and in the pitch-black river water, Xu Musen could only see a little bit of light ahead. Fortunately, the river was in its dry season and not very deep. Xu Musen reached out and managed to grab hold of Yao Mingyue. He reached out and grabbed onto the rocks by the river''s edge, pulling up Yao Mingyue, who had already swallowed several mouthfuls of water. Once they surfaced, Yao Mingyue still had a mouthful of river water, her long wet hair draped over her pale, bloodless face. At that moment, her eyes were tightly closed, seemingly having lost consciousness. Emerging from the water, with a gust of cold wind blowing, Xu Musen felt the cold to his bones. Enjoy new stories from empire This lunatic... Xu Musen quickly carried her to the shore. There weren''t many people around. Xu Musen placed her on a bench, cradling her. He gently patted her cheeks. "Yao Mingyue!" At that moment, Yao Mingyue''s eyes stayed shut, her whole body trembled slightly, and some river water trickled from the corner of her mouth. If Xu Musen had jumped in any later, it might have been too late. After calling Yao Mingyue''s name twice and her not waking up, her long eyelashes trembled slightly in pain. Xu Musen couldn''t care about anything else in that moment. He gently lifted Yao Mingyue''s neck, ensuring her breathing was unobstructed. He checked her neck; her breaths were extremely weak. Xu Musen knew some first aid, and right now, he couldn''t think of anything else. He pulled open Yao Mingyue''s soaked trench coat and started administering CPR. "Cough cough..." Yao Mingyue finally made a sound, coughing lightly, spitting out a lot of water, but her consciousness was still quite blurry. Xu Musen pressed a few more times, noticing that Yao Mingyue was having difficulty breathing. After a slight hesitation, he finally exhaled deeply. He tenderly lifted Yao Mingyue''s chin and pinched the sides of her mouth. Adjusting the angle of her tongue slightly to prevent it from blocking her windpipe and causing suffocation. He looked at Yao Mingyue''s pale, pained face in the night light, her lips glistening wetly. The pink tongue, the neat rows of small white teeth. But Xu Musen had no heart for appreciation now. He took a deep breath, leaning in to perform rescue breathing. At this critical moment, the distance between them closed rapidly, and just as their lips were about to touch, Yao Mingyue suddenly expelled another mouthful of water. As luck would have it, Xu Musen ended up swallowing a big gulp. The river water, mixed with a fishy taste, caused him to cough. He thought: Is she treating me like a spittoon? "Cough cough..." At this moment, Yao Mingyue, groggy, gradually opened her eyes. In those short moments of falling into the water, it was as if she had been transported to another world. From childhood until now, every day''s memories seemed to flash rapidly through her mind. Indeed, those memories seemed to extend infinitely... Images of the future, like scenes from a sci-fi movie, many fragments of memory coming one after anothershe couldn''t distinguish between illusion and reality in an instant. She felt a great pressure in her chest, a shadow before her eyes, and slowly, the anxious face of Xu Musen appeared in her vision. "Yao Mingyue!" Xu Musen, seeing her regain consciousness at last, finally felt at ease. However, this was immediately followed by a surge of anger! He slapped her face again and said, "Yao Mingyue, you really have a talent for this, have you become addicted to jumping into the river or what?" Xu Musen couldn''t help scolding her. Yao Mingyue''s dazed expression finally began to show some clarity, but her face was still pale, and her whole body shivered from the cold breeze. Her gaze slowly focused, and her lips had turned blue, yet when she clearly saw Xu Musen''s face, she seemed to be in a daze for a long time. Those chaotic memories from before, her childhood, the present, and even some... seemed to be future fantasies. Her mind was in turmoil, and that feeling of having nearly died made her feel an inexplicable sense of relief. As if many things had become clearer, many things could be let go of, and there were many things she felt even more certain about in her heart. She suddenly revealed a silly smile, one that made her look a bit creepy. "Still smiling? You almost became a drowned ghost, do you know that?" Xu Musen was genuinely angry now. Although he knew this little capricious one could do something drastic, he didn''t expect it to be this extreme. "Xu Musen... I knew you would come to save me..." Yao Mingyue''s voice was weak, and she couldn''t help shivering. "That doesn''t stop you from courting death!" Xu Musen gritted his teeth, but seeing Yao Mingyue shivering all over from the cold, he still immediately took off the down jacket he had just bought and draped it over her. Chapter 190 The Small Room, Tian Jiang and Zhuma Meet Again. _2 While scolding her, his care for her still made Yao Mingyue unable to suppress a smile."Xu Musen, you''ve saved me once again... so, starting from now, you don''t owe me any promises," Yao Mingyue looked at him, her face displaying a sense of having survived a calamity, "From now on... we can truly start over." Yao Mingyue was still very weak, and it took her a while to finish a sentence. Xu Musen''s heart jolted, this crazy girl, actually risking her life like this. The childhood promise was a blessing and also an excuse, a precious memory shared by both of them. It was also a further obstacle between them. Now, with Xu Musen''s selfless rescue, the excuse he had used to fob her off had been swept away. Actually, it was a risky move because if Xu Musen truly didn''t care about her from this point on, even the identity as childhood sweethearts would be gone. Then, they really might become strangers to each other. "Crazy girl..." Xu Musen''s heart trembled. "I am a bit crazy... but I don''t want to pretend to be dumb." Yao Mingyue''s voice was weak, but exceptionally clear, as she looked at Xu Musen, "If in the future I could only regard you with the identity of a childhood sweetheart and wish you well, then I''m sorry... I really can''t do that. Better for us to start over..." Yao Mingyue reached out her hand, struggling to touch Xu Musen''s hand, and his palm''s warmth gave her exceptional comfort. "Xu Musen, I thought I saw so many things just now... I won''t pressure you, but... please, leave a place for me by your side in the future..." As she spoke, Yao Mingyue''s eyelids grew heavier, and her hand started to droop down weakly. "I''ll take you to the hospital!" Xu Musen quickly grasped her limp hand, wanting to lift her up, but Yao Mingyue mustered up her last bit of strength. "No, don''t go to the hospital... I''m fine, I''ll be okay after a sleep, and don''t tell my mom, she... will worry..." At that moment, Yao Mingyue looked exceptionally fragile, still harboring an instinctive aversion to hospitals. Moreover, if Aunt Liu found out that Yao Mingyue jumped into the river because of his issues, she probably wouldn''t easily forgive him. And Aunt Liu, a woman already tired from supporting a family by herself, it was best not to let her know and worry further about these things. Xu Musen felt her forehead, which was cool but showed no sign of fever. Not going to the hospital, not going to Aunt Liu''s place, and opening a room in a hotel for her seemed unreliable. Then the only option left was to take her back with him... "I''ll carry you back." Xu Musen crouched down, supporting her arm, and carried her on his back. Yao Mingyue was somewhat in a daze, but clinging onto Xu Musen like a lifeline, she embraced him tightly with all her might. Xu Musen picked up the bag of clothes from the ground and started walking towards the school. The night had grown deep, and there were hardly any people in the school, which was just as well, so no one would see their embarrassing state. Xu Musen accompanied her, and Yao Mingyue mumbled unintelligible words in her half-asleep state. All Xu Musen could do was occasionally hear her calling his name. The milk tea shop was also closed by now. Xu Musen opened the door to the milk tea shop and placed the soaking wet Yao Mingyue on his bed. He switched on the air conditioning. But looking at the drenched Yao Mingyue, he was somewhat at a loss. "Musen, I feel so uncomfortable..." Sear?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yao Mingyue writhed, her wet clothing sticking to her skin and the fishy smell of river water made her feel miserable. At this time, she should change clothes and take a shower immediately. But judging by Yao Mingyue''s current state, she was likely incapable of showering on her own. Xu Musen could only go and prepare the hot water first. Looking at the somewhat confused Yao Mingyue on the bed, he pondered what to do. Explore stories on empire Suddenly, his phone received a message. It was from An Nuannuan. "Musen, have you come back yet? (Rabbit waiting)" Xu Musen had told her before leaving today that he might come back very late. Otherwise, she would wait foolishly in the milk tea shop. Looking at the message from An Nuannuan, Xu Musen turned his head and glanced at Yao Mingyue again. He didn''t want to lie to An Nuannuan, and even if nothing untoward happened between them in this room, as her boyfriend, Xu Musen had to fulfill his duty of keeping her informed. Xu Musen dialed her number directly. "Hello~" An Nuannuan picked up his call quickly, her voice still somewhat unsteady. She must have rushed to the balcony to answer it. "Nuannuan, I have something to tell you." Xu Musen didn''t want to deceive her. He told An Nuannuan about his honest discussion with Yao Mingyue and her fall into the water. After An Nuannuan listened, she didn''t speak for a while. "Nuannuan, I didn''t expect things to turn out like this, you''re not angry, are you..." Seeing she remained silent, Xu Musen asked again. After all, he and Yao Mingyue were childhood sweethearts alright, and there was no mistake in them going shopping together for family reasons. But now, he was in a relationship with An Nuannuan, and possessiveness is a kind of security in a relationship. It''s normal for An Nuannuan to be angry. Furthermore, he had taken Yao Mingyue back to his room... But after listening, An Nuannuan simply spoke softly. "Is Sister Yao... still in the milk tea shop?" "Yeah, I''ve just brought her back..." Before Xu Musen could finish, the call was abruptly cut off. Chapter 190 The Small Room, Tian Jiang and Zhuma Meet Again. _3 This was the first time An Nuannuan had hung up on him.Xu Musen stared at the busy tone on his phone. For a moment, he didn''t know how to react. An Nuannuan, this little girl, had never gotten angry before. But with a girl of this temperament, once she became angry, it could be quite difficult to placate her. However, there was no choice, he couldn''t just ignore Yao Mingyue. Xu Musen took off her trench coat and set it aside, then he removed her shoes, and brought over the prepared bed linen and duvet cover. Sarch* The N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for anything else, Xu Musen really didn''t know how to proceed at the moment. "Dong dong" Suddenly, there came a knock at the door. Xu Musen walked out of the room, only to see a figure standing outside the milk tea shop. Xu Musen was stunned for a second. "Nuannuan?" Xu Musen opened the door and saw An Nuannuan, who was wearing pajamas and leaning on a crutch, with traces on her clean pajamas that seemed to come from a tumble. "Nuannuan, how did you come here by yourself?" An Nuannuan''s dorm was not very far from here, but her coming all the way here with a crutch must have been a rush. Seeing the mud stains on her clean pajamas, he was sure she must have fallen in her hurry on the way. Xu Musen walked over with concern, but An Nuannuan, seeing him drenched, noticed his lips had turned a bit white from the cold journey. She pursed her lips, her large eyes slightly moist, and reached out with her small hand to gently touch Xu Musen''s cold cheek, her voice trembling a little. "Xu Musen, are you alright?" Xu Musen hadn''t expected An Nuannuan''s first words upon arrival to be not a questioning or blaming, but concern for him. His heart warmed. "I''m alright, sorry for making you worry." An Nuannuan pouted her lips, her eyes full of sympathy and concern. She shook her head, "How is Sister Yao?" "She''s in the room. The situation was urgent today. The riverside was closest to the school, so I brought her back." Xu Musen said, actually a bit worried that An Nuannuan might disapprove. "I''ll go check on her." An Nuannuan spoke softly, making her way to the small room on her crutch. Seeing Yao Mingyue lying on the bed with a somewhat blurry consciousness, drenched and with no color in her face, she hesitated for a moment, then turned and said to Xu Musen, "Why don''t you let her take a bath? Otherwise, she might catch a cold." Xu Musen was taken aback, looking at An Nuannuan, "Nuannuan, you don''t mind?" "At this point, the person is the most important thing, let''s help her into the bathroom." An Nuannuan insisted on helping. "No need, I can do it myself." Of course, Xu Musen wouldn''t let her help, and directly picked up Yao Mingyue. In the bathroom, Xu Musen had specifically arranged a small bathtub, just big enough for one person to soak in. Xu Musen gently supported her and laid her down in the bathtub, watching Yao Mingyue''s clothes soak in the hot water, clinging to the young girl''s perfect body. At that moment, a small hand directly blocked his line of sight. An Nuannuan pushed him, "I''ll change her clothes for her, you go out and change yours too." Her lips were slightly pursed, ultimately still showing a touch of jealousy. "Okay." Xu Musen, knowing he was at fault, even though there had been nothing improper between them, felt that An Nuannuan''s calmness and even her initiative to bathe Yao Mingyue was already very gracious. Xu Musen went out and changed his clothes, finally not feeling so cold anymore. He sat in the room, his expression still a bit complex, as the events of today echoed through his mind, unsettling his heart. After a while, the bathroom door opened. An Nuannuan slowly walked out. "Nuannuan..." "She''s fine, let her soak in the bath a while longer. Do you have clothes for her to change into?" An Nuannuan asked. Xu Musen took out the clothes he had bought today, looking at the familiar styles and underwear brands. An Nuannuan silently lifted her eyes and glanced at Xu Musen. "..." Xu Musen felt that despite the cold weather, he was starting to sweat, "Nuannuan, listen to me explain, I didn''t expect these things to happen today, I... don''t be mad at me, okay?" An Nuannuan looked up at him, her clear, large eyes blinking, and although tinged with a hint of jealousy, her gaze remained tender. "I know, I don''t blame you." Yet as she spoke, her lower lip couldn''t help but pout slightly. "Nuannuan, there''s really nothing between her and me, and I''ve already told her about our relationship... otherwise, hit me to vent your anger." Xu Musen was like a child admitting his faults and ready to accept punishment. An Nuannuan stepped closer, looked at Xu Musen, actually raised her little hand, lifting it, but in the end, she merely gently caressed his still slightly cold cheek. That soft little hand, carrying the warmth of her touch, seemed to have the magic to instantly soothe the heart. "I''m a bit angry, angry that you didn''t think to protect yourself first... but I''m also happy, because you encountered these things for our sake." Her voice was always so simple and soft, never seeming to be truly angry. Every word, every sentence, felt as if it landed right on the tip of Xu Musen''s heart. Although he had indeed gone today to confess, it was for the better future of him and Nuannuan. But if it were any other girl, she probably wouldn''t have been able to help being angry. Yet what An Nuannuan cared about first and foremost was still him, and even when she said she was angry, it wasn''t about Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue going out to buy clothes. It was because she was angry at Xu Musen''s reckless behavior in risking his own safety to save someone. Xu Musen felt his body, which had been a bit numb from the cold, warming up from her words. "Nuannuan..." An Nuannuan cupped his cheeks, the lovely face that was now so close appeared especially tender, as she looked at Xu Musen, "Promise me, you won''t take such risks again, okay? It would really hurt me..." The last sentence, even An Nuannuan''s voice carried a slight tremble. Xu Musen stared blankly at her, extending his hands to gently embrace her. "Nuannuan, thank you" Chapter 191 The Couch, Sleeping Together with Nuannuan Late at night, in the small room.An Nuannuan popped her little head out from the bathroom and beckoned to Xu Musen. Xu Musen walked into the bathroom and saw that Yao Mingyue had already been changed into one of Xu Musen''s long-sleeved shirts and a pair of shorts. Her body, having been soaked in warm water, had recovered some color. But she still hadn''t woken up. Xu Musen went over, picked her up, and carried her. After exiting the bathroom, he gently placed her on the bed and pulled the covers over her. Xu Musen reached out and touched her forehead, thankfully it wasn''t very hot, but it seemed like a cold was inevitable. Yao Mingyue''s health wasn''t particularly strong, and the most important thing was that she was highly emotionally unstable, which is why she had not woken up yet. After settling Yao Mingyue, Xu Musen turned back to look at An Nuannuan. Sar?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. An Nuannuan was just wearing a thin nightgown, and on her way over she seemed to have fallen. The knee area of her white nightgown was a bit dirty. Xu Musen walked over and helped her to sit down on the sofa beside him. Xu Musen bent down and gently rolled up the leg of her nightgown, and indeed, on the girl''s pristine knee, there was now a red mark from the fall. "Why didn''t you tell me you were coming? Look at this fall..." Xu Musen took out the first aid kit from the store, poured out some medical alcohol, warmed it in his palm, and gently rubbed it on her knee. The somewhat scalding temperature, combined with Xu Musen''s slightly rough palms, made An Nuannuan feel as if an iron had been pressed on her leg. The lingering pain from the fall seemed to dissipate in an instant. She uttered a hum. "Does it still hurt?" "A little bit..." "You just started walking again, you can''t do this in the future." Xu Musen said slowly, but by putting himself in her shoes, he probably could guess why An Nuannuan had come in such a hurry. After all, they were in a relationship now, boyfriend and girlfriend. His girlfriend finding him in a room alone with another girl who liked him in the middle of the night. It would be abnormal not to think too much about it. Not to mention bathing and changing clothes for someone else. If it were Xu Musen, he would have drowned the other person in the bathtub already. Xu Musen watched her slightly emotional eyes. Indeed, even a genuine simpleton would feel jealous at times like these. Xu Musen, in the presence of his newly official girlfriend, whispered softly, "Nuannuan, I have already clarified things with her. This was just an accident, don''t overthink it." "I wasn''t overthinking, and I''m not angry." An Nuannuan shook her head, looking at Xu Musen who was carefully applying medicinal alcohol to her scrape, "Actually, I''m quite happy." "Happy?" Xu Musen paused, even though today he had come clean with Yao Mingyue, and there was no inappropriate behavior between them. But due to their identities, and their past, it would be good if any other girl didn''t make a big fuss, so how could they be happy? "Because I know that all the accidents today happened because of our situation, and you didn''t lie or hide anything from me, Xu Musen. I''m really happy you would do this for me." An Nuannuan''s voice was soft, with no hint of anger. The fact was, An Nuannuan had always been a bit apprehensive about Yao Mingyue, a worry that had persisted for a very long time. They were childhood friends after all, and the affection of so many years wasn''t something that could be built overnight, nor forgotten completely in a short time. Although An Nuannuan usually wouldn''t say it, she actually felt a bit inferior when facing Yao Mingyue, and this inferiority stemmed from many aspects. Such as her own legs, such as the years of friendship between Yao Mingyue and Xu Musen... She knew she was an outsider, so even though Xu Musen had hinted at confessing his feelings for her in the past, she always played dumb. It was because she had always been worried that if Xu Musen turned back... they might not even be able to stay friends. But today, the unease in her heart had finally found stability. Moreover, Xu Musen hadn''t hidden anything from her. Only by truly respecting and caring for someone could there be no secrets, no suspicions. The feeling of being loved and trusted completely made An Nuannuan feel exceptionally secure. As Xu Musen listened to her words, he fell silent for a while. An Nuannuan was like a silly rabbit, happy for a long time with just a small carrot. Although what she said was correct, that honesty is the most important thing between two people, encountering such a situation would still make it hard for most to stay rational. At least Xu Musen himself admitted he couldn''t do it. If there was a guy hanging around Nuannuan like a headless fly, he would definitely find a way to swat him dead! Xu Musen couldn''t help but pinch her cheek, "Silly girl, you''re happy with just this? Aren''t you afraid I might deceive you?" An Nuannuan blinked, looking at Xu Musen, her calf held in his grasp shaking slightly, "Because I trust you, and even if you did deceive me, I''d still be willing." An Nuannuan''s lips curved into a goofy smile, "My grandma used to say... uh, ''marry the rooster, follow the rooster; marry the dog, follow the dog.'' At that moment, Xu Musen felt a mix of laughter and tears. This silly girl, they had just started dating, and she was already talking about marriage. But with An Nuannuan''s personality, in her world, dating equaled marriage. Chapter 191 The Couch, Sleeping Together with Nuannuan_2 Maybe this is the right idea after all. If you don''t go into a relationship aiming for marriage, how can there be a good outcome?In this impetuous and fast-food-style world, An Nuannuan''s mindset seems a bit "odd." However, Xu Musen really liked it. He looked at An Nuannuan and smiled. "So am I the chicken or the dog?" "You..." An Nuannuan extended her hand and, just like Xu Musen would poke her cheeks, she stretched out a soft finger and poked him: "You are my boyfriend" Xu Musen was momentarily so charmed by these words that his heart skipped a beat, then started racing crazily. Damn, this is what being smitten feels like! Watching An Nuannuan''s expressionless face, yet every time she spoke, she either left people choked up or overwhelmed with sweetness. Xu Musen couldn''t help but gently embrace her, caressing her adorable cheeks and gave her a gentle kiss. The girl''s ears instantly felt soft as she leaned lightly into his embrace. "Xu Musen, how are you going to sleep tonight?" An Nuannuan suddenly asked in a soft voice. Although she trusted Xu Musen a lot, Nuannuan also had her possessive side. There is only one bed here. "I''ll just sleep on the sofa, it''s not too cold with the air conditioning on." Xu Musen patted the sofa, then looked at An Nuannuan''s thin pajamas: "You''re wearing so little, wear my down jacket later, I''ll take you back first." It was already late outside, the girls'' dormitory was probably about to lock up. An Nuannuan didn''t know what to say for a moment. She pursed her lips and looked at Xu Musen: "Sleeping on the sofa might give you a cold..." "It''s fine with the air conditioning." Xu Musen said, but seeing An Nuannuan''s little expression, ah, the little silly girl was obviously unable to hold back her jealousy. Xu Musen couldn''t resist teasing her. Sar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "So what to do? I can''t go sleep with you in your dorm, right? I always feel that''s even more dangerous." An Nuannuan blushed and huffed. "Then I''ll stay with you." "Sleep with me on the sofa?" Xu Musen looked at An Nuannuan''s delicate and soft skin. With An Nuannuan''s family background, when has she ever slept on a sofa? If An Shanhai knew that he let his precious daughter sleep on a sofa, he might send a truckload of enforcers to bury him right now! "Sleep on the sofa... I can do that. I''ve never slept on a sofa before." An Nuannuan seemed a bit excited about it, like a child who sometimes likes to curl up on a sofa. She blinked her eyes at Xu Musen. Grandma said that two people can''t lie together on a bed overnight, so a sofa... shouldn''t count, right? Her cheeks felt a bit warm. As she looked at Xu Musen, her big eyes seemed to be pondering something. Xu Musen found it somewhat strange; there was a moment just now when he looked into An Nuannuan''s eyes... That glint, why did it seem like the same expression Yao Mingyue had when she wanted to undress him at night? "This... sofas are uncomfortable, be careful not to get cold at night. I should still take you back..." Before Xu Musen could finish, An Nuannuan had already left his arms and with a turn, lay on the sofa facing the backrest and directly lay down. She didn''t speak, but she had an "I''m not leaving" demeanor. An Nuannuan, still in her thin pajamas, lay on the sofa with her back to Xu Musen, silent, yet leaving the other half of the space on the sofa empty. Xu Musen looked at her, in her white pajamas, with a little bit of her fair tummy exposed when she lay down, perfectly shaped perky yet fleshy buttocks, and her delicate fair feet lightly fidgeting nervously. It seemed that An Nuannuan was a little nervous, but thinking about leaving Xu Musen there, she grew even more uneasy. She didn''t distrust Xu Musen, but she feared Yao Mingyue might sneakily... Anyway, anyway! Her boyfriend, she had to protect him well! "And besides, if she needed to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night or something, I could help..." An Nuannuan finally made an excuse for herself. Xu Musen looked at her and couldn''t help but laugh: "Okay, okay, then stay." Having said that, he turned and went to the small room. "Xu Musen..." From the corner of her eye, An Nuannuan saw him and immediately climbed onto the sofa to look at him, her big eyes filled with grievance. "I''m just going to get a blanket, don''t be silly." Xu Musen said with a smile. Being jealous over someone you like is a kind of happiness too, isn''t it? Xu Musen went into the little room and brought out a spare blanket. He didn''t expect to use it so soon. He turned his head and glanced at Yao Mingyue lying on the bed. Xu Musen walked over, touched her forehead again to make sure she was all right, breathing had stabilized, although she still looked a bit pale. Xu Musen sighed, turned off the bedside lamp downstairs, and walked out. Just as he stepped out, he saw An Nuannuan clinging to the edge of the sofa, her big eyes constantly watching the door. Xu Musen walked over and said to An Nuannuan: "Are you sure you want to sleep here tonight?" "Yes!" "If something happens, don''t regret it." Xu Musen intentionally scared her. An Nuannuan blinked and said seriously with an intimidated face: "I''ll tell my grandpa and my dad..." Suddenly, Xu Musen remembered the old man''s formidable comebacks; he was sure his head wasn''t as hard as a wooden pile. Chapter 191 The Couch, Sleeping Together with Nuannuan_3 "Cough, Nuannuan, I think you should trust your boyfriend a little more,""You''re a pervert." An Nuannuan shifted her tiny feet. Xu Musen couldn''t bear it any longer, walked over, and pinched her pretty face, "And you? You like a pervert, doesn''t that make you even more perverted?" An Nuannuan''s face turned red as she rubbed it, looking at Xu Musen, "Then you like me, that makes you a pervert''s pervert''s pervert..." The two of them were like children, throwing playful, retaliatory banter at each other. Eventually, they looked at each other and smiled. It was getting late. It really was time to go to sleep. Just that, with the blanket in hand, looking at the space An Nuannuan left, Xu Musen didn''t play coy. He also lay down. The couch was actually quite spacious, but with two people on it, it still felt a little cramped. An Nuannuan was wearing only a thin cotton nightgown, and as they inevitably lay close together, their temperatures seemed to weave through the fabric, intertwining. The soft flesh on An Nuannuan''s body felt like a warm, scented slime. Although they had hugged often, lying together like this still felt a bit strangely unsettling. Xu Musen lowered his head and saw that An Nuannuan''s face was also flushed, but she still held her head up, her bright eyes not completely innocent. When she made eye contact with Xu Musen, she couldn''t help but dodge his gaze a bit. Xu Musen moved slightly to the edge of the couch, a third of his body hanging off outside. It wasn''t like the two hadn''t snuggled up on the couch to watch TV together before, but tonight, under the cover of the blanket, it all seemed to carry a different implication. "Xu Musen... do I smell like something?" All of a sudden, An Nuannuan asked. "Not at all, you smell nice... I mean, your scent is quite pleasant." Read latest stories on empire sea??h th N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Then why are you staying so far from me?" An Nuannuan pouted, more upset than shy at Xu Musen''s gradual movement away from her. "I, I''m just hot." "Liar, your arms are cold." An Nuannuan grabbed his arm; Xu Musen had come out of the cold river water, having been chilled by the wind on the way. His body temperature hadn''t even recovered yet. As she pulled on his arm, given the limited couch space, it was easy to accidentally touch something. Xu Musen gently squeezed his legs together. He really was feeling a bit warm, but only in certain places. This girl, does she really not know how good her figure is? All of a sudden, Xu Musen felt he could relate to Yao Mingyue watching him, that tantalizing, just-out-of-reach feelingit was truly torture. Moreover, this eighteen-year-old body seemed to have its own way of thinking. "Xu Musen, why has your face suddenly turned red? You couldn''t possibly have a fever, could you?" An Nuannuan saw his face seemingly blush instantly, leaned over, and, with concern, touched his forehead with her hand. However, as she made this move, half of her body was pressing down on Xu Musen. Xu Musen instantly took a deep breath. Yes, he was indeed very "hot" right now! But clearly, today was not the time. Xu Musen steadied her, allowing her to lean inside the couch and lie down comfortably. He took a deep breath and left only a small light on, "I''m fine, it''s getting late, you should sleep early, we have to wake up early tomorrow." "Oh..." An Nuannuan obediently nodded her head, lying together with Xu Musen on the couch. Although it was just a couch, the bedding was filled with the scent of both of them. Lying next to him in pajamas really made her feel a blush and a quickened heartbeat. Xu Musen closed his eyes, repeatedly chanting in his mind, "Patriotism, dedication, integrity, friendliness..." He just had to wait for this little girl to fall asleep first. An Nuannuan was also feeling quite tense. She looked at Xu Musen, and under the warm light, her large eyes glittered. Sleeping together... An Nuannuan had learned in school biology class that a boy and a girl sleeping together wouldn''t actually produce a baby. There had to be something done. But as to what that something was, she had no idea... Her cheeks were a bit red. Yet, being so close together made An Nuannuan feel extraordinarily secure. There were many things she didn''t understand, but she just wanted to make Xu Musen a little happier... Even if he did do something, it wouldn''t be too much, after all, they were certainly going to get married in the future. An Nuannuan''s gaze sparkled as she looked at Xu Musen, who seemed to have fallen asleep. She quietly moved closer to him, slowly lifting her head to look at his cheek. Summoning her courage, she slowly, gently, softly kissed his cheek. Goodnight, my boyfriend~ Like a little squirrel sneaking some pine nuts. An Nuannuan could feel her heart beating fast, her face turning red. She slowly leaned against Xu Musen''s shoulder, embracing his arm and closed her eyes too. The night grew deeper. An Nuannuan''s breathing was even. But Xu Musen opened his eyes He couldn''t sleep, really couldn''t sleep. Especially after that stealthy kiss from An Nuannuan, this serious-looking girl always made it so hard for people to resist. And his arm... An Nuannuan wasn''t very quiet in her sleep, clenching his arm tightly, her thin pajamas... really made Xu Musen feel a bit heated. Xu Musen turned his head to look at An Nuannuan. He wanted to slowly withdraw his arm, but An Nuannuan subconsciously clung even closer. Xu Musen took a deep breath. Looking at the defenseless girl in front of him, Xu Musen sat up and gently shook her. But An Nuannuan felt particularly secure next to Xu Musen today, and she simply couldn''t be woken up. Instead, she snuggled even closer, and even straddled one of her legs over Xu Musen''s body, shifting slightly. "..." Xu Musen exhales a rough breath through his nose. Looking at An Nuannuan, the naive girl, this is what you''ve brought upon yourself! Well then, sorry about this! Chapter 192 What conditions would make you leave him? ```The night was deep. Xu Musen extended his guilty hands towards An Nuannuan. He wrapped her in a blanket, picked her up, and then entered the room. Yao Mingyue was lying on one side of the bed. The bed Xu Musen purchased was very wide, yet he couldn''t bear to make An Nuannuan sleep on the sofa. Plus, if she slept on the sofa with him, he really would have had trouble keeping himself in check. So, Xu Musen placed An Nuannuan on the other side of the bed. In the middle, Xu Musen placed two couch cushions, isolating the two. Xu Musen was still worried that if Yao Mingyue woke up first and saw An Nuannuan beside her, she might toss caution to the wind... One was a childhood friend; the other, a young girlfriend. Both were formidable in their own rights. Xu Musen stood by the bed, watching the two of them lying there; Yao Mingyue and An Nuannuan, each a different style of beauty. But without a doubt, they had both reached the pinnacle of beauty in their own domains. Usually, they would tease Xu Musen about his damned good luck to have two such beautiful girls smitten with him. Xu Musen always just smiled it off, but he couldn''t deny that his luck was indeed very good. Whether it was Yao Mingyue or An Nuannuan, they were seen as the perfect catch by most guys, the kind you could only hope to meet but never pursue. To have even one of them in life was already a huge stroke of fortune. Xu Musen looked at the two, walked over, touched Yao Mingyue''s forehead, and then came to An Nuannuan''s side. Gazing at the girl who was sound asleep, hugging the cushion. Although the two were dating, she trusted him perhaps a bit too much. Thankfully, I, Xu Musen, am a gentleman, Sear?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Explore hidden tales at empire He checked the time; it was the latter half of the night. Resigned, Xu Musen didn''t close the door, grabbed another blanket, and lay down on the recliner nearby, ready to rest for a while. ... That night, Yao Mingyue''s mind was in turmoil. What tormented her was not her body, but the tension in her spirit. Deep in her memory, every little moment she had spent with Xu Musen seemed to have snapped with the day''s events... She had a dream where, in another world, they were still childhood friends, and everything followed the course Yao Mingyue had envisioned. The two together attended kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, and university, then smoothly got married, and could finally live together without shame or embarrassment. They might even have a few children and live together forever... But then, another scene appeared in her mind, just like Xu Musen had told her once. Married life might not be as great as imagined, with days filled with arguments, cold wars, distrust, and a lack of security. Even spending every day together, the distance between their hearts only seemed to grow. These dreams were so vivid, causing Yao Mingyue to struggle painfully within; she knew that this couldn''t go on, but she simply couldn''t bring herself to give him up. Suddenly, the scene in her dream twisted, a torrential downpour one late night, vehicles driving in the darkness, when suddenly a truck lost control and came hurtling toward her. Just like the accident six years ago, Yao Mingyue felt as though she was plunging into an endless icy cavern, but in a daze, she heard a voice continuously calling her name. "Ming Yue" "Yao Mingyue!" There were two voices, one from six years ago, Xu Musen, the other... sounded more like Xu Musen six years later. But the same was his immediate appearance in front of her at moments of danger, protecting her in his embrace. "Bang!" In the dream, a violent collision sound made Yao Mingyue tremble: "Musen... Musen, no, don''t go away..." Her head felt heavy as the scenes from the dream, reality, past, and future all intertwined. Instinctively, she reached out her hand and touched something warm; she instinctively pulled it into her embrace. At the same moment, An Nuannuan was also dreaming; for the first time, she was sleeping next to the man she liked, even if it was just on a couch and even if nothing happened. But for her, it was already a significant contact, so much so... that she had a particularly embarrassing dream. She dreamed that Xu Musen would hug her tightly in the middle of the night, so tightly that there was no space left between them. That feeling made An Nuannuan''s chest suddenly feel so heavy, she almost couldn''t breathe. She, too, was slowly awakening from her dazed state... Except, why did Xu Musen''s body feel so soft and smell so sweet? Both were slowly waking up, instinctively holding each other, but as they slowly opened their eyes. A pair of phoenix eyes, a pair of peach blossom eyes. The two girls, still a bit bleary-eyed, were taken aback as they saw each other''s faces. "Hmm?" "Huh?" The two snapped back to reality, still somewhat puzzled as to why they were lying together. At this time, Xu Musen had actually been awake for a while. He had gone out to buy breakfast and was worried that the two might wake up earlier than expected. Not wanting to waste any more than five minutes, he hurried back. Upon entering. He heard the two''s surprised voices. Damn it! He quickly put down the breakfast in his hands. Fearing that a second later, the two might have already started fighting! Knowing Yao Mingyue''s temper, she wouldn''t hesitate to jump into a river, and if a fight broke out, An Nuannuan wouldn''t be able to escape. ``` Chapter 192 What conditions would it take for you to leave him?_2 "You guys stop..."Xu Musen wanted to shout for them to stop fighting, but the moment he pushed the door open, Xu Musen froze. He saw two young girls each wearing thin clothes, revealing quite a bit of fair skin, tightly embracing each other while sunlight streamed in through the small window. The morning sun, with a touch of golden brilliance, fell on the girls'' fair skin, giving it an extra enticing shimmer. It was like a bowl of fragrant white rice topped with a shiny golden fried egg. And not just one, but a double-yolked egg at that! Moreover, Yao Mingyue was holding An Nuannuan in her arms, their bodies pressed together... it was quite an optimistic scene. "You guys stop!" Xu Musen still couldn''t help but say it loud. Damn it, I haven''t even made my move yet! Are you two already self-sufficient? The two girls on the bed also let go of each other in that moment, thankfully the bed was big enough that neither of them tumbled off in their excitement. Yao Mingyue''s head was still a bit sore, the river water from yesterday was cold, and she was running a slight fever. An Nuannuan, on the other hand, hugged a pillow, her cheeks flushed bright red, unsure of what to say for the moment. "I''ll explain yesterday''s situation to you two later, everyone get up and wash up to get ready for breakfast first." Xu Musen looked at them, relieved that they didn''t start fighting the moment they saw each other. "Nuannuan, you go brush your teeth first." Xu Musen said to Nuannuan. "Mhm mhm." An Nuannuan nodded obediently, slowly got up with the help of the wall, and went to the bathroom to start washing up. Yao Mingyue sat on the bed, her thoughts gradually returning. She looked around; this small room... was definitely the one from the milk tea shop. It''s just that her memory only reached up to the point they had left the riverbank. She looked at herself, her clothes had been changed; she was wearing one of Xu Musen''s long-sleeved shirts and shorts. "Nuannuan changed your clothes for you, she also bathed you yesterday." Xu Musen said, explaining as he met her gaze. Yao Mingyue glanced slightly toward the direction of the bathroom upon hearing this. Read new chapters at empire Indeed, this room was now filled with signs of An Nuannuan''s presence. Her head still felt a bit painful, even though she knew that Xu Musen and An Nuannuan were together now. But there was a hint of bitterness unavoidable in her tone, "You and her, are you cohabitating already?" "No, I brought you back last night, told her the situation, and she came over to check on you, usually it''s just me alone." Xu Musen didn''t even notice that he was explaining in great detail. Yao Mingyue was silent for a moment, looked around again, and wanted to sit up, but her head still hurt a bit, and her throat was very dry. Xu Musen brought over a cup of cold medicine and helped her sit up. "Drink some of this, you seem to have caught a bit of a cold." Xu Musen said. The cold medicine tasted slightly bitter but also sweet, surprisingly easy to swallow. Only, she noticed the brand of the cold medicine. "999, Nuannuan is very thoughtful..." Yao Mingyue murmured, her gaze shifting back to Xu Musen. Xu Musen smiled helplessly, "The medicine is innocent, drink it." Yao Mingyue took a sip and indeed, it was sweet and warm, instantly feeling a warm flow within her body. "Yesterday, was it she who took care of me?" Yao Mingyue asked in a low voice again. Sar?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Yes, it''s more convenient for her to take care of you." "I think she''s afraid something might happen if we''re alone in a room together, right?" Yao Mingyue murmured, but her tone grew quieter, "But... she really does have a good personality." If it were her in An Nuannuan''s place, and Xu Musen brought home a girl for the night, the thought of taking care of the other person wouldn''t even cross her mind. Yao Mingyue would have found a way to throw her out! "Yeah, she''s always so adorably silly." Xu Musen chuckled, but there was a hint of indulgence in his voice. "She''s only silly about you..." Yao Mingyue spoke softly; she had chatted privately with An Nuannuan before, but never once came out on top. An Nuannuan''s simplicity was always aimed solely at Xu Musen. To others, she was always blunt. But isn''t that what liking someone is about, making that person feel exceptional? The most special one. Xu Musen, not wanting to delve into this issue too much for fear of upsetting her, further said gently, "Don''t do this in the future, there are many people who care about you." Yao Mingyue then played with the cup in her hand, looking at Xu Musen, "Does that include you?" Xu Musen paused for a moment, looked into her eyes, "What do you think?" Yao Mingyue curled the corners of her mouth into a smile, "I knew it, you''re just being a stubborn old duck... I had a very long dream last night, it felt so real, I dreamt we were married..." Yao Mingyue spoke word by word, and Xu Musen''s heart skipped a beat at her expression. Thinking to himself that she couldn''t possibly... "And then?" "Afterwards... I can''t quite remember, but I think I understand what you said to me before, we really aren''t suited to get married right now." Yao Mingyue spoke softly, for the first time admitting to the idea of not clinging on to Xu Musen. Xu Musen silently observed her, looking for any hint of distress in her expression. But there was none in Yao Mingyue; she seemed to be just narrating a dream she had. "Many things don''t go as planned, you''ll get used to it over time." Xu Musen said slowly, but he was promptly interrupted by Yao Mingyue. Chapter 192 What conditions would it take for you to leave him?_3 "But just because it''s not appropriate now doesn''t mean it won''t be in the future; even if there''s only a slim chance, I''m willing to take the gamble,"Yao Mingyue''s tone lacked her usual haughty arrogance, calm and serious instead, which somehow made her determination all the more unquestionable. Knowing he couldn''t persuade her, Xu Musen simply shook his head in silence. "First, let''s have something to eat," "I also want to brush my teeth; my mouth tastes like river water," As Yao Mingyue spoke, her gaze turned towards the direction of the bathroom, where An Nuannuan was still freshening up. "Then I''ll go buy you a toothbrush and towel; just sit and rest for a bit," Xu Musen instructed. "Are you that afraid I''ll bully her? You really care about your little girlfriend..." Yao Mingyue caught his meaning, he was still worried the two would start a quarrel, she spoke, but her teeth were clenched. Early in the morning, her mouth couldn''t help but taste a bit sour. "You two are cut from the same cloth, behave yourselves, I''ll be back soon," Shaking his head, Xu Musen knew well that although Yao Mingyue and An Nuannuan were two extremes in terms of personality, they shared some commonalities. Yao Mingyue was very intelligent and straightforward in many aspects, but sometimes she could lose her reason, carried away by her emotions. On the other hand, An Nuannuan often seemed naive, but her thoughts were delicate; he had never seen her lose control, and sometimes she even seemed a bit scheming... The two of them, it felt like a kind of mutual dependence and opposition. Xu Musen left the room. Shortly after, An Nuannuan finished freshening up and came out. She looked at Yao Mingyue sitting on the bed. Because of the hug earlier in the morning, there was a strange feeling between them. "Nuannuan, can I talk to you about something?" Yao Mingyue took the initiative to speak. "Hmm," An Nuannuan nodded, walking over to the bed holding a pink towel adorned with a little rabbit pattern. "Sister Yao, you wipe your face first," An Nuannuan handed her own towel to her. Yao Mingyue looked at her, her eyes flickering; she hadn''t expected that Nuannuan would actually give her a towel. "Thank you," She pondered for a moment before accepting it; the towel was just the right temperature, warm in her palm. She fell into contemplation, looking at An Nuannuan''s na?vely cute face. "About last night, thank you," Yao Mingyue began by expressing gratitude. "It''s okay," An Nuannuan immediately shook her head. Yao Mingyue looked into her clear eyes, her voice shifting slightly, "But why would you help me? We are supposed to be rivals in love." Yao Mingyue truly couldn''t understand. Rivals in love should be resentful at each other''s sight, not tearing each other apart was already good enough, how could they take care of one another so attentively? However, An Nuannuan''s eyes shifted subtly, and she spoke softly, "Because Xu Musen would worry about you, ah. If you were sick, he would be unhappy too." This was an answer Yao Mingyue had not anticipated. Stunned, she stared at An Nuannuan. Because she was afraid Xu Musen would be unhappy, she was willing to take care of her "rival." Yao Mingyue couldn''t understand; isn''t it natural to have a strong desire to possess the person you love? "What about you? Don''t you get unhappy?" "He didn''t hide anything from me, nor did he lie; what is there for me to be angry about? Although he''s my boyfriend, he also has his own life," An Nuannuan spoke gently; her world was simple, Xu Musen liking her was enough. How important was this so-called sense of security, after all? Yao Mingyue''s lips parted, and after a long pause, she finally said, "Aren''t you afraid that one day someone will take away your boyfriend?" An Nuannuan, shaking her head and with clear eyes, replied, "The person who truly likes you can''t be chased away, and why would they willingly leave with someone else? I just need to know I won''t leave him, and that''s enough." Yao Mingyue fell silent for a while; every word spoken by An Nuannuan made her reconsider her previous assumptions. She took a deep breath, looking at the girl before her and suddenly feeling as if she was impregnable. Is this what they call a sense of security? Watching Nuannuan, Yao Mingyue spoke after a moment, "If I offered you a condition to satisfy any desire in exchange for leaving him, would you agree?" Without much thought, An Nuannuan simply returned the question, "What about you? What kind of condition would make you choose not to like him?" They looked into each other''s eyes. Yao Mingyue''s heart trembled at the earnestness and clarity she saw in Nuannuan''s eyes. She had no answer to give, for she had never once thought of giving up on him. So... Stay updated via empire Yao Mingyue suddenly realized something; no wonder Xu Musen had fallen for her so quickly. Perhaps in some way, she and Nuannuan were the same kind of person... Sarch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 194 Xu Musen Is Asked to Be a Live-in Son-in-law. Bootlickers don''t discriminate by age.Enjoy new adventures from empire Or rather, seeking a mate is an instinct etched into the DNA of all living beings. Anyway, Xu Musen knew Yao Mingyue was pretty since kindergarten. In middle school, the buds of adolescence had already begun to bloom. The little boy always followed An Nannan around. Though An Nannan had a sweet tooth, her principles were strong. She would never eat someone else''s food. "I''ve told you, I don''t eat other people''s food, especially not boys''." An Nannan emphasized again, as her family had taught her since she was young not to take advantage of others, especially the opposite sex, and to always maintain a good distance. Many young girls start by accepting chocolates and candies from others, then slowly get tricked away bit by bit. Thinking of this, An Nannan subconsciously remembered the guy who tricked her sister, always using treats to cajole her sister''s affection. Hmph! That despicable guy, he''s just bullying my sister for being naive while smug about his own cleverness, thinking I wouldn''t fall for such low tricks! As she thought this. She didn''t pay attention to what was in front of her and ran straight into a broad, warm embrace. "Ouch~" An Nannan rubbed her little nose, somewhat unhappy, and looked up to see who dared to block her path! But as soon as she looked up, what she saw was Xu Musen''s smiling face. "Yo, what a coincidence." Xu Musen, looking at An Nannan''s face that resembled Nuannuan''s, subconsciously reached out and gently patted her head. "You jerk, who let you stop me!" An Nannan, recognizing him, immediately furrowed her brow at her slightly reddened nose from the impact, and raised her tiny fists, ready to punch him. But as she raised her hand, Xu Musen presented a cup of milk tea before her. This was a mix Xu Musen specifically made for his little sister-in-law. An Nannan loved boba, so he put several times the normal amount, along with her favorite fruit flavor. An Nannan''s previously aggressive little face instantly lit up with craving. She immediately took the milk tea, huffed, and said, "At least you''re sensible. I''ll let you off this time!" An Nannan talked big, but she couldn''t wait to poke in a straw and take a sip. Instantly, her cute face scrunched up in bliss. "Nannan, didn''t you say... you don''t take things from other boys..." Meanwhile, the little boy beside her couldn''t hold back anymore, lifting his head to look at Xu Musen. An Nannan''s face flushed, and she glanced at Xu Musen, seemingly frustrated, and huffed, "This is... this is his way of apologizing to me. He owes me that!" Sar?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. An Nannan''s gestures truly displayed the haughtiness and temper typical of her age to the fullest. It reminded Xu Musen of how Yao Mingyue was when she was younger, a little girl''s haughtiness and reserve blending together in an unexpectedly cute way. Of course, it mainly helped that they were both pretty. If it had been some rowdy kids built like super athletes, he would have directly dished out a big slap. The little boy holding the exquisite and pricey chocolate glanced at the ordinary milk tea in An Nannan''s hand, weren''t you saying you didn''t eat sweets? His little brain still hadn''t caught on. "Nannan, I''ve already unwrapped the chocolate, just try..." "Sister!" An Nannan ignored him, her gaze catching the business car in the distance, with An Nuannuan looking at her through the window. The little girl happily ran towards it. The little boy, chocolate unwrapped in hand, was left standing there, disheveled by the wind. For a teenager, isn''t being ignored like that a massive emotional blow? Xu Musen couldn''t help but laugh, patting his shoulder, "Kid, you''re still young. Better focus on your studies." The boy snapped out of it and looked at Xu Musen, hesitating before asking, "What''s your relationship with Nannan, anyway?" "Family," Xu Musen replied with a smile. The little boy understood what "family" meant and suddenly treated Xu Musen with "respect." "Um, big brother, can you give this chocolate to Nannan?" Xu Musen chuckled, "Girls are reserved. You need to be more patient, and it''s normal to face rejection multiple times." Upon hearing this, the boy''s eyes lit up, "I''ve read in books, failure is the mother of success. Does that mean if I keep trying, I''ll definitely succeed?" He felt like he received approval from Nannan''s brother. "No, what I mean is, after being rejected a few times, you''ll get used to it." "???" "Brotherly advice, young as you are, better focus on memorizing some vocab. Remember, bootlickers never end well." Xu Musen said this with a chuckle, sharing his sage advice. It was obvious that Nannan had no interest in him whatsoever, and pursuing her would be a waste of time. He didn''t want this young boy to start down a bootlicker''s path of no return. With that, he broke off half of the chocolate he was holding, "Consider this tuition. Goodbye." Xu Musen chewed on the chocolate in his mouth. Not bad, the chocolate was quite good, and the hazelnut was a nice touch. Then, Xu Musen walked away. Leaving the little boy staring at the half-eaten chocolate, lost amidst the windswept turmoil. ... Back in the car. An Nannan looked at the chocolate in Xu Musen''s mouth and snapped, "Hey, why are you eating his chocolate?" "He prepared it with care, it''d be pitiable not to eat a single bite." Xu Musen looked at Nannan, smiling, "That little boy likes you, right?" Chapter 194 Xu Musen Is Asked to Be a Live-in Son-in-law. _2 An Nannan was already in the first year of junior high, twelve years old, the age Xu Musen was when he first saw An Nuannuan.This age actually already vaguely knows what it means to like someone, as there are plenty of little boys who fight over girls. "Pfft! What does that have to do with me? I just like being with my sister!" An Nannan clung tightly to her sister''s arm. Xu Musen looked at the sisters and exchanged a meaningful glance with An Nuannuan, then smirked and said, "But your sister is bound to get married before you do, you can''t always stick to her, right?" An Nuannuan''s pretty face flushed slightly; getting married and all... that still seemed a bit early. "No, no! Wherever my sister goes, I go too, don''t even think about separating me from her!" Nannan nestled into An Nuannuan''s embrace, squeezing her small face into the warm place, and her big eyes even threw a defiant glance at Xu Musen. Xu Musen couldn''t help but smile, thinking you reckon you''re a dowry maid or something. "Eh? Sister, why are you wearing the same clothes as him?" It was then that An Nannan noticed that she and this guy were wearing the same down jackets. "This is our school uniform, does it look nice?" Xu Musen said nonchalantly, not blushing or skipping a beat. An Nannan''s gaze shifted between the two before cuddling back into her sister''s arms, huffing, "You look hideous in it; my sister looks good." "Of course, Nuannuan is the cutest." Xu Musen gazed at An Nuannuan with an indulgent tone in his voice. An Nuannuan felt a bit embarrassed, but she couldn''t help her lips from curving upwards. An Nannan didn''t know what was happening, but why did the milk tea in her mouth suddenly taste sour? When they arrived at An Nuannuan''s home, Xu Musen carried the groceries they had bought today, feeling a bit nervous. After all, this was his first official visit as An Nuannuan''s boyfriend. However, Xu Musen steadied his emotions slightly, thinking he had nothing to fear, their relationship with Nuannuan was, after all, "founded upon affection and bound by propriety." Clean and pure! Walking into the inner courtyard, Xu Musen suddenly heard a whooshing sound. "Ho!" An old yet strong voice rang out, and Xu Musen focused his eyes to see the old man in the backyard wielding a guandao, creating swishing sounds through the air. "Grandpa..." Xu Musen started to greet him. "You rogue! Take~this!" But the old man had just chopped down, causing the nearby wooden stake to crack and retire on the spot! The passing breeze chilled Xu Musen to the bone. "..." Sarch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xu Musen couldn''t shake the feeling that the old man was doing this on purpose; there were so many stakes around, why chop the one right next to him? "Oh, Xiaosen, you''re here. I nearly didn''t rein my blade in time when I didn''t see you." The old man sheathed his blade, stroked his goatee, and revealed a warm smile to Xu Musen. "It''s fine, Grandpa, you really are... sharp as ever." Xu Musen wiped the cold sweat from his forehead; he meant this sincerely. Who else in their sixties or seventies could handle a heavy blade? By the side, An Nuannuan, who had just come over, saw this scene, and the corners of her mouth curved up slightly. "Hahaha, I''m just exercising my body; come on, let''s go inside." The old man laughed heartily, inviting them into the room. The old lady had already brewed tea inside and was waiting. "Xiaosen is here, it''s cold out; come sit and have some tea first." The old lady''s smile was much more kindly. Looking at Xu Musen, she had a bit more of the look one gives their own younger family members. And she also noticed that Xu Musen and An Nuannuan were wearing the same outfits today. Usually, Nuannuan''s clothes were specially purchased by Xiao Xiang; this outfit definitely wasn''t from home. "Nuannuan''s clothes, did you buy them together?" The old lady asked. In front of the old lady, Xu Musen wouldn''t jokingly say it was a school uniform. "With it being cold lately, we went shopping for clothes a few days ago." "I see, it''s been real trouble for you, looking after Nuannuan at school," the old lady nodded. "Not at all," Xu Musen said, scratching his head, "Well, it''s about dinnertime, I''ll go cook." An Nuannuan and Nannan both followed Xu Musen to the kitchen. "These two kids, they must be dating now, right?" The old lady suddenly sighed, feeling somewhat mixed emotionsan amalgam of contentment and a touch of reluctance. They say a daughter will eventually marry off, but she couldn''t bear to part with the girl she had raised. Aunt Xiang nodded and said, "That''s right, when I went to pick them up just now, the two of them were... they were holding hands." "Holding hands, well, that''s normal nowadays..." The old lady shook her head and eventually smiled, "Nuannuan is sensible, they won''t be too impulsive." In a short while, Xu Musen finished cooking. An Nannan had always been sore about Xu Musen ''stealing'' her sister, and now she channeled her frustration into her appetite! Enjoy more content from empire Her little stomach, in no time, gobbled up two small bowls of rice. But at her age, it''s the time to grow, and there''s a saying that fits well: a half-grown kid can eat their parents out of house and home. In junior and senior high, one can really pack it in, Xu Musen remembered he used to eat two huge porcelain bowls of rice at each meal and still have room for a potful of dishes. And considering An Nuannuan''s height and development, if An Nannan were to inherit such excellent genes, she truly needed to eat more, otherwise she wouldn''t get enough nutrients. At the dinner table, Xu Musen served An Nuannuan, An Nuannuan served Xu Musen, and An Nannan watched jealously, humming to herself. Chapter 194 Xu Musen Is Asked to Be a Live-in Son-in-law. _3 Xu Musen and An Nuannuan exchanged a glance, and each placed a piece of spare rib on the other''s plate, which finally coaxed a satisfied expression from the young girl.Xu Musen inexplicably felt like he was taking care of a daughter. The old lady and the old master watched this scene unfold, sensing an even warmer and livelier atmosphere in the home. They exchanged a look, having decided on some matters in their hearts. After dinner, Aunt Xiang led An Nuannuan to the room, where a doctor had been invited for her regular check-up. Xu Musen sat in the living room drinking tea. The old lady looked at Xu Musen and began to speak with a smile. "Xiaosen, grandma wants to ask you something." "Grandma, please go ahead." Xu Musen set down his teacup. sea??h th n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Are you and Nuannuan in love?" Experience more on empire The old lady''s gaze was fixed on him, her aged eyes shining with a penetrating wisdom. Xu Musen hadn''t expected the old lady to be so direct, but then again, people of her experience had long been aware of even the subtlest changes. Without hesitation, Xu Musen replied, "Grandpa, Grandma, Nuannuan and I are indeed together. We didn''t intend to hide it from you; we just haven''t had the chance to tell you yet." As he spoke, Xu Musen was also gauging the elderly couple''s reactions. Both the old lady and the old master appeared somewhat conflicted. Yet there was no sign of opposition. This slightly relieved Xu Musen. Xu Musen had confidence in his future, but his current pocket was barely substantial enough, especially compared to An Nuannuan''s vast family business. Matching doors and equal households applied in ninety-nine percent of cases, especially for the men; an unequal family background could bring considerable pressure. People always consider their own family first, so even if the elders had some objections, Xu Musen could accept that and gradually make himself better. The old lady studied Xu Musen carefully before finally speaking, "We could have guessed it. Actually, our impression of you is quite positive. We don''t oppose you and Nuannuan being together, but there are a few things I need to tell you first." The old lady''s tone became serious. "Please go ahead, grandma." To Xu Musen, getting such a non-opposing answer today was sufficient. After a brief silence, the old lady continued, "You know, I only have these two granddaughters in my family. Though they will have to marry off eventually, we are somewhat reluctant to let go. If you can stay with our family in the future, we will do our utmost to support your career, and you can spend the rest of your life taking good care of Nuannuan. What do you think?" Xu Musen was taken aback, unable to fathom what the old lady was truly getting at, but he understood the subtext: she was suggesting that he marry into her family. Actually, Xu Musen wasn''t too surprised that the old lady would pose this question. After all, the gap between the two of them was evident, and Nuannuan''s personality was also perceived as susceptible to being manipulated. To be frank, with An Nuannuan''s conditions, if she really were to seek a son-in-law, there would be a queue winding several times around The Bund. With a business supported by others and a life where he only needed to take care of Nuannuan, anyone else would be grinning ear to ear. But Xu Musen knew he could not take even half a bite more of this dependency! However, without much consideration, Xu Musen immediately shook his head. "I''m sorry, grandma, but I cannot accept your request." The old lady''s expression shifted slightly at his words, "You don''t have to rush your answer, but do think it over; you wouldn''t have to suffer as much in the future." "Grandma, I know my current business is nothing compared to your family''s, but I''m not with Nuannuan because I want to gain anything from her." Xu Musen''s tone was firm and calm. "I understand your thoughts, but to me, Nuannuan is special. I will do my utmost to care for her, to look after her. I have confidence in myself, and though I don''t know how great a business I can build, at the very least, I will never let Nuannuan go hungry. But I will strive to give her the best life I can, and if I can''t, I will certainly not hold her back. However, if I were to accept your proposal, that would betray Nuannuan''s trust in me. I know there is a gap between us now, but I will prove myself to you." Xu Musen''s words were calm yet forceful; he wasn''t just trying to vindicate his former self. He also knew that if a man cannot have confidence in himself, how can the woman who follows him feel happiness and security? Xu Musen looked directly into the elders'' eyes, aware that his words could lead to consequences. But he also knew these were the words he most wanted to say right now. The old lady remained silent for a long while, gazing at him. Observing Xu Musen''s resolved and earnest demeanor, she suddenly smiled with tenderness, and the seriousness on her face seemed to melt away, no longer needing to be feigned. "Good, it seems Nuannuan hasn''t mischosen after all" Chapter 195 Nuannuans Kiss, Sweet and Considerate. A son-in-law who lives with his wife''s parents.This profession has never been an easy one since ancient times. Had this been in the past, the status of a son-in-law who moves in with his wife''s family could be lower than that of a house steward, and even a princely son-in-law might not have it much better. Of course, the old lady actually had no intention of really making him become a son-in-law who lives with his wife''s parents. Her questions were just a way to test the character of the young man before her. If Xu Musen had actually agreed, she would have found it inappropriate. Although they really hoped that An Nuannuan could live with them forever. They also knew that they were old now, and sooner or later, An Nuannuan would have to walk her own path in life. If Xu Musen had truly agreed to be a son-in-law who lives with his wife''s parents, they would have been even more concerned. If a man can''t even have confidence in himself, how can he take good care of his family members? An Nuannuan''s personality has flaws in many aspects and must have someone who can take care of her. The old lady was very satisfied with Xu Musen''s response just now. It''s not bad for a young man to be a bit confident; at the very least, it proved he had ideas, decisiveness, and a sense of responsibility. Moreover, his words about An Nuannuan were very sincere; there was no grand vow or promise of wealth and glory. The simplest, "I will definitely not let her go hungry." In this age where dying of hunger is a difficult feat, that is the simplest, but also the most sincere promise. The old lady nodded her head. When she looked at Xu Musen, her eyes became even softer. The old lady spoke up, "Actually just now, I was deliberately asking those questions, so don''t take it to heart." Xu Musen shook his head and smiled, "Of course not. You''re concerned about Nuannuan. If it were my own child, I might have asked even more." The old lady nodded her head, and her tone softened, "It''s no wonder that Nuannuan likes being with you. Nuannuan has never lived like a normal person because of her leg injury, and moreover, her mother passed away early, and her dad is oftentimes unable to return home. We''ve always been worried about whether Nuannuan would be able to integrate normally into society." The old lady felt a pang in her heart whenever she mentioned these two children. It was tough for her to hold back her sorrow. Xu Musen was also slightly contemplative and asked, "Grandma, may I ask what happened to Nuannuan''s mom...?" The old lady sighed and slowly began, "It was six or seven years ago, when they were living in Sichuan and Chongqing, her mother''s hometown. But one night, there was an earthquake. Her mom protected the children with her body, bearing the falling beam... Her dad''s legs were crushed, and he could only watch her pass away..." Saying this, the old lady''s eyes reddened against her will, and the elder gentleman handed her a handkerchief; it was a pain that the whole family shared. Xu Musen had not expected such a story and remembered An Shanhai''s leg, indeed he walked with a limp. Xu Musen couldn''t fathom what it was like to experience such a natural disaster, but watching one''s most beloved mother pass away while protecting oneself must have been a shadow that An Nuannuan, who was just a teenager at that time, could never shake off for the rest of her life. Experience new stories on empire "Moreover, Nuannuan''s legs and spine were also injured in the accident, she was almost paralyzed, then she was sent to Zheng City, and later... she met you." Xu Musen suddenly understood. No wonder... six years ago, An Nuannuan was crying in the hospital room. For a teen, that was an enormous psychological shadow. Sar?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "So, you see, Nuannuan has had a hard life. Her mother passed away when she was just a teenager, and she had to lie in bed for so many years. Her father has always blamed himself for not protecting them and felt too ashamed to face them; he never managed to get over it and has since been traveling constantly for work to numb himself." As the old lady spoke, her tears couldn''t help but fall. For the two elders, outliving one''s child was the greatest sorrow. "For so many years, Nuannuan has really been alone. Other than painting, she would just daydream. We feel heartache for her, but are powerless. We can provide her with the best material life, but we''re helpless with the obstacle in her heart, until she met you." There was relief and gratitude in the old lady''s tone, "These past six months, we''ve seen the changes in Nuannuan. She talks more, works harder during training, and sometimes she even initiates conversation about you. Every time you say you''re coming to visit her, she waits for you early. Especially since you got her half ownership of that milk tea shop. Nuannuan smiles more and has friends to talk to now. You''ve brought all this to her." The old lady, with a tone of entrustment, added, "So, I won''t object to the two of you being together. In fact, I think it''s very good. It''s just that Nuannuan thinks differently from ordinary people in many ways." "I hope you can be more tolerant of her in the future, and don''t let her suffer any grievances." There was a sense of entrustment in the old lady''s tone; after all, they were old now, even if they lived long lives, how many more years could they have? All they hoped for was a good future for the children. "Grandpa, Grandma, please rest assured, Nuannuan is just as important to me. I like her sincerity, her tenderness, and her empathetic nature. What she has brought to me is also invaluable." Many images surfaced in Xu Musen''s mind. An Nuannuan, this simple and na?ve girl, had done a lot for him as well. Most importantly, he felt a sense of respect and freedom with An Nuannuan. Chapter 195 Nuannuans Kiss, Sweet and Considerate. _2 That was the safety of heart to heart, the very thing Xu Musen, riddled with scars from his past life, needed the most.Both were the light of redemption for each other''s souls. The words might be a bit cheesy, but their sincerity warmed the heart. The old lady nodded. "With your words, I''m at ease. Also, I know you''re planning to expand your store soon. It''s great for a man to have ambition, but starting from scratch is hard. I''ll provide you with some regular investment. I hope you do well so that by the time you graduate from college, you will have built a career, and your relationship with Nuannuan can continue to thrive. Consider this money a dowry for Nuannuan." The old lady had weathered many storms, and having said this, she went straight to the point. She was thinking of cultivating Xu Musen as a future grandson-in-law. Xu Musen did not reject her offer outright. After all, the world is just that realistic. Of those who started with nothing, Zhu Yuanzhang is pretty much the most legendary, and in thousands of years, there''s been just such one person. And besides, it was because Zhu Yuanzhang found a good wife that he managed to board Guo Zixing''s warship. It was similar to Gao Qiqiang, whose kneeling heralded the rise of an underground emperor in Jinghai. Ninety-nine point nine nine nine... percent of such people have someone backing them. Without background, funds, connections, relying solely on personal ability, success is almost impossible. And in the takeaway business, as soon as it becomes popular, someone will definitely covet this piece of fat meat. Xu Musen''s efforts to expand the territory by himself were too slow; time was money at this point. He needed to take as many bites of this fatty meat as possible before all sorts of capital took notice of it. That meant rapid expansion and a large financial chain, something external investment couldn''t suffice for. And this was different from living off a woman. Xu Musen had confidence that the investment they made in him, he could return tenfold, a hundredfold in the future. Since it was all about making money, rather than investing in someone else and perhaps even sharing his own shares, it was better to benefit his own family. "Why let the water flow into someone else''s field?" If Nuannuan''s family invested in him, the money earned would still belong to his own people. That was the perfect closed-loop operation. Xu Musen was not a stubborn person, he nodded, stood up, and bowed to the elders. Sarch* The novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Thank you for your trust, Grandpa and Grandma. I won''t let you down." If he and Nuannuan really got married in the future, he would turn this "dowry" into a magnificent betrothal gift and marry Nuannuan in splendor. "Alright, go check on Nuannuan." The old lady nodded with satisfaction. Xu Musen went to Nuannuan''s room. A female doctor was removing acupuncture needles from her legs. "The recovery is going well. It won''t be long before you can walk on your own. But you need to keep up with the massaging. Let me show you a few key spots to massage." The female doctor said, pressing on several spots on An Nuannuan''s legs, "Did you get that?" There were a few spots on the back of her thighs that An Nuannuan could only remember by feel. "I''m not quite clear on it..." An Nuannuan was about to speak when a gentle voice came from the doorway. "Tell me, and I''ll remember for her." Xu Musen entered the room, smiling as he approached her. The female doctor looked at Xu Musen, then at An Nuannuan, and nodded thoughtfully. She pointed out the parts and acupoints that needed massaging. Xu Musen observed An Nuannuan''s flawless thighs, committing the massage spots to memory. "Thank you, doctor, I''ve got it all." Xu Musen nodded, his gaze turning to An Nuannuan as he reached out and touched her head gently. Gazing at the girl''s beautiful cheeks. Now, their relationship had been recognized by the family. "If you can''t remember, don''t worry. I''ll do the massaging for you," Xu Musen said with a smile. An Nuannuan felt that Xu Musen''s words were especially gentle this time... It felt like the indulgent tone her father and mother used when they spoke to each other. She really liked that feeling. The female doctor smiled as she watched the young couple. "Um, Doctor..." Find adventures at empire Just as she thought to leave, An Nuannuan suddenly called out to her. "Do you have any other questions?" the female doctor asked with a smile. An Nuannuan''s face blushed slightly as she glanced at Xu Musen, then back at the doctor. "I mean, aside from the legs, does massaging the feet help too?" An Nuannuan asked, her voice getting softer. Sitting on the bed, she wiggled her fair, tender feet, her gaze inevitably wandering back to Xu Musen. Xu Musen: ... This little girl, what are you implying? Could Xu Musen not see that it was An Nuannuan who deliberately asked this? What is this, a reward? Are you testing the cadres with this? The doctor, however, pointed out a few spots. "Of course, the foot has the most comprehensive acupoints in the body; massaging these acupoints can be helpful too." As the female doctor spoke, she glanced at Xu Musen. Seeing the way the two young people looked at each other, she seemed to grasp something herself. She couldn''t help but smile slightlytoday''s youth sure knew how to play. However, the young lady''s feet were quite beautiful, tender and white like peeled white radishes. "Got all the acupoints?" "Cough, yes, all remembered." Chapter 195 Nuannuans Kiss, Sweet and Considerate. _3 "That''s good, I won''t disturb you any longer if nothing''s up."The female doctor revealed an auntie-knows-all smile, turned around, and left, even taking the liberty to close the door behind her. Xu Musen felt that his reputation as a foot fetishist might be spreading once again. "Nuannuan, I think I need to explain myself seriously, I''m not any kind of foot" "Mhm, I know." An Nuannuan nodded her head, looking at him just as seriously, while slightly lifting her pale, tender little feet: "Then do you want to help me massage them?" Xu Musen glanced at them: "Then I shall reluctantly do so." Having said this, Xu Musen had already grabbed An Nuannuan''s little feet in his hands. An Nuannuan''s little expression seemed amused, watching Xu Musen''s protestations despite his actions. "Nuannuan, don''t make that face, it makes me look like a pervert." "You don''t just look... Haha... Lol..." Her words were cut off as Xu Musen tickled the sole of her foot, the tingling sensation made An Nuannuan burst into laughter. "Daring to talk about your boyfriend like that, do you want to revolt? Apologize!" Xu Musen tickled her, laughing threateningly. "No way, no way..." An Nuannuan, tickled to the point of tears, barely held back from laughing. After joking around for a while, Xu Musen let her be and began massaging the pressure points on her legs. An Nuannuan''s legs had clearly gained some firmness after a period of walking exercises. And it was a very soft firmness. Yao Mingyue''s legs are very attractive, smooth and elastic with not a trace of excess flesh, making them look perfect in stockings. An Nuannuan''s legs, too, are lovely, with a kind of softness that feels almost boneless to the touch. They were like slime, fragrantly soft, irresistible to taste. One for display and the other for unparalleled tactile pleasure. "Musen, did grandpa and grandma talk to you just now?" An Nuannuan asked. "Yeah." "What did you talk about?" "Grandpa and grandma said that in a few days they''re planning to marry you off to me; even the dowry money is ready." Xu Musen spoke earnestly. An Nuannuan snorted: "My grandparents wouldn''t be in such a hurry to marry me off..." Yet, she felt a bit shy. To her, dating meant that marriage was inevitably in the future. But now was still too early. After all, marriage meant having children, and her body hadn''t fully recovered yet; she couldn''t have a baby at this time. However, the thought of having her own baby, batting those cute big eyes and calling her "mommy," filled her with joy. The more she thought about it, the redder Nuannuan''s face became. Xu Musen, seeing her adorable face, suddenly thought of a question: "Nuannuan, how much dowry do you think I should prepare if I''m going to marry you in the future?" The question caught An Nuannuan off guard, and her shy eyes turned serious. Dowry, huh... She thought for a moment, opened the bedside cabinet, took something out, and held it in her palm, stretching it out in front of Xu Musen. Her naive and clear peach blossom eyes were like a spring of water. "As for the dowry, you already gave it to me six years ago!" In her hand was the little rabbit charm Xu Musen had given her six years before. The rabbit was silly and endearing, but it couldn''t compare to the cuteness of the blushing girl at this moment by a ten-thousandth. Enjoy new stories from My Virtual Library Empire Perhaps, she had been dreaming of this day six years ago. Xu Musen felt a tremor in his heart; six years of difficult trails, six years of caution, six years of secret attention... His heart seemed to blossom with roses, spreading romantic bloom between them. "Silly girl." Xu Musen looked at An Nuannuan, wondering whether it was he who pursued her, or she who flirted with him. sea??h th NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Perhaps this is what mutual effort looks like. Looking at An Nuannuan''s incredibly cute face, Xu Musen gently stroked her cheek with one hand, eyeing her pink lips. His heart raced uncontrollably, and besides, they were officially a couple. "Nuannuan, may I kiss you?" Xu Musen drew closer, their breaths mingling. "Are you going to bite my face again?" An Nuannuan fluttered her eyes, and subconsciously puffed her cheeks like little steamed buns. "No, I want to express my affection for you in a way that won''t be worn away by the air." Xu Musen smiled, his fingers lightly touching the corners of her lips. An Nuannuan''s cheeks burned under his intense gaze; she let out an almost imperceptible murmur from her nose Her body trembled slightly, but the little deer in her heart danced wildly in the forest of her soul. Even the normally clueless her would follow her heart''s most genuine instinct and answer the one she liked most purely. The distance between the two shrank slowly until there was no space left... Ah, how sweet. Chapter 196 Punishment of the Younger Sister-in-law! The first kiss.Xu Musen tasted and stopped there. After all, he was in someone else''s house, and the moment An Nuannuan was kissed, her whole body tensed up as if it were squeezed tight. She even forgot to breathe, her whole frame taut as a pufferfish, both hot and round. The two rows of white teeth clenched tightly together, which made Xu Musen give up the thought of advancing any further. This time, let''s let it pass, good things come to those who wait. An Nuannuan usually loves to drink milk tea and fruit juices, which, mixed with the scent of fruit and milky aroma, are as soft as fruit pudding. Xu Musen felt like he had tasted the best milk tea ever. He lifted his head and looked at the girl who still dared not open her eyes, her face as red as a hot branding iron, as though a drop of water on it might turn into steam. Xu Musen gently wiped the glistening moisture from the corner of her mouth and couldn''t help but smile, "Alright, don''t hold it in anymore." Only then did An Nuannuan finally exhale, slightly opening the corners of her eyes, no longer able to maintain their clarity. Her chest rose and fell slightly as she could finally breathe properly. Kisses... She had seen them in comics and witnessed plenty of people doing that below the dormitory building. Actually, she never understood why in those comics, even though the heroine initially rejected the male lead, as soon as the male lead forcibly kissed her against the wall, she''d melt into his arms and agree immediately. She always thought that kind of plot was so exaggerated. But when Xu Musen had kissed her just now, in that moment, she genuinely felt her mind go blank. It was merely the contact of two layers of skin, not much different from holding hands, and yet... she felt as if her whole body was tingling and numb. This sensation was something An Nuannuan had never experienced before; it was like... having a whole new world opened up to her. Actually... it was quite addictive. But she hadn''t even had time to react, her mind had been completely empty just now. It was like Zhu Bajie eating ginseng fruit without savoring the taste. She looked at Xu Musen, her eyes falling on his shapely lips, her pretty face growing even redder. Xu Musen spoke with a smile, "I''ll let you off today, do you like it?" It was his first time ever taking the initiative to kiss a girl. A man remains a boy until death, and even as someone reborn, he couldn''t help but feel his heart race in such a moment. This question made An Nuannuan too shy to reply; she hugged a pillow, partly covering her lips, her big eyes gazing at him as she suddenly remembered something, "You asked me... but what about you? You seemed so experienced..." Xu Musen subconsciously touched his nose, wondering how to tell her that his experience was from his past life. In this life... Xu Musen suddenly remembered that night Yao Mingyue suddenly pounced on him... But that really wasn''t his fault; it was an unexpected situation. "Not at all, this is the first time I''ve kissed this life." "Really, your first kiss?" An Nuannuan saw in comic books, this term was very common. Xu Musen thought for a moment, then pointed to the left side of his lips, "Of course, didn''t I tell you? You are my first love in this life, so how could I have had the chance to kiss someone else? I really gave you a bargain there. And you? Was it your first kiss too?" Xu Musen launched his innate skill of counter-attack to cover up the heart of a scoundrel. Sarch* The novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. An Nuannuan looked at him for a while and finally hummed, but she couldn''t help turning up the corners of her mouth. After all, who wouldn''t want to give their first experiences to the person they like the most? An Nuannuan glanced at Xu Musen again, who looked like he really was going to "let her off" this time, and she blinked. "It wasn''t my first time!" "Oh?" Xu Musen didn''t believe her for a second, smiling as he reached out to tickle her ticklish spots. "Who dared to steal my Nuannuan''s first kiss?" Xu Musen''s hand had already grabbed her small foot, ready to tickle the sole of her foot. An Nuannuan feared being tickled, humming as she said, "It was my mom! When I was a child, my mother loved me so much, she kissed me every day. And Nannan, she used to be afraid to sleep alone. It was only after my kisses that she''d be willing to sleep. You''re only the third!" As An Nuannuan spoke, it was as if she was deliberately provoking Xu Musen. She even gave him a "come and hit me" expression. Xu Musen wanted to laugh inside, but he put on an angry face, "Alright! I''m only the third? Watch how I even the score today!" With that, Xu Musen gently pinched her lips again. The second time is easier than the first. This time, An Nuannuan wasn''t as nervous, but she was still very clumsy. Xu Musen also stopped at the right moment, watching An Nuannuan pant cutely. A moment ago she had instinctively wrapped her arms around his waist. It seemed not only boys had automatic homing instincts. Moreover, Xu Musen suddenly realized, looking at An Nuannuan, "I say, were you just trying to annoy me on purpose, to get me to continue kissing you?" Xu Musen pinched her warm cheek. Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire An Nuannuan guiltily looked away, her lips, still moist, gently puckering up. She couldn''t help but stretch out her hand to poke his cheek, "Actually you''re also quite silly" A thought crossed Xu Musen''s mind at that moment: the true hunter often appears in the guise of the prey. Chapter 196 Punishment of the Younger Sister-in-law!_2 After giving it some thought, the confession was initiated by An Nuannuan, and it was also her who had proactively brought him home earlier, including holding hands and such.Xu Musen suddenly felt like he was the pure-hearted little girl spinning around by a playboy''s tricks. However, this feeling was actually quite nice. In fact, Xu Musen perhaps internally preferred to be passive, otherwise, he wouldn''t have been so happy in the first couple of years after he married Yao Mingyue in his last life. Could it be that he was actually a masochist? NO! Xu Musen shook his head, having been called a simpleton by this silly girl. "Alright then, you dare to toy with your future husband, let''s see how I''ll deal with you!" Xu Musen gently bit the finger she poked him with, his hands ready to tickle her, as An Nuannuan nearly laughed until tears formed in the corners of her eyes. "Sister! I brought you..." At that moment, An Nannan came in with a few freshly baked cupcakes, only to see Xu Musen pinning her sister down on the bed. He was even biting her sister''s finger and his hands were making wicked gestures! And her sister''s face was flushed, with a hint of tears at the corners of her eyes. "You jerk, let go of my sister!" An Nuannuan, holding the steaming cupcakes, was about to come to the rescue. Xu Musen stretched out his hand and caught the plate she threw at him, though one of the cupcakes still fell off. "Jerk! You dare to bully my sister, take my punch!" An Nannan said, but she actually did a swift low kick, employing the strategy of attacking from an unexpected angle! Her sanda instructor had told her to use this move against hooligans! Xu Musen fell for it, subconsciously guarding against her fist, but he never expected her to be so unscrupulous. Xu Musen was caught off-guard and didn''t dodge in time. "Hoo..." The little girl wasn''t very strong, nor did she use her full force, and Xu Musen''s reaction was fairly quick, only getting grazed a bit at the top of his thigh. Xu Musen let out a deep breath; the flesh near the top of the thigh was tender and ached somewhat, but it was still better than a more sensitive pain. "Nannan!" An Nuannuan was also startled and quickly sat up, holding back Nannan who seemed ready to kick again. "Sister, don''t be afraid, I won''t let him bully you!" An Nannan stood in front of her sister, small but full of spirit. An Nuannuan propped herself up from the bed and came over to Xu Musen, who was covering his thigh. "Xu Musen, are you alright?" "I''m fine, I''m fine." Xu Musen rubbed his thigh and looked at An Nannan; the little girl really had been practicing her sports. Read latest chapters on My Virtual Library Empire Her strength was certainly not slight among girls. "Don''t blame Nannan, she didn''t mean to..." "Hmph! I didn''t even use my full strength, who told him to bully Sister..." "Nannan, he wasn''t bullying me, we were just... playing around." An Nuannuan gently covered her sister''s mouth, her large eyes showing a hint of difficulty as she looked at Xu Musen. An Nannan looked up at her sister, "He really didn''t bully you?" "Really, you... go and apologize to him," said An Nuannuan as she patted her sister''s head. But An Nannan pouted; she wasn''t trying to be deliberate, after all, their actions earlier were too easily misunderstood. "It''s okay, Nannan was worried about you, I don''t blame her." Xu Musen waved it off, thankfully not hitting anything vital, otherwise, he''d be playing out the guilt-ridden scenario common in certain movies where the little sister-in-law caused harm. "You''re really alright?" An Nuannuan asked with concern. An Nannan pursed her lips, seeming to want to say something but ultimately swallowed the words back. "Really, how much strength can a little girl have." If word got out that he was injured by such a little girl, he''d lose even more face. "Hmph, that''s because I didn''t use all my strength..." An Nannan muttered to herself. "Nannan," An Nuannuan pinched her cheek. Xu Musen also smiled and patted Nannan''s head, "It''s okay, she was just trying to protect her sister, which is commendable. This kind of behavior, protecting one''s family, deserves praise." Xu Musen truly appreciated Nannan''s hesitation-free move to protect Nuannuan; to protect one''s family was the bravest action. An Nannan listened, her large eyes showing surprise. She was expecting to be scolded but didn''t expect to be praised instead. "But, you should still look properly before you kick next time, unless some other boys dare to get close to your sister, then you go ahead and kick as hard as you can! I''ll take the blame for it!" Xu Musen added with a hearty laugh. An Nuannuan''s cheeks flushed, watching him corrupt the young. Nannan''s large eyes swiveled as she looked at Xu Musen with a smile. It was the first time she found this guy... actually quite likable, and his smile was quite comforting. "Hmph, you don''t need to tell me, I already know that." The little girl still couldn''t shake off her proud demeanor, wanting to apologize but unable to actually say the words. This was normal for her age, and quite adorable in its simplicity. "Sister, the cupcakes..." An Nannan glanced at a fallen cupcake beside her, out of the three, one had dropped. "The two of you eat, I''m not fond of too-sweet things, I''ll go to the restroom." Xu Musen wouldn''t compete over food with these two young ladies. The cupcakes went to the sisters, one each, and then he left the room. An Nannan watched his retreating figure, then looked down at the cupcake in her hand, deep in thought... Afternoon. An Nuannuan stayed at home to keep her grandparents company. Sarch* The ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 196 Punishment of the Younger Sister-in-law!_3 Xu Musen was also ready to leave.At the door, Xu Musen touched An Nuannuan''s cheek. "Take good care of grandpa and grandma." As he spoke, he reached out and tapped the corner of the girl''s lips, "See you next time, my little girlfriend." "Mm~" An Nuannuan hummed softly, her cheeks blushing red. Now, whenever she saw his lips, she always had a strange feeling... sort of like wanting to be bullied by him. Hehe. Xu Musen didn''t ask Aunt Xiang to send him off, as being too polite always felt a bit uncomfortableit was nice to take a walk. He had only walked a few steps, around a corner. "Hey!" Discover hidden stories at My Virtual Library Empire A small figure who had been lying in ambush for a while suddenly jumped out. Xu Musen''s instinct was to chop out with a hand. "Ow..." The hand chop landed right on An Nannan''s head, making her cover it in pain. "Nannan?" Xu Musen saw her face clearly and immediately went over, reaching out to touch her little head with a mix of laughter and helplessness: "Why are you suddenly here? Did that hurt you?" Nannan pushed his hand away. Despite still feeling a bit of pain, she puffed up her chest and said, "According to the rules of Jianghu, I kicked you once, so we''re even with one kick for one hand!" Xu Musen was stunned for a moment, then couldn''t help but laugh. This little girl really had her principles. "Alright, then we''re even. So, why did you come to see me? Is there something you need?" Xu Musen asked, knowing that An Nannan wouldn''t come to wait for him without a reason. An Nannan was a bit shy, her adorable cheeks turning red. She turned her head away but stretched out the hand she had been keeping behind her back. It was a beautifully wrapped, exquisite paper box. "This is for you..." Xu Musen took it and peeked inside through the crevice, where a small, freshly baked cake was placed. Its appearance wasn''t the best, but it smelled quite nice. "For me?" Xu Musen looked at her. The little girl was still proudly standoffish, turning her head away from him, her cute face flushed red. "Mhm." "I mean, this isn''t the one that just fell on the ground, which you picked up, reheated, and gave to me to eat, right?" Xu Musen asked with a smile. "It, it''s not! I made this myself..." An Nannan pouted her lips in dissatisfaction in an instant. This guy actually dared to doubt her integrity! "If you''re not going to eat it, give it back to me!" Huffy! But Xu Musen laughed heartily and directly took a bite of the small cake. "Hmm~ the taste is not bad, Nannan is very impressive." Xu Musen praised her and reached out to pat her little head again. An Nannan, who was just displeased a moment ago, now felt a bit of happiness surfacing, not even realizing herself that, aside from her own family, he was the first person who could change her mood so quickly. Moreover, his patting her head like this was something An Nannan felt she was getting used to, and his hand was indeed very warm. It was like when her mother used to pat her little head and sing her to sleep... "Hey, I want to ask you, are you... dating my sister?" An Nannan was a high-intensity internet surfer, and she understood things about romance. The kind of actions they had just now, and the attitude of the grandparents toward him today, she could also guess a bit of. "That''s right, your sister and I are together now. You''re not mad at me for taking your sister away, are you?" Xu Musen didn''t lie to her; for this little girl, Nuannuan felt like a sister who was like a mother to her. Being in a relationship with her sister meant that they were bound to part ways sooner or later. It was normal for some tantrums to occur. Sure enough, An Nannan bit her lip, a mix of emotions swirling in her big eyes. But unexpectedly, she didn''t make a fuss; she looked at Xu Musen for quite a while before she finally said, "Of course I blame you, but I know even more that she needs you now. My sister used to live so unhappily, but since meeting you, she has become happier and smiles much more than before. I don''t want to leave my sister, but I want to see her happier even more... Anyway, you have to treat my sister well, or I will definitely steal her back in the future!" The little girl uttered words completely beyond her years. Perhaps, those who mature quickly in their minds always have some painful trials to endure. Xu Musen looked at her, at this face that resembled An Nuannuan''s, even more childish, just like the first time he met An Nuannuan six years ago. Xu Musen smiled gently, his voice tender, "Don''t worry, I will take good care of your sister. And I''m not here to take her away from you; from now on, we are a family. No one will take away your important people; you''ll just have one more important family member." Sarch* The N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xu Musen''s words, falling into the little girl''s heart, were like a spring rain on her once parched inner landscape. Her eyes shimmered as she looked at Xu Musen''s face. Xu Musen extended his hand and gently cradled her cheek while smiling. "Don''t worry, even if your sister and I get married, I will reserve a room just for you in the house. You can stay as long as you want; does that reassure you?" A simple promise, whether or not it could be fulfilled, held immense warmth and significance to the young heart of An Nannan. "You said it..." An Nannan''s voice trembled slightly as she spoke, her eyes shining brightly. She rubbed her eyes and looked up at Xu Musen again, "You must not back out! I want to live with you guys too in the future!" "Of course, unless you get married, you won''t be staying here anymore." "Hmph! I don''t want to get married. I will go wherever my sister goes; my sister gets married..." The little girl''s voice suddenly stopped, her adorable cheeks rosy and cuteness off the charts. She extended her little finger. "Anyway then make a pinky promise with me, whoever backs out is a puppy!" A pinky promise, the most ethereal and yet the most solid of contracts. "Okay." Xu Musen smiled and stretched out his hand. A big and a small, their fingers gently entwined together. Chapter 197 Ming Yues Confession, Mom, I Still Like Him. In the evening, inside Liu Rushuang''s office building.Liu Rushuang had finally finished a day of meetings. She arrived at the door of her own office. The female secretary came over. "Director Liu, Miss is in the office." "Has she eaten?" Liu Rushuang glanced at the time; it was already mealtime. The female secretary hesitated slightly before speaking, "Miss doesn''t seem to be in a good mood today. She hasn''t eaten anything at all since coming in this morning and has locked herself in the room the whole time." Upon hearing this, Liu Rushuang''s gaze shifted subtly; she knew there was likely only one person who could upset her daughter so much. "I understand. You go ahead with your work." Liu Rushuang nodded her head and waited for the female secretary to leave. Only then did she gently push open the door to the office. In the empty office. Yao Mingyue sat alone in the expansive space, documents strewn haphazardly in front of her. She was turned away, leaning on the sofa by the floor-to-ceiling window, the scent of alcohol wafting through the air. Liu Rushuang closed the door, came up behind her daughter, and looked at the mostly empty bottle of red wine on the table. Yao Mingyue was blurred by a veil of drunkenness, still perusing the documents in her hands, but her gaze had already grown slightly unfocused. "Xiaoyue? Why are you drinking alone?" Liu Rushuang walked over and immediately moved the glass of red wine away from in front of her. Yao Mingyue snapped out of her stupor and straightened up upon seeing her mother''s concerned eyes. However, she staggered slightly from weakness. "Mingyue, are you sick?" Liu Rushuang noticed something was off with her daughter''s health; her face unnaturally flushed. She reached out to touch her daughter''s forehead. Indeed, it was slightly hot. "You have a cold and yet you''re drinking alcohol... You, you..." Liu Rushuang spoke with distress, quickly fetching a damp cloth from the room to wipe her daughter''s forehead. Yao Mingyue''s physical condition was far from as strong as her temperament; the water from last night had led to a slight fever. Resting properly wasn''t a big problem, but today, aside from a little bit she had in the morning, she couldn''t stomach anything else. What mattered most was that after those impulsive, painful, conflicting, and tormenting emotions had slowly subsided, Yao Mingyue felt nothing but emptiness... Just like that night from years ago. "Mom, I''m fine..." Yao Mingyue managed to say. She even picked up a proposal in her hand, "Mom, I''ve finished writing these. Please help me take another look." "Work can wait. Look at the state you''re in." Liu Rushuang''s heart ached more as she looked at her daughter. She took the documents from her hands, scanned them briefly, and surely, they were still about the partnership with Xu Musen. This foolish child... "I''ll make you some cold medicine." Liu Rushuang set the documents aside and prepared a cup of cold remedy. Yao Mingyue held it and took a sip. The unique sweetness of the herb was warming, but the moment it entered her stomach, it clashed with the alcohol there, making her uncomfortable. She gagged, and Liu Rushuang quickly brought over a trash can in front of her. "Look at you. Not eating and drinking so much, throw it up; you''ll feel better." In the end, Yao Mingyue did not vomit. The tears welled up in the corners of her eyes from the effort, and she leaned slightly into her mother''s arms. She didn''t say anything, just embraced her mother''s hug, smelling her scent, and it was only then that her heart felt a bit more settled. "Mingyue, did you have another fight with Xiaosen?" Liu Rushuang stroked her daughter''s head with a heart full of pity when she saw her like this. "No..." Yao Mingyue gently shook her head, but the slight tremble in her voice could not deceive Liu Rushuang. She sighed, smiling helplessly, "The two of you have thrown tantrums countless times since you were kids; aren''t you used to it by now? After a couple of days, you''ll make up; was there really a need to drink so much?" Being childhood sweethearts, it was inevitable that they fought from time to time; they had been through this for over twenty years, longer than many married couples. Their quarrels couldn''t possibly drive them apart; at most, they would ignore each other for a few days, then silently make up. However, Yao Mingyue looked up, her lips quivering slightly as she revealed a serene smile that was somewhat heartbreaking, "This time, it seems like... we might not make up..." Liu Rushuang was taken aback. Seeing her daughter''s expression, she realized it was unlike her to look like this, even during their first big quarrel six months ago. When a person is angry, furious, sulking, or pretending everything is fineat least they still have their emotions. Emotions are the last means of expression for a person. But if someone seems to lack emotion entirely, that is truly frightening. "Mingyue, what exactly happened between you two? Tell Mom, if he''s bullied you, I can deal with him!" Liu Rushuang spoke with worry, looking at her daughter''s state. Considering the relationships between the two families, Liu Rushuang was almost like a second mother to Xu Musen; if she went to admonish him, he''d stand there dutifully and take it. Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire If this had happened in the past, Xu Musen might have been fearful, but now, would it really be useful? At this moment, perhaps they were still together... Although Yao Mingyue kept telling herself she wouldn''t give up, she truly felt powerless. What could she do about something like this? Should she knock him out and take him away by force? Yao Mingyue had seriously considered it, but she knew that Xu Musen had changed from who he used to be. Sear?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 197 Ming Yues Confession, Mom, I Still Like Him. (2) He wouldn''t be content to become a bird caged.If he really did that, he would only drift further away from her... Yao Mingyue held the cup steeped with cold remedy, she took another sip, but this one tasted exceptionally bitter. Unconsciously, two lines of clear tears traced down her cheeks into the cup. "Ming Yue" Liu Rushuang looked at the tear streaks on her daughter''s face, her own heart felt as if pricked by needles. "Mom he doesn''t want me anymore he doesn''t want me anymore" Yao Mingyue ultimately couldn''t control the emotions in her heart, that immense sense of powerlessness, as if an invisible hand was ruthlessly squeezing her heart. Her whole body trembled, tears uncontrollably fell from her eyes as she leaned into her mother''s embrace, just like a kitten abandoned by its owner. Many thoughts flashed through Liu Rushuang''s mind as she looked at her daughter in this state, yet she couldn''t utter a single word. She could only hold her daughter tightly in her arms. After a long while, Yao Mingyue''s emotions calmed down a bit. "Ming Yue, can you tell mom what exactly happened between you two?" Liu Rushuang stroked her daughter''s head, asking in a low voice. It took Yao Mingyue quite some time to regain her composure, her eyes were red and swollen, and there was an emptiness in them: "He... he''s with someone else now..." He''s with someone else. It took Liu Rushuang a while to process this. It took her a moment to accept this answer. Xu Musen, he''s in a relationship with another girl? But how could this be... Weren''t he and Ming Yue getting along better and better lately? They were childhood sweethearts, after all, raised together by both families, almost inseparable every day, and they both had always liked each other... How could he suddenly be with another girl? Sar?h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Mom, am I really so undesirable..." The voice of Yao Mingyue shook, her phoenix eyes, always carrying a noble air, now bore tired red veins and no longer held their usual aloofness. Right now, she was just a girl abandoned. Liu Rushuang took a deep breath, her heart aching as she touched her daughter''s head and gently said, "How could that be, my Xiaoyue is so beautiful and outstanding, who wouldn''t like her." "Then why doesn''t he want me anymore, why won''t he even give me a chance to keep waiting" As Yao Mingyue spoke, another tear shimmered at the corner of her eye, her tone filled with heartrending grievance that made it difficult to breathe. "That''s because Xiaosen doesn''t appreciate you, it has nothing to do with you, Ming Yue. Haven''t you been doing well these past days?" Liu Rushuang''s eyes turned red with heartache as she looked at her daughter with bloodshot eyes and a slight fever. Even she had noticed her daughter had changed a lot during this period, especially after finding out Xu Musen had started his business venture; she had even tried to help him save costs, going several nights without proper sleep. All these efforts were for Xu Musen. Indeed, perhaps Yao Mingyue had been a bit too haughty in her attitude towards Xu Musen in the past, but after all, they had nearly twenty years of history as childhood sweethearts. Their bond and the many moments they shared, how could they be so easily taken by someone else? Yet, emotions seemed to be so unreasonable. Just like Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, Ma Wencai couldn''t understand why his betrothed and childhood sweetheart, Zhu Yingtai, after only a few months at the academy, would become hopelessly devoted to Liang Shanbo. The matter of love is truly indescribable. After all, Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue weren''t together, they were still just childhood sweethearts; who he wanted to be with was his freedom. But standing from Yao Mingyue''s perspective, it was natural for Liu Rushuang to feel somewhat disheartened. However, things having reached this point, seeing her daughter in such a state, she truly couldn''t bear it. "Ming Yue, if Xiaosen doesn''t cherish you, then you should just..." "But, I still like him, I still can''t let go of him." Yao Mingyue bit her lip, crying and laughing: "Mom, am I very pathetic? I still can''t forget him" Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire Liu Rushuang sighed deeply, looking at her daughter who was deeply trapped, yes, for nearly twenty years. Their relationship was deeper than that of some newlywed couples, and the pain of truly separating would be nothing less than excruciating. She held her daughter, "How could that be, there''s nothing wrong with liking someone, it''s just perhaps it''s not yet fated." "We are childhood sweethearts, if this is not enough fate, then what is?" Liu Rushuang had no answer for her either. These things can only be slowly diminished by time. "It will pass, maybe there''s someone more suitable for you... there''s still a long future ahead." Liu Rushuang wanted to say that perhaps there would be someone more suitable in the future, but in her three to four decades of life, having met so many people, she hadn''t found anyone who could be more suitable for her daughter than Xu Musen. In the minds of everyone, they had long regarded the two as the most suitable match. It was strange for them not to be together. But Xu Musen already had a girl he liked, and they couldn''t force him to break up with that girl, could they? "Ming Yue, now that it has come to this, you should let go slowly. There''s a long life ahead, and mom is here with you." When Liu Rushuang said these words, she too felt an unpleasant taste, for Xu Musen had also been the future son-in-law she had long admired. Chapter 197 Ming Yues Confession, Mom, I Still Like Him. (3) Running off like that, she couldn''t help but feel a bit of suffocation in her heart. Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality."But I can''t let go of him, and I don''t want to let him go." Yao Mingyue lifted her head, her swollen eyes filled with grievance and sadness, but there was still a glimmer that could not be extinguished even today. It was the flame that ignited six years ago, when Xu Musen held her during her darkest times. It was also the hope that had sustained her until now. "But he has already..." Liu Rushuang didn''t know what to say. Should she watch her precious daughter go after someone else''s love interest? Her own daughter, so outstanding, this would be too unfair to her. Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire "But at least, he is still by my side, isn''t he? I can still see him, talk to him, at least I can still... as childhood sweethearts..." Yao Mingyue spoke softly, thinking back on six years ago, her father''s departure hadn''t given her any choice. At least now, Xu Musen hadn''t completely left her, at least she could still see him, and that at least meant there was hope. "Ming Yue, Mom just doesn''t want you to demean yourself..." Liu Rushuang listened to her daughter''s humble tone, her heart aching even more. "It''s not demeaning, Mom, I had a dream... I don''t know how to describe it to you, but I also learned a lot... I am not demeaned, it''s what I owe him, I want to slowly pay him back." In fact, over these many years as childhood sweethearts, Xu Musen had always been taking care of her. Surprises on her birthday, an umbrella in the rain, her favorite snacks, bedtime stories when she felt ill, cheering her up when she was sad... So many, so many things, for the Xu Musen of the past, it was giving his all. Yao Mingyue''s voice trembled as she slowly became more resolute, a sheen flowing in her eyes. "Mom, I love him, I will love him all my life, I don''t want anyone but him." "Ming Yue... But what if he stays with that girl forever?" Liu Rushuang looked at her daughter''s face, her lips pursed. "Then I will wait for him all my life... Mom, would you blame me?" "Of course, Mom wouldn''t blame you, but Mom hopes that you can have a better life, it''s not so easy being alone for a lifetime." Liu Rushuang knew the feeling of being alone; if not for Yao Mingyue, she might have long since been unable to hold on. What more could she do? "Don''t worry, Mom, I won''t do something that we both regret, at least for now, I just want to properly return what I owed him." Yao Mingyue spoke softly and then looked at her mother, "Mom, I won''t embarrass you, about this matter, please don''t blame him, okay? Let me handle it slowly..." Liu Rushuang felt waves of bitterness in her heart, looking at her daughter at this moment. There was a bit of humbleness that was heartbreaking, yet it was the first time since the accident six years ago that Liu Rushuang saw such determination in her daughter. For something, she showed struggle, anticipation, and hope... At this moment, Yao Mingyue seemed more alive than ever. Liu Rushuang didn''t know if this was good or bad, but looking into her daughter''s eyes. She still nodded and gently embraced her daughter, "Mom will never be ashamed of you, you will always be Mom''s pride, Mom promises you, and you must remember, you always have your Mom behind you." Yao Mingyue''s gaze flickered, her tired eyes suddenly softened with a tenderness that had never been seen before: "Mom, I''m sorry..." Sorry, for once even being jealous of mom, how silly she had been. At this moment, Yao Mingyue also seemed to have no more strength, gently collapsing into her mother''s embrace, falling into a deep sleep. Liu Rushuang held her daughter with a heavy heart, sighing for a long time. She understood her daughter''s feelings and would support her ideas, even if she had made a mistake. As a mother, even if she had to sacrifice her own dignity, she wanted her daughter to be happy; her life had been too hard. She gently stroked her daughter''s swollen eyes. "Silly girl, Mom will help you..." Chapter 198 Youre no match in being a sycophant. (Xiao 7k seeks subscription!) Time flies, and December is upon us.The weather is getting colder, and the branches are bare, resembling a fifty-year-old man''s bald head, stripped of its last semblance of dignity. Since being with An Nuannuan, the day-to-day life of the couple hadn''t changed much. Sarch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Of course, compared to the past, they would cuddle and embrace when they had nothing else to do. And now, it had evolved into frequent hugs and kisses. When someone has just tasted sweetness, they tend to become particularly addicted. Xu Musen had been busy visiting various universities lately, having secured agreements with four or five, spread out in various locations around Hu Hai. An Nuannuan''s grandparents had put quite a bit of investment money, capitalizing on the marketing strategy of timing and information disparity. Xu Musen had already begun expanding on a large scale, securing his territory first. Now with a relatively mature operational approach, it was all about copying and pasting the model. Occasional tough nuts to crack were mostly resolved by Xu Musen through a mix of grace and firmness. Now that there was money in the purse, a wave of publicity was definitely needed. The most effective strategy for the milk tea shop was collaboration. Xu Musen recalled successful cases of collaborations between milk tea and coffee shops from his past life. Aside from the first milk tea of autumn, there were collaborations with Xiao Xing and Maotai, but the most outrageous was certainly the open-world game that could be "sat on" with the catchphrase "I am Shenli Linhua''s dog!" going viral. From the perspective of a passerby, Xu Musen was deeply shocked and found it hard to understand. But from a marketing perspective, it was nothing short of breaking into new circles. Though the brand of Auntie''s in Hu Hai had a fantastic reputation, it wasn''t widely recognized yet. Xu Musen desperately needed a promotion. He had already picked out the anime for collaboration, "A Certain Scientific Railgun". This anime had been on air for some time and was still a top-ranking popular show, destined to be the treasure of a certain small broken station in the future. Xu Musen had talked to An Nuannuan''s grandparents about the idea. The old couple didn''t really understand sponsorship and collaborations. But their connections were truly extensive. They directly got in touch with a very capable advertising agency, which sent someone over to discuss the matter. They spoke about the possibility of business collaboration. The cost of such short-term, targeted category collaboration wasn''t very high, as it benefited both parties. In the end, they decided on a hundred thousand as the fee for a month of collaboration. This agency was quite powerful and quickly reached an agreement with the Japanese side, sending over the contract. The campaign could officially begin in December. Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire One morning, Xu Musen called everyone together. "My god, Railgun! I''ve seen that anime, the electric spark of your fingertip leaps is the unchangeable faith of my life!" Ma Yaxing, being a hardcore anime fan, was immediately excited, as if he had encountered his own idol. "Hey, cut it with the otaku talk, what''s so great about a flat-chested anime girl?" Zhou Hangyu clicked his tongue twice, mocking, "If you ask me, it''d be better to team up with One Piece, Boa Hancock is genuinely busty! I want to be Hancock''s..." Zhou Hangyu didn''t finish his sentence before noticing a wave of disdainful glances around him. And you have the nerve to call someone else a fanboy? Xu Musen smiled and shook his head. "Forget about One Piece, the collaboration fees are way beyond what I can afford. This one is good enough." One Piece, Dragon Ball, Naruto, those are global-scale IPs. They don''t need a small milk tea shop for promotion; the fees for collaboration are frighteningly high. Ma Yaxing then sneered, "Big deal, what''s the use of being so large? Don''t you think flat-chested girls are also cute? There''s a saying, without flat chests, how can there be peace under the heavens?" "Have you not heard, ''without grandeur, how can you win people''s hearts''? Aren''t you afraid of bone knocking your teeth?" "Hey, that''s just... vulgar!" "You little chick shouldn''t even be discussing this. If you don''t believe me, ask Boss Xu!" Zhou Hangyu successfully shifted the topic onto Xu Musen. "Actually, from the perspective of future children, I think that you should..." Xu Musen glanced at the two of them, was about to speak, but his gaze swept over their shoulders nonchalantly, and then he calmly took a sip of tea before continuing. "I think what''s most important in a girl is her soul. The girl I like, whether she''s poor or rich, beautiful or plain, I still like her. I don''t like her for one particular reason, but rather because she happens to have all the qualities I like." Xu Musen sounded like someone who had just started dating, his brain flooded with dopamine, like a lovestruck fool. What he said made the others feel a rush of goosebumps. The lady boss isn''t here, do you really need to lay it on so thick... As they were speaking, they suddenly felt a gust of wind from behind and heard Zhao Lianmai''s light cough. They turned around and saw that An Nuannuan and Zhao Lianmai had already returned with breakfast. An Nuannuan''s beautiful cheeks were rosy from the morning sun. When she looked at Xu Musen, her peach blossom eyes carried a hint of sweetness. "Come, give me the stuff. Go wash your hands and get ready to eat." Xu Musen immediately stood up and took the basket of steamed buns from her hands caringly. An Nuannuan obediently nodded, her cheeks still a bit flushed as she looked at Xu Musen. From an angle others couldn''t see, she slowly lifted her head and planted a gentle kiss on Xu Musen''s cheek, as if rewarding him for the words he had just said. Chapter 198 Youre No Match for a Bootlicker. (Xiao 7k Requests Subscriptions!)_2 He then turned and went into the small room to wash his hands.Xu Musen, looking refreshed, returned to the table with the steamed buns in hand. The three guys watched his composed demeanor and suddenly realized something. Damn! He definitely saw An Nuannuan come back just now, that''s why he suddenly changed his tune. Then he pretended not to see her, saying such mushy stuff without blushing or skipping a beat. And in an instant, he contrasted their sleaziness with his own shining image as a pure love war god. "Damn... Xu Musen, you''re a real dog!" Zhou Hangyu couldn''t help but speak out. "Agreed! 3!" Ma Yaxing and Li Rundong couldn''t help but nod their heads, even Zhao Lianmai took a glance at Xu Musen. You have to say, if this tactic were used to deceive those young girls, it would definitely keep them happy for a long time. "Heh, let''s not talk about that. I''ve designed a few little games. Later, those who shout out these codes or play the games can win a mystery grand prize..." Xu Musen began making arrangements for the upcoming activities with a grin, even if he hadn''t launched his ( ) ( ), he was determined to stir up a wave of excitement at Hu Hai. Recently, Xu Musen had already gradually taken over five or six university milk tea stores. But there were still two or three where the price hadn''t been agreed upon yet. That included the University of Science and Technology where He Qiang was. Xu Musen had talked to the owner of the milk tea shop a few times. They had already agreed on a transfer fee of 150,000 yuan, but she suddenly changed her mind and demanded 300,000 yuan. The owner found out that several nearby university milk tea shops had changed their branding to Auntie Shang''s, and realizing that Xu Musen was eager to buy them out, she smartly raised the price herself. That was a full 150,000 yuan higher than the budget and her attitude was very arrogant. Faced with such dishonest, price-hiking behavior, Xu Musen stopped being polite with her. He hired a few "temporary actors" to arrange the most vicious business war. Of course, it was Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong, these two. These guys might not be good for much, but causing trouble was absolutely no problem for them. He aimed to take over ten milk tea stores before December arrived, and he also needed to start preparing for the commercial areas outside the campus. Casting a wide net was the only way to be truly effective. "A business war?" Sarch* The N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Hangyu, who never shied away from stirring things up, immediately stated his stance, rolling up his sleeves: "So, are you telling me to stew her lucky turtle, or drown her money tree?" "Go away, how can a business war be so juvenile?" Li Rundong, annoyed, chimed in and beat his chest: "Boss Xu, rest assured, I''ll go to her shop today and leave bad reviews for her milk tea, and while I''m at it, I''ll take all the little snacks she gives away!" Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire "..." Xu Musen rubbed his temples, feeling helpless with this pair of "young dragons." Ma Yaxing muttered on the side, "You two stop causing trouble, are those even sensible ideas?" But Xu Musen had an idea and laughed as he patted their shoulders, "How can you say that? In my world, even a used piece of toilet paper has its clever uses. This mission really is tailor-made for you two." Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong felt touched by his words and spoke in unison. "Boss Xu, why does it sound like you''re cussing us out!" ... In the afternoon. Xu Musen met up with He Qiang, and they went to the milk tea shop together again. "You''re still looking for her? She''s notoriously stingy; she won''t back down when she sees a chance to get an advantage." He Qiang looked at the milk tea shop in front of him with no fondness for the unreasonable owner. "First courtesy, then soldierstoday is like her final ultimatum." Xu Musen smiled. Before, he was short on cash, so he had to control costs and avoid a price war. But now he didn''t need to worry about that. Even if he could afford to give her 300,000 yuan, he couldn''t set such a precedent, or everyone would start hiking their prices, and then what would become of him? He and He Qiang entered the shop; the owner, seeing the two of them, immediately put on an indifferent face. "You''re here again, but I still say the same thing, I really can''t transfer it for less than 300,000 yuan." The owner got straight to the point. Xu Musen kept his smile and said, "Really, there''s no room for further discussion?" "Everything''s gotten more expensive now, and my location is so good. How could I not make tens or hundreds of thousands a year? I need to at least break even, right?" The owner feigned a pitiable look. But Xu Musen knew her store was barely making over a hundred thousand, and 150,000 yuan was already a high offer. However, the location near the University of Science and Technology was excellent, surrounded by several office buildings, which made expanding the milk tea and delivery business very promising, which is why Xu Musen was eager to take it over. "Owner, we already gave you the deposit before, you can''t go back on your word, can you?" He Qiang couldn''t help but speak up. "Hey, don''t put it that way. I returned the deposit to you in full." The owner said nonchalantly. Xu Musen had given a deposit of 50,000 yuan during their initial agreement, but she backed out before they could sign the contract. Even though the deposit was returned, such behavior was extremely unethical, especially for larger deals involving millions, where many people borrow money to pay the deposit. Putting all their eggs in one basket, yet you suddenly say "I''m not selling" and return the deposit Chapter 198 You Cant Compete with a Bootlicker. (Xiao 7k Asks for Subscriptions!)_3 But the bank on their end won''t reduce even a penny of interest, and if things go wrong, it could even bankrupt someone else''s capital chain.That is exactly why contracts must be signed in advance. "You..." He Qiang was so angry his face turned dark. Xu Musen was looking at her, nonchalant as a pig not afraid of scalding water, and the last bit of his patience had vanished. Truthfully, a businessman is someone who negotiates everything, as harmony brings wealth. Sarch* The ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But sometimes, you really have to resort to some tactics, and she was in the wrong first; Xu Musen was not the type to suffer in silence. "So there''s no room for negotiation?" Xu Musen''s tone turned cold as well. "I''m sticking with the same figure, agree and it''s a deal, disagree and you can go wherever you please," the shop owner said, waving her hand dismissively and not taking the two young men in front of her seriously whatsoever. "Fine." Xu Musen smiled, took out some money from his wallet: "Then can we at least buy a cup of milk tea and take a break?" "Whatever you want." The shop owner quickly took the money without hesitance. Xu Musen, holding two cups of milk tea, sat down in a corner with He Qiang. "Damn! I''ve never seen someone so shameless, not even an apology, and you''re still buying her milk tea?" He Qiang couldn''t help but curse in a low voice as soon as he sat down. "Don''t rush, the show is about to start." Xu Musen opened his mouth with a smile and sent a text message on his phone. Soon after, two figures entered the doorway. It was Zhou Hangyu, looking somewhat ruffian, and a girl who worked at Xu Musen''s milk tea shop. The two were pretending to be a couple. "Boss, two cups of milk tea." Zhou Hangyu got right into character, took two cups of milk tea, and sat down at the most central table in the shop. He exaggerated his gestures as if afraid of going unnoticed. This was exactly what Xu Musen had instructed him to do. If the negotiations with the shop owner didn''t work out, he was to follow the prepared final plan. The most unadorned form of commercial warfare is to essentially crap on your opponent''s head! In the past, even the CEO of 360 and Lei Jun almost had a public fight in a park, and someone nearly had ''curly hair Teng'' captured. For years, the big shots engaged in online trash talk battles, and sometimes their commercial wars were as unadorned as that. Xu Musen''s mission to him was to be as flamboyant as possible. The goal was to attract attention and create a spectacle. Zhou Hangyu initially did not know how to express himself, so Xu Musen suggested, "Just tone down your usual flamboyance", which immediately helped Zhou Hangyu find his place. This is called playing oneself! Zhou Hangyu examined his milk tea. All these were instantly made just by mixing in some powdered milk tea. Having been spoiled by his own tea shop''s taste, he naturally looked down on this purely technological and rough method. Without even having to act, he showed a look of disdain. And they dared to try to jack up the price on the spot. After taking a sip, he started grumbling, "This is sickly sweet, must be industrial saccharin. I feel like I''m on the brink of developing diabetes." "Right, and there''s so few pearls, even the sheep droppings we used to have at home were more abundant than this," the girl chimed in. Their voices weren''t too loud or too soft, and many of the couples in the shop nearly choked on their milk tea upon hearing their comments. Although what they said was indeed true, it was a bit nauseating. With all this talk of pee and poop, you two are a match made in heaven! Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire The shop owner heard some of it, but she couldn''t refute. She indeed used the cheapest industrial ingredients, and the pearls she provided were only half the portion of other places. Anger turned her face even darker. Even Xu Musen in the corner couldn''t help laughing. Indeed, Zhou Hangyu may be a bit unreliable, but when it came to things like this, he had a natural talent! "Darling, I want to eat some fruit and egg tarts now," the girl said at that moment. "Okay, can I buy them for you later?" "No, no, I want them now!" Both the girl and Zhou Hangyu purposefully did not control the volume of their voices, attracting the attention of the couples in the milk-tea shop. After the girl mentioned it, indeed many other girls suddenly felt like having some fruit desserts. But obviously, this shop only sold milk tea. "Boss, do you have fruit desserts or something like that?" Zhou Hangyu asked in a mockingly earnest manner. "Why would a milk tea shop have those?" The shop owner''s face was dark with frustration; fruits were expensive to purchase due to the season, and the high prices meant the poor students wouldn''t bite, so she wouldn''t make a business move that would result in a loss. "I don''t care! I want to eat, or else I''m breaking up with you!" "Alright, alright, I''ll think of something." Zhou Hangyu took out his phone and fiddled with it. The duo''s back and forth was quite stiff and obviously forced, but as long as there was drama, people enjoyed joining the commotion. Not long after, a figure walked in through the door wearing a Kangaroo Delivery hat. "Hello, Kangaroo Delivery, may I ask who ordered the Hu Hai Auntie fruit milk tea bucket and fresh milk egg tarts?" The person who came in was Li Rundong, with a booming voice. His call drew the eyes of everyone in the shop. At this time of day, many people still had no concept of delivery service. "Right here!" Zhou Hangyu waved at him. He brought out steaming milk tea, which also contained some gently warm fruit, and the egg tarts were still emitting the scent of milk, capturing the attention of the whole milk tea shop. "Kangaroo Delivery... Oh, I think I remember seeing it on the campus forum. It''s something set up by Hu Hai University next door. I heard all you need to do is lift a finger, and a delivery guy will bring food right to your bedside." Chapter 198 Youre No Match for a Bootlicker. (Xiao 7k Requests Subscriptions!)_4 "Really? That''s way too convenient. In the cold winter, sometimes I just don''t want to leave my warm bed, why doesn''t our school have this?""And his fruit milk tea looks like it has so many fruits in it, it looks a lot better than the ones here, but it must be really expensive, right..." The crowd buzzed with discussion for a while. Some couples were enticed by the smell of egg tarts, feeling a little greedy for a taste. Zhou Hangyu''s acting was especially exaggerated. He picked up Hu Hai Auntie''s milk tea and crunched on fruits, enjoying the crispiness of the egg tarts along with the fresh fragrance of the fruits and the creamy taste of the tartsall of which made it particularly tempting in this cold weather. "Slurp, tsk tsk tsk..." Zhou Hangyu''s acting was quite overdone. As he sipped on the milk tea, he deliberately made a lot of noise, even giving off the vibe of savoring Maotai, as if he was about to remark, "Hmm~ a rare delicacy~". "Good!" Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire He suddenly exclaimed, startling everyone around him. "This is what I call milk tea! Sweet with the taste of fruits, and rich in the flavor of milk. Compared to this, the milk tea here tastes like horse piss!" Zhou Hangyu''s exaggerated performance stunned everyone around him. They stared, thinking, what the hell, is there some kind of performance today? The shop owner almost died of anger, certain that this was deliberate sabotage! She was just about to say something, but by that time, many people had already gathered around. Although Zhou Hangyu''s acting was exaggerated, the fruit milk tea and snacks they ordered did indeed look quite nice. It was like watching a commercialthe more overstated, the more brainwashing it seemed; in fact, it often resulted in better effects! A guy curiously approached and asked, "Hey bro, how much for all this stuff?" "Just twenty or thirty yuan, including the delivery fee for the runner. Otherwise, it''d be even cheaper. Want to give it a try?" sea??h th Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Hangyu replied with a smile. Twenty or thirty yuan might sound like a lot, but what place is Hu Hai? It''s a shopping center in the city center, where even a cup of plain water could sell for five yuan, and an egg tart could set you back more than ten yuan. A cup of milk tea brimming with fruits and an egg tart, plus having someone deliver it right to you? Those twenty or thirty yuan seemed like quite the bargain! "It''s that good? Then I''ll have a taste..." Hearing this, the guy was tempted. He picked up a toothpick, speared two pieces of fruit, and chewed. The freshness was even better than the fruits they''d pick out at a fruit shop! "Come on, everybody try some." They had brought a fruit bucket, and Zhou Hangyu invited everyone to have a taste. "It''s really not bad, I''ll order one for myself!" A few others came to try and agreed that it tasted great. The guy disguised as the delivery boy, Li Rundong, then shouted, "No need to order, guys! Right at the corner, we at Hu Hai Auntie are having a promotion C giving away a hundred cups of milk tea and fruits, along with egg tarts. Those interested might want to check it out!" His voice turned everyone''s attention to the door. Indeed, at the corner, a tent had been set up at some point, and Hu Hai Auntie''s sign was very eye-catching. Zhao Lianmai and a few other girls had already started the milk tea shop''s giveaway event. "Hey hey hey! What are you doing here? If you''re not drinking milk tea, get out! What are you loitering here for?" At that moment, the owner behind the counter finally pushed through the crowd and confronted them, as if to say, this is my turf! "Damn it! What luck, let''s hurry and go line up too!" "Exactly, who the hell wants to drink industrial saccharin, let''s go!" But before the owner could start cursing, the crowd had already dispersed; many people were not particularly fond of the milk tea shop, especially of its owner. Feeling the disparity and having their curiosity piqued by the extravagant performance, the crowd now wanted to join in on the excitement. So before the owner could even utter her trash talk, the crowd had jostled her so much she nearly fell to the ground. Zhou Hangyu and the others, seeing that their mission was accomplished, quickly blended into the crowd and slipped away. "Those damn little bastards..." The owner couldn''t help but curse. She was greedy but not foolish; she suspected that this was a planned disruption. At that moment, in the milk tea shop, only Xu Musen and He Qiang were sitting in the corner. He Qiang, having watched the whole thing unfold, couldn''t help but laugh; his buddy had become really wicked, but it was just a taste of their own medicinepayback! She deserved it! "You two... did you guys invite people over to cause a ruckus?" Infuriated, the owner approached them, annoyed by their laughter. "Boss, careful with your words. You can control what''s sold in your shop, but can you control where customers choose to spend their money?" Xu Musen smiled as he spoke. "You, you... fine, fine, fine, you two play dirty, don''t you! Remember this: I would rather sell to someone else for a hundred thousand than sell to you!" The owner was so angry she felt like flipping the table. Hearing her declaration, a triumphant glint flickered in Xu Musen''s eyes, but he just shook his head with a sigh, took out his business card, and handed it to her. "We''re all in business here; don''t make an enemy of money. When you''ve come around, just give me a call. Don''t worry, my offer of 150,000 still stands. We won''t bother you any longer." Xu Musen stood up smiling, leaving the untouched milk tea behind, and left with He Qiang. "Go to hell!" The owner stood motionless for a while, tearing up his business card into tiny pieces, nearly bursting with rage. She''d rather die than sell the shop to him! Once outside, He Qiang also let out a sigh of relief and couldn''t help but laugh, "Moriko, you''re really vicious, but it was refreshing and so satisfying!" He clicked his tongue, "But now you''ve totally made an enemy out of her. It''s going to be really difficult to take over the shop now." "Why would I want to take it over? Didn''t the owner say she''d rather sell it to someone else for a hundred thousand than to me?" Xu Musen replied with a laugh. "Then haven''t you wasted your effort?" He Qiang couldn''t understand. "So, I plan to let someone else take over the shop." Xu Musen''s mouth twitched, betraying his sense of achievement, as he made a call to a certain wealthy young woman with a Ferrari... Chapter 199 Yao Mingyue: Youre Just a Jerk! "Boss Zhu, one day apart feels like three long years; I''ve really missed you!"Xu Musen called Zhu Yulan, his voice full of emotion. "Hehe." On the other end of the line, Zhu Yulan responded with a cold chuckle, "What is it this time? Are you going to swindle me again?" "Boss Zhu, you wound me. Can''t old friends catch up without a reason to call?" "Do you ever call me when there''s nothing in it for you? Isn''t it always to trick me? You''re the king of scams." Zhu Yulan didn''t mince her words, and an involuntary eye-roll came with them, but only those who really knew her understood that if Zhu Yulan truly disliked someone, she would just coldly distance herself. "You''ve got me all wrong. This time I genuinely have a great opportunity for you. Would you be interested in earning an easy fifty thousand bucks?" Xu Musen asked her, chuckling. Fifty thousanda year''s savings for an average salaried worker. But when Zhu Yulan heard this, Fifty thousand? Are you throwing spare change at a beggar? "Oh, not interested." Zhu Yulan''s tone was indifferent. "Do I look like someone who needs that extra fifty thousand spending money?" "..." Xu Musen felt a bit helpless. What''s the saying? Drowned in drought and washed away in floods? How do these rich women think? Fifty thousand bucks, a year''s saving for the working class, for crying out loud! "Boss Zhu, Boss Zhu the wealthy, you might not need it but I do. Have some pity on me." Xu Musen started to play the sympathy cardthough An Nuannuan''s family had invested in him, he still had to be thrifty before he could bring them any returns. Xu Musen always kept business and personal matters separate. Hearing his piteous tone, Zhu Yulan''s lips couldn''t help but curl into a smile. She was in her office at the moment, with her long, elegant legs propped up on the desk, popping a strawberry in her mouth and chewing as she listened to Xu Musen''s pleas, which lifted her spirits. "Well then, I suppose I can listen, out of sheer kindness." "I knew Boss Zhu was reasonable. Here''s the situation..." Xu Musen shared his idea with Zhu Yulan. The gist was that Xu Musen was ostensibly providing free tea as a price war tactics, while also letting Zhou Hangyu and the others perform their ludicrous acting. It was all to create a psychological gap for these students; with better and cheaper options available, they naturally would not come to this milk tea shop anymore. And since the proprietress was one to take undue advantage of others and was narrow-minded, she certainly wouldn''t be able to keep her cool or anticipate the underlying complexities. Xu Musen planned to spread rumors about opening a new milk tea shop opposite hers, squeezing her business till she couldn''t continue. Then, he''d also poke at her from time to time. It was very possible that, in a moment of desperation, the proprietress would sell her shop. When that happened, Zhu Yulan could step in, pretending to compete with Xu Musen for the lease. The proprietress would subconsciously align with Zhu Yulan. After all, one of human nature''s weaknesses is that even at one''s own expense, seeing others worse off can be gratifying. When it came down to it, the milk tea shop owner might very well transfer the shop at a low price just to spite them, and then Zhu Yulan could pass it on to Xu Musen, bringing everything to a neat conclusion. After Xu Musen finished explaining his plan, there was a pause on Zhu Yulan''s end, as this na?ve young rich woman might have been experiencing the wickedness of society for the first time. "Xu Musen, you really can''t go a day without scamming someone." Zhu Yulan couldn''t help but speak up. "Well, she started it by not honoring the contract. It''s not my fault." Xu Musen replied with a laugh. "I can help you with this favor, but what''s in it for me?" "Conditions? With our deep revolutionary friendship, you need conditions?" "Who has a revolutionary friendship with you? You think I''m going to work for you for free? Don''t even think about it." "Alright, how about a few KFC meals?" "Tsk, you already owe me several... forget it, I''ll let you know once I decide. Just be ready to serve at any time." Zhu Yulan''s voice carried a mischievous tone, as if she was looking forward to bossing him around. Xu Musen feared this kind of blank check the mostwho knows what terms they might come up with? "Boss Zhu, let me be clear upfront, I''m selling my talent, not my body. If you ask for too much, I won''t make good on it." On the other end, Zhu Yulan choked on the strawberry in her mouth and coughed, holding her phone, her face turning a bit red. She caught her breath and chuckled coldly, "Hehe... with your physique, I wouldn''t take it even if you offered. Can''t be bothered with you, bye!" Click, the call was disconnected. Xu Musen smiled to himself; it seemed like the deal was done. On the other end, Zhu Yulan stared at the hung-up phone, at the "Scam King" nickname saved in her contacts, and snorted. Conceited jerk, bragging about not selling himself; the line of people trying to woo me could wrap around Fudan University multiple times, okay? Tsk! She was pondering over how to properly scam him back when suddenly her phone rang again. She picked it up, and her pretty brows furrowed instinctively upon seeing the contact information. Sar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After hesitating for a moment, she answered the call with a cool voice, Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire "What is it?" "Oh my, is that the way my dear sister talks to her big sis?" On the other end of the line came the playful tones of a mature woman''s voice. It was Zhu Yulan''s sister, Zhu Xianglanthe sophisticated woman who had previously made acquaintance with Xu Musen. Zhu Yulan seemed to have little to say to her: "If there''s nothing else, I''m hanging up." On the other end, Zhu Xianglan wasn''t the slightest bit upset by her sister''s cold demeanor, but instead, she began speaking with a smile, "Come home for dinner the next couple of nights; Father has returned and seems to have something to say." Chapter 199 Yao Mingyue: Youre Just a Jerk!_2 Zhu Yulan furrowed her brows even tighter upon hearing the word "father": "What''s he coming back for?""This is our home, isn''t it normal for him to return? How long has it been since you last came home for a meal? Consider it that your sister misses you. Can''t you join me for a meal?" Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire On the other end of the phone, her sister''s voice even carried a slightly coquettish tone. Hearing this made Zhu Yulan''s skin crawl. Although she and her sister would always squabble upon meeting, Zhu Yulan ultimately pursed her lips. "I got it, I''ll come over when I have the time." After that, she hung up the phone. On the other side, Zhu Xianglan, dressed in luxurious lady''s attire, looked at the disconnected call, her mature cheeks that somewhat resembled Zhu Yulan''s showing a slightly complex smile. She stared at a photo in her hand. In the picture, Zhu Yulan and Xu Musen were in KFC, unabashedly scrambling for chicken wings. She observed the unselfconscious demeanor of Zhu Yulan in the photo, competing over a chicken wing. The usual dinners prepared at home had all kinds of delicacies, yet she couldn''t even be bothered to touch her chopsticks. Furthermore, looking at her sister''s face, that content and triumphant little expression, it had been so many years since she had seen her smile like that. However, Zhu Lanxiang''s impression of Xu Musen was still based on their last encounter at school. The young man was quite good, full of ideas and capable, but that was in the context of ordinary people. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Capable people were a dime a dozen, yet a future net worth of millions or tens of millions was already the limit for ordinary people. For them, however, such achievements were trivial; the gap between their households wasn''t something that could be bridged in one generation. Being friends was fine, but if it involved anything more, the resistance would be extraordinary. At their level, although it wasn''t like ancient times where you had to marry whomever your family chose, if you were born into such a family and enjoyed the wealth and prestige it brought you, then you had to bear a cost that ordinary people did notbusiness marriages, which were indeed the most common method of familial resource exchange for their class. Zhu Lanxiang looked at the two people in the photo, and a complex mix of memories seemed to flicker through her eyes, but she shook her head and chuckled, "My silly sister, so many things aren''t as simple as you think..." ... After being busy until the afternoon, it was finally time to head home. Today was another weekend, and An Nuannuan had to go home for treatment every Sunday, so Xu Musen was left alone in the empty house on weekends. Ever since Xu Musen had been forthright with Yao Mingyue about his situation with An Nuannuan, Yao Mingyue seemed to have evaporated from the world. He never saw her again. Originally, this was exactly what Xu Musen, recently reborn, had wanted. But still, Xu Musen felt an indescribable sensation in his heart, as though he wanted to escape, yet when he truly left, he always felt an emptiness in some corner of his heart. After all, they had been childhood sweethearts for twenty years, and in his previous life, they had also been husband and wife for so long. Plus, during their time together lately, he had witnessed every little change that had occurred in Yao Mingyue. It was just that everything had become a foregone conclusion. However, to treat her completely as a stranger was something he also seemed unable to fully do. And his situation with Yao Mingyue certainly couldn''t have been hidden from Aunt Liu, who perhaps had noticed as well. But as parents, there wasn''t much they could say about such matters. For Xu Musen, Aunt Liu was someone he truly regarded as his elder. Xu Musen thought for a moment, then took out his phone and called Liu Rushuang. The call was answered soon. "Xiaosen, what made you think of calling your aunt?" Liu Rushuang was always cheerful, her voice exuding the intellectual elegance of a mature woman. After a brief pause, Xu Musen spoke, "Auntie, are you busy with work today? It''s been a few days since we''ve seen each other, and I wanted to have a meal with you and Ming Yue." There was a moment of surprise on the other end of the line, which was soon followed by a cheerful reply, "Oh, Xiaosen rarely asks to dine out. No matter how busy I am, I''ll make time for you. Where do you plan to go?" "How about at your place? I''ll cook." "Sure, let''s have it at my place. Have you discussed it with Ming Yue? She''ll definitely be happy about it." "Not yet, isn''t she with you?" Xu Musen queried, knowing that Yao Mingyue would often visit Liu Rushuang''s company lately. Anyway, for her, what she learned in college wasn''t all that helpful anymore, as most of the material there, at best, could make someone an elite employee, but no book would teach you how to be a big boss. Society is the best textbook. Especially when it''s your family''s business. "She''s not been feeling well these last couple of days, so I didn''t have her running back and forth. Aren''t you with her?" Liu Rushuang countered. Upon hearing this, Xu Musen paused: "I understand, I''ll go find her." "Alright, then Auntie will pick you up later this afternoon!" Liu Rushuang spoke cheerfully. After hanging up, Xu Musen held his phone, found that familiar profile picture, and their chat history stopped on the day he last asked her out to come clean. Xu Musen thought for a while, then put away his phone. Inside the library, Yao Mingyue still occupied her usual corner spot. These days, whenever she had time, she would come here to read books and news, or to do some paperwork. Many male students had noticed her, and even several men came especially to catch a glimpse of her. Chapter 199 Yao Mingyue: Youre Just a Jerk!_3 But ever since the last time someone tried to show her interest and was thoroughly ignored, most boys didn''t dare to jump out to grab her attention anymore.Moreover, Yao Mingyue''s icy demeanor deterred people from approaching her, to the extent that not even girls wanted to sit within five meters of her. In college, everything is done in groups, so sitting alone in the library appeared somewhat lonely to others. As Yao Mingyue read her book, she reached for the cup to take a sip of water but remembered that she had forgotten to cover it, causing the water to cool quickly in this weather. After taking a small sip, she frowned slightly and lightly touched her stomach as if she was in some pain. But she simply rubbed her belly briefly and then continued to work. That was her way; she never showed her vulnerable side in front of others. Yao Mingyue was actually very sensitive to the cold. Clutching her cup, she stared at the water that had lost its warmth. Back in school, when it was cold and she didn''t want to go downstairs, Xu Musen would get water for her after every class. But now, the fool who used to fetch water for her was gone, just like the warmth in her cup... It was never the cup that kept the water warm, but the person who always fetched hot water for you. Yao Mingyue''s eyes trembled slightly. "You''re drinking water that has gone cold." Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A familiar voice suddenly interrupted. The cup was taken from her hands. Xu Musen was sitting in front of her. After several days, they finally saw each other again. Xu Musen looked at Yao Mingyue, she was still beautiful, but she seemed more tired and even colder now. Sitting there alone, compared to the groups of students around her, she was like a swan that had strayed from the flock. Aristocratic, aloof, and lonely. But it seemed she had always been like that; her world had always revolved around him, and without him, she had nowhere to land. Yao Mingyue also looked at him. It had been a long time since they''d met, yet Yao Mingyue''s ears, eyes, and heart never ceased to feel his presence. She couldn''t leave him, nor would she, but at that moment she didn''t know what to do. Sometimes she would numb herself with work. But there he was again. Yao Mingyue, her eyes shimmering, said, "Warm water is better than none at all. Besides, there''s no one to fetch water for me anymore." Xu Musen looked at her, recalling the times in school when he fetched hot water for Yao Mingyue. Back then, he felt a bit shy, and when fetching hot water for Yao Mingyue, he''d often make excuses to get some for others as well. Later, those people stopped asking Xu Musen to fetch water, and he naturally only fetched it for Yao Mingyue. Looking back, he figured they must have been "warned" by Yao Mingyue. It was like when many people wanted her to say a graduation blessing at the end of high school, and the whole class ended up writing it. But the most romantic part was that the other person was always holding a pen, just waiting for you to come before her... The unspoken understanding between them now resurfaced in their minds. Xu Musen looked at her and took out something he had prepared from behind and handed it to her. "Drink this instead." Yao Mingyue took it and looked. A sweet fragrance wafted, red bean soup with a hint of brown sugar. Suddenly, Yao Mingyue felt her nose turn sweet and a bit sour as she lifted her head to look at Xu Musen. This guy, wasn''t it agreed that he wouldn''t be nice to her anymore? Why was he still so kind to her She extended her hand and held the cup, which was just the right temperature, took a gentle sip, and the sweet warmth seemed to melt away the slight, awkward distance between them these past few days. "Xu Musen." She murmured his name. Xu Musen, who was preparing his words, hummed in acknowledgment and looked up at her. "What is it?" Yao Mingyue propped her delicate chin with one hand, swallowing the red bean sugar water and revealing her white teeth. She looked at Xu Musen, lightly biting her lip. "You''re such a jerk." "???" Chapter 200 We are siblings, not lovers. Yao Mingyue''s "scumbag" comment caught Xu Musen by surprise."I kindly brought you a drink, did I provoke you?" Xu Musen couldn''t help but laugh. Yao Mingyue saw his annoyed expression, and the frustration in her heart dissipated little by little. Sipping the sweet red bean soup, she felt warmth spread throughout her body. Her tone also softened a bit. "What are you here for? Aren''t you afraid your little girlfriend will get jealous?" Yao Mingyue was playing defensive, and although she said this, her gaze remained fixed on Xu Musen, as if trying to make up for all the days they hadn''t seen each other. Setting aside whether An Nuannuan would get jealous, Xu Musen could hear a thick note of jealousy in Yao Mingyue''s words. "I haven''t seen Aunt Liu in a while. Let''s have dinner together tonight." "You''re going out to eat with me, won''t your little girlfriend get mad if she finds out?" "..." Xu Musen looked at her, thinking she was acting like a broken record. "Enough, hurry up and pack your things. Aunt Liu will be picking us up at the school gate soon." Xu Musen stood up reluctantly. If others heard this, they might actually believe he was a scumbag dating two women at once. But in reality, he was a paragon of pure love. He helped Yao Mingyue pack her things and gallantly carried them for her to allow her to enjoy her red bean soup at a leisurely pace. Yao Mingyue looked at him and let out a cold snort. "I didn''t bother you today, right?" Xu Musen asked her. "Last time you asked me out on your own initiative, and you helped me carry my things, announcing your relationship with her. What about this time? Do you two have a child now?" Yao Mingyue''s eyes twinkled as she closed the distance to Xu Musen. Her gaze slid down his shoulder and slowly climbed into his eyes. How vindictive. Xu Musen shook his head, "Don''t spout nonsense." Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire Yao Mingyue leaned in, sniffed lightly at him, and her gaze narrowed slightly. In a soft voice, she spoke into his ear, "So, you''re still a young boy, huh?" Xu Musen stopped in his tracks and glanced at her before finally saying irritably, "Boring." As he spoke, Xu Musen began walking out of the library. Sarch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In fact, during this time, An Nuannuan had already grown accustomed to kissing, and it seemed that this little girl quite liked the feeling. However, whenever Xu Musen tried to find a place for his hands, An Nuannuan would instinctively dodge away. Plus, she would return to her dormitory to sleep like clockwork every night, never staying over. Xu Musen was especially mindful of matters like taking the next step for the first time; it definitely had to be on a perfect, auspicious date. Of course, he still had yet to completely get over the hurdle of Nuannuan''s family, and he had to achieve something significant and meet the parents before taking any further steps. Not to mention, Nuannuan''s health hadn''t fully recovered yet. If they were to live together, the little room above the milk tea shop would be too shabby for her. These days, Xu Musen had even begun to consider buying a house. After all, as an eighteen-year-old in the prime of life, it''s a lie to say he didn''t think about it. But right now, he really couldn''t indulge, even if Nuannuan agreed, Xu Musen was also afraid of the old man coming at him with a cane to chop off a limb! Xu Musen turned and left. Yao Mingyue had observed all his fleeting expressions. The corners of her mouth curved slightly; at least he was still pure and innocent. Maybe she still stood a chance... The two of them walked out of the library. Yao Mingyue changed into new clothes, wearing the same style down jacket as Xu Musen. Side by side, anyone would think they were wearing couple outfits. Xu Musen looked at her, the white down jacket making her skin seem even whiter, the white fluff on the collar adding a touch of cuteness and vivacity. Her long hair cascaded down, fluttering in the wind. Despite the bulky down jacket, it couldn''t hide her slender figure. She came up to Xu Musen, a picture of loveliness met by his sunny handsomeness, as if they were a scene straight out of a comic book. Yao Mingyue looked at him and suddenly cocked her head to one side, teasingly saying, "I''m wearing the same clothes as you. Won''t your little girlfriend be upset if she finds out?" "..." Xu Musen rubbed his temples, "If you know it will make you unhappy, then don''t say it anymore." When Yao Mingyue made the comment, although she was joking, she was practically drowning in jealousy. But Yao Mingyue just laughed, "Why would I be unhappy?" Xu Musen looked at her, pretending to be ignorant. He didn''t respond and kept walking. Yao Mingyue followed him, and seeing that he remained silent, she spoke on her own, "That''s because you know, I like you. And when you like someone, you get jealous." Yao Mingyue smiled. For girls her age, the word "like" could be a little embarrassing to say, but she wished she could say it more to him, to make up for all the times she hadn''t before. Xu Musen didn''t say anything. Yao Mingyue wasn''t in a hurry. She followed his pace and continued. "I still remember back in high school, a guy gave me a box of chocolates. Someone got so annoyed that for a whole month you teased me with, ''How does the chocolate taste~''. You teased me for a whole month in my ear, and you can''t handle it now when I''ve only said a few words?" Yao Mingyue huffed, her gaze intense as she looked at Xu Musen. "Humph! What a hypocritical man, leveraging the fact that I like you, aren''t you?" Chapter 200 We are siblings, not lovers. _2 Yao Mingyue dredged up his dark past, and Xu Musen felt his scalp tingle upon listening, realizing that he indeed used to hover around her, brimming with unspoken resentment much like a young girl.Yet it was her last sentence, the tone of coquettish grievance, that made Xu Musen''s skin crawl. "Yao Mingyue, you might as well revert to your old self, I''m more used to your arrogant and domineering ways." Xu Musen couldn''t stand it anymore. "Tsk, don''t you like the soft and gentle type?" "Even when a big cat meows, it''s still a tigress at heart." "Xu Musen, who are you calling a tigress?!" "Whoever responds is who..." In the midst of their banter, it seemed they had already forgotten the incident from a few days prior. After leaving the school gates, Xu Musen checked the time, it was already the appointed hour, yet Liu Rushuang had not arrived. Her phone call suddenly came through. "Aunt Liu." After Xu Musen answered, Liu Rushuang''s voice came through, tinged with a hint of apology: "Xiaosen, I have a sudden meeting to attend and might not be able to pick you guys up. Since we''re out of vegetables at home and you''re planning to eat there today, why don''t you and Ming Yue go grocery shopping together, then take a taxi over? Ming Yue has the keys with her. Okay, Aunt will look forward to tasting your cooking after the meeting is over~" Liu Rushuang said all this in one breath, then cheerfully hung up the phone. The busy signal from Xu Musen''s phone went beep beep beep as he turned to glance at Yao Mingyue. "What did my mom say to you?" "She has a meeting, she said we should go buy groceries by ourselves." Go buy groceries first... Doesn''t that mean we can go shopping together, just the two of us? Joy flickered in Yao Mingyue''s eyes, yet she said with a snort, "Humph, certain people wouldn''t be pretending to want to shop and have a date with me, would they? You have quite a role to play, little man. Fine, I''ll reluctantly agree to your request." Yao Mingyue rambled on to herself, and Xu Musen was somewhat dumbfounded, gazing at her exquisitely beautiful face that was so close at hand. Truth be told, Yao Mingyue like this, ''arguing illogically'' and possessed by the spirit of a drama queen, was unexpectedly na?vely charming. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just like when they were children, Yao Mingyue would crave cream cake but fear the high calorie content making her fat, and would have Xu Musen freeze it in the fridge, claiming this would somehow ''eliminate the calories.'' Absurdly adorable. If she could keep this personality forever, perhaps... Xu Musen was startled by his own thoughtsdamn, was he actually a cad? "Let''s go." He shifted his gaze away and walked towards the direction of the market. Yao Mingyue accurately captured the fleeting thoughts that had flashed in his eyes just now. The corners of her mouth curved slightly upwards, as she, too, followed his steps forward. At this moment. In the office. Liu Rushuang sipped her floral tea, her gaze also towards the direction of the school out the window. "Director Liu, will there be a meeting soon?" The female secretary came in, having heard the preparations for a meeting. "No need, just clock off at the regular time. We can''t hold meetings every day, young people need some time after work to go shopping, have heart-to-hearts... Liu Rushuang, watching the direction of the school from the window, elegantly took another sip of tea from her cup. ... The market. Xu Musen was already familiar with it; the market was on the way to both An Nuannuan''s home and Yao Mingyue''s villa. He always came here for groceries. The two made their way to a fish stall. The fishmonger recognized Xu Musen immediately; wasn''t this the young man who came last time with a cute girl who said his fish could only swim upside down? "Yo, handsome guy, back for more groceries? Today, all my fish are alive, and your girlfriend" The fishmonger started to say, glancing at the girl beside him who was dressed in a matching outfit, and instinctively treated her as the cute girl from the last time. However, he cut himself off as soon as his gaze focused on the young woman''s face. She was another stunning beauty, with a face that could give those big TV stars a run for their money. And judging by her height and figure, she would certainly stand out even in a place like Hu Hai. Yet, her aura and style were completely different from the cute girl from before! The fishmonger took in the pair, considering the usual on-again, off-again nature of young people''s relationships, he felt a bit awkward. Xu Musen saw the look in the boss''s eye and knew they had been misunderstood again. But before he could open his mouth to explain, Yao Mingyue beat him to it with a smiling response. "Hi boss, I''m his sister, not his girlfriend yet." Xu Musen: ... Fishmonger: ??? Siblings? Looking at these two, they don''t resemble each other at all. And even if they are siblings, what does it mean that she''s not his girlfriend yet? Could it be that she might become one in the future? The fishmonger looked at Xu Musen with an expression akin to contemplating the intricacies of German orthopedics. Xu Musen was speechless; she was definitely doing this on purpose. "Boss, give me a flatfish, the free-swimming kind." Xu Musen opened his mouth to change the subject. "Oh... sure sure." The fishmonger chuckled knowingly, leaving the young folks to their own devices. He had seen young couples calling each other mom and dad before; it''s not that he didn''t understand, it''s just that the world changes fast. Xu Musen shot Yao Mingyue a speechless glance. Yao Mingyue, with a sly grin, exhibited a serious and innocent look: "What''s wrong, didn''t I speak the truth?" "Just talk less." Xu Musen couldn''t be bothered to say more to her. "So I shouldn''t speak even when others ask me questions?" "Just nod and smile, and ''hmm'' will do." "Hmm~" Yao Mingyue, seeing him deflated, felt her mood improve significantly. Having bought the fish, they both enjoyed seafood, so Xu Musen headed to the seafood stall to pick up some goodies. While Xu Musen was selecting blood clams, the stall owner handed a bag of conchs to Yao Mingyue, and seeing the beautiful young girl before her, she couldn''t help but smile and say, "My, it''s rare to see young people these days come out to buy groceries and cook together. Just look at your boyfriend picking out vegetables; you can tell he knows how to cook. Boys who can cook will be good to their wives in the future, so you better cherish him." When Xu Musen heard this, he thought about how, ever since they were little, people always said they looked great together whenever they went out. But if in the future he took An Nuannuan here to shop, and was misunderstood, it would probably stir up another little bout of jealousy. However, at the moment, Yao Mingyue, grinning, took the bag from the owner. After giving Xu Musen a look, she didn''t say a word. She just nodded and smiled at the stall owner, and finally, "Hmm~"ed. Well, that settled it. "..." Xu Musen rubbed his temples; it felt like lifting a rock only to drop it on his own foot. Forget it, let''s just hurry up, buy the groceries, and get out of here. The two left the market, hands laden with groceries, but none of it weighed as heavily as Xu Musen''s heavy heart. "Actually, buying groceries at the market is pretty interesting." Yao Mingyue was smiling on the side, her phoenix eyes shimmering with a hint of slyness. "Do you think we really look that much like a married couple?" Yao Mingyue said, suddenly leaning in a bit closer to Xu Musen. The girl tiptoed slightly, her beautiful face almost touching his. They could see the fine fuzz on each other''s faces, and under the setting sun, Yao Mingyue''s cheeks seemed to glow. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire So beautiful, it was mesmerizing. It''s said that couples start to resemble each other over time, which scientifically could be explained by daily interactions and even DNA exchange through things like kissing, right? The human body naturally learns the other''s genes, which is why they start looking more alike. Of course, it''s actually because their temperaments and characters become similar, so their expressions and speech end up alike too. Since there are so many faces in the world, they naturally start looking more and more similar. Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue, having grown up together since childhood, bathing in the same tub when they were little, might have already developed that so-called couple''s resemblance. Xu Musen looked at her face, which was close enough to nearly touch, and he could smell the unique floral scent emanating from her. This face, almost etched into his DNA, Xu Musen might control his feelings, but he really couldn''t stop his heart from skipping a beat. He pulled away a bit, averting his gaze, his expression feigning indifference. "Isn''t it you who said we are siblings?" Yao Mingyue tilted her head with a smile, her eyes bright and cunning in the sunset. "I once looked at your computer''s browsing history, that anime called something about destiny and emptiness seemed pretty interesting~" Xu Musen: "..." Chapter 201 Once Ive Got You, Youre Mine. (Sweet, please subscribe!) Checking the time, it was still early.Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue were carrying groceries and passing by a mall when Xu Musen pondered a thought. "What kind of cosmetics does Aunt Liu usually like to use?" "You... want to buy cosmetics for my mom?" Yao Mingyue narrowed her eyes, and it seemed as though hints of jealousy wafted through her tone. "It''s winter, the skin needs maintenance, and besides, is there a problem with me paying respects to my elders?" Xu Musen said. Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire But Yao Mingyue stared into his eyes for a while, and finally snorted, "I think it''s because someone is worried about their hit-and-run antics being discovered by my mom, so they''re trying to shut her up with a gift?" Yao Mingyue''s words carried an insinuation. "We''re innocent, we haven''t even been in a relationship, much less done anything to deserve being labeled as hit-and-run." Xu Musen said, speechless, but then he paused and looked at Yao Mingyue, "Have you told Aunt Liu about us?" Yao Mingyue looked up and met his gaze, "About what?" Seeing her feigning ignorance, Xu Musen didn''t beat around the bush, "About me dating, is Aunt Liu aware?" Yao Mingyue''s eyes flickered slightly. Looking at Xu Musen, her heart felt a touch of sourness, but gazing upon the face she adored to her very bones, she still smiled slightly, revealing her white, pearly teeth. "In my eyes, you''ve only been taken care of by another girl for a few days, sooner or later you will still be mine." The setting sun filtered into her eyes, making her seem to shine, its fiery intensity almost too much to look at directly. Getting this small tsundere to give up is an extremely challenging task. Like the Xu Musen of the past, countless people called him a loyal dog, mocking and sneering at him in secret, yet he never once shied away. Before Xu Musen had a chance to speak, Yao Mingyue reached out with two fingers and lightly pinched his lips. Her cool and soft fingers, carrying the faint scent of elegant flowers, leaned in closer, she made a slight shush gesture by her mouth, and then winked at him. "You don''t need to answer me, otherwise, if I get upset, I might just do something drastic, and then you''ll be the one to blame~" Yao Mingyue said with a hint of playfulness, her stunningly beautiful face radiating a girlish sweetness when she smiled. The sunset on her made the moment particularly beautiful. Yet, her words also carried a stubbornness that could linger in one''s mind for a long time, those golden-brown eyes possessed a bewitching charm that could make one''s heart waver and sink into them. A dangerous threat. Just like in their previous life, after she made Xu Musen drink that glass of red wine, she had told him, "You''re never leaving me in this lifetime." This had always been a psychological shadow in Xu Musen''s heart. But in this moment, as he looked at Yao Mingyue who was similarly "threatening" him, his heart was devoid of fear or resistance. Because he also saw in her eyes, behind that threatening, vehement, and resolute gaze, a hint of forced grievance. Just like the old him. Xu Musen reached out and gently brushed aside her fingers. He had said those words to her too many times before. In many ways, the two of them were very much alike. After all, they were childhood sweethearts, the understanding between them was even more profound than that of so-called "marital affinity." "Let''s go." Xu Musen shook his head, his lips curling slightly, still catching a whiff of her fragrance. The two arrived at the mall. Though Yao Mingyue could sometimes be a bit jealous of her own mother, when it came to picking out things for her, she was decidedly uncompromising. Since she and her mother often shared makeup and skincare products, Yao Mingyue made the selection with ease. After choosing a set, Yao Mingyue looked over it and said, "That''s about it." She spoke, with a somewhat acidic tone, "Sure enough, someone''s really filial, never bought makeup for me though." Xu Musen turned to look at her; Yao Mingyue''s jealous little antics were unexpectedly adorable. "You are naturally beautiful and don''t need it." Xu Musen took the rare chance to compliment her. After all, Yao Mingyue was top-tier in everything, except for her tsundere personality! Xu Musen couldn''t lie and say she wasn''t pretty, otherwise, wouldn''t that mean he had no eye for beauty in his past life? The 18-year-old Yao Mingyue was as beautiful as a budding flower, tender, delicate, exuding an invigorating grace. Any makeup on her face would merely gild the lily, her bare-faced beauty was enough to captivate the gaze. It had been a while since Yao Mingyue had heard him compliment her like this. After all, she was still an 18-year-old girl, and her heart swelled with sweet sensations when praised by the one she liked. "Hmph, consider yourself lucky that you can still spout some sweet nothings," Yao Mingyue scoffed, yet her fair face was tinged with a smug blush. The once insatiable girl was now, surprisingly, blushing and having her heart flutter over a simple compliment. Yao Mingyue turned away, covering her chest with her hand; she felt a bit embarrassed. In the past, even if Xu Musen praised her beauty every day, she took it for granted. But now, his casual remark "naturally beautiful" made her heart beat uncontrollably faster. sea??h th novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 201 Once I Trap You, Youre Mine. (Sweet, Please Subscribe!)_2 Yao Mingyue''s eyes trembled, perhaps this was what he mentioned, the real feeling of liking someone.It''s wonderful, very beautiful, it''s just that she realized it might be a bit too late... She watched Xu Musen''s departing figure. Xu Musen was at the front desk, asking the clerk to tally up his bill. She couldn''t help but pout her lips slightly again. Although she was happy to be complimented, she really hadn''t received any cosmetics from him ever since she was little... Even a lipstick would have been nice, after all, giving a girl cosmetics, regardless of the price, signifies a special kind of thoughtfulness. She fiddled with various cosmetics on the counter, but seemed somewhat distracted. "Sir, I''ve tallied it up, will it be cash or card?" the clerk asked with a smile, having packed everything. Xu Musen took out his card and was about to hand it over when he caught sight of Yao Mingyue, who seemed to be a bit down on the other side. He thought for a moment and then said to the clerk, "Wait a moment." In no time, Yao Mingyue noticed that Xu Musen had suddenly disappeared from the counter. She approached the clerk and asked, "Excuse me, where did that man go?" "That gentleman just went..." Before the clerk could finish speaking, a hand stretched out from behind Yao Mingyue, carrying a bag filled with various carefully selected skincare products. "Add this to the bill as well." Xu Musen said as he spoke. Yao Mingyue glanced inside the bag, and though she rarely used makeup, with skincare usually limited to masks and moisturizers. There were items she frequently used, as well as many she had yet to try. She looked at Xu Musen, with a hunch that he might be buying them for her, but she still deliberately asked, "Wow, so many things, are you buying them for your little girlfriend?" "If you don''t need them, I could give them to her instead." Xu Musen raised an eyebrow teasingly at her. Yao Mingyue''s smile curved upwards, and she quickly took the bag. She inspected the contents again, and although some were unfamiliar, her intuition told her that they were quite suitable for her. "I don''t need them and won''t give them away, what''s mine is mine." Yao Mingyue handed the bag to the clerk: "Go ahead and charge it, put it on his card." Since Xu Musen was wealthy now, it wouldn''t hurt to take a bit of advantage of him. After all, it was the first time he bought her cosmetics. The clerk looked at the pair, who appeared to be a couple, yet found their conversation quite complex. But considering the commission she would earn today, she was very happy. Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire "Alright." The clerk took the bag and went to verify the contents. Yao Mingyue looked at Xu Musen with sparkling eyes, drawing close to his side with her bright and beautiful gaze. She whispered, "You''re buying me cosmetics, won''t your little girlfriend be angry..." Before she could finish, Xu Musen suddenly pinched her lips with his fingers. "I''ve heard it so much my ears could develop calluses, is that the only thing you know how to say?" Xu Musen was nearly driven to laughter by resignation. Yao Mingyue opened her mouth and bit down on his finger. "Seems like that''s all I know... what about it?" She spoke, her words muffled, as she bit gently on his finger with a bit more force. The gesture was somewhat intimate, and as Xu Musen tried to pull away, Yao Mingyue bit down even harder. Even at that moment, Xu Musen felt a slight heat at the tip of his finger. Xu Musen pulled away with a little force, noticing the wetness on his finger and thinking back to the fleeting moment. Looking at Yao Mingyue, he gritted his teeth and commented, "You''re really something now." "What about it? You gonna hit me? Big pig''s trotters!" Yao Mingyue raised her fair and clean face towards him. Xu Musen, unable to retort, simply moved aside, placing the bag with cosmetics right on her face. "Let''s go." Seeing that the clerk had finished tallying everything and he had paid, Xu Musen promptly left the store. Yao Mingyue, holding the bag of cosmetics with a smile on her lips, followed behind Xu Musen. Outside, it had already turned dark. The night in Hu Hai was even more splendid, and the charm of the magical city made this metropolis all the more opulent and enchanting. Outside the mall, on the vast square, many stalls were set up with games like balloon popping, dart throwing, and ring tossing. sea??h th NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It felt like these games could be found everywhere, in cities big and small around the country. Yao Mingyue didn''t seem to want to go home just yet. She pulled Xu Musen over to a stall where they were shooting balloons with guns and immediately pointed, saying, "I want to play this." "Grown up and still wants to play." "I just want to play, I won''t leave if we don''t." Yao Mingyue stood her ground, giving the impression that she would lay down on the ground if she didn''t get to play. It was reminiscent of the past, when she''d throw a tantrum when Xu Musen wouldn''t buy her ice cream. "Young man, let your girlfriend have a go; there''s a prize if she wins." Encouraged by the stall owner, who immediately handed a toy gun to Yao Mingyue. With a helpless sigh, Xu Musen stopped and watched Yao Mingyue: "Go ahead and play, I''ll wait for you." Yao Mingyue, gun in hand, lacked the natural talent that boys might have for it, firing about ten shots at the balloons, but only hitting one or two in the end. The chance of hitting nine to get a prize seemed light-years away. "Owner, again!" Yao Mingyue, never one to concede defeat, slapped a hundred-yuan note on the counter. "Sure thing!" The owner couldn''t stop grinning they loved customers who were persistent yet lacked skill. Chapter 201 Once I Trap You, Youre Mine. (Sweet, Please Subscribe!)_3 Yao Mingyue fired dozens of bullets in a row, and each time her hit rate was only around twenty to thirty percent.She was a bit frustrated, not believing that she would actually lose here in something she knew nothing about! She was getting ready to take out some money from her wallet again. "Forget it, let me do it." Xu Musen couldn''t stand to watch any longer, not because he was bothered by the money, but because he knew Yao Mingyue''s temperament; if she couldn''t achieve her goal, she would never give up. Xu Musen took the toy gun from her hand, aimed it slightly, and pulled the trigger for the first shot. He missed. "Tsk, you''re not even as good as me, and a guy can''t even aim properly..." Yao Mingyue immediately started to mock him from the side. Xu Musen ignored her, but he had felt it with that first shotthe gun was rigged, undoubtedly the owner had tampered with it on purpose. However, for Xu Musen, since his reincarnation, the most direct change had been in his spirit, besides feeling more energetic physically. It wasn''t as exaggerated as in those novels with supernatural abilities, but as long as he focused, he could perceive subtle changes that ordinary people wouldn''t notice. To win a decent prize, you needed to hit at least nine out of ten balloons with the ten bullets in the gun. The stall owner was already bursting with joy inside, happily waiting to collect the money as he munched on his sunflower seeds. But Xu Musen adjusted his aim just a tad and pulled the trigger in rapid succession! "Bang bang bang..." Nine balloons burst in a row, all nine hits! The owner''s eyes bulged, and the sunflower seeds dropped from his hands. What the hell! Did I just come across some retired Dragon King Special Forces soldier or what? Yao Mingyue was also surprised as she looked at Xu Musen, not expecting him to be so skilled. One shot, one hit... such a healthy body. She meant his eyesight. Seeing Xu Musen putting down the gun at this moment, they say beauty lies in the eyes of the beholderright now, Xu Musen looked exceptionally handsome in her eyes. "Alright, pick whatever you like." Xu Musen glanced over, and the prizes were just a few large stuffed toys. Yao Mingyue looked around and pointed at a Psyduck. The owner handed over the plush toy, a bit gloomily. Yao Mingyue hugged the Psyduck, its dopey expression very comical. Xu Musen glanced at it: "You like Psyduck?" Xu Musen thought she would choose something cuter. "Didn''t used to, but now I feel like it resembles certain people." Yao Mingyue hugged the Psyduck but gave Xu Musen a contemptuous glance. "I resemble it?" Xu Musen pointed at the Psyduck''s so-called wise look. "Neither of us has good sight, right!" Yao Mingyue pushed the Psyduck''s wise-looking eyes right up to Xu Musen''s face. sea??h th N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hmph! Ignoring me, your childhood sweetheart and a beautiful girl, to go see someone else, you must be blind or simply need glasses! At this moment, Yao Mingyue''s demeanor made Xu Musen feel as if he had momentarily gone back to a long time ago. Back to the time before elementary school when his family hadn''t yet encountered trouble, and Yao Mingyue would follow him around every day like a little shadow, begging her Brother Musen to take her out to play. Xu Musen couldn''t help but chuckle to himself. For some reason, he had originally intended to apologize to Liu Rushuang by having a meal with her today. But spending the afternoon with Yao Mingyue felt... as if they were on a date. To be honest, in their past lives, they might as well have been married directly, and naturally, there wouldn''t be any sweet romance left after marriage. That was a regret for both of them. Unintentionally, Xu Musen''s tone had softened a bit as he gently pushed aside the head of a Psyduck plushie and looked into Yao Mingyue''s eyes. "Going home?" "No, I still want to play that." Yao Mingyue''s tone also seemed to soften in response to Xu Musen''s gentleness. In fact, today''s experience was a first for her. Although they had often hung out and frolicked together before, it was always in the capacity of childhood friends. Now, the nature of their relationship was hard to define, but one thing was certain. Right now, between the two of them, there was no childhood friendship label, no elder brother and younger sister guise, it seemed like Yao Mingyue had lost all her advantages. But on the contrary, it allowed Yao Mingyue to experience feelings that neither childhood friendship nor so-called siblinghood could bring Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire Perhaps, this was what she had always been searching for, the feeling of being in love. It seemed to have come a bit late, but at least she got to taste a bit of its flavor. She looked at Xu Musen and then pointed to a ring toss game nearby. On the ground were various small items, cages with little rabbits and turtles, and even some expensive-looking remote-controlled airplanes and fine sculptures. Yao Mingyue grabbed a few rings. Looking at Xu Musen, she said, "Which one should I aim for?" Xu Musen glanced at the stall and nonchalantly said, "Just go for whatever you like, if you can ring it, it''s yours." "Whatever I can ring will be mine?" Yao Mingyue looked up at him, her hands holding the rings, her eyes reflecting the lights, shining like the starry night. "It all depends on your skill. I think that Guanyin statue looks good, you should try..." Xu Musen noticed a Guanyin statue over a meter tall at the back of the stall, and although it wasn''t made of real jade, it would look nice in a living room. But before he could finish his sentence, he suddenly felt something looping around his neck. In front of him, the girl''s face was close, very close, with a smile on her lips. She held the rings in both hands, one of which was now looped around Xu Musen''s neck. Yao Mingyue showed off her white teeth, her phoenix eyes gleaming with sly and fervent brightness, mixed with a hint of girlish naivete. She gently tugged at the ring in her hands, her tiptoes raised at the most romantic angle, making the bustling square seem like a backdrop for just the two of them. Yao Mingyue squinted her eyes, her smile as sweet as the little girl who used to chase after Xu Musen years ago. Her eyes full of anticipation, she looked into Xu Musen''s eyes. "So now that I''ve caught you, does that mean you''re mine?" Chapter 202 "If I toss this around you, does that mean you''re mine?"Yao Mingyue suddenly tossed a ring around Xu Musen''s neck, her tone light and joyful, silencing the crowd around them for a moment. Many had flaunted their love before, but this was the first time anyone had seen such a blatant display of affection. Xu Musen looked at her, feeling momentarily dazed before he simply shook his head, "Sorry, I''m not for sale." Not getting the answer she desired, Yao Mingyue still appeared slightly vexed. She gazed at Xu Musen, leaned in close, and whispered, "Then do you have a trial version? In case I''m not satisfied, I could still return it within seven days for no reason." While speaking, Yao Mingyue''s gaze was unabashedly roving over Xu Musen''s body. Xu Musen had been the subject of such looks too many times. In his previous life, everyone saw Xu Musen as a toad lusting after swan meat, not realizing that Xu Musen was the one being "nourished." Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire He was like a handsome man captured by a goblin queen into her lair. "If you''re not playing, just go." "No, I still have a few rings left in my hand." Yao Mingyue, holding the rings, glanced over the booth, which was really just a few small animals that caught her interest. She didn''t like the small turtle. The little rabbit... always reminded her of someone equally large and white, seemingly foolish but actually cunning. Her gaze settled on a small parrot sitting nearby. Parrots were birds known for their attachment to people. Said to be dogs in birds'' clothing. Moreover, they were lively by nature and could provide entertainment through speech if trained properly. Most importantly, parrots were loyal and clingy, traits Yao Mingyue cherished most... She swiftly threw out all the rings in her hand, but none hit the mark. Yao Mingyue''s lips pursed in dissatisfaction as she asked the stall owner for a few more rings. "If you like it, just buy one," Xu Musen suggested from the side. "Does buying it directly compare to earning it yourself? Besides, aren''t there some things money can''t buy, things you can''t have even if you want to?" Yao Mingyue gave him a sidelong glance. If she could purchase him with money, she would rather gnaw on plain buns daily to make him hers. Yao Mingyue hurled the rings once more. The night was already dark, and her natural talent for such trifles seemed particularly lacking. Her supply of rings depleted again. Although she hadn''t captured the parrot, she managed to snag a little turtle and a rabbit nearby. It was uncertain whether her luck was good or bad. "I think rabbits are quite cute, and turtles aren''t bad either, easy to care for," Xu Musen commented. "But what I want is the parrot, not any rabbit or turtle. No matter how good they are, I don''t want them. I want the one I like," Yao Mingyue insisted, biting her lip. Although talking about animals, her eyes were always on Xu Musen. She took all the rings from the stall owner and threw them one by one, but it was as if fate was playing a joke on her. A couple of times the rings nearly stayed on the cage, but they bounced off upon landing. Always missing by just a little... but that tiny bit made all the difference, as if it were leagues away. Just like her and him Sometimes Yao Mingyue put in so much effort. Xu Musen was always right there, and there were moments she almost had him, but their fates consistently missed by a sliver, like ships passing in the night... Yao Mingyue bit down on her lip harder, her frustration not stemming from her failure to win a parrot. It was rather like seeing a future she didn''t want to face. Once more, she threw all her rings until none were left. In her hand remained the last ring. She steadied herself, observed carefully for a while, and then threw it. The ring rotated around the parrot''s cage. She held her breath as the ring orbited the cage several times, but it ultimately hung on the edge. Just a tad short The stall owner, witnessing the beautiful young woman''s dejected expression, found himself feeling a pinch of remorse. He picked up the captured "Beauty, why don''t you just take the parrot, consider it a swap for the rabbit and turtle." Yao Mingyue, as if she hadn''t heard, her eyes downcast: "Forget it, if I can''t have it, then I can''t have it, it''s just a parrot after all, I never end up getting what I want" Yao Mingyue''s voice carried an undertone of sorrow that even the ring-toss stall owner felt his heart weigh heavy with guilt. "Alright, alright, I''ll help you." Xu Musen sighed. Maybe Yao Mingyue had said it on purpose, but the sense of injustice laced with her words couldn''t be feigned. Xu Musen removed the last ring that Yao Mingyue had tossed around his neck earlier. He faced her and extended his hand slightly. "For what?" "I''ll help you. Otherwise, someone won''t be satisfied." As he spoke, Xu Musen placed the ring in her hand. "Hey, didn''t you say you''d help me?" Yao Mingyue clutched the last ring as if it were her last straw of hope. Sarch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Without responding, Xu Musen moved behind her and gently lifted her arm. "I''ll help you aim, you just take care of the throw," he instructed. The two of them were pressed close together. Although the bulky winter jackets prevented them from feeling each other''s touch, their breaths mingled. Xu Musen''s gesture, as if he were softly embracing her from behind, caused Yao Mingyue''s heart to beat wildly out of control for a moment. Chapter 203 Liu Rushuangs Magical Little Medicinal Wine. Liu Rushuang entered the villa and immediately locked the door behind her.Then, like a thief, she stealthily made her way to the living room. At this moment in the kitchen, Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue were busy at work. Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire Yao Mingyue was clueless about cooking and could only handle washing vegetables or carrying plates and such. After all, the future female CEO''s hands were meant to sign contracts worth tens of millions or even billions, so naturally, someone else needed to do the cooking. Watching Xu Musen cook, the domesticated husband exuded a unique "husband" aura. The feeling was hard to describe but always gave a woman a special sense of security and belonging. It made one want to rush home and dive into his arms as soon as work was over Yao Mingyue imagined the life they would have after marriage, but her mind couldn''t help but conjure up another figure. One who forcefully took her place by his side, which rightfully belonged to her. Perhaps, she too imagined snuggling in his arms every day, watching TV, eating snacks, sharing a bed, playing around, and maybe even The more Yao Mingyue thought about it, the sourer her mouth felt. Sar?h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Xu Musen." "Hmm?" "If you have any regrets, you can come back to me now. I can give you anything you want, just don''t leave me." Yao Mingyue leaned at the kitchen door, watching Xu Musen, unable to suppress the possessiveness in her heart. "Give me anything I want?" Xu Musen glanced over Yao Mingyue''s curvaceous body. Yao Mingyue, sensing his gaze, subtly swayed her body, flaunting her enviably well-developed figure. Less naive, more voluptuous; a perfect creation by the heavens without a single flaw. "Of course, as long as you''re with me, we can get our marriage certificate as soon as we''re of age. If you can''t wait... it''s not like I can''t let you have a little taste first" Yao Mingyue said, her face reddening, though she had long prepared herself for all sorts of intimate scenarios once they were together. But for now, she was still an inexperienced new driver. Xu Musen looked at her and silently stirred the pot with the calm of a middle-aged man no longer interested in sensual pleasures. "Alright, then hurry up and bring the plates over. Don''t get in the way in the kitchen." Yao Mingyue: "..." Is that it? Yao Mingyue felt like her punch had landed in cotton. I''m hinting so much, yet you ignore me, a great beauty, asking me to serve plates instead? "Xu Musen!" "Why are you shouting? Didn''t you say you''d do anything?" "Xu Musen, I hope you choke Be careful, it''ll explode!" Yao Mingyue, infuriated, crushed an egg in her hand, its whites and yolk mixing together. She stormed off to wash her hands at the sink. Xu Musen looked at the crushed egg and shook his head. Though Yao Mingyue was somewhat deranged, she never thought of harming him. In her heart, Xu Musen was her entire fortune; she would grieve if even a single hair of his fell out. Xu Musen picked out the crushed egg, which could still be made into an egg custard, perfect for her to nourish her body during this crucial period. Where else could you find such a great man? Meanwhile, Yao Mingyue, washing her hands furiously, suddenly felt a gentle embrace from behind. She instinctively thought it was Xu Musen coming to console her after seeing her angry. "Hmph, even if you regret it, I won''t let you take advantage of my" Yao Mingyue said, as her body naturally leaned back into the warm embrace. But Hey? Since when did Xu Musen have such exaggerated pecs? And something about the touch felt off, along with a familiar fragrance lingering. When she turned around, she met a pair of phoenix eyes, similar to hers but filled with mature, intellectual allure. "Mom? Why is it you?" Yao Mingyue hadn''t even noticed her mother walking in. Liu Rushuang hugged her daughter affectionately, and seeing her daughter''s surprised expression, she said with a smile, "What''s the matter? Isn''t a mother allowed to hug her own daughter?" As she spoke, Liu Rushuang''s voice dropped slightly, teasingly whispering in Yao Mingyue''s ear, "And what was that about not letting Xiao Sen take advantage of something?" Yao Mingyue''s face instantly turned red, and she fidgeted with her fingers: "I meant dipping sauce! We have steamed dishes today, and I was preparing the dipping sauce." Liu Rushuang could tell at a glance that her daughter was lying. Looking at her daughter washing her hands, she could see a shiny, sticky substance still clinging to her fingers. And there seemed to be a faint earthy smell. "What were you guys up to just now?" Liu Rushuang asked, gazing at her daughter''s flushed cheeks. "Nothing, I just accidentally broke an egg." An egg Liu Rushuang glanced and felt relieved, "Okay, keep washing then, I''m going to check on Xiao Sen in the kitchen." "Okay." Yao Mingyue, somewhat puzzled, watched as her mother headed to the kitchen, then something clicked. She looked at her finger still smeared with egg, took another sniff... Raw country eggs definitely have an earthy smell. The thought hit her, and she remembered descriptions from books... Suddenly, she hurriedly washed her hands again, her face burning red. Chapter 203 Liu Rushuangs Magical Little Medicinal Wine. _2 "Tsk tsk!"... Liu Rushuang came to the kitchen. At this moment, Xu Musen had his back to the door and had already begun plating the dishes. Wearing an apron, with a tall and straight posture, and seriously cooking, Xu Musen really had a special charm. A charm that boys of this age do not possess. In trendy terms, it''s what young people now call "husband material." Perhaps for those young girls it''s hard to truly appreciate this mature charm, but at her age, what kind of person hadn''t she seen? Yet, what truly brings a woman what she wants is still this kind of composure and stability in character, and on top of that, the ability to give a warm feeling. Further, Xu Musen''s cooking skills were genuinely excellent. The last time she had eaten his cooking, she walked over, quietly extended her hand behind Xu Musen, and directly pinched a shrimp from the plate. Xu Musen did not turn around, but he smelled that familiar floral scent of Yao Mingyue on her, he looked down and saw the fair little hand that was stealing food. He slapped the sneaky hand directly. "Don''t pick food, wait until Aunt Liu comes back and then we can eat," Xu Musen said, a bit irritably. After all this time, still no understanding of basic manners. "Ah..." After having her hand slapped, "Yao Mingyue" behind him gave out a little cry. Xu Musen suddenly felt something was off. Although the voice sounded very similar, Yao Mingyue usually spoke with a proud and aloof tone, or in a weird and sarcastic way. But this voice seemed full of maturity and intellect. Turning his head, he was met with those familiar, Phoenix-like eyes; Yao Mingyue and her daughter indeed looked very much alike. Yao Mingyue''s temperament had always appeared more mature than her peers. Liu Rushuang, who took good care of herself, could easily pass for someone in her thirties. Especially at such a close distance, Xu Musen was really a little confused for a moment. But Xu Musen subconsciously lowered his gaze and didn''t see the tip of the shoe... Well, that confirmed it. Xu Musen took a small step back, looking at Liu Rushuang who was now rubbing her wrist, and felt a bit awkward. "Aunt Liu, you should have said something when you came. I thought you were Ming Yue," he said. Liu Rushuang, of course, wasn''t angry; she was actually quite happy listening to Xu Musen''s words just now. At least this kid always kept her, his elder, in his heart. Liu Rushuang smiled warmly, looking at Xu Musen: "It''s okay. If you mistook me for Ming Yue, it means the aunt still looks young." Sar?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Liu Rushuang always seemed so calm and intelligent when she spoke. She peeled the shrimp she had just stealthily taken, but instead of eating it herself, she brought it to Xu Musen''s mouth. "Here, you have the first taste," she said. "You''ve had a hard day, auntie. You eat first; I''m just about to serve the dishes," he replied. "No matter how hard, seeing my two darlings making so many delicious dishes at home makes me not tired at all," Liu Rushuang said, her eyes filled with affection. And again, she offered the shrimp to his mouth. "Come on, let''s have our chef taste the first bite!" Liu Rushuang''s pampering tone, like that used for coaxing a child, was just like many years ago, when Yao Mingyue and Xu Musen were fussy eaters, she would cajole them in the same way. Only now, it felt a bit embarrassing. Moreover, Xu Musen had come today with a bit of a guilty conscience, intending to make an apology. But Xu Musen was not too pretentious and swallowed the shrimp in one gulp. "Thank you, auntie. You just wait to eat; everything is ready here," he said. "Alright, then today auntie won''t be dieting. Whatever Xiao Sen''s craft offers, auntie will eat!" Liu Rushuang said with a smile, patting Xu Musen on the head before turning to wash her hands first. Watching her leave, Xu Musen always regarded Liu Rushuang as his own half mother. And truly, Liu Rushuang was very good to him. As a mother, she certainly put her daughter, Yao Mingyue, first in her heart. This was actually right, as any parent would do the same. But the kindness Liu Rushuang showed him was no less than that to her own son. Apart from Yao Mingyue, Xu Musen was now the person closest to her. These past days, Xu Musen actually had been somewhat hesitant. With Yao Mingyue, they were both still young, and time would eventually dilute everything. But with Liu Rushuang, it wasn''t so simple. After that accident, she had endured so much pain and had supported a home by herself. Her only close relative was Yao Mingyue. She felt both heartache and guilt for her daughter. Therefore, Yao Mingyue''s happiness was of utmost importance in her heart, even if... her daughter might have strayed a bit. But she didn''t want her daughter to be sad anymore. So, if this matter were to truly become known to Liu Rushuang, her heart would certainly be hurt. Although it''s better to have a short pain than a long one, Xu Musen still hoped to keep the pain to a minimum. Thinking silently, Xu Musen felt he needed to find an opportunity to have a proper talk with Liu Rushuang before the new year. At the dining table. Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue had arranged all the dishes. The empty villa at that moment also had an especially warm feeling. "It''s wonderful. Whenever Xiao Sen comes, it''s one of my rare days to relax. I really wish Xiao Sen could live here every day, then it would be lively," Liu Rushuang said, now in her home clothes, her light makeup removed, but still her bare face exuded an intellectual and elegant beauty. She blinked at Xu Musen, that hopeful look in her eyes making Xu Musen inwardly sigh. "Auntie, if you like my cooking, I will come more often in the future," he promised. Chapter 203 Liu Rushuangs Magical Little Medicinal Wine. _3 Xu Musen said this not to flatter, but because the relationship between the two families had not been easy to maintain. Even if they couldn''t become relatives by marriage,they at least needed to keep things as they were. "It''s not just me who likes it, Ming Yue also really enjoys it. Look how picky she is with her food, she''s fussy even with dishes from five-star chefs, but she always eats up everything you cook without leaving a trace. Xiao Sen, you really know Xiao Yue''s taste best." Liu Ru Shuang naturally steered the conversation toward the two of them, especially with that last sentence. Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue exchanged glances, emotions in their eyes that were different from before. "Yeah, after all, we grew up together as childhood friends" Yao Mingyue spoke, peeled a shrimp, and placed it in Xu Musen''s bowl. "Actually, I am still very picky." Just not about you. Yao Mingyue didn''t say the latter half out loud, but it was as if Xu Musen could hear it in his heart. Such was the tacit understanding shared between childhood friends. The atmosphere seemed to become slightly strange. Yao Mingyue pursed her lips, truly unaware of how many more times she could dine with him like this in the future. And how many more meals would he specifically cook for her? Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire Xu Musen looked at the shrimp she had placed in his bowl and silently recited a couple of lines to himself. Liu Rushuang noticed every tiny expression on the two of them, her feelings equally complex, especially when she saw her daughter''s downcast look, and she silently wished for another year. "Now that it''s cold outside, let''s drink some wine to warm up?" Liu Ru Shuang suddenly smiled and suggested. Sar?h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Ming Yue might not be up for it today" "Even if she isn''t, we can have a little, Ming Yue, go into my room, in that compartment, and bring over the jar of wine I keep in the sandalwood box." Liu Ru Shuang winked at Yao Mingyue. "Oh." Yao Mingyue nodded and stood up to get it. Liu Ru Shuang and Xu Musen chatted about work, and after a while, Yao Mingyue called out from upstairs, "Mom, I can''t find the wine you mentioned." "It''s in the compartment in my room." "I''ve looked everywhere, really, there''s none." "Silly girl, eh forget it, I''ll go with you to get it." Liu Ru Shuang said as she also stood up, giving Xu Musen a soft smile: "Xiao Sen, you go ahead and eat, we''ll be back down in a bit." Xu Musen nodded. Liu Ru Shuang went upstairs and directly pulled Yao Mingyue into the room with her. "Mom, I really did look, there''s no wine" Yao Mingyue pouted, her meal with Xu Musen being interrupted. "Oh dear, silly girl, how can you be so clueless." Liu Ru Shuang poked her daughter''s head and casually picked up a bottle of red wine from the room. Liu Ru Shuang looked at her daughter, her voice lowered and carrying a sense of finality. "Xiao Yue, tell mom, do you really still want to keep going?" Without hesitation, Yao Mingyue looked at her mother''s expression; in her world, there had never been a moment when she thought of giving up on him. "Mom, I like him, for a lifetime." Yao Mingyue started speaking slowly, her voice was particularly serious and determined, even if the whole world didn''t understand her, she didn''t care. Liu Ru Shuang observed her daughter''s demeanor, sighed, and eventually nodded slowly. "If that''s the case..." Liu Ru Shuang, as if she had also made up her mind, took out a jar from underneath her bed, soaked with various herbs. "Mom, what is this" Yao Mingyue had only seen such medicinal liquor in some herbal medicine stores. "This is something Mom prepared especially for today; after drinking this, there''s no way Xiao Sen can leave so easily..." Chapter 204 Xiao Sen, Come to Be Aunties Son! ```Liu Rushuang took out a bottle of medicated liquor. Yao Mingyue didn''t react at first. "Mom, what''s in this liquor..." "Don''t worry, it''s just soaked with some regular herbs. At most... it will make someone a bit emotional," Liu Rushuang shook the medicated liquor she had prepared. But then she deftly took out a small packet of medicine powder and said, "However, if you mix this packet in, Musen definitely won''t be able to go home tonight." As she spoke, Liu Rushuang handed the liquor and the medicine powder to Yao Mingyue. "Mom understands Xiao Sen. If the two of you really consummate the relationship, then he will certainly take responsibility." Liu Rushuang sighed as she saw the somewhat dazed expression on Yao Mingyue''s face, "Mom knows it''s wrong to do this to Musen, but your matters still come first for me. Besides, Musen actually likes you too. It''s just that the other girl happened to show up. As long as you treat Musen well in the future, everything will slowly get better." Yao Mingyue stared at the medicine powder and the bottle of medicated liquor in her hand, slightly lost in thought. In the past, she had indeed considered using methods like getting pregnant to force Musen to take responsibility. After all, they knew Musen''s character all too well. But during this time, Yao Mingyue had come to understand many problems she had previously overlooked. Even if she forced him to stay by her side, could they truly be happy together? But then again, if things kept going on as they were, wouldn''t the two of them grow further apart, and she might even lose him altogether? Actually, this was a good opportunity. Liu Rushuang gently stroked her daughter''s head, observing every expression on her face. "Ming Yue, the choice is now in your hands. As long as you decide, no matter what the outcome, mom will support you," Liu Rushuang said, yet deep in her eyes a different emotion flickered. Yao Mingyue stared at the liquor and medicine powder in her hand, biting her lip. She knew this might be her best and last opportunity. The New Year was coming soon. By then, their issues would inevitably come out. Perhaps Musen might even take her home directly. If it came to that, it might really be too late. From then on, in that neighborhood filled with their memories, an additional figure would gradually start to take away things that originally belonged to her... Yao Mingyue clenched the medicine powder unconsciously, her pupils looking hollow as a trace of dark emotion wound through them. It seemed as if a few demons were whispering in her ear. "Hey, hey, hey, you''re never going to leave him anyway, and since guys don''t lose out, why not just do it?" "Yeah, yeah, you both like each other after all. It''s just that the other girl took advantage of the situation. He was yours to begin with, you two are the most suitable couple in the world!" "Hee hee hee, if you''re going to do it, do it all the way. Make the rice into a cooked meal! Make him exclusively yours, let him cook for you every day, embrace and kiss and lift you up high every day, and do even more shameful things together..." These voices seemed to open an invisible channel in the depths of Yao Mingyue''s heart, tempting her to walk down this path. Yao Mingyue looked at the white powder in her hand, then again at the liquor. Her hands were drawing closer and closer, but in her mind, there seemed to be another voice. Yao Mingyue... Is this really what you want? Scene after scene, the dreams that had appeared when she fell into the river that night, seemed to replay over and over in her mind. In the end, with a roar and a cry... Yao Mingyue''s pupils suddenly widened as she breathed heavily, clutching her chest. In November, the season when it was about to snow, a cold sweat appeared on her forehead. Clarity gradually returned to her eyes. She looked at the medicine powder and liquor in her hand, and eventually, she handed the medicine powder back to her mother. "Mom, I don''t want these things..." Yao Mingyue said, yet her own voice trembled unnaturally C she knew by letting go she might have just missed this last opportunity. Liu Rushuang watched her daughter and slowly said, "Ming Yue, think it through, this might be the best choice. Don''t you still like him?" Yao Mingyue took a step back and shook her head, "I do like him, and of course I want to be with him, but not this way..." "But if you miss this time, maybe you''ll never be able to turn it back." Liu Rushuang continued to speak. Yao Mingyue bit her lip, knowing all too well what her mother was saying, but thinking of those blurry images, she still shook her head. "If I really did this, that would be truly irreversible... Mom, thank you for supporting me but... I can''t make this choice anymore." Two people together with hearts a thousand miles apart, maybe such togetherness is just torment. But during this time, Musen and she seemed to be drifting further apart, yet they both had time and distance to see their own hearts clearly. Now Musen is the gentle and charming Brother Musen that Yao Mingyue used to like... Yao Mingyue held the bottle of liquor in her hands, taking another step back, "I''m not giving up, but I want more, this time, I want to embrace the complete him wholeheartedly." Even if it''s hard, even if such an opportunity might not come for a long, long time, Yao Mingyue still wanted to try. "Are you sure?" ``` Liu Rushuang looked at the renewed light in her own daughter''s eyes, and she also clenched the pouch of powdered medicine in her hand before asking. "I''ve made up my mind." Yao Mingyue nodded, turned around, and walked out the door. In the room. Liu Rushuang stood still for a moment, then suddenly smiled, her expression carrying a hint of helplessness, but even more so, reassurance. She looked at the small pouch in her hand filled with white powder, opened it, pinched a little, and gently blew on it, filling the room with the scent of mint, refreshing and invigorating. Actually, this packet was just mint powder. From the beginning, Liu Rushuang never really considered letting her daughter resort to such methods. She had watched the two children grow up, and in some aspects, she knew them even better than they knew themselves. She understood Yao Mingyue''s continued affection for him, even the desire to win Xiao Sen back. It was common for young people to experience ups and downs in relationships; as long as the two kids could end up together, that was all that mattered. Between young people, using a little tactic to get the person they liked was not too much to fault. But Liu Rushuang was worried that her daughter might lose this measure of control. In truth, what she did today was to see whether her daughter could maintain this level of restraint and bottom line. If Yao Mingyue had really resorted to such extreme measures, Liu Rushuang would have been worried. A melon forcibly twisted off its vine is not only not sweet, but it might also taste even sourer. Clearly, Yao Mingyue had passed the test. As long as her daughter could still maintain her final sense of reason, then Liu Rushuang could be at ease. Perhaps, this incident was a blessing in disguise for Yao Mingyue, allowing her to truly understand the difference between liking someone and getting someone. Learning how to love others is the way to learn how to love oneself. With that, Liu Rushuang, as a mother, could rest assured about her future path. The rest was up to the fate of the two of them. At the dining table, Xu Musen looked at Yao Mingyue and Liu Rushuang, who had just come down from upstairs, one after the other. There was something slightly odd about the atmosphere at the table, but he couldn''t quite put his finger on it. The medicinal liquor that Liu Rushuang brought out was indeed excellent, all aged, and one sip made one feel warmly invigorated. However, Xu Musen glanced at the contents in the medicinal liquor. He could understand the inclusion of universal remedies like ginseng and lingzhi. But why were there ingredients like horny goat weed, morinda root, and goji berries in there? Liu Rushuang also drank a cup, and her mature and attractive cheeks turned slightly rosy. She glanced at her daughter, who was eating with a preoccupied look, then turned her gaze to Xu Musen. Even though she was pleased with her daughter''s choice, she also didn''t want to see her prospective son-in-law, who she had watched grow up, slip away. The information Xu Musen didn''t know yet was that she was already aware of their situation. Today''s dinner, Xu Musen had come with a sense of guilt, and Liu Rushuang felt it, so it was a good time to bring up some matters which he would surely agree to Liu Rushuang''s beautiful phoenix eyes curved slightly, shimmering with a cunning luster. "Xiao Sen ah, your cooking skills are really good. If you spoil Auntie''s taste with your food, what will I do if I can''t enjoy anyone else''s cooking?" Liu Rushuang followed up with the influence of the wine, her voice carrying a playfully foolish charm, a demeanor that Yao Mingyue would need another decade to emulate. Xu Musen also laughed and said, "Then Auntie just needs to tell me when she wants to eat something, and I''ll be your personal chef." "Oh, that won''t do. When you get married and have your own family, how can Auntie still ask you for favors?" Liu Rushuang''s eyes danced, showing a pretense of regret. "Even if I get married, Auntie will always be my family." Xu Musen spoke sincerely; no matter what happened between him and Yao Mingyue in the future, the relationship between the two families would have to remain the same. S~ea??h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Xiao Sen, you''re so kind. It''s been a long, long time since our home has felt this lively." Liu Rushuang''s face was flushed, her eyes moist with emotion. She swayed her wine glass gently as she looked at Xu Musen. "Xiao Sen, I have a request. Could you agree to it for Auntie?" "Aunt Liu, whatever it is, I will do my best," Xu Musen lifted his head to meet Liu Rushuang''s eyes. At that moment, whatever she asked for, he would do his utmost to fulfill. "Anything at all?" Liu Rushuang caught the emphasis in his words, squinting her beautiful eyes, exuding a mature woman''s unique charm. Xu Musen suddenly felt a sense of dj vu about this conversation. He glanced at Yao Mingyue and eventually nodded, "Mhm, tell me, Auntie... as long as I can make it happen." Liu Rushuang then set down her wine glass, extended her hand to suddenly cup Xu Musen''s cheek, and looked into his eyes. Her lips moved gently, as if exuding the fragrance of orchids. "Xiao Sen, come be my son!" Chapter 205 Is Drugging a Family Tradition of Yours? "Xiao Sen, come be my son!"Liu Rushuang cradled Xu Musen''s cheeks and pinched them. As a child, Liu Rushuang often liked to pinch Xu Musen''s cheeks, saying that he might as well go with her and become her son. Both families only had one child, but looking at each other''s kids gave them the feeling of having both a son and a daughter. But now that they had grown up, Xu Musen always felt a bit embarrassed when his cheeks were held like this. "Auntie, we''re already family." "That''s different, you see you still call me auntie, I''ve only had Xiao Yue for a daughter all my life, and I''ve never had a good son. How about it, Xiao Sen, would you like to be my godson?" Liu Rushuang expressed her idea, a bit tipsy, and there was a somewhat pitiable feel to it, It had to be said, Liu Rushuang was better at acting coquettishly than Yao Mingyue and was even more adept at emotional manipulation. Godson... In fact, the two families joked about it often, but as their affection for each other deepened, the presence or absence of this title no longer made much difference. What''s more, both families hoped their children could end up together. This title might just make the two feel embarrassed. So it had never been seriously brought up face to face. However, Liu Rushuang had now brought up the matter herself. Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue were momentarily stunned, exchanging glances. Yao Mingyue was also somewhat confused, showing that Liu Rushuang had not discussed it with her beforehand. But Xu Musen understood his former mother-in-law. As the saying goes, like mother, like daughter; Yao Mingyue''s features certainly bore the imprint of her mother. For a woman to have lifted such a large enterprise from the brink of bankruptcy demonstrated extraordinary capability and mental fortitude. Thus, any suggestion made by Liu Rushuang might have its special significance, and Xu Musen wasn''t worried she would scheme against him. After all, Liu Rushuang genuinely treated him as her own family, though she might, like most parents, do things she believed were for her child''s own good. In his past life, to outsiders, Xu Musen epitomized the pinnacle of living off a woman; no need to work or do household chores, plus a beautiful CEO wife who doted on him daily. What''s the big deal about losing a little freedom? Most ordinary people spend their days chasing after coinscan that be called freedom? It''s certainly better than working for others all your life, right? But now, Xu Musen held a deep attachment to freedom, so before doing anything, he would subconsciously ponder the consequences. Sar?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing Xu Musen hesitate, Liu Rushuang displayed a look of being hurt, pitifully so. "Xiao Sen, do you not like your auntie?" "How could that be? You''ve always been very good to me, it''s just... it feels a bit sudden." "Not sudden at all. I''ve long considered you my son. Just agree to it, I''m sure your parents will consent too." Liu Rushuang said, her mature, exquisite face showing a hint of lonely melancholy amid her tipsiness. "At home, it''s only me and Ming Yue. Two women at home always feel the house is empty and lack a sense of security. You both have grown up and will have your own lives, so our families won''t be able to pop over uninhibitedly like before. If we can''t become one family, perhaps we''ll slowly drift apart indeed." Clutching her wine glass, Liu Rushuang took another sip, her beautiful features expressing a touch of vulnerability. She was sincere with her words. Currently, if Xu Musen truly ended up with that girl, there would definitely be some distance between the two families. They couldn''t be as close as they are now. Xu Musen wasn''t sure whether Yao Mingyue had shared their situation with Liu Rushuang, but given Liu Rushuang''s insight, she must have noticed something amiss. Her last statement might have a double meaning. There are only two ways to become one family. First, Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue end up together, becoming in-laws, naturally forming one family, which is what both had always hoped to see. But given the current situation, it was probably difficult to achieve. So, the second way is to establish a godparent relationship, which also, emotionally, makes the two families legitimately one. Xu Musen could guess some of Liu Rushuang''s thoughts. But looking at Liu Rushuang and Yao Mingyue, he finally nodded. "Aunt Liu, I''ve always considered you my elder, and I''ve always kept your kindness in my heart. From this moment on, I will be your son. I will properly show my filial piety to you and take good care of Ming Yue. Please be assured." Xu Musen''s words were sincere; finally, his gaze turned towards Yao Mingyue, his eyes were not quite crystal clear. "Yay! I finally have a son too, now our family has a little man!" At this moment, Liu Rushuang was bubbling with excitement, her entire being flushed with joy. She reached out and hugged Xu Musen''s head, rubbing it affectionately. "Come on, Xiao Sen, call me ''mom'' and let''s hear it!" Liu Rushuang''s delicate phoenix eyes shimmered with emotion. In fact, Xu Musen didn''t feel too embarrassed; after all, he had been calling Liu Rushuang ''mom'' since he got married to Yao Mingyue in his previous life. "Mom..." But as soon as Xu Musen spoke, he felt Yao Mingyue''s gaze fixed on him. Chapter 205 Is Drugging a Family Tradition of Yours?_2 But Liu Rushuang was exceptionally excited. As she rubbed Xu Musen''s head, she spoke again, "Say it once more!""Mom." "Hehe, say it again, say it again!" Liu Rushuang was so thrilled by each call of "mom" that the whole person seemed to have had her regret of never having a son remedied. The glow in her eyes As she looked at Xu Musen, it was as if she saw her most cherished treasure. That gaze even reminded Xu Musen of the first night he spent with Yao Mingyue, when he first whispered "wife" in her ear. Yao Mingyue was completely flushed, both shy and excited, throwing herself into his arms and letting Xu Musen call her "wife" over and over again. Xu Musen was now increasingly convinced that all of Yao Mingyue''s traits were learned from Liu Rushuang, only they were a bit skewed. "Mom, that''s enough..." At this point, Yao Mingyue also stood up. Watching her mother rubbing Xu Musen''s head, she felt a bit disappointed in her eyes. Why did she always feel like the goddaughter in this family? "Hehe, mom got a bit too excited. Look, from now on, you two are like god-sister and god-brother. You just need to be closer than before, you got it?" Liu Rushuang took both their hands and firmly placed them together. Xu Musen''s slightly rough palm made Yao Mingyue''s hand tremble slightly. Her fingertips moved gently, softly tracing the lines of Xu Musen''s palm. Love, career, life... Yao Mingyue traced each of these lines as if to melt into every one of his palm lines. Xu Musen also looked up at her, feeling that delicate touch in his palm, and he did not immediately withdraw his hand. When was the first time they held hands? They couldn''t remember anymore, but ever since they could remember, they held hands every day, babbling as they pleaded for food, for play... And Yao Mingyue would be right behind him, in her baby voice sweetly calling out to her "Brother Musen". From siblings to childhood sweethearts, and now, they became siblings again. All this seemed like a cycle. It was a starting point, and also an endpoint, and yet again a starting point... Xu Musen remembered the words Yao Mingyue said when she jumped into the river those two times. They all centered on a single theme. "Let''s start over." Perhaps, fate wasn''t fair to Yao Mingyue. Xu Musen was given a chance to start over. In this rebirth, he could choose his destiny anew. He could choose to leave Yao Mingyue, or take a different path and transform the sickly cutie... Sear?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But Yao Mingyue didn''t have that choice. If she wanted to start over, she had to pay a great price. It was even a question she couldn''t answer. But Yao Mingyue was different from Xu Musen, for her choices were always singular. All the choices she could make, all the paths she could walk, would eventually point back to Xu Musen. For her, the sickly cutie, there weren''t many things in the world she clung to. Her family and Xu Musen. And the only one who could walk through life with her was Xu Musen. Yao Mingyue slowly, gently tightened her grip on Xu Musen''s hand, looking at him with a heart full of mixed emotions. Liu Rushuang, watching their hands together, felt a slight sigh escape her lips and said, "You two have liked staying together since you were little. Do you remember when Xiao Yue turned one year old? We did the ''grabbing ceremony'', laying out so many things. She looked around for a long time and grabbed nothing, but in the end, she crawled over to the sofa and latched onto Brother Musen, who was just two years old." As Liu Rushuang spoke, she seemed to see a scene from nearly twenty years ago, when the family prepared the grabbing ceremony for Yao Mingyue. But the freshly one-year-old Yao Mingyue, who couldn''t even call mom and dad clearly, crawled on the floor and reached for Xu Musen sitting on the sofa. That grasp lasted up to the present. Perhaps in this lifetime, it would be hard for the two of them to erase this fate that seemed destined. In the blink of an eye, they had both grown so much. Liu Rushuang thought back to when they were bornshe and Xu Musen''s parents were also in their twenties. Now, as the old flowers waned, new ones quietly bloomed, ready to take their place, to continue living happily. These childhood stories made Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue lock eyes, their gazes growing increasingly sparkling. "Brother Musen, Sister Mingyue..." Xu Musen felt her small hand gradually tightening in his palm. At this moment, Xu Musen''s heart was not calm either. To this day, he harbored no resentment or other emotions towards Yao Mingyue. However, Xu Musen had already fallen for someone. Nuannuan was a good girl; he couldn''t let her down. But Yao Mingyue... Xu Musen felt, at the very least, he still needed to take good care of her. After all, she was his sister... his god-sister. From Xu Musen''s standpoint, Yao Mingyue was still too young. He wanted to cure Yao Mingyue. To transform this sickly cutie, and if there really came a day when she met another person who was right for her... Xu Musen''s mind raced with thoughts, but coming to this point, he abruptly cut off all such ideas. In an instant, his mind was flooded with images. The baby-voiced Yao Mingyue, babbling, clinging to Xu Musen''s young hand. The primary school days, with Xiao Mingyue pouting for snacks, bouncing around and sticking her tongue out at him. Chapter 205 Is Drugging a Family Tradition of Yours? _3 Back in middle school, after experiencing the death of a loved one, her personality drastically changed, but Yao Mingyue still saw Xu Musen as her ultimate support.In high school, her personality became somewhat twisted, yet in her mind, there was only Xu Musen, Yao Mingyue thought. And now, changing bit by bit for him, jumping into the river twice just for a chance to start over, she finally began to understand what it truly felt like to like someone, Yao Mingyue... They seemed to be calling out to themselves from specific moments in time. Yah, Brother Musen, stupid Musen, bad guy, Xu Musen, Musen... They were Yao Mingyues from different times and spaces, each with their own intonation, but each left an indelible mark on Xu Musen''s life. They all cast a vivid shadow in Xu Musen''s life. Could he really be willing to hand this person over to someone else? What if one day, Yao Mingyue came with another guy and introduced him to Xu Musen as her boyfriend... A surge of nameless anger and frustration. Xu Musen felt a tremor in his heart, and in a flash, he remembered An Nuannuan. Eventually, he slowly shook his head internally. It wasn''t that he couldn''t let go, it was just... Ming Yue was still too young, just like Nuannuan, they had never associated with other men besides him. What if they were to be deceived by some scoundrel? So, before that, Xu Musen thought it was necessary... to properly take care of his foster sister. Xu Musen himself didn''t notice that his gaze at this moment, with that possessiveness, had a curious resonance with the times when Yao Mingyue turned dark... Xu Musen didn''t realize that he had also unconsciously tightened his grip on Yao Mingyue''s hand. The two exchanged glances for a moment, but neither released their hold first. Liu Rushuang lightly pursed her lips, taking in both of their gazes, regardless of their future outcome, but at least for now. Sar?h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Their relationship was developing in a positive direction. That was enough. Night fell. Xu Musen definitely couldn''t return home now; in the villa, Liu Rushuang had directly prepared a room for him. She even handed him a set of keys to the villa. It was care reserved for someone considered family. At night, Xu Musen stood on the balcony of his room wearing pajamas, looking at the night sky outside the window. He felt a bit restless and hot all over from the alcohol he drank today, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. The events of today seemed to be blurted out in a drunken stupor. But all of this was an unspoken understanding among everyone. Xu Musen silently watched the night sky outside "Knock, knock, knock..." The knocking sound came. Xu Musen went to open the door, expecting Yao Mingyue, but it was Liu Rushuang, clad in pajamas, holding a pot of sobering tea. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire "Auntie you..." "Call me what?" Liu Rushuang''s face was still flushed with a touch of the rosiness from bathing and the slight tipsiness, making her look exceptionally young and attractive. Xu Musen swallowed his words, then seriously addressed her, "Mom." "Eh, what a good boy. You drank quite a bit today, I''ve brought you some sobering tea." Liu Rushuang walked into the room with a beaming smile. The two sat down on the balcony chairs. After exchanging a glance, Xu Musen took the initiative, "Auntie, you already know about our situation, right?" Liu Rushuang poured two cups of tea, pausing for a brief moment, then looked at Xu Musen, her godson, with a somewhat helpless smile. "You noticed, huh? Actually, auntie knew a few days ago, but Ming Yue, she..." "I understand, sorry, ah... Mom, I might have disappointed you." "I''m a little disappointed, but it can''t be helped. Perhaps it''s just not meant to be." Liu Rushuang spoke in an unpredictable manner, her eyes filled with a wistful look as she gazed at Xu Musen, as if looking at her own well-raised, plump wild pig that ended up on someone else''s dinner table the moment it stepped outside the house. As she spoke, she also passed a cup of tea to Xu Musen. "Mom, you''re... not angry?" "What''s there to be angry about? You''re the child I watched grow up, and you''re my godson. Whatever you do, I''ll forgive you." Xu Musen then dared to take the tea, gently sipping it under her gaze. "Thank you for understanding, Mom..." But before he could finish his sentence, Liu Rushuang suddenly swayed the teapot, then spoke, "So, if Mom did something to let you down, would you be angry with me?" Xu Musen:... Looking at Liu Rushuang''s sparkling phoenix eyes, Xu Musen, for a fleeting moment, thought he saw Yao Mingyue as she would be after turning twenty. He looked down at the cup of tea in his hands. "..." Is this some kind of family tradition?! Chapter 206 Aunt and Ming Yue will always wait for you. (5k for subscription!) Xu Musen sipped the hot tea in his hands and felt a cool sensation rush to his forehead.The scene of being imprisoned by Yao Mingyue with a drugged glass of red wine in his last life was still vivid in his mind. Xu Musen was truly afraid of being played again. "Phht" Liu Rushuang watched the sudden change in Xu Musen''s eyes and couldn''t help but start laughing. "Say, Xiao Sen, you don''t think I''ve put something like a knockout drug in the tea, do you?" Liu Rushuang''s eyes sparkled, and fresh out of the bath, she had shed much of her usual strong businesswoman persona, seeming more approachable and friendly. As she spoke, Liu Rushuang poured herself a cup and took a small sip. "No, I trust you wouldn''t do such a thing," Xu Musen coughed and continued to drink his tea. But Liu Rushuang, squinting her eyes and with a chuckle, said, "Then you''ve put your trust in the wrong place, I did actually consider drugging your tea just now." Saying this, she took out a packet of white powder from her bosom. "Pfft" Xu Musen couldn''t hold back and sprayed out a mouthful of tea. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire So, was the tea still safe to drink? Seeing his exaggerated expression, Liu Rushuang couldn''t hold back her laughter. Xu Musen looked at her and wondered if he''d been tricked again. "Mom, can you not tease me like this?" "Who told you to be so easily teased? Do you think this is a movie? Who keeps knockout drugs at home in real life?" Liu Rushuang said with a grin. Xu Musen felt disheartened to retort because, in his previous life, your daughter indeed used to carry drugs around, and he was the victim. Liu Rushuang pinched a bit of the white powder and gently blew it towards Xu Musen. A faint fragrance mixed with the cool scent of mint. "Mint powder?" Xu Musen recognized it by smell. Liu Rushuang nodded, her gaze lifting to Xu Musen, a flicker in her eyes, "Xiao Sen, if this packet really was some sort of knockout drug that caused you and Ming Yue to make a mistake, would you be angry?" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Liu Rushuang asked directly. Xu Musen was momentarily stunned; looking into Liu Rushuang''s eyes, he remembered the scene of her going to fetch the wine with her daughter just before. "So, Mom, when you and Ming Yue went to get the wine just now, was it actually for this?" Xu Musen didn''t directly answer but countered with a question of his own. Liu Rushuang did not hide anything, smiling at Xu Musen, "Xiao Sen is getting smarter; nothing can be hidden from you now." Liu Rushuang shared with Xu Musen the conversation she had with her daughter. Xu Musen had thought that Yao Mingyue wanted to repeat her old tactics because with her ''sickly cutie'' personality, it was indeed possible for her to drug him. Especially at such a good opportunity. Xu Musen had always considered himself a paragon of pure love. It wasn''t a house and a lock that truly imprisoned him in his last life, but also because he never had the heart to leave. After all, he had agreed to those conditions, and he did indeed have feelings for Yao Mingyue. But sometimes, liking someone and being compatible are truly two different things. Their personalities were destined for a tragic end together. However, this time, Yao Mingyue had voluntarily given up what might have been the best, and last opportunity. Was this still the ''sickly cutie'' he knew? "I don''t know what exactly happened between you two, but I can feel there''s still affection between you, and Ming Yue has changed a lot," Liu Rushuang sighed, "I truly hoped that you and Ming Yue could be together; you both grew up before my eyes, it would be best if you could become one family." Listening, Xu Musen bowed his head slightly, his voice eventually coming out in a quiet apology, "I''m sorry." Liu Rushuang stretched out her hand, gently touching his head as she used to comfort the naughty him when he was little. "There''s no need to apologize; in such things, we can only say it''s a matter of fate. But there are some things I still want to tell you. Ming Yue still likes you, and you know her temperament; nobody can persuade her." Liu Rushuang said, and Xu Musen fell into a slight silence. But he already had An Nuannuan. Sensing the concern in his heart, Liu Rushuang continued, "Mom knows what you are thinking; I''m not trying to force a choice on you. I''m just asking you, even if there''s no future with Ming Yue, at least until she can find a life of her own, don''t let her be alone, okay?" Liu Rushuang gently stroked Xu Musen''s head, her voice pleading. Over the years, she was busy running around the company, and Yao Mingyue had almost been alone at home. During her most helpless time, it was Xu Musen who was with her. Therefore, the cure for Yao Mingyue''s heartache could also be Xu Musen. Being alone is the hardest struggle, and if Yao Mingyue experiences it again, she might really go insane. Xu Musen nodded without hesitation, "Mom, rest assured, ever since I was little, I promised Ming Yue I would take good care of her, until she can live well on her own, until the day she doesn''t need me" Xu Musen said, but his voice also held a tinge of sentimentality that he hadn''t noticed himself. If the day came when Yao Mingyue no longer needed him, should he feel happy or a bit lost... Perhaps a bit of both. At this moment, standing quietly at the door, Yao Mingyue, who had just finished her bath and whose hair was still wet, had heard all the conversation inside. She lifted her head, and under her damp tresses, her fair face was a mishmash of many emotions. Chapter 206 Aunt and Ming Yue will always wait for you. (5k for subscription!)_2 "I promised her when I was little... until she no longer needs me herself..."In Yao Mingyue''s phoenix eyes, at that moment, it was as if there were ripples being stirred up by a stone in a clear spring. All kinds of complex emotions were woven together, and in the end, everything slowly returned to calm. But beneath the calm, there was still a deep abyss that seemed fathomless. Only now, there was a luster in that abyss that had never been there before. She lifted her head, and the light from the corridor fell on her cheeks, making her delicate features appear especially bright and clear beneath her moist hair. She slowly revealed a smile, murmuring softly. "But I will always need you..." She took another glance through the crack of the door, then slowly turned around and left. ... Inside the room. "Then I''m reassured." Liu Rushuang''s hand gently pinched his cheek, her eyes filled with contentment. "However, my thoughts and Ming Yue''s are the same. I hope you find happiness. Young people''s emotions are full of uncertainties, but in Ming Yue''s and my place, there will always be a spot for you." "Thank you, Mom." Xu Musen nodded; he understood that Liu Rushuang wasn''t saying it would be bad for him to be with another girl, but that in her heart, they would surely treat Xu Musen the best. "Alright, you should rest early as well. I''ll not disturb you anymore. Let''s continue as before in the future." Liu Rushuang rubbed his head again and stood up to leave his room. Xu Musen stared out the window; by now, everything that had to be said had been made clear, and all matters were laid out in the open. What should have been very straightforward somehow felt a bit complicated again. Unbreakable ties in a difficult-to-comprehend mess. Xu Musen drank his tea in one gulp, the cool sensation spreading through his body. No matter what, these were also issues between Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue. But with Nuannuan, she was the clearest of them all. Xu Musen liked her and would definitely not let her down. As for Yao Mingyue... At that moment, Xu Musen seemed to have two little figures appearing in his mind. "Hey hey hey, Nuannuan is so kind, you can''t let her down." "Hahaha, Ming Yue was once the girl you loved the most. Can you bear to watch her walk away with another guy?" "No, no, no, how are you different from a scumbag if you do that?" "Haha, better be a beast than to be less than a beast..." Xu Musen shook his head. Why did it feel like the path of a pure love warrior was also going awry? Forget it, don''t think about it now, sleep! ... That night. In another villa, or more precisely, a manor in Huhai. A Ferrari raced up to the place. The security guards at the gate recognized the license plate and opened the gate from a distance, bowing and greeting from afar. Zhu Yulan drove straight in through the gate. The manor was lavishly decorated, with a garden design and many of the items on display were even somewhat antique. "Third Miss, you''re back." An elderly butler, over fifty, saw Zhu Yulan getting out of the car and immediately greeted her with a trace of joy. "Hmm." Zhu Yulan nodded, her tone somewhat gentle towards the butler: "Uncle Zhong." "Mr. Zhu and the second young lady are in the living room preparing for dinner. Please go over as well, your room has always been kept clean." "No need, I''ll leave after dinner." Zhu Yulan simply nodded, saying so as she began to walk towards the reception hall. Uncle Zhong watched Zhu Yulan''s somewhat cold back, opened his mouth as if to speak, then ultimately just sighed. ... In the reception hall, at the moment, there were only two people sitting. Zhu Xianglan, and a beautiful lady. The two were chatting, and the atmosphere seemed very harmonious. But the moment Zhu Yulan entered, the atmosphere between them changed immediately. "Ah, little Lanlan is back, what a rare guest." Zhu Xianglan''s face, resembling her own, lit up with a smile as she amiably invited Zhu Yulan over. The beautiful lady beside her also greeted with a smile: "Yu Lan is here." Zhu Yulan always felt a sense of competition towards her sister, snorted, ignored her sister, and treated the beautiful lady as if she were air. She chose a seat several places away from the two, sitting down by herself. Zhu Xianglan was already used to being treated this way by her sister. Sarch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The beautiful lady was slightly at a loss for words but said nothing. Servants came to place some fruits and desserts, and one by one, they began serving the dishes. Shortly after, a tall figure walked in, dressed in a tailor-made gentleman''s suit. His temples were touched with grey, but his posture was erect and his eyes were piercing, exuding an aura of an authoritative figure who commanded respect without anger. As soon as he appeared, the servants in the dining room immediately bowed: "Mr. Zhu." The beautiful lady immediately stood and helped him take off his coat. "You all may leave now." The man''s voice was firm, and the servants nodded and immediately left the room. The reception hall was grand, decorated as lavishly as a British royal reception room, with even the most casual dish on the table far beyond the reach of an average person. "Dad." Zhu Xianglan stood up and respectfully greeted the man. "Hmm." The man was Zhu Changlin, the current head of the Zhu Family. He nodded, but his eyes were on Zhu Yulan. Zhu Yulan, however, only looked the other way, seeming not to see her father at all. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire "Yu Lan, say hello to Dad." Zhu Xianglan came next to her sister and gently nudged her. Chapter 206 Aunt and Ming Yue will always wait for you. (5k for subscription!)_3 Zhu Yulan snorted with her nose, crossed her arms over her chest, and showed not the slightest intention of acknowledging them."Everyone, please sit." Zhu Changlin frowned slightly but didn''t say anything, and took his seat at the head of the table. The atmosphere was strangely awkward for a moment; despite being a family, they felt oddly distant from one another. The table was laden with delicacies from land and sea, yet no one seemed to have much of an appetite. Zhu Changlin''s gaze swept over his two daughters and he suddenly spoke up. "Xiao Xiang, how is the company doing lately?" Zhu Xianglan answered with a smile, "Everything is going smoothly. We expect to acquire over fifty percent of the shares of the rival company after the New Year." "Very good." Zhu Changlin nodded; his words sounded like praise, but they felt more like the perfunctory remarks one makes during a business meeting to a subordinate. Then, Zhu Changlin''s gaze shifted toward Zhu Yulan, who was eating strawberries, his younger daughter. He began, "Xiao Yulan, how have you been recently?" "Not bad, at least I''m not starving." Zhu Yulan responded indifferently. Zhu Xianglan and the beautiful woman couldn''t help but watch the two of them. Perhaps in the entire Zhu Family, or even within the vast circles of Huhai, very few people dared to speak to Zhu Changlin the way she did. "Ah, Xiao Yulan''s BOSS direct hire thing is going quite well. She''s already opened branches in several schools, and her start-up is among the top-performing among her peers in universities," Zhu Xianglan interjected, trying to smooth things over. "A minor success. Still, you must remain humble and eager to learn, and learn about interpersonal relationships from your second sister. Sometimes, it helps to learn how to navigate social subtleties." Zhu Changlin spoke with the tone of a business meeting leader. Zhu Yulan frowned, "I don''t need to learn from anyone. I can be successful on my own, and I will be, sooner or later." Having been contradicted like this time and again, Zhu Changlin, who was used to being in a high position, was visibly displeased, feeling his authority had been challenged. Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire "Do you really think this business venture of yours is going so smoothly just because of your own efforts? Do you know how many people are giving you opportunities just because they respect the Zhu Family''s name?" Zhu Yulan most hated such remarks. Since she was young, people had never remembered her as Zhu Yulan, but always as the Third Daughter of the Zhu Family. She felt like she was constantly oppressed within an invisible cage. Zhu Yulan clenched her teeth, "I will prove to everyone that I don''t need any of you to be successful!" Sarch* The novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This father and daughter seemed like they were about to come to blows upon meeting. "Come on, come on, it''s hard enough to have a meal together, let''s not talk about work, let''s eat first." The beautiful woman tried to defuse the tension, and for a moment, the atmosphere relaxed. Zhu Changlin frowned; in this household, ever since he had assumed control, only his younger daughter dared to speak to him like this. "Fine, let''s not talk about work. Let''s talk about your personal matters instead." Zhu Changlin didn''t give them time to relax. He looked at Zhu Yulan and said, "Lately, Tianming from the Huang Family has also returned from abroad. You should know about that, right?" Mentioning this person made Zhu Yulan''s brow furrow even tighter; a deep sense of disgust surfaced in her eyes. In fact, she had suspected that this issue might be brought up today since that clingy pest seemed to pop up to annoy her every time he had the chance. "Why should I know about him? Whether he''s alive or dead, it has nothing to do with me." Zhu Yulan coldly snorted, making no effort to disguise her aversion. Zhu Changlin frowned slightly, "What''s with that tone? You and Tianming grew up together after all, and I''ve heard he''s doing quite well with his business abroad. Returning home young and successful, he even came over to visit recently and still has a good impression of you. You should make an effort to get to know him better." Zhu Changlin hadn''t finished speaking when Zhu Yulan slammed her teacup onto the table with a snap. "What does how he is related to me? Why should I interact with such a person!" Zhu Yulan was shaking slightly with anger. Every time she heard her father''s commanding tone, it seemed as though they were not father and daughter, but rather in a boss-subordinate relationship; she had to do whatever he said, and she was fed up with it! Zhu Changlin still looked at his daughter with the attitude of a superior, speaking bluntly. "With Tianming''s achievements at his age, and coming from a distinguished family, shouldn''t you be trying to learn from him if you truly want to prove yourself? Would you rather mingle with those of dubious character instead?" "Heh! He is nothing but a pig that got lucky with the wind," Zhu Yulan countered, without an ounce of courtesy. "Give me a few years, and I won''t lose to him! And someone like him, only a blind person would bother to learn from him!" Zhu Yulan was relentless. The atmosphere around the dining table was like a powder keg; even the beautiful woman was hesitant to speak. Zhu Xianglan quietly sipped her tea, her expressive eyes flickering, leaving no one to decipher what she was thinking. "And how, exactly, am I associated with those of ''dubious character''?" Zhu Yulan suddenly remembered the last part of what he''d said and asked with a furrowed brow. "Snap!" No sooner had she finished speaking when Zhu Changlin threw down two photographs that slid in front of Zhu Yulan. Zhu Yulan was taken aback; she saw a familiar figure. She slowly reached out and picked up the photographs. In them, it was clearly herself and Xu Musen at KFC. She reached out to snatch the last chicken wing from Xu Musen''s mouth, proudly tilting her chin up at him, while Xu Musen wore a smile mixed with helplessness and fondness. She was playful; he was laughing. That scene looked just like the one of a loving couple... Chapter 207 As You Wish, My Lord Nuannuan~ (Small 6k plea for subscription!) Despite not being as cutthroat as an ancient imperial palace with its shadowy blade and dagger politics.Where people would sharpen their knives against their own brothers for a throne. The lives of those in the wealthy elite indeed hardly resemble that of a regular family. Children born into affluence, having enjoyed the glory and richness brought by their family, are naturally expected to be prepared to pay a price for the clan''s advancement. Even in ordinary families, when marrying off a daughter, they would ask if the other party owns a car or a house and what job their family does. Not to mention these affluent households, where interests come first and the implications for the whole family are significant, their marriages are even more a form of the most beneficial "collaboration." The old Huang Tianming never engaged in proper business, seeking trouble wherever he went, but then how many wealthy youths don''t act arrogantly in their youth? Furthermore, on his return, Huang Tianming did carry the air of a prodigal son turning over a new leaf, of a promising young man returning home in glory. And the fact that he came to visit the day after he came back, everyone naturally understood his intentions. Add to that the fact that the Zhu Family and the Huang Family had both risen from the same street, and both families had made their achievements in their respective fields, a marriage would undeniably maximize the benefits for both clans. But for Zhu Yulan, it was tantamount to stepping directly on her landmine. Her usually beautiful face was now reddening with suppressed rage, a resentful anger seeping through her tightly clenched teeth. "You had someone tail me?" Zhu Yulan didn''t even want to address him properly, she never had much affection for a father whose eyes held only the family and its interests. Now her resentment had accumulated and erupted. "I wish I had ordered that photo to be taken. I''ve indulged your antics on normal days, but now that you''re of age, it means you represent the face of the Zhu family. Caught being so intimate with a boy of unknown background, how could you... " Zhu Changlin spoke with a scolding tone. Zhu Yulan coldly sneered, "So, I can''t be sold off for a good price anymore, can I? Are we just products in your eyes?" Her words made the atmosphere instantly dangerous. Zhu Xianglan, listening to her sister''s words, her face bearing a resemblance to Zhu Yulan, also showed a flicker of emotion, but she quickly concealed it. "Ridiculous!" Zhu Changlin slammed the table as if a sore spot had been hit, "What do you understand? Being matched well is a truth since ancient times. I''m keeping you away from these people for your own good!" "Whom I associate with is my freedom, and you know very well who you''re really doing this for!" Zhu Yulan replied mercilessly, holding the photo in her hand and guessing from this angle, she could likely tell who took it. Sar?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She grit her teeth, "Just tell that Huang guy, I''d rather marry a dog than marry him! What I hate the most are these petty villains who play dirty tricks behind your back!" "Nonsense! Remember, you are still a daughter of the Zhu family; you must consider the family, and it''s also for your own good!" Zhu Changlin slammed the table, his dignity as the family head undermined with no room to retreat. "Let''s talk this through nicely, we so rarely get to meet..." the elegant woman tried to mediate. "Haha..." But Zhu Yulan just scoffed, knowing that this would be the outcome today, she stood up and left. Not giving them a chance to persuade her to stay. "This child! Really doesn''t understand. Isn''t it good for her to find a man of equal status who likes her? Does she really think those lowly people doing trifling business can turn the tables? It only lowers her own status!" Zhu Changlin didn''t call her back; father and daughter shared a stubbornness in some respects. The elegant woman could only gently smooth his back. Zhu Xianglan then put a cup of tea in front of her father. "Dad, have some water first. I''ll go talk to Xiao Yulan." Zhu Changlin looked at his most obedient second daughter and calmed his emotions with a nod, "This girl, if only she was half as obedient as you, I wouldn''t be so worried. If she keeps messing around with that boy, she won''t get a single thing from our family estate!" Zhu Changlin was quite pleased with his second daughter, with her personal capabilities and emotional intelligence being high. Gradually, he had started to transfer control of many family assets to her. "I understand." Zhu Xianglan nodded her head, but there seemed to be an indecipherable emotion hidden deep within her voice. She turned to leave. At this moment, Zhu Yulan had made it to the garage, ready to drive away. "Knock knock..." Zhu Xianglan tapped her car window. "If you''re here to persuade me, then save it." Zhu Yulan rolled down the window, and even facing her own sister, her tone didn''t soften much. As if ignoring her attitude outright, Zhu Xianglan smiled, leaning on the window, gazing at the only younger sister she had. "Xiao Yulan, tell your sister, what''s your relationship with this boy?" The abrupt change in topic made Zhu Yulan swallow back the words she had prepared. "There''s nothing special between him and me, at most he could be considered a friend." "A friend, huh? Then he''s probably your only male friend, right?" Zhu Xianglan smiled while looking at the little rabbit charm hanging in her sister''s car, "Surely you must feel something for him?" Zhu Yulan''s face reddened with a touch of irritation, "He already has a girlfriend. Can''t you stop jumping to conclusions?" Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire "What does having a girlfriend matter, as long as they aren''t married, everything is undecided. If you like him, no matter what the family says, your sister will support you." Chapter 207 As You Command, My Lady Nuannuan~ (A small 6k plea for subscriptions!)_2 Zhu Xianglan spoke with a hint of a smile on her lips, yet deep in her eyes, a concealed luster flickered.Zhu Yulan felt somewhat speechless and huffed, "Whether I like him or not is my own business, our family can''t control me, and you can tell him that too. I''m not some puppet he can manipulate! Who I want to be with is up to me!" Her words caused Zhu Xianglan''s expression to pause for a moment. While speaking, Zhu Yulan''s gaze slightly shifted as she looked at her constantly beaming second sister. She pursed her lips, her eyes complex, as if she wanted to say something, but then swallowed it back down. "Sis, go back and have your meal, I''m leaving now." After that, Zhu Yulan slowly raised her car window and drove away. Zhu Xianglan stood where she was, her usually mature and charming cheeks momentarily dazed. She watched her sister''s departing direction, lost in thought for a long time. "Mastering one''s own destiny..." She suddenly smiled, turned around, and looked back at the brilliantly lit Fugui Manor, which seemed more like a cage the more she looked at it. Outside the gate was a pitch-black road, yet it promised unparalleled freedom. "It''s hard, but it''s also worth the anticipation..." Zhu Xianglan watched her sister''s car disappear into the night, then looked up at the sky, twinkling with stars. Memories from years ago surfaced in her mind; she sighed deeply, turned around, and headed in the opposite direction of Zhu Yulan, back into the manor. ... December was approaching, and winter break was just around the corner. Xu Musen had been running around various universities every day. Some tough nuts had gradually been cracked. Auntie of Shanghai''s milk tea shop had managed to secure a certain share of the market in most of the well-known universities around Huhai. Moreover, they had taken over a storefront in the busiest commercial street opposite Huhai University. As the first stop stepping out of the school gates. Now in Huhai, this milk tea shop had become a phenomenon. The major universities were its strongest fan base. And the collaboration with Paojie Animation was already in place, ready to be launched alongside the new store as a celebration event. "Boss Xu, summer vacation is almost upon us, aren''t you going to give us a break and still make us work overtime every day?" "Yeah, it''s made it impossible for me to even chase girls." Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong had started to slack off at work; despite earning a good salary these days, they were endlessly busy. As college students, wasn''t the point of earning money to find a girlfriend? As a result, they had no time to meet girls, and they also had to eat the dog food Xu Musen and An Nuannuan were constantly throwing at each other. "This job is a good gig, are you two sure you don''t want it?" Xu Musen said with a chuckle. "No way, we''re not doing it." The two shook their heads like rattle drums. Xu Musen smiled and turned to Ma Yaxing, "Alright then, this job is yours. Go to the anime club and find a few pretty girls who like to cosplay. When the collaboration starts, they can act as NPCs for interaction. How you handle their contact information and inviting them out to eat is up to you." As soon as this was said, Li Rundong and Zhou Hangyu exchanged a glance, then immediately clung to each other and latched onto Xu Musen''s leg. "Boss Xu, let me do it!" "I''ll do it, I''ll do it, I''m cut out for hard work!" "Hey! Didn''t you two just say you weren''t going?" Ma Yaxing swore at them from the side. "Who said we weren''t going? We can''t sit still for a day!" "Yeah, for the development of the company, for social progress, for letting Boss Xu save up a dowry for the old lady sooner, how can we be lazy?" Li Rundong and Zhou Hangyu''s eyes gleamed with excitement at the thought of hitting on girls with the company''s money, especially those who liked cosplay, which made them drool. "Go on, get! Are you doing this for work? You''re just lusting after their bodies, you''re despicable!" Ma Yaxing was speechless at the two. "Brother Sen, let us do it, we''ll go through fire and water for you!" The two were like possessed teddy bears at this point. Xu Musen smiled wryly, "Alright, alright, if you want to go, then go. We need plenty of hands anyway; there''s enough work for all of you." "Alright!" The two immediately jumped up and began scrambling to the anime club to find girls. Xu Musen shook his head; young people just couldn''t hold back. As Xu Musen was reflecting on this, he suddenly felt a soft, fragrant body behind him, hugging him, and a warm piece of cantaloupe was brought to his lips. Sar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Naturally, it was Boss Lady An Nuannuan. She had become increasingly smooth in her movements and with a cane, you could barely hear any sound when she walked. Xu Musen opened his mouth and ate the cantaloupe; it was sweet. Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire He turned to look at An Nuannuan, who had a habit of napping and now slept for a while in the little room every afternoon. She lay on Xu Musen''s back, her soft cheeks unabashedly pressed against his. Although An Nuannuan looked soft and cute, she actually had quite "thick skin." In the beginning, when others said the two of them were flaunting their relationship, An Nuannuan would be a bit embarrassed. But now, An Nuannuan even took the initiative to flaunt it. For example, she would hold hands with Xu Musen in front of everyone, feed each other, hug, and cuddle. Perhaps, in An Nuannuan''s world, there was no such thing as flaunting a relationship. After all, for her, liking someone meant being open and proud of it. For so long before, she could only watch him from a distance; now that they were finally together, she wanted to make up for all the hugs and kisses she had missed, doubly so. Chapter 207 As You Wish, My Lord Nuannuan~ (Small 6k plea for subscription!)_3 And observing her still slightly groggy appearance, Xu Musen couldn''t help but pinch her soft cheek."Awake yet?" "Mm~ What are we doing this afternoon?" Discover hidden stories at My Virtual Library Empire Sarch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. An Nuannuan hummed, her voice still lazily tinged with sleepiness, but her tone also carried a hint of suggestion. Today was Friday. Xu Musen indeed had something in mind, the matter of buying a car that was mentioned before. The director from the vehicle management office had been very thoughtful and directly introduced Xu Musen to a 4S dealership. Xu Musen discussed his requirements with them. After waiting for a month for the selection and configurations, the new car had arrived, and it was the perfect day to go have a look. "Let''s go, our car is almost ready. I''ll take you out for a spin." "Yeah!" An Nuannuan was excitedly squinting her eyes. Actually, she didn''t care where they went, but as long as she was with Xu Musen, she would be very happy. At the 4S store, Xu Musen went in and made a phone call, and soon a middle-aged man came jogging over. "Hello, hello, you must be Mr. Xu Musen, my name is Wang Gui, I''m the manager here. Please take a seat, I''ll prepare some tea for you." The man clearly had years of sales experience; he was enthusiastic and familiar, leaving no room for criticism. Xu Musen had anticipated this. The vehicle management office director was quite a slick operator, often bundling license plates with car purchases, and probably referred quite a few clients to him. This was all a very practiced routine. "The A6 you requested has already been equipped for you. The on-the-road price we can offer is around thirty-five. What do you think?" Buying a car for three to four hundred thousand was already quite good, after all, not everyone can casually drive a car worth millions out the door. For the average household, a car costing around two hundred thousand was already hitting the ceiling. Xu Musen looked over the configuration sheet and instantly felt something was off. This offness wasn''t because it was too expensive, but rather too cheap; many of the configurations were clearly the top-tier options, and this car should have cost between forty to fifty thousand, at least around forty thousand. Xu Musen originally budgeted around thirty-plus thousand, but now his overall income had exceeded expectations, so raising the budget by a few thousand was also acceptable. After all, better configurations meant more comfort for him. Not to mention, just the leather and memory foam seats alone, with their ample resilience, would make any small movements on them just as good as mattresses priced in the tens of thousands! Xu Musen looked at him and said, "Can others also get this price?" Xu Musen deliberately asked this. In fact, his main concern was not wanting to owe anyone favors, especially when such favors were linked to Zhu Yulan. "Well, we are the Huhai Duty-Free Store, and also the first flagship store, so we have a higher bargaining power than other places, which is why we can offer such a price. Plus, we are all friends here, this is the friends'' price we managed to get." The man spoke flawlessly, obviously adept at handling these kinds of transactions; sometimes even managing to sell cars worth millions for only hundreds of thousands. In the end, someone would make up the price difference... Xu Musen looked at him, didn''t say much, and nodded: "Alright, let me check the car first then." "Sure, please follow me." Xu Musen gently patted An Nuannuan''s little head, who was still snacking. 4S stores would always have some snacks available, which were quite tasteful, and An Nuannuan, the little foodie, naturally wouldn''t miss out. The A6 is a car model that has stood the test of time, with consistent sales over its more than ten years since launch. It also gives off an inscrutable vibe, favored by many in the political sphere, adding a layer of mystery. Xu Musen settled into the car to get a feel, having been accustomed to various luxury cars in his past life. But this, after all, was the first car he''d earned through his own efforts, making it inherently more significant. This was Xu Musen''s milestone of not relying on others and being independent! Xu Musen felt a little sentimental as he touched the steering wheel, treating it as if it were a new bride in his home. An Nuannuan wasn''t particularly interested in cars, after all, taking a Rolls-Royce to school every day made the A6, a dream car for others, seem like a baby walker to her. But seeing Xu Musen so happy, she also felt blissfully happy. "Are you satisfied?" "Quite satisfied, we can proceed with the contract now." Xu Musen nodded, the other party had clearly been instructed by someone, and Xu Musen wasn''t worried that he would be led into any traps. "Okay, please wait a moment, I''ll go get the paperwork ready," the man said, and immediately turned around to prepare the contract. Xu Musen then glanced over at the 4S shop next door; he patted An Nuannuan''s head, "I''m going to grab something, wait for me here." Soon, Xu Musen came back holding two elegant tea boxes. The man had prepared the contract too. Xu Musen took a quick look. They had included numerous complimentary maintenance services and a few other benefits. Xu Musen asked him to charge the card directly. Afterward, he handed both of the tea boxes to the man. "You don''t need to be so polite, it''s all part of the job," the man immediately began to decline. "You said we''re friends, and friends should show their gratitude. It''s just a bit of tea," Xu Musen said while placing the tea boxes directly into the man''s hands, "As for this one, please hand it over to Director Gong." Xu Musen pointed to one of the sealed gift boxes. The man could already feel that the two tea boxes had different weights. Based on his experience, he could gauge what was inside. Of course, the one given to him also included something extra. "This..." "Just give it to him, and tell him I haven''t forgotten this favor," Xu Musen said with a smile. The discount, although amounting to tens of thousands, was not enough for Xu Musen to owe someone a favor, let alone have anything to do with Zhu Yulan. With the money paid, future dealings would also go more smoothly. Seeing this, the man nodded, smiling as he said, "Don''t worry, I''ll make sure to pass on the message." The car would take a few days before it could be picked up, and Xu Musen wasn''t in a hurry for these few days. He and An Nuannuan exited the 4S shop. "Xu Musen, do you really like cars that much?" An Nuannuan, having seen Xu Musen''s excitement while sitting in the car just now, felt it was similar to the joy on the night they confessed their love to each other. "Of course, a car is like a second home to a man. Sometimes, when a man drives home, he just sits in the car for a while longer," Xu Musen explained. "Why is that?" "Because many people, after a busy day, just sit in the car with a lit cigarette in the parking garage, without thinking about work, mortgages, car loans, children''s living expenses, the wife''s nagging, and the trivialities of family life... That time truly belongs to oneself," Xu Musen reflected with a sigh. In his previous life, Yao Mingyue didn''t control him so tightly, and he liked to stay in the car alone for a while. Only then did he feel truly free. This was also a true portrait of many middle-aged men. As he spoke, he suddenly felt An Nuannuan pause in her steps. Xu Musen turned his head to meet An Nuannuan''s slightly pouting lips and her clear, emotional eyes. "What''s wrong?" Xu Musen asked, bending down to her. An Nuannuan suddenly stretched out her hand, gently cupping his cheek, her beautiful face serious. "I will never let you stay in the car alone. I will always work with you to get better and better, so I won''t become a burden," An Nuannuan earnestly said word by word, her clear eyes showing stubbornness and sincerity. She didn''t want to see again the fleeting look of desolation in Xu Musen''s eyes from earlier. "If you''re ever unhappy, don''t tell the car; tell me. Otherwise, I will... I''ll get jealous..." Jealous. What a beautiful word. Xu Musen had mentioned it often, and she had learned it from him. Silly, simple, adorable... Xu Musen also cupped her soft cheeks, giving a gentle kiss to the corner of her lips. "As you command, my dear Nuannuan~" Chapter 209 Yao Mingyue: COS? Youre quite the player, huh? The milk tea shop''s anime collaboration event was in full swing.One by one, attractive cosplayers dressed in various anime character outfits started promoting and attracting customers at the entrance. Huhai was quite open-minded in this regard, and as soon as the cosplayers appeared, they immediately attracted many onlookers. Whether they liked milk tea or not, people crowded in to join the fun. After all, you can skip drinking milk tea, but you can''t miss out on handsome guys and pretty girls. Xu Musen was at the main store, watching the throngs of people at the door. Those cosplayers really weren''t afraid of the cold, while everyone else was bundled up in down jackets. They even dared to bare their long legs C their cleavage was quite an eye-catcher. "These people are really dedicated, wearing such thin cosplay costumes in this cold weather." Li Rundong clicked his tongue twice. They hadn''t specified the cosplay outfits, letting them unleash their creativity. But he hadn''t expected them to come dressed up... so elaborately! "Man, you just don''t understand, do you? Milk products and abalone need to be kept cold, that''s how you extend their shelf life!" Zhou Hangyu smirked, "Which one do you like?" "I see a girl cosplaying as the Empress over there. The upper half is really wow, but her legs are a bit short. My Empress should have long legs." "Nah, I still think that the girl with the white twin ponytails is not bad C that''s a critical hit!" As the two were talking, they glanced over at Ma Yaxing, who was somewhat spellbound, and immediately teased him with a laugh, "You''re revealing your own desires now, huh? Tell us, what type do you like?" Ma Yaxing blushed and smiled sheepishly, "I think the one cosplaying as a giant panda looks cute and fluffy." "..." "Fury fans, roll out!" "Personal tastes are not a crime!" The three of them noisily discussed their own peculiar tastes. Xu Musen sat in the milk tea shop, listening reluctantly to their discussion. Personal tastes are not a crime, but I still recommend that some people should see a doctor. "Xu Musen, what are ''personal tastes''?" An Nuannuan had also heard their conversation and asked Xu Musen curiously. "This..." sea??h th NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xu Musen found it a bit difficult to answer on the spot. Looking into An Nuannuan''s big, curious eyes, he weighed his words before replying, "You could understand it as having a special liking for certain characteristics of the other half." "Oh..." An Nuannuan nodded thoughtfully. She took a sip of her milk tea, looked at Xu Musen, then asked with squinted eyes, "So are you into feet?" This guy, he couldn''t stop pinching her feet while washing them last night. "How could you say that?" Xu Musen defended himself righteously, glancing over An Nuannuan''s body. There were so many parts of her that he was fond of! Xu Musen pinched her soft cheek, "What about you? What are you into?" An Nuannuan let him pinch her face while her gaze stayed on Xu Musen. She reached out and gently poked Xu Musen''s eyebrows, nose, mouth... So whether it''s a fan of voices, hands, looks, abs, personalities, and so on. It seemed like he had them all! "Hehe, I''m into Xu Musen." After sipping her milk tea, the sweetness seemed to emanate from her. Her delicate brows relaxed slightly, and she spoke softly yet seriously, making listeners'' ears tingle with softness. Xu Musen froze for a moment, his heart as if flooded with milk tea, sweet and tender. "Damn it! I''m out, see ya!" Zhou Hangyu and the others also overheard An Nuannuan''s words and instantly felt like they were gobbling down a mouthful of dog food. They stood up to leave that place far behind, too damn harsh on singles! Xu Musen also couldn''t suppress his smile, looking at An Nuannuan. You flirt so well, you know you''re likely to get eaten by the big bad wolf, right? Xu Musen gently pulled her into his arms and caressed her cheek, "Nuannuan, I want to take you home and marry you right now." An Nuannuan sat on his lap. The winter was cold, but his embrace was very warm. She blinked. Marriage, huh... At that moment, she thought of something, and her cheeks turned a bit red, "No, I can''t have a baby now." "Who said you must have a baby when you get married?" Xu Musen chuckled. An Nuannuan blinked, a bit shy but still serious, even a bit stubborn, "What''s the point of getting married if you''re not going to have babies?" In An Nuannuan''s simple and unpretentious mind, marriage meant having babies. Xu Musen looked into her eyes and suddenly smiled, "So what you''re saying is, you agree to have babies with me in the future?" An Nuannuan immediately shut her mouth, gulping down her milk tea and feigning ignorance. Xu Musen didn''t press the issue further: "Anyway, you''re going to marry me one day. By the way, Nuannuan, do you prefer boys or girls?" "I like both!" An Nuannuan said without a second thought. "Then how about we have two in the future, okay?" Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire "Uh-huh!" Xu Musen didn''t give her a chance to speak, and An Nuannuan nodded along. But after nodding, she felt something was off. She looked up and punched Xu Musen''s chest with her small fist. Xu Musen laughed out loud and kissed An Nuannuan on the cheek. "The new year is coming, are you going back to Zheng City this year?" "I''m not sure, my grandma said this year is critical for the recovery of my leg, so I might have to stay here." "Then we might not see each other for a month." Xu Musen looked down at her, accustomed to being with An Nuannuan every day. Suddenly, without this little girl by his side, he felt quite unaccustomed. Chapter 209 Yao Mingyue: COS? Youre quite the player_2 An Nuannuan also puckered her lips slightly, leaning gently against Xu Musen''s chest."Will you miss me?" "Of course, I''ll miss you. Without you, I can''t even think about tea or food. Should I leave something behind for you, so you can think of me just by looking at it?" Xu Musen embraced An Nuannuan in his arms, holding her as if she were an exquisite and soft cloth doll. Locking eyes, Xu Musen looked at the young girl''s soft and tender lips, which were countless times more delicious than the best milk tea in the world. An Nuannuan was sipping milk tea, noticing Xu Musen''s "thirsty" gaze, she pondered for a moment, then whispered into Xu Musen''s ear. "Then, how about I prepare a few more pairs of socks for you? You can think of me whenever you see them, right?" "..." Xu Musen was speechless. He was certainly not the kind of pervert who lusted after small pieces of fabric. Moreover, he already had a little cutie in his arms, why would he need to look at socks? "Nuannuan, let me reiterate, I''m not a per..." Xu Musen didn''t finish his sentence when suddenly a sweet scent hit him, and the touch at the corner of his mouth was fatally soft. Ah, it even had a strawberry flavor~ An Nuannuan bowed her head, cuddled in Xu Musen''s arms, and continued drinking milk tea as if nothing had happened. However, her reddish, burning ears betrayed the shy and excited little girl inside her. Teased again! Xu Musen felt like a greenhorn in front of An Nuannuan! As a man, this was intolerable! Xu Musen picked her up directly. "Xiao Mai, please watch the shop for me, the boss and I are going to check the accounts!" Xu Musen picked up An Nuannuan, intending to bully her ruthlessly in the little room. Zhao Lianmai watched them and silently turned her gaze away, her mind involuntarily recalling the dirty jokes the girls talked about in the dormitory. It could be an account worth several billion... But it was quite nice, the essence of youth. However, just as Xu Musen stood up with An Nuannuan in his arms, a Ferrari pulled up at the entrance of the milk tea shop. It was Zhu Yulan. They had already made an arrangement. Now, several schools had started their events, and the milk tea shop at the University of Science and Technology had been tidied up. It all needed Xu Musen''s personal attention. Sear?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhu Yulan entered the shop, her gaze naturally falling on Xu Musen who was in the midst of a princess carry. Her eyes shimmered slightly, and she pursed her lips, "Is this a bad time for me to come?" The atmosphere turned awkward for a moment. Xu Musen had no choice but to put An Nuannuan down, coughing awkwardly, "No, you''ve come at just the right time." An Nuannuan was also a bit embarrassed, hiding behind Xu Musen. "I''ll wait outside for you." Zhu Yulan glanced at them, and for some reason, watching their intimate interactions made her feel a strange sournesswas this the feeling of being fed with dog food? After saying that, she turned and walked out of the shop. Xu Musen playfully tapped An Nuannuan''s little nose, "I''m going to check on the other shops. You rest well, I''ll deal with you properly when I get back." "Hmph..." An Nuannuan humphed softly, but there was a hint of disappointment rather than relief in her large eyes. ... At this moment, Xu Musen got into Zhu Yulan''s Ferrari, but he couldn''t shake the feeling that she kept staring at him. "Troubling the beautiful Zhu for a ride again." Xu Musen said with a beaming smile. "Knowing it''s troublesome and still you trouble me?" Zhu Yulan responded bluntly, and for some reason, her tone felt as if she was provoked. "Why speak so distantly among buddies? When my car arrives, Boss Zhu is welcome to ride in it every day." "Pfft, I wouldn''t dare ride in your car. A man''s car is for his girlfriend." Zhu Yulan didn''t notice that her words were tinged with a bit of sourness. She humphed, but in the next second, a cup of milk tea was presented in front of her. Every time Xu Musen came to mooch a ride, he would bring her a cup of milk tea, which had become a tacit understanding between them. Zhu Yulan looked at the cup of milk tea; this guy could be quite considerate at times. The flavor was always her favorite, and the bit of sourness in her heart was pathetically soothed by a cup of milk tea. "Hmph, you know what''s good for you." Zhu Yulan retorted, snatching the milk tea away, then got out of the car, "You drive!" She commanded authoritatively. "As you wish, Boss Zhu!" Xu Musen said cheerfully, taking on the role of driver willingly. ... Xu Musen left. An Nuannuan suddenly felt like she had lost all energy, and she slumped lazily onto the table. Zhao Lianmai brought her some snacks. Seeing An Nuannuan''s listless state, Zhao Lianmai sighed inwardly. Leaving such a cute girlfriend behind to work with another girl. If it were any other girl, perhaps they would have felt a bit jealous. Especially since the other party was also quite outstanding, driving a Ferrari and also very beautiful. Actually, An Nuannuan could be quite flirtatious, but sometimes she seemed very reserved. As a girl herself, Zhao Lianmai could sense it; Nuannuan and Xu Musen had been together for quite a while now. They probably hadn''t gone beyond kissing, but if a man doesn''t get enough to eat at home, he might start snacking outside, unless there''s something more thrilling... Zhao Lianmai glanced at the girls outside dressed in cosplay, then looked back at An Nuannuan, who was pure and fair, with a figure that was incredibly attractive, almost as if she had stepped right out of a manga. Chapter 209 Yao Mingyue: COS? Youre quite the player_3 Her eyes lit up, "Nuannuan, do you want to try it on too..."... More than ten stores took Xu Musen an entire day to visit. Driving back to Huhai University, Xu Musen got out of the car and said to Zhu Yulan, "Thanks for the trouble, Boss Zhu, I''ll treat you to a meal sometime." "Promises are boring when there are too many of them, especially from men." Zhu Yulan snorted. Xu Musen felt that Zhu Yulan seemed to be preoccupied today; to be precise, her mood hadn''t been very good these past few days. However, sometimes girls can be completely irrational when they are in a bad mood. Smiling and leaning on the car window, Xu Musen said, "I never make empty promises. I consider you a friend, and if you ever need help with anything, I''ll definitely stand by your side." Xu Musen was truly grateful for this girl. Although their initial interaction was a mutual cooperation, as it stood, he had gained quite a bit from her. Xu Musen believed in reciprocating kindness, naturally intending to return these favors. In Zhu Yulan''s mind, the words he had just spoken echoed. No matter what it is, I will stand by your side... That counted as one of the few statements that leaned in her favor in a life where she was constantly denied and suppressed. She looked at Xu Musen''s smiling face in the evening sun, and it was indeed very warm. Zhu Yulan pursed her lips, her eyes flickering as if she wanted to say something, but then she just waved her hand, "Alright, I accept your offer in spirit. Better go back and spend time with your little girlfriend." With that said, she floored the gas pedal and left as if afraid that staying any longer would reveal too much. Xu Musen smiled and nodded, watching her drive away before also turning to head back. The day''s adventures were over, and the milk tea shop was about to close. Walking into the shop, Xu Musen didn''t see An Nuannuan, only Zhao Lianmai tidying up and preparing to close. "Nuannuan is in the room, probably fell asleep waiting for you." Zhao Lianmai took the initiative to speak, her normally expressionless face now showing a hint of emotion. "Alright, I''ll go check on her." Xu Musen nodded and went straight to the small room. The room was dark, with only the dim light revealing something bulging under the blanket on the bed. Xu Musen gently closed the door, tiptoed over, and pounced on the bed. His hand instinctively caressed An Nuannuan''s small head, but instead of her silky hair, he first touched something fluffy and even two erect, mysterious objects... Xu Musen turned on the bedside lamp, and the light instantly brightened the room. Looking down, Xu Musen saw that he was holding a pair of rabbit ears in his hand! He reflexively tugged at them, and a muffled sound came from under the blanket. Xu Musen lifted the blanket to find An Nuannuan looking up at him with clear eyes filled with a bit of nervous shyness. "Nuannuan?" Xu Musen was momentarily stunned, then drew back a bit, and that''s when he saw An Nuannuan was actually dressed in Pinru''s...darn it! She was in a full rabbit cosplay outfit! A pair of fluffy rabbit ears, a white Chinese-style robe for women, looking just like an animated, magical jade rabbit with a delicate red lotus mark at her browa quintessential Eastern bunny spirit! "Nuannuan, why are you wearing Pinru''s...wearing this outfit?" Xu Musen swallowed, as the An Nuannuan with the fluffy rabbit ears looked even softer and more adorable, adding a sense of allure compared to her usual self. At that moment, An Nuannuan''s cheeks were flushed; feeling a bit awkward, she tugged at the hem of her clothes, feeling like the outfit was not quite covering certain areas... But looking into Xu Musen''s eyes, she felt a pang of happiness, "Zhao Lianmai said... boys like this kind of outfit, do you like it?" sea??h th Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. An Nuannuan tilted her head up, her fair cheeks now a burning red. It was like a plump and tender White Rabbit candy had hopped right into Xu Musen''s mouth, To eat would be beastly, not to eat would be even worse than a beast! Xu Musen didn''t answer; the lamp was dim, the room was warm, and the person in his arms was so tempting. He hugged An Nuannuan''s waist, flipped over, pressing her beneath him, and leaned down slowly. The kiss that was interrupted just before was now fully compensated for. An Nuannuan''s body gradually relaxed from the initial tension, melting in his embrace. Although her grandmother often told her that there were certain things that should only be done after marriage, cuddling and kissing with someone you like was instinctive. For people who liked each other, there was no need for such propriety to govern genuine feelings. Gift me with peaches, and I''ll repay you with jadeit''s not about recompense; it''s about eternal fondness! Eventually, An Nuannuan''s breath hitched; she gave a soft yelp and gently pushed Xu Musen away. She blushed, adjusted her clothing slightly, and with slightly reproachful big eyes, she looked at Xu Musen while hugging a pillow to her chest. Xu Musen also exhaled softly, feeling somewhat embarrassed as he scratched his nose, "Sorry, I...slipped." He could smell the faint scent of the girl in his embrace. "Nuannuan, don''t be angry, I didn''t mean to." Xu Musen felt a bit helpless; after all, they had only officially been dating for a short while, and Nuannuan''s grandparents and father might be watching them in secret. Chapter 209 Yao Mingyue: COS? Youre quite the player_4 And for An Nuannuan, even a kiss was already a particularly thrilling event.Every time Xu Musen couldn''t help but want to reach out with his "sinful" little hand, An Nuannuan would instinctively dodge. To her, some things were meant to be done only after marriage, something her grandmother had taught her from a young age. Xu Musen was not in a hurry at heart. But his energetic body, at the prime age of eighteen, always tempted him to make mistakes. An Nuannuan calmed down a little, and looking at Xu Musen''s expression, her heart softened. She leaned in gently, resting in his embrace. "I''m not angry... I just wasn''t quite ready. Can you wait for me a little longer?" An Nuannuan wasn''t sure what she needed to prepare, but as a girl, even if she didn''t understand these things, they would still subconsciously consider a great deal. After all, for a girl, that one time in her life is the most precious. sea??h th ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It''s meant to be given to the person she loves most. An Nuannuan could be sure that she would only love him for the rest of her life. Therefore, this precious gift seemed even more worth preparing for with great care. Xu Musen, looking at her, could naturally read her thoughts. For him, it was the same; the world''s beauty, that initial purity, was the most unforgettable. Life''s four great joys. You might forget your high school exam scores, your first job, gradually lose touch with old friends, but the girl from your first love is someone you can''t forget for a lifetime. Xu Musen gently embraced her, softly nuzzling her head: "I will always wait for you." The two gradually calmed down, but it was like the first taste of forbidden fruit, even without having bitten into the apple, the astringent yet sweet scent was enough to linger in the minds of the young. "Xu Musen, just now..." An Nuannuan suddenly asked in a soft voice, her face blushing, before swallowing her words back. "What?" Xu Musen looked at her. "Nothing... I''m sleepy, I want to go back to sleep." An Nuannuan abruptly changed the subject, as today''s events were still a bit bold for her. "Okay, I''ll walk you back." Xu Musen nodded, waited for An Nuannuan to change her clothes, and then accompanied her all the way to the girls'' dormitory entrance. The two of them were silent, but they both knew that the distance between them had gotten closer, almost shamelessly so... "Then I''m going up." Without realizing it, they had arrived at the dormitory building; An Nuannuan looked up at Xu Musen, her usually dazed voice now slightly sweet. "Okay, get some rest early." Xu Musen said, smiling, slowly letting go of her hand. An Nuannuan took a step forward, then turned back, and lightly pecked Xu Musen''s cheek: "Good night." "Good night." Xu Musen watched her figure disappear, and touched his own cheek, a smile unconsciously spreading across his face. He took a deep breath, in truth just now, he had nearly lost control. It was normal for a young man''s body to react, and probably An Nuannuan had felt it too, hence she hesitated to ask. Xu Musen shook his head, he was genuinely hungry, but if it was for Nuannuan, waiting was worthwhile. He smiled, turned, and went back to the milk tea shop. Back in his small room, he first went to the bathroom to wash his face. Suddenly, he heard some noise behind him and the faint scent of flowers drifted in with the breeze. Xu Musen wiped his face and peeked out to see a tall figure quietly appearing in his room. "Yao Mingyue?" Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire Xu Musen didn''t expect her to come so late. At that moment, Yao Mingyue was picking up a pair of bunny ears and An Nuannuan''s changed clothes from his bed. Her phoenix eyes shimmered dangerous, as she held the bunny ears, looking at Xu Musen, she scoffed coldly. "I didn''t see that coming. You sure know how to play, don''t you?" "..." Chapter 210 Growing Old Together, Xu Musen! Its Snowing!! The night was still and quiet.Yao Mingyue held An Nuannuan''s discarded bunny cosplay outfit, pinching the realistically shaped rabbit ears. She looked over at Xu Musen, her phoenix eyes sparkling with a hint of danger. She took in a few deep breaths with a bit of force. Thankfully, there didn''t seem to be any odd scents in the air... "These are all for today''s event." Xu Musen''s cosplay interests were wide-ranging, but feeling a bit of shame was inevitable when someone familiar knew about it. In fact, it was from Yao Mingyue that Xu Musen had come to enjoy cosplay. In their previous life, whenever Yao Mingyue was in the mood, she would don various costumes to play something different with him. Often times, she would get Xu Musen to participate as well. What he found most embarrassing was the time she put a drool bib and a baby hat on him, and then Yao Mingyue played the role of a nanny... Every time he thought about it, Xu Musen still wanted to find a hole to crawl into from embarrassment. "Haha, so the cosplay fun has made its way to bed?" Yao Mingyue plainly didn''t believe it; the scent of An Nuannuan still lingered on the cosplay outfit. A woman''s fragrance is her second face, especially between rivals in love, the scent on the other person could be distinctly detected, even if it''s just a little bit. Xu Musen didn''t bother explaining; she wasn''t there to listen to explanations anyway. "What did you want to see me for?" "Can''t I come to see you if there''s nothing wrong? You''re now my sworn brother, can''t I come to chat or scrounge a cup of milk tea?" Yao Mingyue put down the rabbit ears in her hands and sat directly on the bed. The two had been childhood friends, and now they also adopted the identity of sworn siblings. It felt a bit strange knowing this since, in their past life, the two were a couple. Before, she could treat him as a current boyfriend, but now suddenly they were brother and sister, and it gave her a surreal feeling, almost like "German Orthopedic," as they say. Moreover, the status of their relationship was already made very clear. If they couldn''t be lovers, at least they wanted to preserve the emotions of childhood friends. Xu Musen fancied himself a righteous gentleman, upright and not worried about his shadow being crooked. Yao Mingyue watched him, in this ambiguous little room, the two of them were slightly silent. "The New Year is approaching, how do you plan to return home?" Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire In fact, Yao Mingyue wanted to ask him directly if he would take An Nuannuan home, but when the words reached her mouth, she felt that asking so bluntly would make it look like she cared too much, like she couldn''t afford to lose. "I''ve bought a car, I''ll probably drive back." Xu Musen thought, the car would be delivered in the next few days, just in time for driving home for the New Year. His family had been humiliated since going bankrupt, and both Father Xu and Mother Xu felt they couldn''t lift their heads. They used to be respected figures among relatives, but after the catastrophe, all the people who used to flock around suddenly pretended not to know them, afraid that Father Xu and Mother Xu would ask them for money. When rich, one has many friends in prosperity, but in adversity, one is powerless and friendless. That''s just human nature. Although life had gradually improved over the years, and they had gotten used to such life, Sear?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. both Father Xu and Mother Xu still felt guilty as they could bear the humiliation themselves, but it felt like their child had been wronged. Similarly, Xu Musen understood his parents'' difficulties. Xu Musen was not someone who liked to flaunt wealth or show off, but there''s a saying online. When you drive a BBA back home, what straightens up isn''t just a car, but also the parents'' spines that have been bent for many years. Xu Musen wanted to make his parents happy, to show them that their family was truly beginning to prosper. Isn''t that one of the greatest purposes of being reborn? "By yourself?" Yao Mingyue watched his face light up with a confident smile, which made him look even more handsome. But the more handsome he became, the sourer Yao Mingyue felt in her heart. Why does he have to be so handsome now? It''d be better if he were less attractive, then no one would compete with her for him... She really wanted to secretly hide him away, to be the only one to fancy him. "Probably. Nuannuan needs to recuperate this year, she can''t return to Zheng City." Xu Musen spoke slowly. Yao Mingyue''s eyes instantly lit up, "It''s more than a thousand kilometers from Huhai to Zheng City, what if you get sleepy driving alone? You could also have someone meet you halfway to give you water and chat to relieve the boredom..." The more Yao Mingyue spoke, the more excited her phoenix eyes became, and her self-promotion scheme was ringing loud and clear. Xu Musen looked at her and after a bit of thought, nodded earnestly, "You''re right, I''ll ask He Qiang if he has any plans to hitch a ride back." "Xu Musen!!" Yao Mingyue, furious, sprang up from the bed and immediately went forward to pinch the tender flesh around Xu Musen''s waist. Xu Musen immediately grabbed her wrist and, seeing her in such a fit, couldn''t help but laugh, "Why so flustered?" "You''re the one who''s blind!" Yao Mingyue was so angry that she puffed up like a spiky, poisonous pufferfish. "I don''t care, don''t invite He Qiang; he''s with that girl now, don''t disturb people in their love affairs!" Yao Mingyue found herself a good reason. Xu Musen looked at her, "As you said, the trip from Huhai to Zheng City is tough, it''s only an hour and a half by plane, you don''t need to suffer through a car ride." "I want to! Can''t I save some money on airfare?" "Miss Yao, are you really short on that bit of airfare money?" Xu Musen couldn''t help but show a mix of amusement and disbelief; after all, she would casually spend the equivalent of an airfare on a hydrating water facemask. Chapter 210 Growing Old Together, Xu Musen! Its Snowing!!_2 Yao Mingyue bit her lip and looked at Xu Musen, her eyes shimmering, "Of course I''m short on money. I even want to save more so if certain people go bankrupt one day, I can buy them back..."Xu Musen paused slightly and watched Yao Mingyue, who had no intention of giving up on keeping him as her kept man. But now he didn''t feel any aversion; on the contrary, he experienced a somewhat indescribable feeling. Sometimes, the feeling of being kept by a wealthy woman can vary. One type is purely a financial transaction. And the second type... "I work hard to earn money to support you," isn''t that the same as what most men think? If one has money, who would want their wife to go out to work every day? Isn''t it better for her to just stay home and be as beautiful as a flower? So, this kind of "sponsorship" is really hard to dislike. Xu Musen suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of emotion. If "Alright, there are still a few days before we get home, we''ll talk about it then," Xu Musen said, glancing at the time, "The girls'' dorm is about to lock up, aren''t you going back?" "So you''re rushing me out already?" Yao Mingyue sat back down on the bed, slightly cocking one leg. Though she wasn''t wearing silk stockings or high heels, the beautiful curves of her long, young legs were still eye-catching enough. Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire She smiled faintly. "I''ve prepared something good for you, don''t regret it if you let me leave now." Xu Musen looked at her for a while, his smile more a grimace than genuine, "The good thing you''re talking about, could it be that it''s yourself?" He was all too familiar with this routine. In his past life, Yao Mingyue never ceased to create "surprises" for him. For example, on Children''s Day, making him play the little boy while she played the role of the bad auntie who lures little boys. During Qingming Festival, she would slip into the bed in the middle of the night wearing a white nightgown just like Sadako. Father''s Day... needless to say, using the excuse of wanting children, she almost exhausted Xu Musen to death... In summary, these surprises often turned into a different kind of "surprise." But the current Yao Mingyue, truly is a new driver who has never hit the road before. Her little thoughts, once pointed out, made her pretty face blush. She looked at Xu Musen, "If you want it, it''s not... impossible." "Please go back," Xu Musen glanced at her. But Yao Mingyue huffed, pulling out a thick stack of documents from her bag and throwing them at him. "Tch, I knew you''re all talk and no action. Here, take these." "What''s this?" Xu Musen caught the thick stack of documents. Many were about improving takeaway packaging, as well as strategies to further expand and reduce costs. Such materials required a great deal of effort, consuming much time for research and market analysis, and also a lot of patience. A proposal like this would cost a fortune in those marketing companies. But Xu Musen could see the handwriting on the proposal, unmistakably written by Yao Mingyue herself. Xu Musen was a bit stunned. He looked up at Yao Mingyue, "Did you... write all of this?" "Picked it up on the road and brought it over for you," Yao Mingyue snorted, haughtily turning her head away. Yet seeing the complexity and astonishment flashing through Xu Musen''s eyes, she felt that her efforts over this period hadn''t been in vain. Right now, Xu Musen was indeed feeling very complicated. He suddenly remembered that over the past month, Yao Mingyue had rarely appeared before him. And from what he heard through Liu Rushuang, she often scurried around the company. The few times Xu Musen went to find her, she was always in the library. S~ea??h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Moreover, he remembered that she didn''t seem too well at the time, with bloodshot eyes, but every time he saw her, she was always buried in work. Back then he didn''t know; now upon seeing this, she must have been writing these documents all that time. In fact, their collaboration had already begun. But to tell the truth, in the early stage, it was Xu Musen who had the advantage. Later on, as the takeaway business developed, it could then help drive the growth of her factory. So these were things Xu Musen should be concerned with, yet Yao Mingyue had taken care of them all. That''s just her way. Stubborn and dominant in personality, she could be suffocating, but she truly would solve everything for you, apart from her own issues. Xu Musen looked at the documents in his hands. With these, his costs could be further reduced. He looked at Yao Mingyue. She had changed from the person she used to be. The former her would only find ways to PUA him, making him lie flat and give up so that she could just support him. She was in charge of making money and keeping the house; Xu Musen was responsible for taking good care of her. But now... Xu Musen looked at her and, almost as if possessed, he blurted out, "Aren''t you afraid that the more money I make, the further away I''ll go?" As he spoke, Yao Mingyue''s eyes trembled. She had, of course, thought about this question before. Before, she certainly would have worried that the better Xu Musen became, the further he would drift from her. But now... She looked at Xu Musen''s face, so familiar it was etched into her very bones. She lowered her cocked leg, braced her hands on the side of the bed, and gently swung her legs. "Before, I would have been scared, but having come this far now, what is there left to fear? After all, I don''t have much else to lose." As she spoke, the corners of her mouth suddenly curled into a complex smile tinged with Yao Mingyue''s unique confidence and flamboyance. Chapter 210 Growing Old Together, Xu Musen! Its Snowing!!_3 "Actually, I''ve come to terms with it too, being worried all the time is really not my style. Instead of worrying that you''ll get farther and farther away, I might as well quicken my own pace"Yao Mingyue said as she gently stretched out her legs and slowly stepped onto Xu Musen''s toes. "You just keep moving forward, just like when we were kids, no matter how fast my Brother Musen ran, he could never shake off that little tail behind him~" One day, we will meet again at the next crossroads. "Besides, I like the you right now, and when you become even better, at your best, I''ll steal you away again!" Yao Mingyue tiptoed on him while holding her cheeks, her phoenix eyes sparkling with a confidence and elegance uncommon in most girls. So unhidden, so fiery. Xu Musen felt the pressure on his feet, just like when they were kids, Yao Mingyue would always grab his clothes. If she couldn''t catch up, she would deliberately step off his shoes, silly and cute. He looked at Yao Mingyue at this moment and finally stood up quietly. "Where are you going?" "Aren''t we here for bubble tea? I''ll buy you a cup." Xu Musen said. Like all those direct guys out there, they find it hard to say those cheesy thank-you''s directly, but they show it through their actions. Yao Mingyue hummed, following him to the bubble tea station. "Can I have extra pearls?" "Sure." "Can I have extra coconut milk too?" "Sure." "And can I have extra Musen too?" "Sure" Xu Musen''s voice abruptly stopped as he gave her a silent glance. Can we not be so creepy? "Giggle~" Yao Mingyue couldn''t help but snicker, trembling like a blossoming branch, very fond of teasing him like this. In the quiet bubble tea shop, only the sound of the bubble tea shaking and their conversation could be heard. In the school, this usually bustling place, Yao Mingyue oddly felt that at this moment, she didn''t feel lonely. "Yao Mingyue, I think you should make more friends, life should be more lively after all." Xu Musen said while making the bubble tea and glancing at Yao Mingyue who was watching him unwaveringly. Actually, Yao Mingyue used to think by isolating Xu Musen, she could have him all to herself, but she ended up isolating everyone first. Xu Musen now had An Nuannuan, He Qiang, Li Rundong, and the others around him. They could be lively and boisterous every day. Nowadays, everyone is clamoring for a solo living. But few can endure true solitude. "Would you be willing for me to be friends with others?" Yao Mingyue asked with a smile. "I meant with your own gender, like best friends." "No, other girls will only compete with me for you." "..." Xu Musen shook his head speechlessly and handed her the bubble tea he had made. "Thank you, Brother Musen~" Yao Mingyue''s voice was coy and sweet. Xu Musen broke out in goosebumps. "Forget about ''brother'', was there a need to emphasize the ''just''? It''s really getting late." Xu Musen looked at her, then glanced at the pitch-black campus outside. The busier it was during the day, the more terrifying it became at night. "It''s late, I''ll take you back now," he said. As he spoke, it was also the first time he had ever offered to take her back. Yao Mingyue looked at him, and finally, with a proud smile, lifted her delicate chin, "Since you''re begging me like this, I''ll give you a chance." After locking the tea shop''s door, the two of them walked the campus paths beneath the starlight, in the cold weather of December. The night wind was bleak, chilling to the bone. Yao Mingyue''s steps gradually moved closer to him, their arms pressing tightly against each other. Even though they were separated by down jackets, it seemed like they could still feel a hint of warmth. Yao Mingyue stepped on Xu Musen''s shadow, looking at their overlapping shadows with a happy smile on her face. Childish... Xu Musen subtly stepped away, not letting her tread on his shadow. Yao Mingyue chased after and stepped on it again. Dodge and step. In the end, Xu Musen slowed down slightly, letting Yao Mingyue triumphantly step on his shadow. "Yay~ I''m stepping on you to death." At that moment, Yao Mingyue was like the childish little girl of years past. "Childish ghost." "Just childish!" Yao Mingyue gave him a punch. In this dark and cold night, she didn''t want to go back at all. They were like the moon and stars in the sky, only able to meet secretly in the dark of night. She looked at Xu Musen''s back, lost in thought, "Xu Musen, wouldn''t it be great if we could never finish walking this path..." Xu Musen listened to the emotions in her words, "If we never finish this road, we''ll miss the beautiful scenery on other roads." "I don''t want any other scenery, I just want to walk with you, just like when we were kids, walking through elementary school, junior high, high school, and college together. In the future, we should enter society together, walk into the palace of marriage, start a family, and gradually grow old together..." Yao Mingyue spoke with her eyes filled with anticipation and a hint of melancholy. Such dreams had been rehearsed countless times in her mind, but could they ever come true... The weather seemed to grow colder. Xu Musen silently watched her, those scenes she described, from childhood to old age. Such a romantic vision. It was a scene that had also played out countless times in Xu Musen''s head. The girl''s black, smooth hair seemed to slowly turn silver in his eyes. The image of Yao Mingyue with white hair... He then remembered An Nuannuan''s Grandma Gao, who had also been childhood sweethearts with Grandpa Gao. In the end, she missed out on a lifetime together. Although she might have gotten used to that life, living alone was really hard. Xu Musen didn''t want Yao Mingyue to end up like that. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire As Xu Musen gazed into her eyes, his heart seemed full of emotions that constantly questioned him. Sar?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Could he really watch her grow old alone? Yao Mingyue''s hair seemed to be layered with white, as she lifted her pale, delicate hand. Snowflakes, like white clouds, seemed to fall from the sky, melting into her fingertips! Yao Mingyue looked up, and before she knew it, under the streetlight''s glow, specks of white brilliance fell like a cascade. She stretched out her hands in surprise to catch them, her eyes twinkling like stars. "Xu Musen! It''s snowing!!" Chapter 211 The First Snowman of Winter. (Please subscribe, little 6k!) It snowed.In Huhai, which has a subtropical maritime climate, it does not snow every year, so whenever it does snow, it somewhat feels like southerners spotting a treasure. The falling snowflakes aren''t very big, but against the backdrop of withered and desolate winter scenery, these flecks of snow are stunningly gorgeous. Yao Mingyue held snowflakes in her hands, which quickly melted upon touching her fingertips. A few snowflakes landed on her lush, long eyelashes, resembling sprinkled fragments of starlight. "I wonder if it''s snowed in Zheng City, the snow there must be much heavier than here." Xu Musen watched the snowflakes drifting down, knowing well that a place like Huhai wouldn''t experience heavy snowfall, as snow would always melt quickly upon landing on his hands. "Because it''s rare, it seems precious." Yao Mingyue looked up, her breath appearing like cotton candy as she spoke, "Xu Musen, I want to build a snowman." As childhood friends, building snowmen together was always an essential part of their yearly routine. But ever since Yao Mingyue''s father''s incident, every time she built a snowman, those memories would surface. In the past, it was always the two families together, but now, the number of people who could accompany her had dwindled. "This snow isn''t enough to build a snowman, let''s wait until we get back to Zheng City." Sar?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xu Musen glanced at the ground''s thin layer of snow, thinking that even forming a snowball from it would be an achievement. "I''m afraid that when we go back, what if it doesn''t snow" Yao Mingyue held the snowflakes in her hand, watching them melt bit by bit, like water slipping through her fingers, the harder she tried to hold on, the quieter it slipped away. "This year even Huhai is getting snow; Zheng City is bound to have some. I guarantee it." "You guarantee it? Since when does the weather listen to you?" Yao Mingyue pouted, thinking how boys will make any promise to coax a girl to go to sleep. "It''s possible." Xu Musen smiled, knowing Heaven won''t listen to him, but he remembered this year being quite cold, and Zheng City even issued an orange blizzard warning for two days. Yet, seeing Yao Mingyue''s slightly disappointed face, and again looking at the ground where only a thin layer of snow lay, the greenbelts on both sides of the campus had indeed accumulated a layer of white snow. "Let''s go, don''t freeze." Xu Musen interrupted her snow play. He remembered Yao Mingyue''s body was somewhat cold-sensitive. The downpour six years ago, combined with sweeping emotional changes, had left her constitution somewhat fragile. "If I get sick, will you take care of me?" Yao Mingyue stopped playing with the snow and abruptly asked. "I''ll take care of you, but I won''t always be there with you." Xu Musen gave his answer. Clearly dissatisfied with the response, Yao Mingyue pouted, "Tch, as if I care. No one else would put up with you except for me, unless they''re out of their mind" With her words, she was promoting herself while indirectly casting a snide remark at An Nuannuan. Xu Musen found it a bit amusing; she was truly childish. Yao Mingyue walked ahead, reaching out for the drifting snowflakes, while Xu Musen followed behind her, his hands lightly brushing the greenbelts on both sides. The path wasn''t long, but the two took much longer than usual to traverse it. The night deepened, and there were hardly any people left at the girls'' dormitory entrance. The dormitory''s caretaker, still as dutiful as ever, stood at the entrance waiting for the time to lock up. Yao Mingyue knew this path had come to an end. She looked at the warm lights of the dormitory building, then turned to look back at Xu Musen. Xu Musen stood with hands behind his back, appearing somewhat distracted. Hmph, what should''ve been a romantic snowy night''s walk, but he acted like it was just a task to be completed, the typical emotionally obtuse man! "Hey, I''m going back then." "Okay." Xu Musen nodded. His hands were still behind him, showing no intent of saying anything more. Yao Mingyue stared at him for a long time, and finally snorted. Xu Musen had already washed up earlier, he had just put on an overcoat to step out. Now with the snowfall, the temperature dropped several degrees more. Even if boys can withstand the cold better, walking back in such coldness he might still catch a cold. She pursed her lips and took another step towards him. Just like those young couples under the girls'' dormitory, who had been all lovey-dovey all day, but when it came time to part, they would still turn around and throw themselves into an embrace for one last cuddle. Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire But Yao Mingyue lacked those girlish cuddly gestures; she chose to strip instead. The girl took off her down jacket, leaving her in a white turtleneck sweater that gently followed the contours of her body, as if unveiling a huge treasure. "What are you doing?" Before Xu Musen could react, Yao Mingyue had already draped her warm down jacket gently over him. "Consider it a loan for escorting me back. Don''t you dare catch cold; unlike you, I would be distressed and accompany you every day." Yao Mingyue slowly adjusted the corners of his jacket, but she shivered slightly from the cold. Xu Musen''s gaze shifted, and as he looked at Yao Mingyue, they were so close that a mere tiptoe away could bridge the gap between them. Yao Mingyue stared at him without blinking, her gaze moving from Xu Musen''s eyes to his nose, then his lips. She moved her lips slightly. For a moment, it was as if they had forgotten the cold. Chapter 211 The First Snowman of Winter. (Little 6k asking for subscriptions!)_2 "Xu Musen..."She murmured softly, her eyes gently closed, her heels slowly rising against the gravity of the earth, drawing in the last bit of distance. But her lips encountered a cool sensation. Opening her eyes, in front of Yao Mingyue, was a small snowman. Xu Musen had placed this fist-sized snowman in her path, stepping back slightly. "This, I''m giving to you too." Xu Musen spoke, taking the milk tea from her hand, picked out two pearls, and set them into the snowman''s eye sockets as eyes, making it look quite lively. Yao Mingyue''s eyes instantly lit up as she took the little snowman from Xu Musen''s hand. It was actually quite crudely made, but it truly was the best gift Yao Mingyue had received in recent times. Her fingers touched Xu Musen''s hand, which was ice-cold, and she remembered how he had been grabbing snow from the green belt now and then, all the while keeping his hands behind his back. Alright, she took back what she had said about him being a straight male, actually... he was quite charming. Yao Mingyue looked at the little snowman in her hand and then at Xu Musen, suddenly feeling a twinge at the tip of her nose and couldn''t help but smile. Her voice even trembled a bit with surprise. "This snowman is so ugly" She said so, yet she carefully cradled the snowman in her hands as if afraid it would fall and melt. "Ugly? Oh right, I modeled it after you, so if the top beam is not straight, the bottom ones are bound to be crooked," Xu Musen deliberated and pretended to have an epiphany. Yao Mingyue was instantly fuming, glaring with wide eyes, wanting to raise her fist to hit him, but she pulled back. Hmph, for the sake of the snowman, she wouldn''t get angry with him. She looked at Xu Musen, and during today''s brief encounter, she felt something different from before. "Xu Musen, I''m the first to receive a snowman you''ve made this winter, aren''t I?" Yao Mingyue''s eyes sparkled. Xu Musen didn''t answer, of course not, for the first snowfall had just happened that night. "Hehe, then your girlfriend won''t get jealous when she finds out" "You should head back now." Xu Musen interrupted, knowing what she was about to say, urging her to go back as she was only wearing a sweater. "Xu Musen, thank you for the snowman you gave me; I''m very happy." "The things you gave me are worth much more than a little snowman; I should be thanking you." Xu Musen remembered the thick file, which Yao Mingyue must have spent a lot of time and effort to complete. Yao Mingyue held the snowman in her hands, took another look at Xu Musen, and smiled softly: "Now, I can understand the feelings you talked about before. Having too much can make one unappreciative, but tasting a bit of sweetness in suffering makes it all the more memorable... It''s worth it, isn''t it?" For the sake of these documents, Yao Mingyue had toiled for over a month, mostly alone, eating alone, spending time in the library by herself, living her life in silence. During that time, the thing she consumed most was the bitter dark chocolate; her wrists ached from writing, these were experiences the once haughty and proud Yao Mingyue couldn''t have ever imagined. But now, having persevered through that long month, in exchange for an hour or two of his company, she felt it was truly worth it, very much so. Right, and there was this little snowman too. Xu Musen watched Yao Mingyue at this moment, looking dumber than even An Nuannuan, and his heart suddenly trembled. It was just a casually made snowman. The current Yao Mingyue stubbornly maintained her pride, and the more she did so, the more it stirred feelings of compassion in him. If one day, Yao Mingyue truly overcame her heart''s troubles and became the lively and cheerful Xiao Mingyue she used to be, could he really bless her to find someone else? Xu Musen felt he really couldn''t do that. Perhaps this was a man''s inherent flaw. Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire Yao Mingyue had gone home. Xu Musen wrapped his down jacket tighter around him, still lingering with Yao Mingyue''s warmth and fragrance. He silently looked in the direction of the dormitory building, the dormitory aunt had already locked the door. He watched for a while longer and then turned to leave. And Yao Mingyue, she returned to the girls'' dorm. "Eh, Mingyue, is that a snowman you''re holding?" "Haha, I was thinking of making one just now too, but it''s so cold, and why does this snowman look so silly, like a husky, haha." "Who gave that to you?" A few girls crowded around curiously. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yao Mingyue squinted her eyes, staring at the less than exquisite snowman in her hand, yet treasuring it too much to look away. She hummed, unable to hide the upward curve of her lips. "A dummy gave it to me." She said, and there was a small fridge in the dorm room used for storing fruit; she gently wrapped the snowman in cling film and placed it in the fridge. The people in the dorm watched this scene, a bit mesmerized. Yao Mingyue, although usually distant and hard to approach, was undeniably outstanding, whether it be in figure, facial attractiveness, or capability, she was one in a million. Moreover, she was a wealthy lady, attending school driving a Bentley. If they had her conditions, they would definitely be more aloof than her! Naturally, there were many pursuing her at school, and the male students in her class couldn''t avoid mentioning Yao Mingyue in their conversations. Some wealthy heirs also pursued her; the gifts they offered were enviable to many girls. But Yao Mingyue had never paid them any attention, no matter how expensive the gifts, she simply tossed them into the trash can. Chapter 211 The First Snowman of Winter. (Little 6k asking for subscriptions!)_3 But now?It''s just a snowman, and it looks like it was haphazardly put together, with its eyes even being made out of bubble milk tea pearls. Despite its crudeness, Yao Mingyue treated it with great care, as if the melting of a single snowflake would cause her half a day''s sorrow. The look in her eyes and her actions, what''s the difference between her and a lovesick girl with a negative IQ who''s just started dating? That''s how girls are, never hiding whether they''re in love or not. ... Time flies. The winter break is indeed approaching. January arrives, and Xu Musen calculates this month''s revenue. He now has opened a total of eight milk tea shops, with delivery services expanding simultaneously. Together with the recent anime collaboration, sales have been very pleasing, with marketing revenues already breaking one million. But these successes are also because of the investments from Nuannuan''s family, which allowed him to push aggressively into the market without regard to cost. So excluding costs, it''s good even if he can keep half of the profits. Yet this is already a very good start. Xu Musen looks at the seven-figure sum in his bank account and estimates it won''t be long before it''s invested again. But this number is already something most ordinary people would never see in their lifetime. In just six months, he''s satisfied with his progress; as the milk tea shops are open longer, the more he can spread the cost, and the higher the net profit will be. And Xu Musen doesn''t plan on standing idlein the next ten years, the internet landscape will continue to surge wave after wave. One should scatter their eggs into multiple baskets. The major ways to make money in rebirth. Stocks, lotteries, gambling on sports, Bitcoin... Stocks are something to consider; the broader trend is unlikely to be wrong, and certain tech stocks are worth investing in. As for the lottery and sports betting, forget it. Xu Musen doesn''t have an interest in those, and if you win too much, they''ll just manipulate the system behind the scenes. He now looks down on those small gains, the likes of mosquitoes and ants. Then there comes Bitcoin and other virtual coins. Around the year 2020, there was a global mining craze, and the market value of various virtual coins was so inflated they nearly became a global hard currency. He remembers during that time, many college students couldn''t afford to buy a graphics card for gamingjust a lousy 20-series card could cost you over three thousand. Although this trend didn''t last too long before collapsing, with the world''s largest virtual coin platform''s owner being arrested. But it can''t be denied that those who cashed out early in those years definitely made a fortune. As long as you''re not the last one holding the bag in a game of hot potato, you''ll be fine. Of course, among all these virtual coins, Bitcoin has always been the most resilient. At this point in time, the surge hasn''t started yet, and some guy in another country spent over ten thousand Bitcoins on two pizzas. In a few years, the price of a single Bitcoin will be around fifty thousand US dollars. That pizza is now known as the world''s most expensive, equating to selling two publicly traded companies. But those things aren''t so easy to buy; Xu Musen created an account and took a look. The current price of Bitcoin is only 0.5 US dollars per coin! In less than ten years, its value has increased by five hundred thousand times! What is called an economic miracle? However, almost no one realizes the value of Bitcoin at the moment, so it''s mostly in the hands of small-time retail investors. Xu Musen thought it over; honestly, the stakes involved are so high that he doesn''t truly trust others with it. Doing it alone would be too exhausting. The internet is so vast with a huge transaction volume; it needs numerous accounts continually operating. After all, these coins are illegal, and any carelessness could lead to being banned. We can''t keep all these things in one account. Xu Musen remembered that Liu Rushuang''s company had a department that interfaced with foreign companies, which was definitely much better at handling the internet and user information than he could manage on his own here. Moreover, this could be a huge fortune in the future, enough to allow Liu Rushuang and her daughter Yao Mingyue to retire directly and enjoy the latter half of their lives. This was also a method Xu Musen could think of to repay them first. No sooner said than done, Xu Musen made an appointment, and when they had dinner together at Liu Rushuang''s villa, he directly brought up the matter. "Virtual Coin I''ve heard of it, but it seems like it''s something like Q Coin?" Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire When Liu Rushuang heard about Xu Musen''s idea to start acquiring a large amount of Virtual Coin, she didn''t really understand it. That was normal, after all, making money is all about exploiting information asymmetry. If one percent of people in this world knew the value of Virtual Coin, it probably would have been swept up by now. By the time everyone knows how to make money, you''ve become the leeks, and there''s a good chance you''re the last batch. Although the internet has basically become widespread now, a lot of things are still inaccessible to the average netizen. Perhaps for most people, the first encounter with Virtual Coin is something like Q Coin or Point Coupon. But back in the day, Tencent was pretty fierce; Q Coin could be used to pay for phone bills, to purchase items, and they even planned to use Q Coin to pay their employees'' salaries, but in the end, it was clamped down by some mysterious force. Otherwise, it seems like Q Coin might have developed into something significant. "There''s a fundamental difference though. Virtual Coin is based on computing to solve cryptographic problems on the blockchain, earning a kind of reward. So theoretically, any type of Virtual Coin has a fixed number of coins, which means the price could stabilize, which is to say, retain value. In the future, as the internet develops, many private transactions can be done through direct, decentralized trading with Virtual Cointhere''s a big market for it." Xu Musen explained it simply, and Liu Rushuang could understand some of these professional terms. These things were quite advanced, and she didn''t understand them right away, but she was very supportive of what Xu Musen wanted to do. "If you want to do it, go for it. I''ll have my secretary coordinate with you later. We have a few computers and servers in the company as well as international dedicated optical cables that should meet your needs." Liu Rushuang nodded with a smile. "Okay, don''t worry, Mom, it won''t take a few years, and I''ll give you a surprise." Xu Musen also nodded seriously, and Liu Rushuang smiled as she put a piece of spare rib on his plate. "There''s no rush with making money, oh, and I heard from Ming Yue that you''ve already bought a car, planning to go back with Xiao Yue after the winter break?" At the mention of this, Yao Mingyue couldn''t help but glance at Xu Musen, her little eyes holding a slightly threatening look. "Yep, it''s a good chance to break in the car." Xu Musen nodded, already taking for granted the plan for the two of them to drive back together. "That''s good, but this will be your first time traveling such a long distance together. You must pay attention to safety on the road. Don''t force yourself if you can''t reach your destination in one day. You can also stop and stay overnight on the way, treat it like tourism. But you must pay attention to your safety when sleeping at night, and it would be best if you could stay together" As Liu Rushuang spoke, her gaze discreetly shifted back and forth between them. Yao Mingyue''s cheeks turned a little red, instantly thinking of something particularly that kind of thing. Only then did she remember, yes, Huhai and Zheng City were so far apart that it would be tough to reach in a single day. Wouldn''t the overnight stay be like a trip for the two of them together? A look of excitement appeared in her eyes, along with some mischievous thoughts, hehe... To the side, Xu Musen almost thought he could hear the sound of her salivating. Liu Rushuang said with a chuckle, "I meant that your rooms should be next to each other, but actually, a double bed isn''t bad either. After all, you are siblings now, and Mom trusts Xiao Sen''s character." sea??h th NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While saying that, Liu Rushuang ruffled Xu Musen''s hair. But honestly, I''m not sure I trust your precious little lady here. It feels like this ex-future mother-in-law is ready to become official at any moment. Xu Musen felt like he was walking into a den of wolves. He didn''t argue though, after all, once they were on the road driving, they would be beyond their control. But he had an intuition that the trip home would not be entirely peaceful... Chapter 212 Is Your Boyfriend Getting a Girlfriend? The holiday was about to begin.Quite a few students had already sneakily left early. It had become a tradition among university students; a week before vacation, many would tacitly come down with various illnesses and ask for leave to go home in advance. That way, they could avoid the peak travel rush. Xu Musen had the same plan, considering driving home during the holiday could mean being stuck in traffic for three or four days without being able to return. Having Yao Mingyue by his side, with those hungry wolves and tigers glaring covetously, if they had to spend a few nights together on the road, who knew what might happen. So, Xu Musen went looking for Bai Xin with a coffee milk tea in hand. "Yo, a rare visitor." Bai Xin was sitting in her office, initially in a very ladylike posture, but when she saw Xu Musen entering, she immediately revealed her more relaxed side. Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire Her two jean-clad legs, full and sensuous, gently knocked against the office desk. Ever since Xu Musen got busy dealing with various businesses, he hardly attended this class anymore. Some of his classmates had almost forgotten there was such a person in the class. "Why has the busy man come to visit this lonely old soul today?" Now Bai Xin interacted with Xu Musen like a big sister to a younger brother, teasing him as she asked. "Aunt Bai, you are not old at all. If you put on a school uniform, the rankings for Huhai University''s campus beauties might need to be reshuffled." Xu Musen said with a grin. "Smooth talker." Bai Xin''s face turned slightly red, but what woman doesn''t like to be complimented? A hint of pleasure still surfaced at the corners of her eyes. She joked about being alone, but Bai Xin was only in her thirties. It was the most perfect moment in a woman''s life, possessing the maturity of a woman yet not losing the delicate skin and figure of a girl. Sar?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Especially women who had never had children, they always seem a few years younger than their peers. She dressed casually today, wearing a white cashmere sweater that followed her body''s curves so closely that "shapely" hardly did her justice. The bottom was a simple pair of jeans, but her legs were sleek and even more deadly were the smooth lines with a sense of fleshiness. This was the kind of beauty that triggered aftershocks. No wonder so many teachers pursued her, and even many male students in the class had given her their silent affection. "I''m just telling it like it is." Xu Musen''s gaze wasn''t particularly inappropriate, but rather appreciative. After thirty, men and women tend to put on weight, so those who maintain their figure clearly have much self-discipline. Bai Xin looked at his serious expression, her lips slightly upturned: "The famous two on Huhai University''s campus beauty list are the Ice Cream Goddess and Milk Tea Girl, and both seem to have more than a little to do with you, right?" These two nicknames, Xu Musen hadn''t heard in a while, obviously knowing who they referred to. The campus forum did have a so-called beauty ranking, of course, it was all just students having fun. But An Nuannuan and Yao Mingyue invariably topped the list, alternating as number one. After all, personal tastes differ, but anyone with eyes couldn''t deny that both were beautiful without lying through their teeth. "Aunt Bai, that makes me sound like a playboy" Xu Musen scratched his head. Bai Xin gave him a slow look: "Some people know very well whether they are or not." "Aunt Bai, is it appropriate for you, as a teacher of the people, to gossip about your own students?" "All right, all right, I can''t be bothered with your affairs. What made you think of me today?" There seemed to be a slight wistful note in Bai Xin''s voice. This little fellow used to come to her office whenever he had nothing to do. Ever since he got busy with business, he rarely came to see her, hmph... no matter the age, men are all pigs. "Hehe, I didn''t want to disturb your work, Aunt Bai. The New Year is coming, so I came to pay my respects in advance." Xu Musen handed over the coffee milk tea: "A new flavor I''ve developed." Bai Xin liked to drink coffee, but recently she also quite enjoyed these sweet milk teas with a hint of coffee flavor. She took a sip, and it was indeed quite nice. She narrowed her eyes and looked at Xu Musen. "Out with it, what do you want?" "I really am just here to pay a New Year visit." "Ha, that''s just like you, not praying regularly but suddenly clutching at Buddha''s feet when in need. Came to see me for no reason?" Bai Xin glanced at him. Xu Musen stopped pretending and laughed with a hehe: "Clutching at Buddha''s feet isn''t as effective as clutching at Aunt Bai''s feet. Actually, I do have a bit of an issue." Speaking of feet, Xu Musen''s gaze unconsciously glanced down. Bai Xin lightly swung her legs resting on the desk. In the office, she wasn''t wearing boots but a pair of white cotton socks. The feet of a beautiful woman are always very small, especially in white socks, which have a special feeling. Especially since she usually wears high heels, she takes very good care of her feet. But Xu Musen''s words always seemed to have an innuendo, and she quietly withdrew her legs. Without a trace, she gave Xu Musen a look: "Go on, what is it?" "The New Year is coming up, and I want to go home a few days early." Bai Xin had already guessed this was the issue, as several students had recently made excuses to go home early on sick leave. "Just go fill out the form yourself." It was routine for Bai Xin by this point. "Will you be spending New Year''s in Huhai?" "Well, New Year''s is just about gathering for a meal, it''s the same wherever it is." Chapter 212 Is Your Boyfriend Getting a Girlfriend?_2 Bai Xin took a sip of her coffee milk tea and brought up the New Year, which she didn''t seem to like very much. At her age, every New Year''s celebration inevitably involved the topic of marriage pressure.If it wasn''t to see the elderly, she really wouldn''t want to celebrate the New Year. Xu Musen, who was writing an application form on the side, said with a smile, "Aunt Bai, if you''re free, you could also come to Zheng City. Aunt Liu and we celebrate the New Year together every year. You''d make Aunt Liu very happy if you came, and my mom''s New Year''s Eve dinner is really delicious." Chinese people love inviting others to eat at their homes, especially in the Yunnan Region, where having enough food was a struggle during the times of great famine. So, instead of asking about the weather, people would ask, "Have you eaten? If not, come over to eat." There''s a simple kindness to it, and having someone come to your house for a meal means that your relationship has reached a certain level of closeness. Of course, Xu Musen''s words also carried a hint of polite formality, as he expected Bai Xin probably wouldn''t take up the offer. However, he didn''t notice that Bai Xin''s gaze slightly paused, as if she was genuinely considering it. "It''s not out of the question," she said. "Ah? You''re really thinking of coming?" Xu Musen looked up at her. Bai Xin curved her lips into a smile, "What, you''re not welcoming me anymore? Or are you afraid I''ll go find your parents and tell them about you skipping classes... no, that you never attended classes at all?" Bai Xin''s joking tone made Xu Musen grin as well. He would''ve been worried about a home visit before, but not anymore. "Of course you''re welcome anytime. Just tell me what you like to eat in advance so I can inform my mom," Musen said with enthusiasm, recalling the many times Bai Xin had helped him. If she did visit his home, she''d be received as an honored guest. Looking at his sincere smile, Bai Xin took another sip of her coffee milk tea and finally said, "It''s still early. I''ll let you know when I really feel like going." "Sure, I''ll be waiting anytime," Musen replied, then passed his completed application form to her, "Thanks in advance, Teacher Bai~" "Go away, gross" Bai Xin rolled her eyes at him, but her smile never faded. Xu Musen left. Bai Xin felt a touch of boredom and propped up her legs. Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire Sometimes, mingling with the young made her feel as if she too had become younger. Her gaze dropped to her feet clothed in white socks, wondering what was on her mind. Her feet slowly rubbed together, and she slipped off the socks to reveal a pair of fair feet as delicate as any college girl''s. Bai Xin had a sensuously fuller figure, which meant her feet didn''t show any unsightly vein markings from being too thin. Fair and moist, her feet didn''t betray the money she spent on their care, yet Xu Musen''s brief glance from earlier came to her mind. She muttered under her breath. "That kid, he doesn''t have a thing for feet, does he..." ... Xu Musen was unaware that he had just been labeled as having a fetish for feet. Because he was currently busy massaging An Nuannuan''s little feet in a small room. An Nuannuan, cradling her milk tea, sipped sweetly as she watched Xu Musen work on her feet. Although it seemed like a slight kink of his, it made her happy. It was a feeling of being treated specially. They would soon be going back home for the New Year, which meant they wouldn''t see each other for at least a month. This was the first time they had to be apart for so long since they confirmed their relationship. An Nuannuan looked a bit down, watching Xu Musen earnestly massaging her feet. Her lips unwittingly pursed. "It''s just a holiday, not like we won''t see each other again," Musen said with a smile, noticing her toes weren''t as naughty as usual. Normally, when he massaged her, she''d playfully clamp his fingers with her toes. "But I''ll miss you," Nuannuan said. In the past, Nuannuan often maintained a certain expression, bearing a capybara-like sense of stability, as if living were fine and dying would be okay too. But ever since she got together with Musen, more of her little expressions surfaced, and she began to learn to express her inner feelings. "Shall I stay here with you then?" Musen asked with a smile. In a flash of brightness in her eyes, Nuannuan quickly shook her head, "No, you still have to go back." "Aren''t you going to miss me?" Musen teased, lightly flicking her nose. "But New Year''s is for spending time with family. Your parents and grandma are waiting for you at home. Grandma says a man must not forget his mother once he has a wife," Nuannuan said, showing a bit of reluctance but still considering Musen''s well-being. Xu Musen listened and couldn''t help but smile, "You just said that if you get something you can''t forget your mother?" "Daughter-in-law... huff huff." An Nuannuan subconsciously started to answer, but then she pretended to be dumb and made two huffing sounds. Her fair face turned a rosy red. Xu Musen couldn''t resist pinching her chubby cheeks, "Just wait, we''ll be a family soon, and from then on, at any time, we will be together." An Nuannuan obediently nodded her head and watched Xu Musen continue to massage her little feet, extending her toes to clamp around his hand. Seeing her happy again, Xu Musen cleared his throat and said, "Nuannuan, there''s something I need to tell you, I plan to drive back this time, and Yao Mingyue will be with me." As a pure-hearted big boy, Xu Musen was still very conscious of his role as a boyfriend, although his relationship with Yao Mingyue, and the relationship between their families, meant that driving back together was no big deal. But for that exact reason, Xu Musen felt the need to make things clear to An Nuannuan. After all, the two of them were... rivals in love before? Surely, any girl would be a little upset, right? After he finished speaking, he watched An Nuannuan''s expression closely. Indeed, An Nuannuan''s eyebrows twitched for a moment, and then... "Oh." Just an "oh", she didn''t even nod her head and continued to play with Xu Musen''s fingers with her toes. "Oh?" Is that all, just "oh"? Xu Musen was a bit speechless for a moment, "Nuannuan, aren''t you upset?" "Why should I be upset? You''re my boyfriend, I''ll trust you." An Nuannuan looked at him, her speech serious, not like she was holding any grudge. Normally, it seemed as if it wasn''t her little rival she was sending off, but rather Nannan. Xu Musen was at a loss for words for a moment. What should he say? Aren''t you worried about your boyfriend getting a girlfriend? A girlfriend who is understanding is certainly good, but too much understanding without a hint of jealousy makes it feel a bit like they don''t care. "Nuannuan... maybe you should show a little jealousy; I feel a bit uncomfortable otherwise." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xu Musen said, watching An Nuannuan looking at him with a puzzled face. "You''re not at all jealous, and I''m feeling like maybe I''m not that important to you." Xu Musen sighed again. Truth be told, he was quite petty; unable to stand being controlled too tightly in his past life, now finding Nuannuan''s understanding a bit unsettling. An Nuannuan watched for a while, then snorted softly and gently stepped on Xu Musen''s hand with her foot. "Then I''m upset now; you''ve never even taken me out, you''re not allowed to let her take advantage of you, you jerk..." An Nuannuan murmured, partly playing along with him and partly revealing her own little mood. Xu Musen, with his hand being stepped on, wore an expression of pleasure on his face. Right, the jealousy and coquettishness from his girlfriend was precisely what he craved in a romantic relationship, wasn''t it? "Xu Musen." "Hmm." "You''re such a pervert." "... You haven''t even seen the pervert side of me yet!" And then Xu Musen, the pervert, began to bully her. It wasn''t long before An Nuannuan pushed him away. As if to vent all the longing of not seeing each other for the upcoming month. An Nuannuan seemed to harbor such a mood, even allowing today''s sneaky movements by Xu Musen without dodging away as she would have before. But she only let him take a little advantage... Yet for the eighteen-year-old Xu Musen, full of vigour and nowhere to vent it, it was already the last bit of benefit a lecher could hope for. In his arms, the soft body of the young girl made him a bit sneaky and fidgety, peeking and prying... "Xu Musen..." "Hmm..." "Is that a bubble tea straw that fell on the bed? It''s poking me..." "..." Xu Musen silently lifted his head, feeling somewhat offended! Chapter 213 Nuannuan is also the Filthy Monster King. Xu Musen felt the most malicious attack!What do you mean by "bubble tea straw"? Clearly, it was from Lin Juran! sea??h th novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the very least, it could be the circumference of a bubble tea cup, right? Do you curse your own boyfriend like that? But the girl in his arms clearly still didn''t quite understand; her family had protected her so well that they only told her what she shouldn''t do. She knew some terms, but had no idea what they specifically referred to. When An Nuannuan usually drank bubble tea, she liked to flatten the straw a bit, so it wouldn''t poke her mouth. Or she would fold it, so she could drink from different angles. So she was about to take action. "Eh..." Xu Musen was about to explain, but in the next moment, he swallowed the words in his mouth. It reminded him of a famous saying. Using the emperor to command the princes... Although it wasn''t fragile. But he should still handle it with care. An Nuannuan noticed that Xu Musen had suddenly gone silent She felt that something was a bit off too. She looked down, then up again. Then she caught a glimpse of Xu Musen''s slightly reddened eyes. "Ah ya!" In a flash, her arms flailed awkwardly, one hand landing slap on Xu Musen''s face. It almost pushed him right off the bed. Xu Musen cooperatively rolled around on the bed. Both of their faces were a bit flushed. An Nuannuan buried herself under the covers and wouldn''t show her head. Xu Musen felt a mix of awkwardness and indescribable feelings, he took several deep breaths, waiting for the hot blood to cool down. Then he slowly approached An Nuannuan again, gently poking her through the blanket. "Nuannuan, that was... an accident, don''t be angry." Xu Musen didn''t know what else to say to her, if it was another girl it would be okay, since they were dating, and for university students of this era, it was very common to sneak some forbidden fruit. But An Nuannuan had been too well protected by her family since she was little, Xu Musen was afraid he might frighten her. An Nuannuan didn''t say anything for a long time, Xu Musen could only keep saying nice things. After a long while, An Nuannuan finally peeked out just a sliver of her head. Her dull and cute big eyes were now filled with various emotions, she looked at Xu Musen, and it took a while before her voice came muffled from behind the blanket, "I''m not angry... I''ve read about it in books... I just... I didn''t know..." An Nuannuan''s eyes showed nervousness and shyness, along with a bit of bewilderment, but indeed, there was no anger or dislike. After all, being with someone you like, nothing would make her dislike it; it''s just that humans are always a little scared of the unknown. "This... is normal, it''s because I like you that I reacted that way." Xu Musen said softly, pulling out the classic line that players use to wheedle naive girls. An Nuannuan looked at him with just her eyes visible. Her grandmother had told her that boys say this kind of thing when they''re being hooligans. She pursed her lips: "You bad guy..." Xu Musen looked at An Nuannuan, who still hadn''t recovered, and he sighed deeply, humbly saying, "I''m sorry Nuannuan, I was wrong, I shouldn''t have been so impulsive just because I like you... I''ll control myself better in the future so I won''t like..." Xu Musen''s words were cut off, An Nuannuan stretched out her hand and directly covered his mouth. What does he mean he will control himself not to like her anymore? "You''re not allowed to say that... " An Nuannuan''s face was blood-red, but her little mouth was puckered up to the sky, so anxious she didn''t even have time to feel shy. Xu Musen couldn''t help but laugh, his reverse psychology seemed to have worked. He seized the opportunity and grabbed An Nuannuan''s little hand, adopting a teasing expression. "So you''re encouraging me not to control myself?" "That''s not it!" An Nuannuan, despite her naivety, knew she''d been tricked. She pursed her lips, looking at this big bad wolf before her: "Don''t you bully me, I''ll tell Grandma and Grandpa..." In the face of his elders, Xu Musen was still a bit cowardly, his goal was simply to break the awkward atmosphere as soon as possible. Xu Musen held An Nuannuan in his arms, gently kissed her hand, and said with a smile, "Would you really bear to let Grandma and Grandpa clean me up?" Feeling the warmth from Xu Musen''s embrace, the tension and shyness in An Nuannuan''s heart were being gently smoothed away. "I would have Grandpa tie you up, and then I''ll deal with you." An Nuannuan huffed, but the threat wasn''t really effective. Xu Musen flopped onto the bed, his hands behind his back. "Come on, you can deal with me and vent your anger now, come on, don''t go easy on me just because I''m a delicate flower!" Xu Musen exaggeratedly said. This cheeky tone made An Nuannuan unable to suppress a laugh; she clenched her small fist and lightly punched Xu Musen''s arm. Alright, I won''t be angry with you anymore. Discover stories at My Virtual Library Empire But after hitting him, An Nuannuan still shyly pulled the quilt over herself, recalling Xu Musen''s reddened eyes and his heavy breathing. It felt just like she couldn''t reach her bubble tea. "Xu Musen... Are you... uncomfortable?" An Nuannuan''s voice was as tiny as a mosquito''s. Xu Musen cleared his throat softly, "A bit, but it''s nothing, Nuannuan, you don''t need to overthink it." "Oh..." An Nuannuan looked at Xu Musen, her big eyes flickering, but eventually she said nothing, her face still red. In the evening, An Nuannuan returned to her dorm room. But her mind was still full of the day''s events. She lay on her bed, hugging her big white rabbit stuffed animal, and felt herself still burning up. Chapter 213 Nuannuan is also the Filthy Monster King. _2 At this time, the roommates also started to chat idly, the first semester was about to end, and many girls basically had boyfriends by now.There are already two girls in the dorm who are in relationships. "It''s almost New Year and my boyfriend wants to take me traveling, but I can''t tell my family." "Ha-ha, then just have your boyfriend meet his future father-in-law." "Get out, we''ve only been dating for a short while, what would it look like bringing him home now?" "Yo yo yo, what era are you living in still playing pure love? Have the two of you done those shameless things yet?" The topics discussed among the girls were actually quite wild, not much different from those in the boys'' dorms. After all, everyone is at the age of eighteen, when hormones are most rampant, it''d be weird if one didn''t have all sorts of wild thoughts. The girl being egged on blushed slightly and said, "Hmph, I won''t let him get his way so soon; at the very least, he has to wait until he has a house and a car after graduation." "Eh~ you''re thinking too far ahead. But boys at this age are all as eager as teddy bears. My boyfriend also brought up going to a hotel, and I was scared to agree, but he seemed very unhappy..." Another girl was a bit conflicted, first worrying that if she went with him and he got what he wanted, then he might not cherish her anymore. But if she didn''t go, she really liked her boyfriend and felt bad for him being unhappy. An Nuannuan was listening on the side, her eyes blinked, and she quietly perked up her ears to eavesdrop. Another girl giggled and said. "Hehe, actually, guys are quite easy to deal with, it''s just like playing cards in a game of ''Fight the Landlord; you can''t throw out the king bomb right away, revealing everything you''ve got. You start slow, playing your cards bit by bit, gradually raising the stakes." "Ah? What do you mean?" The girl still didn''t quite understand. "Oh my, it means, you don''t have to agree to stay with him outside, but you can first..." She lowered her voice conspiratorially, although her expression was that of a naughty queen, the dorm was only so big, and everyone could still hear her clearly. An Nuannuan also perked up her ears, practically about to slide under the bed. "Ah! You, how do you know... Aiya, you''re so dirty!" The girls, upon hearing her techniques, immediately turned red-faced. An Nuannuan, with her ears pricked up, vaguely heard some of what was said, confusion first flickered in her eyes, but perhaps such instinctive things could be mostly understood on first hearing. She then momentarily looked at her own soft, pale hands, slightly parted her lips, and embarrassingly pulled her head back in. This stuff... was just too naughty. "Ha-ha-ha, you''ll all use this sooner or later, it''s like giving them a sweet jujube; otherwise, if a guy can''t bear it and gets too uncomfortable, who knows, he might go out and cheat, hmph..." The girl had an air of experience about her as she imparted skills to keep a guy hooked in the dorm. An Nuannuan, hearing these words, clutched her little bunny doll tightly. Do boys really suffer that much? And would they really be unable to restrain themselves and go looking for someone else? Suddenly, An Nuannuan remembered the matter of him offering to drive her home. She pursed her lips, she trusted Xu Musen, but she had some doubts about herself. Her little head was somewhat overloaded at this point, she picked up her phone, and hesitated for a while. Only then did she sneakily search on her phone. "Boyfriend wants to" Even typing made her face red-hot, she really didn''t know how to search properly, deleted her text, and tried again. "Boyfriend has an unspeakable secret" The moment she clicked open. The top results were several ads from the Putian network. "Cure for infertility, for offspring to fill your halls!" " too long, one-cut-fix, second one half off!" "Boyfriend not up to par, Xiong''s old remedy has mighty power!" An Nuannuan didn''t understand what any of this meant, but the slogans seemed so impressive that she silently bookmarked the websites, just in case they might be useful later. ... "Achoo!!" Xu Musen let out several big sneezes. He rubbed his nose and muttered, "Which cute little thing is cursing me behind my back?" However, he felt a bit of agitation today when he recalled these matters. Having been with Nuannuan for quite a while, in this fast-paced era, it''s actually quite normal to do certain things. As long as you can take responsibility, there''s really nothing wrong between young people. Especially with someone you like, it''s even a further step in showing that. Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire Just thinking of An Nuannuan''s shy and nervous expression, Xu Musen couldn''t help but smile. It''s actually quite beautiful, to progress step by step. Xu Musen took a warm shower, which calmed his restlessness. Lying in bed, he could still smell the unique scent of fruits and a faint milky fragrance from An Nuannuan. During the honeymoon phase, you always miss each other especially soon after parting. He picked up his phone and sent An Nuannuan a message. "Are you asleep?" After several seconds on the other end, a "me" was sent first Then a "Not yet." It looked as if it was sent in a flurry. Xu Musen thought she might still feel a bit embarrassed because of what happened today, and smiled. "My car will arrive tomorrow, I''ll drive you home to visit grandma and grandpa. I''ll cook you a meal, how about I make you your favorite caramelized sweet potatoes?" On her end, An Nuannuan indeed fumbled as she closed the ads, reading the message from Xu Musen. Between the lines, she could almost feel Xu Musen''s gentle and doting tone. In that moment, An Nuannuan suddenly felt like she was the "thug baddie." While Xu Musen had already started thinking about cooking her something delicious, her mind was filled with all sorts of messy thoughts. She pursed her lips as if struggling internally, but in the end, everything melted into Xu Musen''s words. She moved her fingers lightly, "Okay! (Touched bunny.)" "That''s settled then, I''ll come pick you up tomorrow, get some rest early, good night." Xu Musen saw her reply and heaved a sigh of relief, smiling as he prepared to turn off his phone for the night. "Ding~" The special tone for a cherished contact sounded, and Xu Musen picked up his phone to check. It was a message from An Nuannuan. "Musen, I really like you~" This little girl rarely ever said such things; usually, every word she said hit right at the heart. S~ea??h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xu Musen''s heart was also enveloped in sweet tenderness, "I like you too." An Nuannuan stared at the message, feeling as if she had fallen into a jar of honey, happily kicking her legs in the bed. "Then, see you tomorrow, I also want to give you" She didn''t send it but deleted it instead, only to send another message. "Tomorrow, I want to see you early." "Promise to complete the mission!" A smile involuntarily appeared on Xu Musen''s lips. Good night, see you tomorrow. Chapter 214 One Who Flirts, One Who Spoils! "Mr. Xu, congratulations on becoming a distinguished Audi owner. Here are your car keys."In the 4S store, a saleswoman with a great image and temperament handed the car keys to Xu Musen with a smile. There were also people presenting flowers and firing party poppers, creating a full sense of ceremony. In this time period, the A6 was undoubtedly considered a luxury brand. Xu Musen received the car keys, and he''d be lying if he said he wasn''t excited, even though in his past life he had driven all sorts of million-level luxury cars. But this car was truly and completely his own. "Would you like to take a photo to commemorate this moment?" The saleswoman asked with a smile beside him. This had become a tradition when picking up a new cartaking a photo with the beloved vehicle and then posting it on social media like WeChat Moments or QQ Space. After all, if buying a luxury car was not for showing off, then buying one would be meaningless. Her gaze stayed on Xu Musen. Although the A6 wasn''t in the millions class of luxury cars, it wasn''t something the average person could afford. Nowadays, those who had the means to drive an A6 were generally middle-aged, somewhat successful professionals. But this young man in front of her, who looked like a college student, was a first for her. "No need," Xu Musen, however, shook his head. He wasn''t in the habit of bragging on social media, and he also wanted to surprise his parents. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire Driving the car straight home would probably make them so happy they wouldn''t be able to stop smiling all year. But looking at the flowers in his hands, he chose to place them on the passenger seat. Xu Musen got into the car and briefly familiarized himself with it; he had to admit that the A6 was a true success in design. This model, with a few modifications, could still be the unattainable benchmark in most people''s hearts more than a decade later. And his was fully outfitted with all the optional top-end features, including leather seats and intelligent heating, to name a few. The interior had been thoroughly cleaned and perfumed in advance, so there wasn''t a trace of the smell of leather. Xu Musen started the car and was ready to leave, heading to the vehicle administration to get his plates. But at the window, the saleswoman leaned over again with a smile. Sear?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Mr. Xu, here''s my business card. If your car needs maintenance or insurance in the future, please contact me, and I''ll make sure it''s taken care of." The saleswoman''s smile was clearly trained, elegant, and in the 4S store where she worked, the sales staff were always well-presented; even in winter, she still wore a white blouse, a hip-hugging skirt, and black high heels with stockings. Her figure was attractive, curvy, with legs in black stockings that were particularly eye-catching. In the sales industry, not to smear it, but indeed there is an unspoken rule of sorts. Especially for those selling houses or luxury cars, it''s no secret why female sales representatives have an edgeapart from their personal abilities, these kinds of examples are indeed not rare. As she handed over her business card, Xu Musen took a glance at her and offered a polite smile. "Thank you." Although the saleswoman could be considered beautiful, in Xu Musen''s rating system, she barely made a pass. Why would he care about her when he had Nuannuan and Yao Mingyue, two perfect-score beauties, at his side? Even Zhu Yulan would score a high eight or nine, and driving a Ferrari might add a few points to that. If comparisons were to be made about maturity and intellectual charm, Liu Rushuang was unrivaled, and Bai Xin had just the right touch... Hey, how did some random person get into the mix? Xu Musen shook his head slightly, wondering how a champion of pure love like himself kept entertaining such wild thoughts. He reached out to take the business card, but suddenly felt his fingers brushed lightly. Xu Musen looked at her, and the saleswoman''s face immediately showed a hint of embarrassment mixed with a shy and coy smile. Everything seemed like it had been practiced countless times. Even the angle of her smile seemed like it had been trained in front of a mirror over and over. For those middle-aged men who were easily swayed by looks, they might really be hooked by such a hint. But Xu Musen just smiled faintly, raised the car window, and drove off, Her little tricks might work on others, But for Xu Musen, they were hardly impressive. Xu Musen drove straight to the nearby vehicle administration where Gong Ziqiang had been waiting since early that morning. Upon seeing Xu Musen, he greeted him enthusiastically and directed him to the license plate lottery. Sure enough, Xu Musen tried his luck and the screen immediately displayed several rather good plate numbers. Although a coveted number was out of the question, there were several with 666, 888, 999, or other auspicious digits. It seemed Gong Ziqiang really made a point of arranging this well; in Huhai where traffic was heavy, plates with three consecutive numbers were already quite rare. Xu Musen browsed the options and without much hesitation, chose one with 888a sure sign of prosperity. His eyes scanned the plates and noticed one with 888 followed by "XA." Wasn''t that the perfect combination of his and An Nuannuan''s initials? Xu Musen, without a second thought, chose it. Getting the plates, installing them, and uploading the dataall done in one go! Before leaving, Xu Musen had a few more words with Gong Ziqiang to express his gratitude. Afterward, he drove towards the school. The bustling scenery of Huhai passed by the window, and watching the swiftly moving views, Xu Musen felt a sense of freedom. Buying a house and a car might be like a sword hanging over a man''s head, But there''s no denying that affording them also brings a real sense of accomplishment. Chapter 214 One Who Flirts, One Who Spoils!_2 Don''t say that truly wealthy people won''t buy houses; they go straight for villas or even enclose land to build manor castles.Cars are the free spirit, while houses are the safe harbor. Xu Musen looked at the car, then at the houses outside, and his mind started to ponder about buying a house. After all, with the development of Huhai, buying a house now is a surefire profit. They eventually arrived at the school gate. The security guard saw the unfamiliar vehicle and didn''t let it pass, but Xu Musen had already given Bai Xin a heads-up. After the security confirmed it, they directly entered Xu Musen''s license plate number into the system, and from then on, he could come and go freely. You have to admit, Bai Xin cutting through red tape really made things smooth, having an acquaintance at the school saved a lot of trouble. The brand-new A6 was quite eye-catching, especially with the triple eight in the license plate number, attracting many gazes along the way. "Man, an A6, and it looks like the latest model." "Right, just looking at this car, it seems like it just rolled out of the showroom, so cool. If I could drive it, I''d have no worries about picking up girls, huh?" "This car starts at least at four hundred thousand, and the top configuration would also be five or six hundred thousand, not something ordinary people can afford..." People around couldn''t help but turn their heads for a glance; million-level luxury cars might be something ordinary people never get to touch in their lifetime. A car worth four or five hundred thousand was already out of reach for them. Xu Musen didn''t like to show off, but now his own abilities no longer allowed him to be low-key. Looking at the envious stares around him, to be honest, it was indeed quite thrilling! He drove all the way to the girls'' dormitory building. Xu Musen picked up his phone, ready to call An Nuannuan. Enjoy new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire At this moment upstairs, An Nuannuan would always get up especially early whenever she was going home with Xu Musen. She put on the clothes she particularly liked, then carefully combed her hair, a stark contrast to her previously lazy, disheveled look. But since she started dating, this little silly girl had become more and more delicate. A woman decks herself out for the man she loves, after all. Of course, she still didn''t know how to wear makeup. But her face didn''t really need makeup, such a stunning natural beauty adding makeup would be gilding the lily. "Yo, Nuannuan, you''re going on a date with Boss Xu again today?" In the dorm, when Xu Musen was mentioned, they would jokingly refer to him as Boss Xu. "It''s not a date, it''s going home." An Nuannuan responded, and saying these words, the corners of her mouth couldn''t help curving into an adorable and happy arc. "Wow wow, going home, huh? You two are moving fast, just started dating and already meeting the parents, I bet you''ll be getting credits for having a kid before graduation!" "Hahaha, looking at their pace, maybe something will happen this New Year''s Eve." The dormitory suddenly burst into a chorus of teasing laughter. An Nuannuan''s pretty face turned a bit red with shyness, but listening to their teasing made her a bit happy too. Because back in high school, when others teased, it was always about Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue. But now, the person by his side, was all her own. "Nuannuan, do you want me to do your makeup? Give Boss Xu a stunning surprise?" "Forget it, does Nuannuan''s face need makeup? I''m jealous and I''m a girl." "Exactly, don''t go powdering Nuannuan''s face, don''t delay their sweet nothings." Although An Nuannuan basically always worked at the milk tea shop and didn''t often eat meals with them, Her personality was great, and every time Xu Musen came to see her, he would also bring milk tea for them. So they all quite liked An Nuannuan, and the dormitory atmosphere was always good. A few words made An Nuannuan feel a bit embarrassed. Makeup... this was indeed a blind spot for An Nuannuan. Watching them powdering their faces and drawing eyeliner each morning, she was curious too. "Even if no makeup, you can at least apply some lip balm, right? With the weather this dry, be careful you stick together when you kiss." "Get out of here, only puppies stick together." "Hey!! You foul fiend!" The girls were quite adept at telling risqu jokes. But An Nuannuan''s eyes were fixed on their lipsticks, which made the lips seem moist and sparkling. Just like... having just been kissed. An Nuannuan''s eyes flickered and she spoke softly, "Can I use one of those lipsticks?" "Sure, I''ve sold many of them. I''ll get you a new one. What flavor do you like, Nuannuan?" The girl nodded immediately and took out several lip balms from her desk. There were apple, orange, strawberry, and so on. Before An Nuannuan had a chance to look more closely, she suddenly received a call from Xu Musen. "Madame Boss Xu, please come downstairs; I''m waiting for you down here." Xu Musen''s voice came with a hint of a smile. An Nuannuan immediately hummed in response, "Okay~" As she spoke, her gaze settled on the lip balms in front of her. Then, she quietly asked, "Xu Musen, if there are apple, orange, and strawberry, which one would you prefer to eat?" As soon as An Nuannuan spoke out, the three girls in the dormitory suddenly looked at each other in puzzlement. Sar?h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They looked at An Nuannuan, who was slightly blushing yet leisurely swinging her legs. Ah? Was this the legendary plight where the hunter often appears as the prey? "I like what you like, especially Nuannuan-brand imported fruits." Xu Musen laughed in response, remembering how back in high school, she would bring fruit from home for him to eat every day. Hearing that, An Nuannuan swung her legs even more cheerfully, "No, you have to pick one." Chapter 214 One Who Flirts, One Who Spoils!_3 "Then let''s go with strawberries, since you always eat the tips and I get the bottoms Why are you asking me this all of a sudden, are you treating me to fruit?"Xu Musen asked. As the owner of a fruit tea shop, giving me fruit is like sending oil to the tycoons in Saudi Arabia, isn''t it? "Sure, I''ll treat you to some later" As An Nuannuan said this, she couldn''t help but feel her face heat up, wondering if she was maybe learning to be a bit naughty herself. She hung up the phone. The dormitory was still as silent as ever, as the girls all looked at An Nuannuan. Then they silently, one by one, began jotting down notes in their little notebooks. "What are you writing?" "Flirting tips!" "Wuwu, Nuannuan, you''re too good at flirting; if I were a guy, I''d definitely become your loyal follower." "Indeed, beneath the pink surface, it''s all dark" The girls exclaimed that they had learned a lot. Actually, this wasn''t the first time they had learned these tricks from An Nuannuan. Despite An Nuannuan''s usual simplicity, every move seemed naturally flawless. Who could withstand that? "Here, strawberry-flavored for you." A girl, understanding the situation, handed over strawberry-flavored lip balm. "How much is it?" An Nuannuan already casually took out her wallet. "Hehe, no need for money; consider it as the tuition fee I''ve paid, and besides, I''ve also enjoyed plenty of milk tea from you and Boss Xu," the girl said with a chuckle. An Nuannuan then took the lip balm and tried applying it on her lips. Indeed, her lips looked moist and tempting, just begging to be bitten into. This time, let him have the strawberry tips~ Zhou Mou, a few girls also planned to go shopping together, so they went downstairs with An Nuannuan. "Eh, where''s Boss Xu?" As they descended, the girls instinctively glanced at the tree beside themXu Musen was usually there waiting for An Nuannuan. "It looks like there are a lot of people standing by the roadside up ahead." They saw something at the intersection ahead, which made passersby stop for an extra look. They, too, took a couple of steps closer. "Wow, it''s an Audi!" "It looks gorgeous; this car must not be cheap at all." The girls, generally fond of brands like BMW and Audi, knew that having a family car was already quite impressive, and a several-hundred-thousand-yuan Audi was definitely considered a luxury in their eyes. Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire "It looks new too. Is it a teacher''s?" "No way a teacher''s car would be parked in front of the girls'' dorms, huh, I bet some rich second generation is here to flirt." "Haha, if someone came to pick me up in an Audi, I''d be willing to be flirted with too!" Although university girls generally still believe in love, they have seen a bit of the lavish outside world. sea??h th novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, who doesn''t like money? An Nuannuan was also gazing at the car, lost in thought, but her eyes held no shock or envy, only the memory of Xu Musen taking her to see the car, which seemed to be the exact same model! Just as she was about to look for Xu Musen, a figure slowly approached her from behind. A warm embrace slowly enveloped her from behind, and in front of her, there was a large bouquet of flowers. An Nuannuan lifted her head in a daze, meeting the smiling face of Xu Musen, whose cheeks seemed especially warm under the winter sunlight. "For you, the first bouquet of the winter." This seemed to be the first time Xu Musen publicly presented An Nuannuan with flowers. An Nuannuan''s gaze lingered on the bright red roses before her. Xu Musen had given flowers many times, but the recipient was never her, and now, she was holding the bouquet for the first time. The first time he confessed his love in public. Although a confession is a matter between two people, which girl doesn''t like a bit of dramatic romance? An Nuannuan was dazed, yet her eyes softened as she looked into Xu Musen''s, sweet as flowing honey. She accepted the bouquet in her hands, but her gaze never left Xu Musen''s face. Several girls turned their heads, witnessing this romantic scene, and suddenly felt a sour taste in their mouths. "Wow, you two are really something... one knows how to flirt and the other knows how to pamper, incredible!" "Ahh, getting dog food first thing in the morning, Boss Xu, you owe us compensation for the mental trauma!" The girls around them teased, and even those who were already in relationships had to admit that their own boyfriends seemed to fall short when compared to Xu Musen. "Alright, I''ll give each of you a discount coupon for my milk tea shop by way of compensation." Xu Musen laughed heartily. "Eh, after eating dog food we still have to support your business, you really know how to work it." The girls also laughed out loud. Xu Musen then lowered his head to look into An Nuannuan''s eyes, "Shall we go home?" Home... What a warm word, and now it rolls off his tongue so naturally. An Nuannuan nodded her little head, clutching the flowers in her arms tightly. "Mhm!" Xu Musen took out his car key, and the sound of the vehicle unlocking automatically rang out. "Boss Xu... that car, it can''t be yours, can it?" Several girls stared at the key he pulled out, incredulously questioning. "Yes, just bought it. Nuannuan''s leg hasn''t fully healed, and she can''t be expected to walk all the time when we go out, so I just bought a car for now as a temporary solutiondon''t look down on it." Xu Musen said with a light laugh, he reached out to tidy An Nuannuan''s hair, and gently tapped her tiny nose. Everyone: "..." Hard done by? Could this be called being hard done by? But Xu Musen was not showing off, because to ordinary people this Audi A6 seemed top-notch, yet compared to the Rolls-Royce at An Nuannuan''s house, it really was "hard on Nuannuan." The moment this was said, everyone''s jaws dropped, speechless. A car worth half a million, hard done by? We''d all love to find a boyfriend who could "hard done by" us like that! Ah, it''s so annoying, feels like I''ve been slapped in the face! Xu Musen, ever the gentleman, opened the car door and smiled at An Nuannuan. "Princess, please get in the car!" An Nuannuan''s face was flushed, and her little heart, as if dust-covered for many years, quickened its beat with every moment she spent with Xu Musen. She held the flowers, and before she could react, Xu Musen went over, scooped her up with a princess carry, and placed her gently into the car. With no smart seat, Xu Musen himself was her artificial intelligence. This scene was exceptionally beautiful, and many people took out their phones to record it. Xu Musen didn''t mind other people filming, as his and An Nuannuan''s story was always a hot topic on the campus forum, known as the "Milk Tea Couple''s Shop." However... At that moment in the library. Yao Mingyue silently watched her phone, a notification from the campus forum about Auntie of Shanghai''s milk tea shop popped up a new message, and the image of the princess carry was quickly posted. Seeing the likes and envious, congratulatory comments from "shipping fans" below. Yao Mingyue took a bite of dark chocolate, it was bitter, but today, it somehow tasted sour as well? "Heh, they''re really so affectionate..." Squeezing the words through clenched teeth, Yao Mingyue had a glint of darkness in her eyes that occasionally surfaced then retreated. Chapter 215 So, you like your brother-in-law? Driving on the road.The most comfortable moment for a man is when he''s driving his own car, with his beloved at his side. Xu Musen looked at An Nuannuan in the passenger seat, who was hugging a bouquet of roses and giggling softly. Stopping at the market. Xu Musen stretched out his hand to pinch her cute face, "Happy over a bunch of flowers? "Hehe, this is the first time you''ve given me flowers like this." An Nuannuan said cheerfully. Xu Musen, seeing her so happy, felt a bit embarrassed, "Actually, these flowers were prepared by the dealership when I bought the car." Gifting flowers to a girlfriend should definitely be more heartfelt if purchased personally. Knowing An Nuannuan would care so much, he would have taken the trouble to have them properly wrapped at a florist. "It''s okay, whether they''re from a florist, picked by the roadside, or even found somewhere, as long as they''re from you, I like them all." An Nuannuan hugged the flowers tightly, her large eyes fixed intently on Xu Musen. Xu Musen was touched, having given many flowers in the past, but this was the best response he''d ever received. Xu Musen petted her head, "But I want to give you the best, and since my mom owns a flower shop, I''ll let her put together the most beautiful bouquet for her future daughter-in-law!" Mentioning his mom and the title of daughter-in-law made An Nuannuan shyly bury her face in the flowers, humming softly through her cute nostrils. "Right, didn''t you say you would treat me to strawberries?" Xu Musen suddenly remembered what she said, indeed he had smelled a hint of sweet strawberry when he leaned close to An Nuannuan. An Nuannuan batted her eyes with rosy cheeks, teasingly, "Then close your eyes first." "Close my eyes for strawberries?" "Just close them." "Alright." Xu Musen closed his eyes, but slyly left a small gap open. Sar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He saw An Nuannuan slowly set aside the bouquet, her entire face flushed. She carefully examined Xu Musen''s face, her large eyes filled with his reflection. As if mustering courage, she gently pursed her lips, which were coated with glossy, shimmering lipstick. Little by little, she moved closer to Xu Musen. The faint scent of strawberries approached again. So this was her little strawberry. Where did this silly girl learn this... As the distance between them closed, Xu Musen finally got to taste the sweetest, most delicious little strawberry in the world. The soft lips of a young girl are the most unforgettable reward for a boy. An Nuannuan felt she had learned something naughty as she quickly pulled back, now looking at Xu Musen, whose eyes were open and who was watching her with an indulgent smile. "Is this the strawberry treat you promised?" Xu Musen licked the corner of his lips, still tasting her lip balm, which was smooth and sweet. An Nuannuan once again used the flowers to cover half of her blushing face, peering at him with her big eyes, "So... did you like it?" "Just as I was starting to truly savor it, it was gone. I couldn''t even catch the taste. Come on, let me try for two more hours." Xu Musen smacked his lips playfully. An Nuannuan hit him lightly, slightly blushing, "We still have to go home later." "Fine, I''ll have more when we get home." Xu Musen laughed loudly, then got out of the car to go grocery shopping with her. It was noon, just the time when Nannan''s tutoring class ended, and Xu Musen was right on time to pick up his younger aunt to come home. Seeing the children lining up to leave the tutoring class, Xu Musen got out of the car, holding the prepared milk tea to curry favor with his younger aunt. Pretty girls always stand out in a crowd, and counting, An Nannan was already twelve or thirteen, graceful and lovely. After all, with An Nuannuan, such a beautiful sister as a role model, she was bound to grow into a stunning beauty. She was still sporting twin buns, her lips red, teeth white, looking like a little porcelain doll, bouncing as she walked. Watching her, Xu Musen always felt like he was seeing An Nuannuan as a child, perhaps that''s how lively Nuannuan had been before her mother''s tragedy. Today, An Nannan was indeed very happy because winter vacation was coming, and her sister was returning home, and that mean guy was coming too... Just to make her tasty food! He''s just her personal chef, not because she wanted to see him, hmpf~ The little girl thought to herself. In front, suddenly another figure appeared. It was the same boy who had given her chocolate last time, holding a bag of exquisite candies, a bag of cookies, and an intricate Barbie doll pendant. "An Nannan, don''t you like sweets? These are limited edition from Disney." Girls her age still harbor some Disney princess dreams, just as boys wish to have an Ultraman transformation device. But An Nannan just glanced at him, "I''ve said I don''t take things from strangers, and I''m on a diet recently, no sweets!" Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire "You can take them home even if you don''t eat them; there''s also a Barbie doll charm. It''s out of production now, and these cookies, I made them myself." The boy still didn''t give up, especially with the bag of homemade cookies that didn''t look very appealing, showing even more of his sincerity and a little touch of cunning. However, An Nannan simply ignored him and walked past. Chapter 215 So, you like your brother-in-law? _2 "Nannan, just give me one chance, okay? I''ve realized that I like you. I''ll treat you well. Whatever you want to eat, I can buy for you. Wherever you want to go, I can take you there. I''ll be good to you for a lifetime..."In middle school, actually quite a few people had already started to bravely try the taste of being in love. S~ea??h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Moreover, the younger people are, the more they like to talk about ''forever,'' ''till the seas run dry and the stones rot,'' and other such phrases of eternal promise. After all, the affection at that time is truly filled with impassioned impulsiveness and heartbeats; concerns like wealth and beauty really come secondary. The young boy said all this in one breath, but after he finished, he blushed, looking at An Nannan cautiously, waiting for an answer. "Oh, I''m not interested, and I don''t like you either." An Nannan''s reply was brisk and decisive, not giving the other party any hope. Despite trying to control his emotions, the young boy''s disappointment, sorrow, and incomprehension overran his face: "Why not, Nannan? I''m sincere!" An Nannan was speechless: "How old are you to be sincere already? I''m not interested in little kids like you!" An Nannan usually seemed naive and a bit childish, and that was because she liked to stay by her sister''s side in that way. Being carefree like a younger child made her sister feel like someone still needed her. However, in front of outsiders, she could be quite aloof... well not exactly aloof, but she did have a sort of carefree, chivalrous spirit. She was clingy with people she liked but would cut off those she didn''t like straightforwardly. It was actually pretty good; a beautiful girl not ''feeding the fish'' was the greatest respect for those fawning dogs! Little kid... The boy was left speechless by the label, but what the heck was ''little kid''? Weren''t we peers? Slightly indignant and unwilling to relent, he challenged, "Nannan, then tell me what kind of guy you do like. I can learn too!" The boy tilted his head back, proud in his own right; his family was well-off: rich people generally look not too bad and have plenty of opportunities to develop various interests. Most people wouldn''t be as well-off as him in the future. But An Nannan simply looked at him with a gaze that was almost condescending: "Sorry, I don''t like guys shorter than me. And you''re not that handsome..." Girls tend to grow for about two more years than boys, so generally speaking, before high school, most girls are quite a lot taller than boys. And this boy was a bit on the short side and probably wouldn''t grow past 175 cm even when he grew up. An Nannan looked at him, muttering to herself, yet her mind conjured up the image of Xu Musen. Although this guy was sometimes annoying for competing for her sister, she couldn''t deny that sometimes he was really thoughtful and warm, tall and strong offering her a sense of security, and when he wasn''t being annoying... he was actually quite handsome. An Nannan glanced at the baked cookies the boy in front of her offered. Hmph, speaking of cooking skills, that guy''s culinary prowess was the most to her liking she had seen, aside from her mother''s. "Humph, anyway, the guy I fancy must be tall, handsome, have a gentle personality, make me happy, be able to cook delicious food, beat me in a fight, and take very special care of me and my sister." An Nannan rattled off a long list all at once, and the boy listened, becoming more bewildered as she went on. "Is there... is there even such a perfect person in this world?" The boy felt uneasy as if he was being choked. Why don''t you just say you like Ultraman? "Of course there is, my brother-in-law," muttered An Nannan, who had gradually come to accept this future big brother-in-law since last time. "Ah, what?" The boy was a bit stunned. Your brother-in-law... so the one you like is your brother-in-law? An Nannan''s face blushed for a moment. Eh... Her words just now seemed to have caused some misunderstanding. She was just talking about that type, who would like someone like him, ugh! She was a bit upset and, turning around, intended to leave. But as she turned, she bumped right into the embrace of someone tall and broad. Xu Musen had appeared behind her at some point, holding a cup of milk tea, and before she could get angry, he had handed it to her. "I''m quite pleased with the brother-in-law you applauded just now. Here''s your reward." Xu Musen laughed heartily. Being able to hear her voluntarily praise him and even acknowledge him as her brother-in-law, from the mouth of this haughty, sister-centric young lady, was truly no small feat. "You... you heard... hmph!" An Nannan felt somewhat wrong-footed, tried to say something but ended up just turning red and letting out a humph, snatching the milk tea from his hand. This was what she deserved! Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire Meanwhile, Xu Musen looked at the young boy in front of him, who was somewhat dumbstruck. This was the second time they had met. But this time, the boy''s expression as he looked at him had taken on a strange vibe. It was as if he saw a rival in love. As for this, Xu Musen found it amusing; at their age, they were just experiencing the most innocent impulses of attraction, and didn''t really understand what liking someone meant. At that age, whether boys or girls, it''s normal to feel a natural fondness for the gentle and playful older boy or girl next door. It''s pretty standard, and it usually passes with time. Do you think I, Xu Musen, am some kind of freak who likes to hit on sisters? Hmph! Xu Musen looked at the young boy and said with a cheerful smile, "Kid, you heard it right. Actually, you''re pretty good, it''s just a pity that your opponent is too strong. I''d advise you to give up." Chapter 215 So, you like your brother-in-law? _3 "You..."The little boy was utterly bewildered. Could there really be such a shameless person in this world? Who praises themselves like that? An Nannan was listening and almost choked on her milk tea from the gurgling laughter that followed, giggling away. Afterwards, Xu Musen patted An Nannan on the head, "Let''s go, head home for dinner. I''ve made you some chocolate cookies today." "Yay!" An Nannan was also a little foodie, bouncing and skipping ahead following Xu Musen. Leaving the little boy alone, standing there in disarray, how much emotional damage must this posturing have caused a twelve or thirteen-year-old child~ Arriving at An Nuannuan''s house. Xu Musen personally prepared a whole table of dishes. The old man even uncorked a jar of wine he had been saving for years. Xu Musen had planned to drive back, so he decided not to drink. But grandma chuckled and said, "No worries, we have a room at home, it''s already tidy for you, if you drink too much, just stay over." "Is that... alright?" This was the first time Xu Musen was being asked to stay over. He glanced at An Nuannuan, the girl beside him, who was flashing him big, twinkling, eyes that seemed slightly expectant. "What''s there to be inconvenient about? Come on, the New Year is almost here, join this old man for a drink." Grandpa was a typical old-timer with a straightforward manner, pulling Xu Musen in to pour the drinks. Xu Musen had no choice but to nod in agreement. On the side, An Nuannuan''s lips curved slightly upward. Xu Musen was staying at her house for the first time. Did that mean their relationship had progressed further? Could it be that... they wouldn''t be far from sharing a room together in the future~ Ah, An Nuannuan couldn''t help but play with her chopsticks, her head bowed. Why did she feel like she was getting naughtier? "Let''s consider today''s meal as an early New Year''s celebration, wishing Grandpa and Grandma good health and a long life in the coming year!" Xu Musen took the initiative to raise his glass. The fact that the elders had allowed him to stay over actually symbolized their approval, and Xu Musen felt very happy about it. Did it also mean that he and An Nuannuan were getting closer to their unabashed days? He and An Nuannuan exchanged glances. They couldn''t hide their desire to be naughty. But in the end, who was the prey and who was the Hunter? "Is that car outside a new purchase of yours?" Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire Grandma also noticed that he had driven back today. "Yeah, I always need a car for meetings and business trips, and it''s more convenient to take Nuannuan home too." "That''s good, Nuannuan has been well taken care of by you, which has put our minds at ease. Look at her, she''s gained some weight on her face." Grandma looked at An Nuannuan, who was eating her meal quietly. An Nuannuan used to be in treatment all the time and couldn''t eat too many stimulating foods. Her food intake was controlled, so she naturally appeared somewhat slender. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But ever since she met Xu Musen, this young girl''s cheeks always seemed a little plump, making her look like a cute steamed bun that was lovable to everyone. Grandma stroked An Nuannuan''s cheek and smiled at Xu Musen, "Don''t spoil her too much on a regular basis, let her eat whatever she wants, it won''t be good if she gets fat later." "I haven''t..." An Nuannuan protested with a huff. She only drank two or three cups of milk tea a day, and then it was just eating a meal of hot pot~ Xu Musen smiled, a flicker in his eyes, "I''ve actually thought about it. The food in the school cafeteria is too greasy, and I was considering buying an apartment near the school in a while. This way, I can cook meals at home every day, and Nuannuan can eat healthier too." These words from Xu Musen seemed to be spoken offhand. But the elders exchanged looks and glanced at An Nuannuan, who was focused on her food beside them. This young man... ambitious, aren''t you? Yet they didn''t directly comment on it. Only grandma smiled and replied, "It''s good to have that intention. You are just starting your business, take it one step at a time." Playing dumb, are we? Well, let''s all play dumb then. The meal was very enjoyable. The grandparents even asked Xu Musen about his plans for the New Year and expressed their concern for his parents, asking Xu Musen to send their regards back to them. After dinner, Xu Musen was dragged by the old master to the yard to start martial arts training, with the old master directly starting to practice Drunken Boxing after drinking some alcohol. And the conversation began to drift towards Xu Musen and his eldest granddaughter. "Kid, how are things between you and Nuannuan now?" "Pretty good." "Have you been bullying Nuannuan? She''s just too soft-hearted. She can''t refuse when others say something, and I''m always worried that she''ll be taken advantage of." The grandfather spoke and started thrusting his spear at a wooden post. Xu Musen swallowed, "Absolutely not, I keep an eye on Nuannuan every day. I make sure to send her back to her dorm on time every evening." "That''s good, but young people in love, I''ve been there, I can understand some things, but Nuannuan has just recovered from a serious illness, she can''t handle too much stress. If it affects her health... I''ll thrust!" The old master suddenly let out a loud shout, and with a thrust, another wooden post was put out of commission. Xu Musen felt sobered up and nodded repeatedly. Upstairs, the grandmother, sipping her tea, couldn''t help but chuckle at the scene. But she actually had the same concerns. It''s natural for young people in a relationship to have some physical contact, and they''re not so prudish. However, they are also worried about Nuannuan, as she is now completely focused on Xu Musen. But there are some things that are the most precious in a girl''s life, and they still need to be cautious. What''s most important is that Nuannuan hasn''t fully recovered yet, and if the young couple can''t control themselves But Nuannuan should have a sense of propriety. The grandmother hoped she was just overthinking it, considering Nuannuan usually seemed a bit dull. But everything was measured and chosen carefully in her heart. This was also why they felt assured letting Nuannuan date Xu Musen. As long as Nuannuan was aware of the boundaries, it was fine. Spending the night for the first time at An Nuannuan''s home, Xu Musen actually didn''t feel uncomfortable. After finishing martial arts training. An Nuannuan''s family had their own hot spring built in the backyard, and Xu Musen also took a dip. In the adjoining women''s bathing area. An Nuannuan and An Nannan, the sisters, were also soaking in the bath. An Nannan was gently scrubbing her sister''s back. Recently, An Nuannuan, using crutches for walking practice, looked increasingly trim. Her slender waist and curves had become more perfect. An Nannan, as a girl, particularly admired her for that. And after glancing at certain parts of her sister, she looked down at herself. Hmm~ She felt like her sister was somehow more impressive than she was. "Sister, can we sleep together tonight?" An Nannan said expectantly. Whenever her sister came back, they always slept together, which gave her a particularly peaceful sleep. But this time, An Nuannuan seemed a bit hesitant, "Nannan, you should sleep by yourself tonight." "Ah? Why?" An Nannan suddenly felt a little disappointed. "Because... I think I might have caught a cold, and I don''t want to pass it to you. It''s just for tonight, we can sleep together tomorrow, okay?" An Nuannuan rarely lied. Her cheeks were a bit red, but everyone in the hot spring looked flush and tender, so it wasn''t noticeable. "Okay, then make sure you cover up well with your blanket, and close all the doors and windows tightly, so no draft gets in." An Nannan always put her sister''s health first and immediately expressed her concern. An Nuannuan just nodded, slightly embarrassed, and touched her little sister''s head. But... Should the doors and windows be closed tightly tonight? Chapter 216 Xu Musen: Done, Met a Terrible Woman. After soaking in the hot spring, Xu Musen returned to the living room to drink some tea and eat some fruit.One might say that wealthy people really know how to enjoy life; in fact, bathing and soaking in hot springs can be quite dehydrating. It''s just that the constant contact with water makes it hard to notice the loss of fluids, and there have been cases of people getting heatstroke while swimming. Having some tea and fruit after a bath replenishes vitamins and is more beneficial than using face masks. Soon, An Nuannuan and An Nannan also came to the living room, both donning matching white fluffy pajamas. They looked like two little bunnies. An Nannan grabbed the unfinished milk tea from today and took a big gulp, then contentedly wiped her mouth. "Pretty good~" She held up the milk tea and offered it to her sister, "Sister, you drink too." "You drink it." An Nuannuan stroked her little head. "Try to drink less dairy before bed; otherwise, it''ll ferment in your mouth overnight and you''ll wake up with a stinky breath," Musen said, grinning from the side. Especially with milk. If you go to sleep without brushing your teeth, the smell the next day could knock you dead. An Nannan immediately covered her mouth. She blew on her palm and sniffed, "It''s still sweet. Humph, I won''t give you any!" Humphing, An Nannan figured that the guy must be trying to trick her out of her milk tea. "Better to eat more fruits, like strawberries, your breath gets sweeter the more you eat." Xu Musen picked up a strawberry from the fruit basket and placed it before An Nuannuan, his gaze carrying a smile that only the two of them could understand. An Nuannuan''s face turned as red as a strawberry. She licked her lips unconsciously, and Xu Musen pinched a strawberry, bringing it to her lips. Sar?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. An Nuannuan opened her mouth and bit into it; the sweet juice burst inside her mouth: "You eat too." "I only eat the imported ones." Xu Musen smiled meaningfully, popping the end of a strawberry into his mouth to chew. All the fruits in An Nuannuan''s house were home-grown, and even the end part of the strawberries was sweet. An Nuannuan of course understood what he meant by "imported." But An Nannan scoffed, "Hmph! Those who only appreciate foreign things - our home-grown strawberries taste way better than those imported ones. Sister, let''s not bother with him. Let''s eat them ourselves!" An Nannan sat beside her sister with the fruit basket, biting into a large strawberry, her little mouth shiny and bright. Yet An Nuannuan gently patted her sister''s little head and exchanged a knowing look with her. Merely a glance and the sisters understood each other''s thoughts. An Nannan pouted her lips, but she still hopped off the chair and, holding the fruit basket, moved towards Xu Musen. "Here, have one." "Thank you." Xu Musen reached out for a strawberry, enjoying a little service from his Younger Aunt. He suddenly felt that having a younger sister around was quite nice, like having a living treasure that brought joy. Come bedtime. An Nannan was upset about not being able to sleep with her sister, but when she returned to her room, she discovered her blanket was missing. Just then, her grandmother came into her room and said, "Your blankets have been washed, so sleep with your sister tonight." The girl''s face lit up with surprise, but then she recalled her sister''s words: "But, Sister said she felt a bit unwell today..." The grandmother''s eyes flickered with understanding. Indeed, her precautions were not without reason. Her naive granddaughter, why is she so eager to throw herself at someone else''s mercy? "Then you''ll need to look after her even more. Remember to pour some hot water for your sister at night and such." The grandmother smiled as she patted her little granddaughter''s head. "Mm, got it!" An Nannan, having received the Empress Dowager''s gracious decree, was overjoyed and happily went in search of her sister. And at that moment, in the living room. Xu Musen and An Nuannuan sat together. The comfort of being at home is infinitely better than being in the cramped room at school. "Nuannuan, what do you think about me buying an apartment near the school for us to live together in the future?" An Nuannuan blinked, looking at Xu Musen: "No, you just want to bully me." "How have I bullied you?" Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire "With your little straw" "???" Xu Musen was at a loss for words, thinking you really have no idea of my capabilities, little girl! Keep acting tough and see if I don''t make you fly next time! But remembering what happened last time, Xu Musen and An Nuannuan caught each other''s eyes, her cheeks flushed, and tacitly they both steered away from the topic. "Ahem, how can it be bullying when I like you? Other girls wish I''d bully them, and I wouldn''t even agree to it." Xu Musen said proudly. After all, he did have a certain reputation at school, with many girls confessing to him on the forum. An Nuannuan pouted her lips, and in truth, she couldn''t care less about those other girls, but there was one person she couldn''t help but care about. Moreover, they were likely to stay together for the upcoming winter break. "You will be going back with her tomorrow, right?" After a while, An Nuannuan suddenly asked. "Mm, we can leave tomorrow. It''s a thousand kilometers from Huhai to Zheng City; it''ll probably take two days by car." Xu Musen nodded, then looked up when An Nuannuan uttered an "oh." He smiled and said, "What, getting jealous and unhappy now?" An Nuannuan muttered something, biting into a strawberry: "I''m not jealous. I only eat sweet things." "What a coincidence, so do I." Xu Musen suddenly leaned in close to An Nuannuan, and took the other half of the strawberry she hadn''t finished, right from her lips into his own. Chapter 216 Xu Musen: Its over, a disastrous encounter with a terrible woman. _2 Stolen kisses.Caught off guard by this sudden attack, An Nuannuan''s face turned red. This was at home, after all. If Grandpa and Grandma saw this, they would scold her for being a bad child. "If Grandpa and Grandma see us, they''ll scold you..." "Haven''t you noticed that Grandpa and Grandma haven''t shown up in the living room at all? They''re actually giving us some space on purpose." Xu Musen let out a laugh. Couples indulging in forbidden pleasures was something that, undoubtedly, the family handled with care. But cuddling and snuggling together is an indispensable part of a relationship. They were all people who had walked this path and understood it well. An Nuannuan also noticed that Grandma, who usually enjoyed her tea in the living room after her bath, didn''t show up today. So, was she sold out by Grandma? She hummed: "That still doesn''t give you the right to bully me." "Yeah, we''ve just started dating, and I''m already kissing you. After we get married, won''t I trick you into having kids?" Xu Musen said teasingly. An Nuannuan turned away to eat some strawberries, ignoring him. But Xu Musen went ahead and tried to steal the strawberry from her mouth with his own. "Mmm~ Strawberries always taste better from Nuannuan''s mouth." "You clearly have some right next to you." An Nuannuan still felt a bit shy at home and didn''t know how to deal with Xu Musen, the old scoundrel. With so many strawberries on the table, he didn''t eat those but instead snatched the one in her mouth... Xu Musen shook his head and sighed, "Alas, back when you hadn''t won my heart, you used to bring fruit to my class every morning. Now that you have me, you don''t even want to share your strawberries with me. I guess I''m just unlucky in love, having met a heartbreaker, wailing..." With a face of mock despair, Xu Musen lay on the chair, wailing. An Nuannuan''s cheeks were flushed. How could someone be so shameless? Yet, looking at Xu Musen acting so ridiculously like Yang Ziqiong, she felt a sweetness in her heart. He was just like Nannan who sometimes insisted on sleeping with her in the middle of the night, throwing a tantrum on the floor if she refused. An Nuannuan couldn''t help but lean over with a strawberry to feed him. Xu Musen, of course, didn''t hesitate to lean forward to take it, even a bit domineeringly pulling An Nuannuan into his arms. The young girl was like a water balloon, fresh out of the bath, her whole body moist and sweetly scented. The intimate atmosphere circulated around them, and after having the old gentleman''s treasured wine today, Xu Musen felt a stirring within him again. An Nuannuan seemed to sense something too. Her mind replayed the conversations she had in the dorm. "Musen..." "Sister! Grandma said that we should sleep together tonight..." At this moment, Little Nannan came running down energetically, her excited voice suddenly cutting off. At that moment, Nannan grew up. "You jerk! Don''t you dare bite my sister!" An Nannan, as an avid internet surfer, was still just a young middle schooler in the end. Witnessing this scene, her little world was a bit shaken. An Nuannuan pushed Xu Musen away instantly and looked at her sister rushing over, her face turning even redder as she quickly covered Nannan''s mouth with her hand. "Sister, did this jerk bully you...?" "No, we were just... I got some dust in my eye, and he was helping me blow it out..." An Nuannuan stammered. Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire An Nannan still glared at Xu Musen. Just now she clearly saw that jerk hugging and gnawing at her sister like the zombies in TV shows. Xu Musen scratched his nose, guessing that Grandpa and Grandma had intentionally stayed out of the living room to give the young couple some alone time, but he had forgotten about An Nannan, the little girl. "You jerk, did you bully my sister?" Faced with the little girl''s glaring, Xu Musen couldn''t help but laugh and say, "Have you ever seen anyone bully someone into having a smiling face?" An Nannan was momentarily at a loss for words, considering her sister did seem quite happy just now. "Alright, alright, Nannan, let''s go back to sleep," An Nuannuan said, her face still burning red as she picked up her sister to head upstairs. As they passed by Xu Musen, An Nannan stretched out her tender little foot and stomped on him fiercely. sea??h th ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Nannan, you shouldn''t do that." "Hmph, I''m venting my anger for you, sister!" An Nannan said, stepping on Xu Musen''s foot again with her little foot. But with the little girl''s strength, the stomping felt more like a massage, and the young girl''s foot was obviously more tender, the bones like soft marshmallow. Xu Musen didn''t mind at all, treating it just like a massage. An Nuannuan saw this and hugged Nannan tighter. You being a foot fetishist, this is not a punishment for you, but a reward. "Goodnight then," she said. Xu Musen smiled at the two sisters. An Nuannuan knocked on his head three times, then took Nannan with her to the bedroom to sleep. ... Night fell, and the house quieted down. The sisters were both wide-eyed, unable to sleep. "Nannan, why aren''t you sleeping?" "I can''t fall asleep. Sister, that thing with him earlier... did he bully you?" "How could he? He''s my boyfriend, you know. It''s just... normal." In front of her little sister, An Nuannuan reverted back to her role as the big sister. "Hmph, but Mom said before, if a girl and a boy do that, they can have a baby." Chapter 216 Xu Musen: Its over, a disastrous encounter with a terrible woman. _3 An Nannan couldn''t help but stretch out her hand to gently touch her sister''s flat yet fleshy belly, even pressing her ear against it as if trying to hear something.An Nuannuan gently pinched her little sister''s cheeks, "Boys and girls won''t have a baby just by kissing and hugging." An Nannan pursed her lips, hugging her sister, "Sister, if you have a baby in the future, will you still be this nice to me?" "Of course, you''re my little sister, and I will always be nice to you." "Then, if he and I both fell into a river, who would you save first?" An Nannan suddenly asked the question that nearly every girl has asked with wide, expectant eyes. An Nuannuan blinked and took a moment before she said, "That guy is actually pretty amazing, you know? Even if both of us fell into the river, he''d be able to save us both." As An Nuannuan spoke, a blissful and sweet smile unconsciously graced her lips. An Nannan looked at her sister''s smile, realizing she hadn''t seen Nuannuan smile like that in a long time, even though she felt a bit jealous. But seeing her sister so happy was, to this little girl, exactly what she wished for. Hmph, she would let him off just this once... "Nannan, go to sleep early." "Sister, why do you keep urging me to sleep today?" An Nannan grumbled, nestled in her sister''s embrace, treasuring the rare chance to sleep together. "Don''t you have a tutoring class tomorrow?" "Ah, missing a little bit of it wouldn''t matter, the teacher said we could take online classes as well." "Online classes..." An Nuannuan''s eyes roamed in thought before suddenly pulling out her mobile phone, "Since you can''t sleep, then I''ll accompany you to watch an online class for a bit." Saying so, An Nuannuan pulled up some mathematics study materials on her phone. "Ah? Sister, I don''t want to watch... I want you to tell me a story." An Nannan was dumbstruck; she just wanted her sister to keep her company. Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire "Alright, how about this? After you solve these ten problems, I''ll tell you a story, okay?" An Nuannuan blinked, the sincerity of not deceiving a child shining in her clear eyes. "Ten problems... okay!" An Nannan felt she was so smart, it was just ten little problems after all, she''d definitely learn them quickly! Bring it on! Sarch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So, she propped herself against her sister''s arm, full of fighting spirit, and watched the phone screen attentively. On the screen, the teacher was explaining problems on the blackboard. "So, let''s look at the first problem, to get the graph of y=-2x2-1 from the graph of y=-2x2, the parabola y=-2x must..." "Zzz~" An Nuannuan turned her head to find Nannan had already started snoring, fast asleep. Math problems? Not a single one learned! An Nuannuan couldn''t help but smile, gently caressing Nannan''s cheek, and looked out at the night sky. After tomorrow, he would be going back, and he''d be going back with her. It might be a month before they saw each other again, yet during that month, he and she would be able to meet every day. An Nuannuan''s heart swelled with emotions she didn''t quite know how to describe... Ah, it''s only been an hour apart, and I miss him so much. If we''re apart for a month, that''s thirty days, which is seven hundred and twenty hours... In the end, as if she had finally made up her mind, she slowly moved Nannan out of her embrace and replaced herself with a hug pillow. Children sleep so well; Nannan continued to sleep blissfully clutching the pillow. Meanwhile, An Nuannuan gently tucked her in and, supporting herself against the wall, made her way to the door, step by step. In the next room, Xu Musen had also begun to doze off in a daze. Although a bit picky with his sleeping environment, he felt quite relieved sleeping at Nuannuan''s house. After all, there was no chance of some sickly besotted girl sneaking up to his bedside in the middle of the night here. But just as he was falling asleep, the sound of the door lock being opened suddenly echoed~ Chapter 217 An Nuannuan Doing Bad Things (Mandatory Subscription Chapter.) Night raid.It seemed to be a typical action movie plot from an Island Country. Just as Xu Musen was getting ready to go inside, he heard the sound of the doorknob turning. He was slightly startled. He feared that perhaps the old man would find out he had been taking advantage of his granddaughter and, in a drunken rage with rifle in hand, would come after him. Sar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Narrowing his eyes, he looked over and saw, sure enough, a sneaky figure at the door. The figure slowly walked in and locked the door behind them. Leaning against the wall, the figure moved bit by bit toward Xu Musen''s bed, in a room dark as pitch, with only a sliver of light. That figure squatted before Xu Musen''s bed, blending into the darkness, adorned only by a smattering of moonlight. Yet that fair and delicate face was crystal clear. Xu Musen cracked open his eyes just a sliver. There was An Nuannuan, dressed in a white nightgown, squatting right in front of him, cupping her fair cheeks, her peach-blossom eyes seemingly filled with tender emotions as gentle as water. Gone was her usual dopey expression, and now she was staring unblinkingly at the sleeping Xu Musen, her lips curled into an irresistibly sweet arc. She looked on, and then slowly reached out a hand to lightly poke his cheek, as if beholding a treasured gift that she had finally obtained. Yet the thought of them possibly not being able to see each other for a whole month made her involuntarily pout. And, after all, he was supposed to be with her every day. An Nuannuan understood, but who doesn''t get jealous when they like someone? She jabbed with her finger, poking at the corners of his usually sly eyes, the nose that always loved to nuzzle against her, and also... the mouth that was most skilled at teasing her. As she poked away, in the next second, her finger was gently caught between Xu Musen''s lips as he nipped it lightly. Xu Musen even smacked his lips as if talking in his sleep, "Cotton candy, so yummy~" An Nuannuan immediately felt an indescribable sensation at her fingertip, which she gently withdrew. Looking at the shiny wetness on it. Without a hint of disgust, she eyed it and then slowly, she put it back into her own mouth... Hehe... An Nuannuan''s face was flushed red, feeling like she was a bit of a pervert, but then, how could you find disgust in liking someone? The night was seductive, and in that moment, the grinning An Nuannuan even resembled, for the merest second... a certain Xiao Sickly Cutie during one of their episodes. "What are you laughing at?" "I wasn''t laughing... huh?" Her sudden question meets an instinctive response. Xu Musen opened his eyes, not pretending to sleep anymore, and An Nuannuan, meeting his gaze with words still unfinished, suddenly found herself enveloped in layers of steamy red blush. Before the surprise could escape her lips, Xu Musen had already pulled her onto the bed. Their foreheads touching, Xu Musen looked at An Nuannuan, his hands unable to resist pinching her cheeks. "So, you little bad girl, you''re not sleeping at night and instead come to ambush me, a fine and upstanding man?" "I didn''t do any such thing, you''re bullying me and I''ll tell my grandpa." "Oh really? But this is my room. If grandpa knew his precious granddaughter sneaked into a boy''s room in the middle of the night, guess who he''s going to scold?" Xu Musen, as though he had caught her red-handed, pinched her cheeks with both hands. An Nuannuan''s face flushed even redder. Yes, she had tricked her sister into sleep and snuck into his room on her own. If grandma and grandpa found out, they would definitely say she was a naughty child. "Nuannuan, you wouldn''t want grandma and grandpa to think you''re a bad child, would you?" Xu Musen rubbed gently at her ear, a playful smile in his voice. An Nuannuan, cheeks aflame, was silent for a long while with eyes brimming with a wronged shimmer. "But I missed you..." She too slowly leaned against Xu Musen''s shoulder. Just as Nannan had clung to her earlier. Xu Musen paused, touched by the heartfelt sentiment in her words, his emotions stirring within him. "Silly, it''s been less than an hour since we parted." "But you''re going to leave soon, and then it''ll be hundreds of hours before we can see each other again." An Nuannuan felt the same loneliness any girl passionately in love might feel. Listening, Xu Musen softly stroked An Nuannuan''s cheek. "Next New Year''s, I''ll definitely bring you home, okay?" "And grandpa and grandma will be there too." "Of course, they''re our family after all. We''re going to become one family." Xu Musen looked at her, marvelling at how the once naive and simple girl had transformed into a naughty young woman who would conduct a night raid. Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire But for the one you love, it''s true you constantly change, becoming the person they love the most. This version of An Nuannuan was even more endearing to Xu Musen. Receiving such a response, An Nuannuan became as malleable as a ball of slime in his arms. Although in their small college dorm room they would also lie together for naps, this time it was at home. The coziness, the sense of security, the feeling of belonging, it couldn''t be replicated anywhere else. As they contemplated the month-long separation ahead, they gazed deeply into each other''s eyes, the seductive night accentuating their synchronised heartbeats. Edge closer with silent understanding, the soft nuzzling, and finally, their lips met again. In the tranquil of the night, under the tender moonlight, within the warm confines of the room, upon that intimate bed, there they were, two lovers caught in the throes of romance, yet facing a brief parting. Chapter 217 An Nuannuan Doing Bad Things (Mandatory Subscription Chapter.)_2 This time, she was exceptionally engaged.Under the pajamas. Xu Musen lightly spread out. An Nuannuan murmured softly with a slight tremble, nervous, but not too panicked. She didn''t understand why boys always liked this, but if it made him happy... she could let him take a little advantage first. What she had always felt was a burden, yet Xu Musen liked it so much; for the first time, she felt that being born this way wasn''t too bad~ However, a little later, An Nuannuan''s face flushed red, and she pushed Xu Musen away slightly. "Your little..." Before she could finish, Xu Musen placed a finger on her lips, a bit at a loss for words, "Nuannuan, you can''t use that word with other guys in the future." "Why?" "Because... it''s too aggressive." Fortunately, Xu Musen wasn''t, after all, lies do not hurt people, the truth is the swift sword. Only a truly fat person would get defensive over being called big-eared and chubby. Sear?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But if others heard this, where would he, as the boss, put his face? "Oh..." An Nuannuan got the point, but she felt her whole body stiffen with nervousness, and she dared not move. She pursed her lips, seemingly struggling with something, then looked at Xu Musen again. "Xu Musen" "Yes?" "Do you, do you guys... get uncomfortable with this?" Xu Musen looked into An Nuannuan''s big eyes, not hiding his feelings, "It does get uncomfortable." "Xu Musen" "Hmm?" "If you don''t eat enough with me, would you go out and have another meal?" Xu Musen felt like laughing at such a strange question. But seeing An Nuannuan''s serious eyes, he said, "Well, if I haven''t eaten enough, I might have some snacks to tide me over." "Oh..." Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire An Nuannuan''s mouth turned down slightly, and she added, "Then what if I left food for you at home?" "Then I would definitely come back early to have dinner with my wife," Xu Musen said with a smile. Calling her "wife" made An Nuannuan''s body go soft; she had heard her father call her mother with the same tenderness. Now, someone was calling her that too. Yes, they were certainly going to be married in the future. All things would come in due time. Even if they couldn''t happen right now, then... She recalled what her dorm mates had said, her pretty face blushing. She gently nuzzled Xu Musen''s shoulder, her big eyes filled with shyness and deep affection. "Xu Musen..." "Hmm?" "I, I''m kind of slow, don''t despise me..." An Nuannuan lowered her head; Xu Musen couldn''t see her expression and thought she was still shy from being called "wife." He gently pinched her little ear: "Silly girl, how could I despise you? I like you so much that I can''t even..." Xu Musen didn''t finish, suddenly his eyes widened, his body shuddered, and he let out a heavy breath from his nostrils. He lowered his head, looking at An Nuannuan. "Nuannuan, you..." "Don''t talk, I said I''m slow... but, I don''t want you to be uncomfortable... I''ll try hard!" An Nuannuan''s voice was shy, nervous, and ultimately it carried a sound of resigned determination. Xu Musen could only make out two words. Adorable~ The moon rose above the tree branches. Who knows how much time had passed when Xu Musen let out a sigh. In the middle of winter, he was still breaking a slight sweat. But An Nuannuan exclaimed softly. Xu Musen looked down at her: "Nuannuan, I..." An Nuannuan ignored him. She got out of bed, headed to the sink in the room, and washed her hands and face. Xu Musen also sat up, watching her hazy silhouette, somewhat stunned. He hadn''t expected Nuannuan to take such initiative. He too stood up and walked over to her. An Nuannuan washed her face, but her snow-white pretty face was still frightfully red and incredibly hot. She didn''t know how she could have... done such a thing today. Ah, she had turned into a bad child; now she really had no face to see people... "Nuannuan." Xu Musen hugged her gently from behind, his cheek against hers, "Thank you." This sentence of thanks made An Nuannuan even more shy, but it also made her feel a little warmth in her heart. "There''s no need to thank me, you''re my boyfriend after all" "Or rather, your future husband, given how you''ve treated me today, I won''t be able to marry anyone else, I''ll have to follow you from now on." Xu Musen took a deep breath, as if he wanted greedily to blend An Nuannuan into his own body. Listening to him say this, An Nuannuan felt his face was really thick. But when she looked up at Xu Musen, she eventually nodded: "Well, remember what you said, you''re mine." Enchanted by the night, An Nuannuan looked at him, but felt a bit shy to meet his gaze. "I, I should go back now." "Trying to leave after taking advantage, huh?" Xu Musen said with a smile. An Nuannuan raised her fist and punched this cheeky guy who took advantage and acted cute a few times. Xu Musen also knew it was really late, and it wouldn''t be easy to explain if grandpa and grandma discovered them now. Xu Musen kissed her cheek: "Shall I walk you back?" An Nuannuan turned to look at him, but immediately turned her head back and covered her eyes: "Jerk!" Xu Musen picked up his shirt and cleared his throat. "This, I forgot." "I''m leaving, and you''re not allowed to follow." An Nuannuan leaned against the wall, skillfully found her way to the door, peeked out stealthily as she opened it. After making sure no one was around, she sighed in relief, glanced back at Xu Musen, huffed, and then left, closing the door behind her. Xu Musen took a deep breath, not expecting the ditsy Nuannuan to do something like this. The two questions about "eating" she asked just now. Xu Musen had also figured out what she meant. "This silly girl, she can''t bear to show her jealousy openly..." You are my boss''s wife, after all. Xu Musen smiled and went back to sleep contentedly. ... Meanwhile, An Nuannuan returned to her room. Seeing her sister hadn''t woken up, she breathed a sigh of relief, pursed her lips, but felt... something was a bit off. It was simply too much... Her flushed face hadn''t subsided at all. She poured herself a glass of water, intending to rinse her mouth, but just as she was about to spit it out, the sleepy voice of An Nannan suddenly came from behind her. "Sister? Why are you up?" "Ah...gulp!" An Nuannuan was startled and subconsciously swallowed the water in her mouth. An Nannan rubbed her eyes and looked at her sister standing at the bathroom door, confused: "Sister, you''re doing your nightly washes?" "Uh-huh..." An Nuannuan nodded in response, a bit frantically grabbed her own toothbrush and started to actually brush her teeth. An Nannan also got out of bed, came over for a drink of water, and seeing her sister brushing her teeth, she hummed: "Sister, did you sneak off to do something naughty while I was asleep?" "What?" An Nuannuan nearly choked on her toothpaste, looking at her sister who seemed to see right through her. "Nannan, don''t talk nonsense" "Haha, sister, you can''t lie, I just knew it!" An Nannan lifted her little head proudly, a look of ''caught you, you bad person'' on her face, her bright, big eyes squinting into "???". And An Nuannuan, the sister, had an expression of "????B?B?". If grandpa and grandma found out about today''s events, they might really break their legs, especially Xu Musen''s. She was thinking about how to make her sister temporarily lose her memory. Then she saw the little girl with her hands on her hips, proudly tilting her head: "Sister, you must''ve lulled me to sleep and then sneaked off to drink milk tea, that''s why you came back to brush your teeth, right?" An Nannan said proudly; every time she couldn''t finish her milk tea, she would first store it in the fridge to steal a sip later at night when cravings struck. "..." An Nuannuan, seeing her sister''s smug face, knew she was feeling guilty for playing the thief. It must be what they say in books, where guilty thoughts lead to chaos. But speaking of milk tea... she pursed her lips again; forget the milk tea, the straw... Her face turned red once more, the little straw, it wasn''t him after all... "Sister, I struck a chord, didn''t I, your face is all red," An Nannan said with a hum. "Yep, so clever," An Nuannuan rinsed her mouth, tenderly touched her sister''s head: "I''ll tell you a story, let''s sleep together, okay?" "Yes, yes!" The night was bright, and everyone slept soundly. Chapter 218 Im Not Worthy of You, Im Well Aware of That. Early morning.Xu Musen felt refreshed. As Da Yu said, it''s better to dredge than to block. The life-filled silt burst forth, and Xu Musen felt his mind clear up significantly. Indeed, it seems that for adolescent boys, their minds are filled with nothing but these things. Xu Musen got out of bed and freshened up in his room, where his toothbrush and towel had already been prepared for him. After finishing his morning routine, he dressed. Exiting his room, breakfast was already prepared in the living room. An Nuannuan was sitting at the dining table. The moment she saw Xu Musen come out, her pretty face blushed, and she turned her head slightly away, avoiding his gaze. Xu Musen couldn''t help but smile. The two of them shared a feeling similar to the shyness and slight awkwardness one might have the morning after their wedding night. Regardless, their relationship had taken a step closer. Sarch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Good morning, Grandpa and Grandma," Xu Musen greeted the elders. "Good morning, did you sleep well here?" Grandma smiled, nodding her head as she sipped her morning tea and asked. "Yes, very well. The bed at home is much more comfortable than the one at school," Xu Musen said with a smile, his gaze stealthily slipping another look at An Nuannuan, who now seemed to be almost twisting her eyes to the back of her head, bowing her head in silence. "We''ll be staying in Huhai this winter. Nuannuan''s leg is still in a critical phase of recovery and can''t be exposed to the cold or be running around. Xiao Xiang has brought some things for you. Be careful on your way back and say hello to your parents," Grandma advised kindly, looking at Xu Musen as if she already considered him a future grandson-in-law. "Thank you, Grandma," Xu Musen felt warm inside. In fact, Nuannuan and Yao Mingyue were quite similar, both having lost loved ones in childhood, resulting in psychological and personality changes. But Nuannuan had her loving grandparents, which prevented her from becoming as twisted as Yao Mingyue. The same pain led two people in completely different directions. Xu Musen sat next to An Nuannuan, who still shyly dared not look at him. "Sister, there''s still one cup of bubble tea left from yesterday. Do you want it?" An Nan came over with the bubble tea, handing the straw to her. An Nuannuan was now so distracted she could hardly bear to look at the bubble tea and straw... Her ears were burning hot. "I don''t want it anymore... Sister doesn''t want to drink it either," "Hmph, it must be because Sister drank too much last night and got sick of it," An Nan muttered softly, causing An Nuannuan''s cheeks to redden even more. She turned to look at Xu Musen, who was trying not to laugh, and indignantly kicked his foot under the table. But Xu Musen gently trapped her foot with his legs, catching her little foot between his. An Nuannuan didn''t dare to make too big a fuss, but this action was so embarrassing... "Nuannuan, eat," Xu Musen said as he picked up a crab soup dumpling for her. This kind of dumpling was full of juice; it was best to slightly suck out some of the broth before eating. Xu Musen then teasingly handed over a straw: "Here, this is a small straw." Xu Musen emphasized a certain word. An Nuannuan looked at the small straw he handed over, and it seemed to remind her of something... especially naughty! She snorted and ignored him, stubbornly biting into the soup dumpling, causing the warm broth to burst out. The thick, warm liquid splattered onto her lips like a close-range shotgun. "Ah..." "See, I said you should be careful," Xu Musen quickly took a wet wipe, held her face gently, and meticulously wiped the broth from her face. "There you go, just pucker your lips, it''s all the essence of the soup dumpling, don''t waste it," Xu Musen said. But An Nuannuan suddenly thought of too many improper things. What do you mean ''essence, don''t waste it''? An Nuannuan felt as if she was about to melt away in embarrassment. Eating this soup dumpling felt just like last night... Ah, no!! It''s all his fault, that rascal! An Nuannuan pouted her lips, feeling unjustly treated, and hit Xu Musen. "Nuannuan, it was your fault for not being careful. Look how well Xiao Sen treats you, how can you still be mad at him?" From the side, Grandma immediately spoke up after witnessing the scene. Seeing Xu Musen caring for Nuannuan all this time, along with his affectionate gestures, pleased them greatly. "Grandma, I" An Nuannuan suddenly didn''t know what to say. After all, she was the one being teased yet, and now her feet were still being playfully restrained by Xu Musen. "It''s okay, Grandma. Nuannuan is just shy, sometimes she''s not good at being affectionate, so she acts like this. I quite like it," Xu Musen said cheerfully, his eyes full of unconcealed affection and indulgence as he looked at An Nuannuan''s close face. The elders exchanged a glance. What''s going on? Although society was becoming more open, the zest with which young people loved was enough to make them feel bashful. The elders then somewhat understood why their granddaughter was so fond of him. A boy who was eloquent and truly cared for her was indeed hard not to like. An Nuannuan felt as if she was melting, her trapped foot wiggling slightly under Xu Musen''s grip. Chapter 218 Im Not Worthy of You, I Have Self-Awareness. _2 ```Hmph... You only know how to say things like that. But she really loves to hear them... In the family, the one feeling the least enthusiastic right now was An Nannan. Looking at her sister''s expression, there''s a saying, "A married daughter is like splashed water." Once her sister gets married to him, she definitely won''t be able to spend every day with her sister like now. However, seeing how happy her sister looked, that bit of jealousy in her heart still turned into blessings. But the jealousy that needed to be felt had to be felt! Hmph, this milk tea has been sitting out all night, it must not be fresh anymore; it''s all sour. After finishing the meal, Xu Musen also had to set off. An Nannan helped her sister to the door to see him off. An Nuannuan leaned on the car window, looking at Xu Musen. Next, it might be a month before they see each other again. When it really came time to part, she still felt reluctant. "Take good care here, I''ll come back to pick you up." Xu Musen stretched out his hand and pinched her pretty face. An Nuannuan nodded her head, but as she looked inside the car, soon, he would be going home with her. She still couldn''t help but pout her lips, looking at Xu Musen, "I will miss you a lot, and you have to miss me every day too." "Every minute and every second." Xu Musen leaned in, their gaze locked, and An Nuannuan also slowly leaned forward, gently kissing each other. "Aiya, you guys, aiya... you guys... that''s really unhygienic!" An Nannan, seeing this scene, suddenly got anxious, stammered without being able to say anything coherent, and finally could only make such a nonchalant remark. An Nuannuan''s face turned red, and Xu Musen couldn''t help but laugh out loud, reaching out to pat her head, "Take good care of your sister for me. When I get back, I''ll bring you fried hairy eggs to eat!" In the city of Huhai, it was almost impossible to find hairy eggs for sale; the little girl was drooling with craving just hearing about it. But she still haughtily huffed, "You don''t have to tell me; I will take good care of my sister... but bring me a few more fried sausages too." "Deal!" Xu Musen left. An Nuannuan watched his car drive away for a long time before she slowly retracted her gaze. Although... she was a bit worried. But compared to that worry, she trusted him even more. A month, that''s just thirty days, seven hundred and twenty hours, forty-three thousand two hundred minutes... She had waited so many years before, this one month didn''t make a difference. When he gets back... she''ll give him a good sorting out! Xu Musen drove back to the school, still he had to explain a few things to the company''s people before leaving. As soon as the car pulled up in front of the milk tea shop. He saw Zhou Hangyu and Li Rundong with gleaming eyes pounce over. "Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn!!" "Shit! Brother Sen, you really bought an Audi?!" "And it''s an A6, dammit, not even my dad is willing to buy an A6; he just uses an A4 and plans to leave it to me in the future, you''re even cooler than my dad!" Zhou Hangyu looked and caressed the car, his gaze as tender as if he was looking at an 18-year-old bare naked young maiden. "You''re such a filial son." Xu Musen couldn''t help but laugh. "Go on, if you can leave this A6 to me, I''ll straight up call you godfather!" Li Rundong sneered from the side. "You''re really shameless! Brother Sen, give the car to me, and I''ll be your flesh-and-blood little brother!" "Damn it, Li Rundong, are you trying to take advantage of me?" The two funny friends started to tussle with each other again. "Brother Sen, your car is really beautiful." Ma Yaxing wasn''t as exaggerated, but what man doesn''t like cars; he still wore a face full of envy. Xu Musen patted his shoulder, "Work hard, all of you. According to my plan, in less than two years you all can buy the cars you like, maybe even a house." "I don''t dare to dream about a house in Huhai, being able to buy a car is already great." Ma Yaxing chuckled; there was a time when he started this job just to save enough money to buy a computer set. But, without a doubt, Xu Musen was the noble person in his life. Xu Musen valued Ma Yaxing, who was hardworking and talented, and said with a laugh, "Don''t worry, as long as you work hard with me, I guarantee you, if the money for buying cars and houses isn''t enough, I''ll top it up for you!" As soon as he had said this, Li Rundong and Zhou Hangyu, catching the hint, flanked Xu Musen, almost wishing to cling to his legs. "Brother Sen! Big bro! I also want to buy a car and a house, if we don''t have enough money can you top it up for us too?" Xu Musen smiled slightly, looking at the two unserious guys. "I''ll top up an egg for you!" During the meeting, the only one who could stand firm was Zhao Lianmai. "After I leave, Xiao Mai will be the acting person in charge here; you all should follow her arrangements." sea??h th ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xu Musen left the store in her hands. As for the other branches, they were basically operating as separate entities from the main store, managed by people Xu Musen had selected, just like McDonald''s model - standardized and systematic, running according to set regulations, so basically, they could hardly go wrong. He just needed to have people conduct secret inspections routinely. "So that means Xiao Mai is our... temporary boss now?" Zhou Hangyu can never say anything good. Li Rundong also joined in the teasing, "Greetings, new boss!" Zhao Lianmai didn''t show any change in expression. Xu Musen gave each of them a kick, "Go on, behave yourselves. This month''s bonus, I''m going to listen to Xiao Mai''s evaluation; offend her, and I can''t save you." After arranging work, Xu Musen tidied up some things in the small room. In a little while, Zhao Lianmai suddenly came over. Her footsteps so light, they almost startled Xu Musen. "Xiao Mai? Is there something else?" ``` Chapter 218 Im Not Worthy of You, Im Well Aware of That. _3 Xu Musen turned back and asked.He then saw Zhao Lianmai hesitate slightly. sea??h th n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xu Musen looked at her and thought she was upset by the jokes those two had made, and said with a smile, "You don''t need to mind them. They just like to talk nonsense, don''t think too much about it." But Zhao Lianmai just looked up at him with an unchanged tone. "I know I''m not worthy of you, I''m aware of that." "..." Xu Musen looked at her. Zhao Lianmai still wore her usual plain expression, saying things half of the girls really couldn''t say. After all, there are plenty of women in their thirties, with two kids and three marriages behind them, who still dream of marrying a rich second generation man. "Xiao Mai, you actually are excellent..." Xu Musen wanted to say some nice things; after all, if Zhao Lianmai were in the public eye, she really would be seen as a paragon of grace and resilience. But Zhao Lianmai didn''t dwell on this topic. She took an envelope out of her arms and handed it to Xu Musen. "What''s this?" "The money you lent me last timeI still owe some, I''ll repay you after the New Year." Xu Musen weighed it, the business had done very well these two months, and Zhao Lianmai had also earned a good salary and bonus. But feeling the envelope, it had tens of thousands in it. He was the one who paid her salary, so he knew this envelope probably contained all her savings. With the envelope in his hand, Xu Musen said, "The New Year is coming. If you give me all your money, what will you do for the New Year purchases?" "That''s my own business." Zhao Lianmai spoke quietly. Xu Musen responded with a chuckle, "True, you can buy less clothes for yourself, skip a meal, but what about your aunt and your sister? They''ve waited a whole year; you can''t let them have a poor celebration." Faced with Xu Musen''s words. Zhao Lianmai bit her lip. She knew well that her family couldn''t afford meat for the New Year''s feast while others slaughtered pigs and sheep. Still, she had no intention of taking back the envelope. "I understand you, but being too rigid sometimes isn''t good. Learning to adapt is how you can improve. Huhai is so big; wouldn''t it be better to settle down here someday and bring your mother and sister over?" Xu Musen wasn''t just painting an unrealistic picture; Zhao Lianmai''s attitude and dedication at work meant she deserved a house of her own. If an employee as good as her couldn''t afford a house in the future, Xu Musen would consider himself a failure. Xu Musen, holding the envelope, opened it, took out a portion, and handed the bigger part back to her. "This is what I''m taking as interest. Keep the principal for now, go have a good New Year, and watch out. I might make a home visit during the festival. If I find out that your aunt and sister haven''t eaten well, I will deduct it from your wages." Xu Musen said with a laugh, stuffing the envelope back into her hands. Zhao Lianmai was a bit stunned as she looked at him, clutching the envelope. These words, this was the first time someone had spoken to her like this. And it was the first time someone had shown such concern for her family. But before she could react, Xu Musen took out another new envelope and stuffed the money he had just taken back into it. He handed it to Zhao Lianmai as well. "It''s the New Year, and I didn''t have time to prepare employee benefits. Consider this New Year''s gift money for your sister, and it''s not for you, don''t pocket it, take it." Xu Musen joked as he spoke. Zhao Lianmai held two envelopes in her hands. She bit her lip, holding the envelopes, her bright eyes looking at Xu Musen, seemingly with much to say, but ultimately, she swallowed her words and just stared at him unwaveringly. "I know I''m handsome, but you don''t have to stare at me like that, I''ll get shy." Xu Musen said in a teasing manner, trying to lighten the mood. Zhao Lianmai gazed at him for a while, then suddenly, she actually smiled a little. "You have the thickest skin but thank you." Xu Musen laughed loudly, "Xiao Mai, you actually look quite pretty when you smile. You should smile more often." But Zhao Lianmai slowly withdrew her smile and turned back to her work. Xu Musen got ready and prepared to drive to pick up Xiao Sickly Cutie. The car drove off. Zhao Lianmai stood at the counter, watching the direction in which his car disappeared, for a long time, her bright eyes trembling slightly. Finally, she shook her head gently, but her lips curved into a beautiful arc. Perhaps, sometimes the charm of a person inadvertently plants something in someone''s heart. This year will surely be lively and happy... Yes, Boss Xu, Happy New Year. Chapter 219 Comes with Airbags, Jealousy Makes One Unrecognizable. Yao Mingyue had already brought her luggage back to the villa ahead of time.At the moment, she was in front of the mirror trying on different outfits, none of which quite satisfied her. "Mom, which outfit do you think looks better on me?" In the upstairs room, Yao Mingyue was already at her wit''s end. She peered through the crack of the door at her mother, who was leisurely making tea and roasting fruit by the stove in the living room. Liu Rushuang was enjoying a rare day of rest at home in her red pajamas, lazily sipping her tea. She took her cup of tea upstairs and saw her daughter, who had been fretting in front of the mirror for a while. To facilitate changing clothes, Yao Mingyue was only wearing her underwear. She indeed inherited her mother''s genesYao Mingyue''s figure was impeccably perfect, although certain areas could use a little more development. But that might still happen with a second growth spurt. And this was only in comparison with Liu Rushuang herself; next to other girls, she was in a completely different league. Smiling, she held her cup of tea and said, "My daughter has such a great figure, I think a bikini would look the best on you." "...Mom!" Yao Mingyue was speechless, turning back to look at her own mother. Wearing a bikini in this weather, wasn''t she afraid of freezing to death? "Haha, all right, all right, actually you look pretty good in anything, so don''t stress over it so much." "Hmph, I knew it was no use asking you..." Yao Mingyue huffed. Her mother''s closet was now basically filled with nothing but suits and cheongsams. "You''re still young. When you grow up, you''ll understand that a good figure is a woman''s best outfit. Suits and cheongsams are the ultimate in showcasing elegance. Why don''t you try them on? I guarantee it will utterly bewitch Musen." Liu Rushuang walked over and gently hugged her daughter from behind, measuring her with her hands and clicking her tongue, "Well, okay, the cheongsam doesn''t quite fit you yet..." "Mom!" Yao Mingyue blushed and pushed away her offbeat mother, feeling somewhat indignant. Not expecting any more help, she ushered her mother out of the room. Liu Rushuang chuckled gleefully. Even beneath her loose-fitting pajamas, she maintained a youthful vigor that was currently out of her daughter''s reach. She had just gone downstairs when she saw a black Audi pull up outside the window. "He''s here." Liu Rushuang''s gaze turned to the window as the black Audi approached. Xu Musen got out of the car with some gift bags in hand and walked over. Liu Rushuang went to open the door. "Mom, Happy New Year." Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire Xu Musen held up the gifts he had prepared and started to give his New Year''s greetings with a smile. "Aww~" Liu Rushuang smiled warmly, ruffling his hair and taking the things from his hands, "Go see Ming Yue. She''s been changing all morning and still isn''t satisfied. I think she might be willing to listen to you." "Okay." Xu Musen nodded and walked upstairs, knocking on Yao Mingyue''s room door. In the room, Yao Mingyue was still trying on clothes. She was wearing only her underwear for ease of changing. She held two new outfits in her arms, thinking it was her mother coming back to help her choose. "Hmph, Mom, I''ll give you another chance. These last two, which do you think..." Yao Mingyue was looking at the clothes on either side of herone mature style and one cute styleunsure of her decision. However, she noticed that the silhouette before her remained silent, neither evaluating nor teasing her like before. She silently adjusted her gaze only to meet Xu Musen''s slightly awkward eyes. Xu Musen''s gaze had unavoidably taken in a clear view. Yao Mingyue''s figure was actually really good, perfectly proportioned. She was wearing a pale beige set of underwear. The style... was the same one she had picked out with Xu Musen at the lingerie store last time, rather mature, a kind of sexy yet innocent look. The sight before him was alabaster smoothness and tempting curves. Even the girl''s belly button was attractive, pristine and delicately pretty. The design of the lingerie conveyed a sense of sophistication, outlining the girl''s graceful figure to perfection. In fact, lingerie is usually much more conservative than a bikini, but the sensation was utterly different. That''s just how people are, reaching out for pure love stories on color sites. While also looking for so-called fan service in proper TV shows. Yao Mingyue''s slender waist was really attractive, showing even some hint of abdominal definition, the smooth lines inducing a wave of warmth even on a winter day! "I think this one suits you. Get changed and come downstairs, we''re getting ready to leave." Xu Musen took a deep breath, appeared composed, and pointed to the mature style dress on her left, then considerately shut the door for her. Before she could react, he quickly fled downstairs. Meanwhile, Yao Mingyue still stood by the door, which had even bumped her as it closed, thankfully her own resilience cushioning the impact... But she had also realized what happened, a flush of deep red coloring her stunning face. This guy, this guy!! "Damn it, damn it, damn it!!!" Yao Mingyue gritted out these words, wishing she could devour Xu Musen, but what irked her wasn''t that he had seen her. S~ea??h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was... That someone as well-figured as herself didn''t make him embarrassed or overly lustful. Instead, he looked totally unfazed??? Yao Mingyue was livid. Could it be that she really held no allure? Isn''t it? Why didn''t he just pounce on her and act indecent??! She was absolutely fuming! "Xu Musen! You idiot, just... just suffocate, will you!" Yao Mingyue was both embarrassed and furious, storming off to change her clothes. Xu Musen was walking downstairs, but inwardly he was anything but the calm he projected on the surface. Chapter 219 Comes with Airbags, Jealousy Makes One Unrecognizable. _2 After all, at his age and with his physical condition, it''s impossible not to have impulses. Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library EmpireBut thankfully, there was divine intervention last night. Now, there''s still a bit of the sage mode''s imposing presence left. However, the image of Yao Mingyue wearing her pajamas remained stubbornly in his mind. Xu Musen shook his head, trying to cast out these troublesome thoughts, but with a shake, some things in his mind seemed to start shaking along with them... No good, he felt a bit dizzy. Meanwhile, in the living room. Liu Rushuang was leisurely drinking tea and munching on roasted nuts. Yet Xu Musen clearly saw the corners of her mouth curling up in a concealed smile a moment ago. This mother of his... "Has Ming Yue come down yet?" Noticing Xu Musen descending the stairs, Liu Rushuang smiled warmly and poured him a cup of tea, deliberately posing the question. Xu Musen smiled helplessly, "Mom, can you stop teasing me like this in the future?" Liu Rushuang''s smile grew brighter, "Alright, alright, you two will be heading back soon. Be very careful on the road; I won''t be able to return for a while." "Don''t worry, I''m still confident in my driving." "That''s good." Liu Rushuang nodded, eyes sweeping over the vast villa, and let out a small sigh, "Once you leave, these rooms will be empty again, and after Yue returns home, she''ll be alone. Until I get back, don''t let her be too lonely." When she gets back to Zheng City, Yao Mingyue will have to live alone in the spacious villa, and she hardly has any friends. The only people she can really talk to are Xu Musen''s family. Xu Musen nodded, "Don''t worry, Mom, I''ll take good care of her." "Then I''m relieved." Liu Rushuang then affectionately ruffled Xu Musen''s hair. Shortly after, Yao Mingyue came downstairs, dressed for the day. She was wearing a white cashmere coat, paired with a ribbed turtleneck sweater. On the bottom, she wore light green velvet trousers and a pair of delicate suede boots. She appeared delicate and elegant, like a freshly made little snowman. Yao Mingyue actually rarely dresses in this cute style because her personality has always been somewhat strong, and she suits a more mature style better. She looked at Xu Musen, huffed softly, and her cheeks flushed with slight annoyance. The instigator, Liu Rushuang, chuckled merrily, "Xiao Sen, I''ve prepared gifts for your parents. I''ll go get them for you to take back." Saying this, Liu Rushuang made her escape. In the living room, the two of them faced each other. Xu Musen simply gave up and, looking at her, said, "Why are you dressed like this? Actually, the outfit you wore earlier that was a bit more mature suited you better." Yao Mingyue looked down at her fluffy white ensemble and said with a sour tone, "What I like isn''t as important as what pleases you." This made Xu Musen feel like a bit of a scumbag, "Life is too short to try to please others; what matters is that you like it." "But I used to like to wear little white fluffy dresses too" Suddenly, Yao Mingyue spoke up, her eyes slightly downcast as she gazed at the fluffy outfit she wore. Before elementary school, like many little girls, she too favored little white fluffy dresses. However, since her father''s incident, she had seldom worn them. Xu Musen''s gaze also paused as he remembered the little girl who used to follow him around, calling him brother while wearing a little white dress. But during that incident, the birthday gift that Yao Mingyue''s father had left in the car was a white dress. It never got the chance to be worn by Yao Mingyue; instead, it lay scattered on the ground, stained with mud and blood... Ever since then, Yao Mingyue rarely wore pure white dresses anymore. Back then, just like An Nuannuan, she had at least her grandparents, while Yao Mingyue had only Xu Musen to rely on. In retrospect, Xu Musen, himself still just a child, hadn''t managed to take good care of her, nor provide proper guidance. Otherwise, everything might be very different now. Xu Musen silently lost in thought, looked at Yao Mingyue who seemed complicated yet slightly aggrieved. "It looks quite nice," he said. Sear?h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yao Mingyue''s eyes immediately brightened, "Then how about I dress in this style more often?" "There''s no need for that." "But don''t you like it?" "What I like isn''t as important as what you like," he responded with her own words, adding, "Actually, you look pretty good in other styles too." The two exchanged glances, both smiling faintly. "Hmph, I suppose your answer is acceptable this time. I''ll consider it again in the future," she said. Yao Mingyue didn''t realize how easily she was being coaxed at that moment. By then, Liu Rushuang had returned with the items, giving them some final instructions. It was time to depart. Xu Musen placed everything in the trunk; at the doorway, Liu Rushuang helped her daughter straighten her hair. "Be careful on the way back, and if you''re tired, take a break. You, as the co-driver, need to stay alert too," she advised. "Don''t worry, Mom, we''ll give you a call to check in as soon as we arrive home," Xu Musen assured. Yao Mingyue glanced at her mother, realizing that being an adult wasn''t easy; she would only be able to come home for the year-end holidays. For a woman to support a company by herself is very, very difficult. Yao Mingyue gave her mother a hug. "Mom, you take care of yourself too. I''ll wait for you to come home and celebrate the New Year together." "Silly child..." Liu Rushuang smiled radiantly, her heart filled with contentment, "Alright, get going now. Don''t let it get too late." "Mm-hmm," they agreed. At the car, Yao Mingyue looked at Xu Musen, as if waiting for something. Chapter 219 Comes with Airbags, Jealousy Makes One Unrecognizable. _3 Xu Musen had a tacit understanding born of a childhood friendship. Without saying, she definitely knew about him opening the car door for An Nuannuan the day before.In front of Liu Rushuang, Xu Musen walked over to help her open the car door, "President Yao, please get in the car." The address had changed, and it even sounded a bit begrudging. But for Yao Mingyue, this already made her very happy. "Oh, Brother Musen is such a gentleman, aren''t you? You must have opened the door for quite a few girls, right? Your little girlfri~" Yao Mingyue said in a mocking tone. But she couldn''t even finish before Xu Musen interrupted her. "Are you getting in or not?" "Mom~ Xu Musen is being mean to me!" Liu Rushuang couldn''t help but smile at the side, going over to gently knock on her head, "Behave yourself." Then she turned to Xu Musen and said, smiling as she tousled his hair, "Remember your promise to me, okay?" "I remember." Xu Musen nodded. "Then let''s hit the road. I''ll be back in a few days to celebrate the New Year together." Liu Rushuang went over to open the car door for Xu Musen. Xu Musen thought it was a bit inappropriate, but Liu Rushuang pulled him, making him get into the car. Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire "No need to stand on ceremony with Rong. Drive safely, and take good care of each other. If anyone is naughty, I''ll spank their bottom when they come back!" Liu Rushuang seemed to scare them just like she used to when they were kids, raising her slender, fair palm. Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue both smiled. Audi, start! The vehicle gradually disappeared from sight. Liu Rushuang watched as they drove away, slowly revealing a wistful smile. This might be, their last New Year together. Maybe by next year, another family would come between them. She knew what her daughter wanted to do now was wrong, and could even bring about gossip, but... compared to her daughter''s happiness, sea??h th Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. None of that mattered. If possible, if the outcome was good, then by any means necessary... might be acceptable. "My silly daughter, this last chance, it''s up to you to grasp it..." ... On the road. Xu Musen looked at the map. They should be able to drive straight to the vicinity of Hongze Lake today and find a place to sleep there for the night. The wind was chilling outside, while inside the car it was warm and cozy. Driving through the city was actually quite pleasant. It was just that Yao Mingyue, sitting beside him, kept fidgeting with her seat, making clicking noises. "Do you really need to adjust the seat that far back?" Xu Musen watched her move the seat quite far back. "What''s wrong, not enough leg room? You think everyone has short legs." Yao Mingyue hummed, proudly showing off her long legs, and as soon as she got into the car, she took off her boots, revealing her delicate feet in white socks. Resting lightly against the car window. Many girls like to lie like this. Xu Musen glanced at her and laughed, "I remember there was a news story not long ago about a girl who was sitting like that, and when the car braked suddenly, her legs were fractured on the spot." "Xu Musen, would it kill you to say something nice?" "I''m telling the truth. Put your feet down now. I care about my image, even if you don''t." Xu Musen gave her a look. Yao Mingyue hummed in defiance, but her eyes whirled, and suddenly the corners of her mouth curled up with mischief. "Oh~ I get it now, you''re just jealous that someone else might see my feet, right? Tsk tsk, such a petty man." As Yao Mingyue spoke, she gently bent her foot, inching it toward Xu Musen''s leg, along the position of the center console. "Behave." Xu Musen snatched her ankle without any good grace and shoved it aside. "Tch, you''re just a foot fetish weirdo." "I''m kindly giving you a ride home; the least you could do is not slander me." "Slander you? Then how do you explain the socks you keep under your pillow every night? Are they your midnight spellcasting materials?" Yao Mingyue watched him with narrowed phoenix eyes. "Only a pervert fantasizes about a piece of fabric." Xu Musen''s face stayed impassive, after all, he was now directly indulging! Having the chance to play with An Nuannuan''s fresh little feet every day, who would bother with just a sock? But as soon as he said this, Yao Mingyue''s face suddenly turned red. In her wardrobe, there were still things belonging to Xu Musen... "Humph, playing tough..." Yao Mingyue wasn''t sure whom she was referring to as she pulled her feet back and adjusted her seat again while humming. "The seat is so close, in case of a real emergency, the airbag wouldn''t even have time to deploy, right?" Yao Mingyue was quite proud of her long legs. If it were summer and she sat next to him wearing black stockings, wouldn''t he be utterly mesmerized? Xu Musen just glanced at her coolly, revealing a hint of amusement, "Isn''t there a possibility that some people simply don''t need an airbag?" Yao Mingyue did not catch on immediately, but following the direction of Xu Musen''s gaze, she looked down... In her mind, she pictured An Nuannuan''s extraordinary assets. "..." Jealousy could make a person unrecognizable! "Xu Musen!!!" Chapter 220 Brother~ Do you take me to this kind of room, does mom know about it? At dusk, Xu Musen didn''t rush to keep driving. Five hundred kilometers a day would easily get them back. That night, Xu Musen stopped near Hongze Lake. As one of the four largest freshwater lakes in the country, the scenery here was still quite spectacular. Especially in winter, although the lake wouldn''t freeze for more than twenty days, there would be large areas of ice on the surface, with the ice layer reaching more than twenty centimeters thick. Some areas were even cordoned off to create skating rinks. In winter, it always got dark especially early. Xu Musen also planned to enjoy the scenery along the way, so he drove directly into the scenic area to look for a "lake view room." He found a hotel. Right beside it was the scenic area and an ice rink, along with a shopping streetit was quite lively. "Out of the car." Xu Musen tapped Yao Mingyue, who was still dozing off. That''s how girls are in cars: if they''re not snacking, they''re sleeping. Yao Mingyue occasionally tried to rub her foot against him, but Xu Musen flicked her toes a few times, causing her pain, and she huffily ignored this clueless straight man. Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire "That was quick Oh, it''s so cold outside, I don''t want to get out." Yao Mingyue stretched lazily, the car''s heater had been on, and just by lowering the window a bit, the cold wind blew in. "If you don''t want to get out, just sleep in the car then." As Xu Musen spoke, he had already turned off the car. "That works. You can sleep with me in the car. I remember this is called a car... what again?" Yao Mingyue squinted her eyes and snuggled up again, acting all improper as soon as she woke up. She was wearing a slim-fitting turtleneck sweater in the car and purposely lifted her collar to reveal her delicate, fair collarbone. Her attractive figure was fully displayed with a stretch, like a languid little cat seeking a pat. Um, such a playful kitty~ Xu Musen chuckled. He promptly opened the car door, and the cold wind rushed in immediately. "Ah What are you doing!" Yao Mingyue instantly shivered from the cold wind and subconsciously covered her chest. "Just cooling you down, so you don''t get too heated." Xu Musen said nonchalantly. "Xu Musen!" Yao Mingyue stretched out a foot to kick him in indignation, but Xu Musen caught it with his hand and flicked her toes again. Then Xu Musen turned and got out of the car. Yao Mingyue huffily got dressed and followed him out. "Dead man, I''ll show you!" Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue approached the front desk. The receptionist saw the high-value couple and her eyes lit up. "Hello, welcome to our hotel. Would you like a room?" "Yes, do you have any rooms available?" "Yes, yes, we still have a couple''s deluxe room with a great view." The receptionist began recommending enthusiastically. Looking at the description in the photos, there was a large, round pink bed, romantically decorated, and the bed was covered with many flower petalsall props for atmosphere. However, Xu Musen had a feeling that the room probably had more cameras than a traffic light at an intersection. Yao Mingyue glanced at it, and although she was mistaken for his girlfriend, she just curved the corners of her mouth but said nothing. She edged a step closer to Xu Musen, blushed, twisted her hands behind her, and gently lowered her head while flirting with her hair. She had the expression of a young girl, naive and shy, a bit afraid and nervous. "Brother~ taking someone out to stay in this kind of room, does mom know?" Xu Musen: ... The receptionist: =????=????(???|||) The surrounding guests also looked over, thinking, "What on earth? Is this a German orthopedic drama?" Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Shut up!" Xu Musen said through clenched teeth. Thinking about getting a room quickly to leave this place, or else they would soon have to find another city to sleep in. "Don''t be mean to me, brother. I agreed to come out with you. I definitely won''t tell mom, let''s just elope..." Yao Mingyue, playing the drama queen and also aiming to retaliate for his insensitivity earlier, was eloquent. She was almost about to squeeze out tears. The receptionist''s expression was already one of shocked disbelief. This was too explosive. Although it wasn''t rare for couples to call each other brother or sister, or even daddy, the way these two talked really felt like an orthopedic situation. "Two separate rooms, as far apart as possible!" Xu Musen promptly placed his bank card and ID on the front desk. This little Sickly Cutie just got more worked up the more attention was paid to her. "This... sorry, other than the deluxe room, we only have one double room left, the kind with two beds." "Then that one!" Yao Mingyue slapped her ID down as well. Xu Musen was tempted to change hotels. But seeing Yao Mingyue''s mischievous expression, he, having driven all day, sighed and nodded his head, resolved to sleep through the night and head home the next day. And so, Xu Musen took the room key reluctantly and started towards the room. Meanwhile, Yao Mingyue''s lips curled in pleasure as she hopped and skipped behind him. Several envious men nearby couldn''t help feeling jealous and resentful! "Damn, regardless of the orthopedic scenario, such a beautiful girl is as good as Qiong Mei." "Such a beautiful and proactive girl, and looking at this guy, he''s not even happy! Damn, you just have to drive a crappy A6. If you can''t handle it, let me take over!" "Man, a crappy A6? You''d think everyone drives a luxury car worth millions. If you had that car, other girls would be even more forward..." Chapter 220 Brother~ Youre Taking Me to Stay in This Kind of Room, Does Mom Know?_2 Xu Musen arrived in the room, and although it was a double room, it was still quite nice, with a pleasant view from the window. But Xu Musen didn''t even have time to catch his breath before the sarcastic voice of Yao Mingyue came from behind him. "Brother~ do you want to eat first, take a bath, or start with me..." As she spoke, Yao Mingyue gently blinked her phoenix eyes, despite her young age, she had a naturally alluring charm. Xu Musen felt a bit troubled, "Can you behave? Where did you learn all of this nonsense?" "From the hard drive of your computer during your adolescence." "..." Xu Musen felt his face heat up. But then again, which boy hasn''t watched those videos during his teenage years? Nine out of ten would have a few websites memorized and their own traditional sleight of hand tricks. The last one is just pretending to be tough. "Also, you even had a special category, what was it called again, ''Girl Next Door''?" Yao Mingyue walked over with a smile, gently resting her hand on Xu Musen''s shoulder, her eyes sultry like silk: "How about I give you a chance now?" Yao Mingyue''s gaze lingered on Xu Musen, just like those neighborhood big sisters who wanted to roll little lads under a big wheel. "Let''s eat." Xu Musen pushed her hand away, paying her no mind. It was around five or six in the afternoon, time for dinner. Xu Musen placed his things in the room and turned to go to the hotel''s dining room to see what delicious food was available. By the lake, there would naturally be fish. The dishes were served quickly. Yao Mingyue picked a piece of fish, but noticing the many bones, she complained while picking at them, "What''s this, it''s said to be fish from Hongze Lake, but I feel it''s no different from ordinary carp." "Isn''t it always like this? In our area, every restaurant that sells fish claims theirs is the Yellow River big carp." Enjoy new stories from My Virtual Library Empire Xu Musen said shaking his head; if every fish really were Yellow River big carp, they''d have gone extinct from overfishing long ago. It would be considered a conscientious merchant just to wash the fish in the waters of the Yellow River. Xu Musen watched as she clumsily picked at the fish bones, almost mashing the fish meat into balls. Yao Mingyue had been pampered since childhood, and when it came to eating fish, it was always Xu Musen who picked the bones for her before passing it to her plate. "Clumsy, let me teach you how to pick fish bones. You have to follow the grain of the meat, one pick and they come right out..." Xu Musen couldn''t stand watching her any longer, and started teaching her as he picked up a piece of fish. Yao Mingyue cupped her cheeks in her hands, watching his careful movements to remove the fish bones, softly murmuring, "You used to pick the bones for me before." "In the future, you can find someone else to pick fish bones for you." Xu Musen said offhandedly. "Would you really let me find someone else?" Yao Mingyue''s lips curved into a smile, her gaze unwavering as she stared into Xu Musen''s eyes. Xu Musen didn''t respond immediately; a myriad of thoughts flashed through his eyes in an instant, but he simply couldn''t picture any other boy with Yao Mingyue. "Xu Musen, just admit it, you''re such a playboy!" Yao Mingyue saw all the emotions hidden in the depths of his eyes. Hmph, men are all big trotters, always looking at the next pot while eating from the bowl in front of them. Xu Musen didn''t respond. After all, as the saying goes, judge by actions not by thoughts, for if we only judged by thoughts, no one would be a saint. Xu Musen looked at the neatly picked piece of fish in his plate, and noticed another clump of "fish ball" had been placed on his plate with another pair of chopsticks. Yao Mingyue, having carefully picked the bones out of her fish, put it on Xu Musen''s plate, her phoenix eyes gleaming softly. "I don''t know if I''ll encounter someone who will pick fish bones for me in the future, but... I want to be the person who picks the fish bones for you now. After all, I''m so clumsy, I''ll probably only learn to pick fish bones for one person in this lifetime." Yao Mingyue spoke softly, yet in her words, there was a trace of a young girl''s pique and sorrow. Some people are greedy, always eyeing the next dish while eating the current one. Not like her, who could only narrow-mindedly adore one person for a lifetime. Xu Musen looked at the piece of fish that Yao Mingyue had placed in his plate. It was indeed clumsily picked, hardly appetizing to look at. But this was also the first time Yao Mingyue had picked fish bones for someone else. Clumsy, but lovable. Xu Musen silently watched her and eventually sighed. He picked up the fish he had just prepared and placed it on her plate. "Alright, let''s eat quickly." As he spoke, he picked up the piece of fish Yao Mingyue had placed in his plate and ate it in one bite. The presentation might have been lacking, but the taste was still the same, most importantly, although it didn''t look nice, she had made sure to pick out every single bone. It was akin to his life in the past; maybe Yao Mingyue didn''t know how to manage a relationship gracefully. She often made a mess of many things. But indeed, she had given Xu Musen everything he could want. Just like this piece of fish C unattractive yet guaranteed not to leave any bones stuck in his throat. Yet at the end, she turned out to be that one lingering bone. Sear?h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And now, that bone seemed to have slowly softened... Xu Musen watched her, his heart gradually softening as well. Yao Mingyue, seeing him eat it, squinted her eyes happily. Her gaze then turned to the crowd outside ice skating, filled with anticipation: "Xu Musen, can we go ice skating together later?" Xu Musen also looked outside at the many skaters. Since they were here, they should definitely join in the fun, and seeing the expectant look in Yao Mingyue''s eyes, he picked another piece of fish for her. "Eat up if you want to play." "Is that a yes?" Yao Mingyue beamed with joy. "Yeah." "Then I''ll pick more fish bones for you..." Chapter 220 Brother~ Youre Taking Me to Stay in This Kind of Room, Does Mom Know?_3 ... After dinner, Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue went to rent ice skates. "Renting costs thirty, a new pair costs three hundred, which type do you want, beauty?" The ice rink''s proprietress explained. "Give me two new pairs." Yao Mingyue, not shy about spending, directly asked for a new pair and took out six hundred yuan. "Okay!" The proprietress was all smiles. Selling a pair of skates at this quality was pure profit for her. "Boss Yao is so generous." Xu Musen originally planned to rent a pair just to play for a while, but he hadn''t expected Yao Mingyue to directly purchase two pairs. He had been too accustomed to hard times; even with money in his pocket, he was reluctant to spend it carelessly. Yao Mingyue couldn''t stand wearing something someone else had worn, even if there was just a chance of contracting athlete''s foot, even from sterilized skates. Yao Mingyue had already taken the skates and started to change out of her boots, looking at Xu Musen with a meaningful smile. "Personal items should be clean; otherwise, if your mouth ends up tasting like feet, that wouldn''t be nice." "??Why would my mouth..." As Xu Musen spoke, his gaze drifted unconsciously to her freshly-bare feet in white socks. "..." Xu Musen was speechless. The proprietress was stunned for a moment, then looked at the beautiful young woman''s small feet and then at the handsome young man''s mouth... Oh~~~ Young people these days sure know how to have fun. The proprietress suppressed a laugh. Xu Musen had gotten somewhat used to it and changed into the skates as well. Ice skating could be considered an elegant sport; he had often gone ice skating with Yao Mingyue in his past life. Xu Musen glided smoothly on the ice with a perfect arc, having even greater control over his body after his rebirth. The main thing was that he wasn''t being drained daily by Yao Mingyue, the Xiao Sickly Cutie; his lower body stability was now terrifying! "When did you become so good at skating?" Yao Mingyue slowly skated over to him; Xu Musen''s skating stance just now was indeed quite stylish. As an inherently graceful sport, it gave skaters, regardless of gender, an elegant and flowing appearance. With Xu Musen''s tall and upright figure, even a down jacket couldn''t hide his increasingly mature and confident charm. A number of girls watched as Xu Musen smoothly completed a lap. "There''s a lot I''m good at." Xu Musen would never admit he''d been trained by her. "Tsk, you''re like a little dog marking your territory everywhere now, flirting all over the place." Yao Mingyue huffed, her irritation growing as she saw girls around them sneaking glances at Xu Musen. "What''s with that strange analogy?" Xu Musen smiled helplessly. Is it my fault for being attractive? "You take me along for the glide." Yao Mingyue came to his side, reached out, and gently tugged on his sleeve, as if she wanted to block Xu Musen completely from the sight of other girls. "Weren''t you just complaining about me?" Xu Musen looked at her with a smile. For some reason, seeing Yao Mingyue''s jealous look made her seem unexpectedly adorable. "I''m complaining about you because I''m using you as my sled dog! Go on, Er Ha!" Yao Mingyue hummed, reverting to the Xiao Mingyue of old when it was just the two of them. As Xu Musen skated, Yao Mingyue gently clutched his clothes, gliding softly on the ice. Gradually, Yao Mingyue went from grabbing his clothes to gently holding around his waist. Xu Musen paused for a moment, then slowed down and looked back at her. "I''ll just hug for a bit, like a brother taking care of his sister." Yao Mingyue met his gaze. It had been a very long time since they had been alone together. Xu Musen was silent for a moment, not pushing her away but instead gliding gently on the ice. The shadows of the two of them on the ice seemed to blend together, as if they would melt as one; despite the cold night breeze, they felt not a hint of chill. At that moment, everything seemed to slow down. Xu Musen didn''t think too much but simply saw Yao Mingyue as the Sister Mingyue of the past. Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire If there was no hurdle of love between them, just a pair of neighbors, brother and sister... Then having such a playful and pretty little sister was actually quite delightful. "Xu Musen." "Hmm?" "I really like this moment, where no one recognizes us, and we don''t have to think about the people we knowjust you and me..." Yao Mingyue''s voice was soft; she held onto Xu Musen''s waist tightly, fearing that if she let go, she might never get to hold him again. "Actually, if it''s just like this, it wouldn''t be impossible in the future," Xu Musen said. Just like foster siblings. "But would I be content with that? Would you?" Both seemed like thieves with guilty consciences, not content, yet neither daring to make a move. "You''ll get used to it eventually." Xu Musen finally gave an answer after a long time. "Yeah, you will get used to it. Just like how we''ve gotten used to each other over twenty years, and how I''ve relied on you for twenty years. If I need to kick this affection, maybe it will take another twenty years..." Yao Mingyue''s face bore an inscrutable smile. Sar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Why bother..." "It''s the best years of a girl''s life, poured entirely into liking you; I have no regrets." Yao Mingyue interrupted him. Not far ahead of them, there was a family of three. A couple with a child, a cute little girl who looked about eight or nine years old. Chapter 220 Brother~ Youre Taking Me to Stay in This Kind of Room, Does Mom Know?_4 Perhaps out of concern that the child''s ice skating might disturb others, they played at the corner edge of the safety line. "Mommy, I''m scared." "Baby, skate slowly, Mommy and Daddy are here to catch you." Listening to their warm conversation, Yao Mingyue''s eyes flickered slightly. She looked at Xu Musen, wondering if the cozy scene could, from now on, include only Xu Musen and her... "Honestly, I can''t bring myself to wish you and her happiness, but I do hope to always see you happy. If something unexpected happens one day, you mustn''t leave me alone, I can''t bear it" Yao Mingyue suddenly said something that seemed to come out of nowhere. She looked at Xu Musen, and her phoenix eyes seemed to hide emotions that no one else could see through. Xu Musen was taken aback. For some reason, the final scene from his past life flashed through his mind C him lying in a pool of blood, Yao Mingyue hysterical, her face ashen... "Crack! Crack!" "Ah! Daddy!!" Suddenly, a cracking sound, along with cries for help, rang out! The two of them looked over instantly, and where the family of three had been, the ice unexpectedly shattered. The child slid right into the frigid lake water, and the father didn''t hesitate to jump in after, finally bringing the child, who had swallowed several mouthfuls of ice-cold water, back to the surface. But as he tried to climb onto the ice, it couldn''t bear his weight and began to break piece by piece. After a couple of attempts, it was clear that the father was running out of strength. "Help! Help!" "Daddy, Daddy!!" The child shivered all over from the cold, but seeing her daddy quickly losing strength in the cold water, she too cried out loudly. They were in a remote area, and it would take a while for lifeguards to arrive. In the winter water, a few minutes were enough to make someone completely freeze and not come up anymore. The child''s mother, frantic, crying, saw that Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue were the closest to them. She fell to the ground crying and came over to them. "I beg you... please, save my husband!!" Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire "Daddy!! Daddy..." The little girl was crying her heart out, watching her daddy gradually lose his energy. She stretched out her hand wanting to pull him up. But the father still pushed her hand away with the last of his strength, making sure she stayed in a safe position. This scene made Xu Musen feel as though he was seeing the helpless and desperate Yao Mingyue crying in the stormy night six years ago... Without any hesitation, he kicked off his ice skates and gently pushed Yao Mingyue aside. "Wait for me!" With that, Xu Musen ran over. There was a lifebuoy on the safety line, which he grabbed and jumped into the water with. Cold! Bone-chilling coldness, but thankfully he had warmed up from ice skating just before, or else he would have cramped from the sudden plunge. He hugged the lifebuoy and grabbed the man''s clothes, but by now the man was almost unconscious and slowly sinking. Xu Musen dove underwater, pulling him, but the icy chill of the lake water made it hard to exert any strength. Xu Musen had leapt in not to risk his own life for another''s C he was confident he could get back to shore on his own. But to save a grown man along with him was just beyond reach... Grinding his teeth, Xu Musen remembered the cries of the little girl earlier C they reminded him of Yao Mingyue six years ago. He didn''t want a tragedy like this to unfold before his eyes again. He exerted all his strength, but it still felt just barely out of reach, and he himself was also nearing exhaustion. If it didn''t work out, he''d have to save himself first. Damn, it was just a little bit too short... If only at this moment someone would lend a hand... "Splash!" Another figure jumped into the water. Trembling hands gently embraced his waist and started to ascend. Xu Musen turned around, and through the blurry water, he still recognized the person holding him. Yao Mingyue... S~ea??h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 221 Redemption Destined, The Changed Xiao Sickly Cutie. The icy, bone-chilling water of the lake. Xu Musen was dragging the man, his strength almost depleted, just short of that last bit... "Daddy!!" On the icy surface, the little girl was drenched in icy water, her face had turned so pale from the cold, her small body trembling incessantly. Tears hung on her face like beads of ice, and as Yao Mingyue looked at her, the scene seemed to flashback to her own self six years ago. Watching her loved ones go through life and death right before her eyes, that pain still felt like a knife constantly piercing her heart... With the current scene unfolding, her heart trembled wildly. Six years ago, she hadn''t been able to wait for her father to celebrate her twelfth birthday. Now... watching the little girl cry her heart out, it was as if she was seeing a familiar tragedy all over again. This was the pain Yao Mingyue least wanted to remember, the pain she had always tried to avoid. At that moment, Yao Mingyue felt a sour weakness throughout her body, a sense of powerlessness enveloping her once again. Like a demon of the heart, even though Yao Mingyue was proud and stubborn, at this moment, she was as vulnerable as the little girl. "Whoosh..." Xu Musen, holding a lifebuoy, gripping the man, used his last ounce of strength to swim upward. Yao Mingyue''s eyes returned to the lake, where Xu Musen, clinging to the lifebuoy, seemed to lose strength; he struggled to lift his head and breath in the air deeply. But even the air now felt cold as needles piercing into his lungs; Xu Musen clenched his teeth, his face pale and frightening. It was like... his father, who had left him six years ago. In Yao Mingyue''s life, the two most important men, she had already lost one; this time, she could not just watch! At that moment, Yao Mingyue took off her down jacket, wrapped the sleeves around a nearby railing, and jumped in. sea??h th novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xu Musen was caught off guard. Just when he felt almost exhausted, Yao Mingyue jumped in too; she was always afraid of the cold. The icy, bone-chilling water was like silver needles pricking through every pore, an indescribable pain. Yao Mingyue hugged Xu Musen''s waist, her body trembling, but she held tightly onto Xu Musen, using her own strength to start swimming up toward the icy surface. Her hands grabbed at the ice, the sharp frost like a sword blade, piercing through the girl''s fair fingertips, and blood flowed out, red and stark. But she could no longer feel the pain; all she wanted was to get Xu Musen out of the water. Either... die together! Xu Musen was even more anxious; why had this girl jumped in as well? But with the clothing wrapped around Yao Mingyue, it did indeed save him a lot of effort; he bit his own tongue tip, forcing out some strength. At that moment, on the ice surface, a woman immediately grabbed onto the clothing wrapped around Yao Mingyue, pulling with all her might toward the ice surface. Others nearby heard the commotion and rushed to help. "Come on! Let''s pull together!" Two men worked together, while Xu Musen clung to the man, and with one hand around Yao Mingyue''s waist, they finally surfaced with the help from above. "Quick, rescue them!" The surrounding tourists came over and helped pull the unconscious man to the shore. Xu Musen held the equally frozen Yao Mingyue and rolled onto the ice surface. He exhaled deeply, feeling his limbs stiffen, but he didn''t have time to relax; he quickly got up and looked at Yao Mingyue in his arms, who was getting fuzzy. "Ming Yue!" Xu Musen gently patted her cheek. "Musen..." Yao Mingyue was shivering from the cold, her skin having lost all color, but looking at Xu Musen''s anxious face, she smiled weakly. She reached out with her own injured hand, gently touching Xu Musen''s cheek: "I''m glad you''re okay..." As she spoke, her gaze drifted aside. The man who was rescued was still unconscious, but he had coughed up some water, and his complexion was rapidly improving. "Daddy, Daddy!!" The little girl clung to her father, seeing his color gradually return, she wiped her tears away, hope rekindling in her eyes as she and her mother cried and hugged each other. Watching this, Yao Mingyue''s vision blurred as she saw her past self once more. If... her father could have also been sent to the hospital in time during the car accident, would everything have turned out differently? "So fortunate..." Yao Mingyue''s lips curled into a weak and complex smile. At this moment, she had saved not just the little girl but also the regretful and despairing "herself" from six years ago. "So silly... Don''t talk anymore, I''ll take you to see a doctor!" Xu Musen picked her up; his feet, clad in soaked socks, felt as if they would stick to the ice if he stood there any longer. "Need help?" inquired the concerned onlookers nearby. "No, I''ve got it." Xu Musen held Yao Mingyue tightly. The look in Yao Mingyue''s eyes when she had jumped down without hesitation... Yao Mingyue had a twisted personality, but behind that twist was her heart that had never forgotten her love for Xu Musen. It was true that Yao Mingyue had a strong desire to control, but her love for him was equally genuine, to the extent she could act recklessly... Xu Musen looked at her shivering, tightly curled up in his arms, reminding him of that night six years ago. That was how she had cried herself to sleep in Xu Musen''s arms back then. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire The once staunch defenses in Xu Musen''s heart seemed to be thawed bit by bit by the cold of the day... Chapter 221 The Redemption of Fate, The Changed Xiao Sickly Cutie._2 He held Yao Mingyue tightly in his arms and ran to the clinic next to the hotel. The doctor hurried back to check on her and immediately arranged a private room for her. "Thankfully, she''s just weak and a bit hypothermic. Go get a fresh set of clothes and a warm towel to change the patient." Xu Musen didn''t dare to delay, he ran back to the hotel, took new clothes from Yao Mingyue''s suitcase, and rushed back. The doctor had prepared hot water and a warm towel and handed them to Xu Musen. "Help the patient change clothes and use the warm towel to wipe her body. I''ll prepare some medicinal soup." As the doctor gave instructions, he suddenly noticed Xu Musen was also drenched: "Why haven''t you changed your clothes?" "No time, I''m fine." Xu Musen shook his head; to be honest, his head ached a bit, but he still took the basin and warm towel. The doctor nodded in understanding, sincere affection like this was rare to see. "There are hospital gowns in the room''s closet; change into one of those, and I''ll prepare some medicinal soup for you as well." "Thank you, Doctor." Xu Musen nodded and walked into the sickroom. Yao Mingyue lay on the hospital bed, pale as a sheet; she had always been sensitive to the cold, and now her body shivered uncontrollably. Xu Musen went over and gently placed the warm towel on her forehead. Seeing her damp clothes, Xu Musen didn''t hesitate, as for any issues of responsibility, they could be discussed later. Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He drew the curtain, began to gently help Yao Mingyue remove her clothes. Her skin was naturally fair and delicate, but now it was frighteningly pale, as if drained of blood. After removing her clothes, Xu Musen looked at the girl''s undergarments, pausing only for a moment. The icy lake water, if left clinging to the skin, especially for girls, might lead to illness. Xu Musen reached out and helped her take them off as well. The girl''s body was like the most meticulously carved and perfect piece of art, without a single flaw. But Xu Musen had no desire to admire it at the moment; Yao Mingyue lay on the bed, terribly cold and shivering, so he quickly took out the clothes and dressed her. He then dried the water on her hair. Using the warm towel, he gently wiped her body, slowly bringing some color back to her skin. Soon, a young nurse came with disinfectant, observing Xu Musen drenched while earnestly tending to his girlfriend. She had heard about the accident at the ice skating rink, where a father and daughter had fallen into the water, and a young couple had heroically saved them. It seemed this couple was the one. Moved, she said to Xu Musen: "Go and change your clothes, I''ll take care of the patient''s wounds for you." Xu Musen noticed several cuts on Yao Mingyue''s right hand, inflicted by the ice. The wounds weren''t deep, but they were stark against her fair skin. Xu Musen didn''t interfere with the nurse''s disinfection and dressing of the wounds. He turned around, went behind the curtain, took a hospital gown from the closet, and changed out of his wet and cold clothes. At that moment, on the hospital bed, Yao Mingyue felt the sting of the disinfectant on her palm; she coughed, her head a mess, unable to remember how she ended up there. But still, in her mind, one name echoed: "Musen..." Xu Musen quickly went over, standing in front of the bed. Yao Mingyue''s vision was blurred as she lifted her left hand, frantically searching for something. Xu Musen gently held her left hand, which was terrifyingly cold as if the bones themselves might freeze. Xu Musen gently cradled her hand in his palm, rubbing it gently and breathing warm air over it. "I''m here." Xu Musen drew closer to her, slowly beginning to speak. Yao Mingyue''s vision finally cleared, and the first thing she saw was the person she most wanted to see. On noticing Xu Musen wearing a hospital gown, a sense of panic unconsciously swept over her feeble cheeks. "You... are you sick?" "The one who''s sick is you." Xu Musen felt an indescribable emotion upon seeing her panicked expression, and he reached out to lightly touch her forehead. It was still slightly hot. "The wound has been treated, I will bring the medicinal soup shortly; you both rest for a while." Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire The young nurse packed up the disinfectant, looking at the couple with admiration and envy for their bravery and deep affection in these times. She couldn''t help but say, "He was taking care of you with wet clothes until just now. I had him change into dry ones. Don''t get too emotional, and take your time to recover." After speaking, she tactfully left. In the sickroom. The two exchanged silent glances, feeling the aftermath of a close escape. Now that Yao Mingyue knew he was alright, her emotions seemed to calm a bit. She stared intently at Xu Musen. Her weary phoenix eyes overflowed with countless emotions. She lifted her injured right hand and waved it slightly towards Xu Musen, seemingly wanting to say something. Xu Musen bent down slowly, bringing his face close to hers. "Smack!" But the next moment, Yao Mingyue slapped Xu Musen with her injured hand. It didn''t hurt much, or at least, not nearly as much as the pain of her torn wounds. "You... have you lost your mind to the cold?" Xu Musen was stunned by the slap. "It''s your mind that''s muddled!" Yao Mingyue''s emotions surge once again as she looked at Xu Musen: "You idiot! Why did you recklessly go save others? Don''t you know, I..." Chapter 221 The Redemption of Fate, The Changed Xiao Sickly Cutie._3 Yao Mingyue spoke, yet the corners of her eyes couldn''t help but brim with tears; just now, in that moment, she truly thought she had lost him again. Xu Musen was somewhat silent at this time; he wasn''t angry, even feeling somewhat distressed, he gently controlled the right hand she had raised. "Because, that little girl resembled too much the you from six years ago...I don''t want to see such a thing happen again." Xu Musen''s other hand gently caressed her chilled cheek, although Yao Mingyue tended to be possessive, she had never thought about hurting him, not even in her past life had she ever laid a hand on him. Yet, this time, she had slapped Xu Musen. It wasn''t her anger that she couldn''t hit but rather her heartache and fright for him. That sentence from Xu Musen caused Yao Mingyue''s pupils to contract slightly, shrinking so small they could only fit the figure of Xu Musen alone. Six years ago, they were both powerless and could only wait for fate''s arrangement from the heavens. But now, they finally had the power to change something. He saved more than just that little girl''s family. It was also the powerless self from six years ago... Xu Musen knew all this; sitting by the bedside, he took hold of her cold left hand again, and despite having received a slap on the cheek, he revealed a smile, "Aren''t you the same?" Yao Mingyue bit her lip; yes, she was the same. When she saw the little girl squatting on the ice, crying and shouting for her daddy, she truly saw herself from six years earlier. The person she needed to save was also herself who, six years ago in that cold rainy night, had felt desperate. Tears twinkled at the corners of her eyes; she couldn''t describe what she was feeling inside when she saw the girl crying. Her body was limp, that overwhelming feeling of powerlessness sweeping through her entire being. Just like six years ago, no matter how pitifully she cried or how devoutly she prayed in front of the operating room, fate never seemed to be on her side. Eventually, one cannot defy the heavens; from that moment on, a large piece of her heart had collapsed, and she began a frantic search for anything that could give her a sense of security. And Xu Musen was that faint light in her despair. But she was afraid that one day, even this light would disappear. So, she cherished it more, became more stubborn, more obsessive... Yet, when she saw Xu Musen struggling in the water, the flame in her heart seemed as though it was truly about to be extinguished. It was only in this moment that she finally realized something. To make the flame burn brighter, it wasn''t about shielding it from the wind but about becoming kindling herself, burning together with him more fiercely... After all, aside from Xu Musen, she had nothing left to lose, and naturally, nothing to fear. In the face of life, Yao Mingyue wanted even more for him just to survive. Her leap without hesitation was also the first time after so many years that she finally dared to confront the most fragile part of herself... To save others was to redeem oneself. The two remained silent, their eyes locked for a long time. In the face of this brush with death, both of their eyes shone brighter than before. Especially Yao Mingyue; in her phoenix eyes, the formerly hidden deep shadows were finally brightening gradually. Yao Mingyue reached out, grabbing his collar forcefully, pulling him in front of her, "Xu Musen...I still have to warn you, if you dare to do this again in the future, I''ll break your legs and keep you by my side!" The way she spoke was exactly the same as in her previous life. But now, faced with such a threat, Xu Musen just couldn''t bring himself to dislike it at all. Looking at Yao Mingyue''s eyes gradually radiating light, something in Xu Musen''s heart seemed to be slowly mending his past regrets. Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire "At your command, old..." Xu Musen almost let the habitual words slip out. "Old what?" "Old younger sister," Xu Musen said. "? Looking for a beating!" Yao Mingyue clenched her fist lightly and thumped Xu Musen in the chest. But in the next moment, Xu Musen, who had been smiling, suddenly closed his eyes and collapsed onto her chest. Through the fabric, Yao Mingyue could feel the heat of his forehead. "Musen!" Yao Mingyue cried out; her punch surely hadn''t reached him, but Xu Musen had been soaked in the icy water for so long, then had run all the way to bring Yao Mingyue to the hospital. He had been running solely on an adrenaline rush until now. Once he confirmed that Yao Mingyue was alright, he couldn''t hold on any longer and fainted in her arms. The little nurse also came back with medicine soup at this time, hearing the commotion and quickly came over to look. Sar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But when she lifted the curtain and saw Xu Musen collapsed on Yao Mingyue''s chest from her angle. She was momentarily startled, looking down at the medicine soup in her hands. Is this...already fed? Chapter 222 Nuannuan? He... fell asleep beside me... Xu Musen fainted in Yao Mingyue''s arms. Although he had been reborn, he didn''t feel his constitution had improved significantly. After all, rebirth did not make him an emperor reincarnated; he possessed no innate divine body or immortal heritage. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was just an ordinary person. He was holding on by sheer willpower just now. Now that Yao Mingyue was safe, he could finally let go of that breath. The doctor hurried over to examine Xu Musen and breathed a sigh of relief, "He''s fine, just exhausted from overexertion, plus a bit of hypothermia. He''ll be okay after resting for a day or two. However, his physique is quite good. If it had been any other young person, they probably wouldn''t have lasted this long." The doctor stroked his beard and took Xu Musen''s pulse, surprised at the young man''s physical condition. Nowadays, young people, especially college students, are so fragile. Consuming high-fat, high-sugar foods every day, playing on their phones and staying up late, lacking exercisethey are all incredibly weak. Once he was sure Xu Musen was fine, Yao Mingyue also let out a slight sigh of relief. She had been held and taken care of by Xu Musen from a very young age, always during her most vulnerable times. Now, she finally had the chance to take care of him for once. Looking at Xu Musen''s tired and cold cheeks, Yao Mingyue reached out to stroke his face. But remembering that her hands were cold, she withdrew them, wrapped them in a warm towel, and then cautiously wiped his forehead. It wasn''t long before the person in charge of the hotel arrived, looking nervous. There had been an accident on the ice rink, and if a life had been lost, it would have meant the end of his career and the hotel. Doctor He asked about the situation and, assured there was no danger to life, felt a temporary sense of relief from a near escape. Upon arriving at the ward, he immediately bowed and apologized. "I''m so sorry, this was our hotel''s negligence. We will take care of all issues and expenses, and we will make a compensation later, our deepest apologies!" Several managers bowed in apology together. Yao Mingyue glanced at them and simply shook her head silently. She didn''t care about compensation; she just wanted to be with Xu Musen. Seeing this, the doctor instructed, "The medical room is not suitable for recuperation. You should return to the hotel. He''s not in serious danger anymore, and we will have someone deliver the medicine to the hotel." "Alright," Yao Mingyue nodded. She had regained some strength and slowly got up, intending to support Xu Musen. "We will handle it!" Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire The hotel manager immediately came forward, found an emergency bed, helped Xu Musen onto it, and they pushed it carefully, afraid of bumping him. They even prepared a wheelchair for Yao Mingyue, not allowing her to walk half a step. The nurse silently picked up the clothes Yao Mingyue and Xu Musen had changed out of and pushed the wheelchair towards the hotel. The clinic and the hotel were just separated by a corridor. However, they pushed Xu Musen to the door of a new room. "Welcome, this is the presidential suite prepared for you by the hotel, which is more conducive to your recovery. We will provide full service throughout your stay." The hotel manager immediately opened the door to the room. The presidential suite was luxuriously decorated, resembling a villa, and even had a dedicated butler available 24/7. The price for one night''s stay during the tourist season could reach five figures, but at this moment, the hotel manager did not dare to neglect them. Today, due to a fault with the hotel''s facilities, if it had not been for this young couple saving lives, someone might have died. At that point, the issue would no longer be something that five figures could settle. Therefore, these young people saved not only lives but also the hotel and their livelihoods! They were their living gods of wealth and deserved the highest standard of treatment. Yao Mingyue did not refuse and after entering the room, gently placed Xu Musen on the bed. "We will send your luggage over immediately. Please let us know if you need anything," the hotel manager said, bowing. After finishing, he promptly left, knowing it was time to do so. The nurse set down their clothes and the medicinal soup and said, "Once his body temperature rises a bit, you can help your boyfriend take a warm bath. It will help him recover faster. I will bring you the medicinal soup in a while." "Thank you." The nurse then left. In the vast presidential suite, Yao Mingyue watched Xu Musen lying on the bed. She gently wiped his forehead with the warm towel. This was the first time she saw him so vulnerable, so completely undefended. Yao Mingyue gently embraced him, allowing his head to rest on her thigh. She had thought countless times whether she should overpower him, leaving him utterly defenseless before her. If the rice was cooked into a meal, there would be no chance for regret. If it came down to it, she could just hide him away secretly. To a place where it was just the two of them... Those suppressed desires in her heart seemed to be enticed out at this moment. Perhaps this was an excellent opportunity. Yao Mingyue slowly lowered her head, their distance narrowing. Yao Mingyue looked at his lips, inching closer. In the end, Yao Mingyue merely let her lips touch his cheek lightly. A complex smile appeared on her face. She stroked Xu Musen''s cheek. His fainting in her arms showed, in his subconscious, he still trusted her. Yao Mingyue had betrayed his sincere trust many times before. This time, she couldn''t bear to do it again. Yao Mingyue, your courage has really become smaller and smaller... Chapter 222 Nuannuan? He... fell asleep beside me..._2 She shook her head and chuckled softly. But, she had also gradually become clearer about what she wanted. After all, she was Yao Mingyue, and even if it was stealing a man, she would do it openly and honorably! ... After a while, the nurse came back with some medicinal soup. Xu Musen''s body had gradually relaxed, and Yao Mingyue felt his forehead, which had already regained much of its warmth. She remembered what the nurse had said, and her gaze shifted back to the still unconscious Xu Musen... She then noticed their wet clothes placed aside and realized that her own clothes had been changed. "Hello, may I ask about the clothes I''m wearing..." "Your clothes were changed by your boyfriend," the nurse said with a smile. She came over to check Xu Musen''s complexion and took his temperature with a thermometer, "The fever has turned, you can prepare a warm bath for him soon, call me if you need help." "Okay, thank you," Yao Mingyue nodded, relieved. She unconsciously touched her neckline, no wonder it felt like she wasn''t wearing an undergarment. She looked down at Xu Musen, this guy... even though they were supposed to be like sworn siblings. He still saw everything, and she was an unwed maiden who had never had a boyfriend. If this had been ancient times, and a young woman was seen undressed by a man and not married off, she might have felt compelled to throw herself into a river, unless... Explore more stories at My Virtual Library Empire The nurse left after giving a few more instructions. Yao Mingyue looked at Xu Musen, Unless, she got to look back. Tsk, tsk, tsk! She was just concerned about his health, she was following the doctor''s advice, giving him a warm bath and that was all. Yao Mingyue finished preparing the warm water in the bathroom. Back at the bed. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yao Mingyue gazed at the still sleeping Xu Musen, and she finally began to take action. The patient''s uniform was quite loose. Yao Mingyue gently unbuttoned it; Xu Musen maintained a very good figure. Pectoral muscles, abdominal muscles, though not as exaggerated as those of professionals, they were certainly impressive. Just as boys always pay attention to a girl''s thighs and bust, girls also care a lot about a man''s abs. For girls, they generally admire strength, which is rooted in their innate DNA. A strong man in ancient times could hunt more game, bring more food to the tribe, and sustain more people. As Yao Mingyue watched his exposed abs, she felt her breathing slightly quicken. She slowly took off his hospital gown top. Beautiful, like a sculpture from ancient Greece. Next was his pants. Yao Mingyue swallowed hard. "This is all for his health..." "This is all following the doctor''s orders..." "This is because I care about him, and not because I want to look or anything..." Yao Mingyue inwardly made excuses for herself over and over again, yet the corners of her mouth couldn''t help but form a smirk. Her hand slowly moved to Xu Musen''s waist, and as her fingers touched his abdomen, that uniquely masculine touch made her feel like her cold body was starting to warm up. She took a deep breath and slowly pulled them down. Her gaze, accompanied by a poem that seemed to surface in her mind: "In the northern darkness there is a fish named Kun, the Kun is so huge I don''t know how many thousand li it measures..." Yao Mingyue was suddenly a bit stunned. They used to bathe together often, but that was a very long time ago. Back then, Xu Musen was just a little tyke... But now, he had grown from "embryo" to "tree." Progress... Yao Mingyue was still just a young girl after all, and she couldn''t help diverting her gaze. She couldn''t resist pulling out her phone... Wanting to capture something, to enrich her little gallery. Or maybe to say to him later: "You wouldn''t want your little girlfriend to find out about this." "Achoo!" Xu Musen seemed to feel a chill and sneezed reflexively. Yao Mingyue was a bit panicked, right, his health was the most important thing now. She put down her phone and quickly helped him, there was a wheelchair they had left in the room. Yao Mingyue helped him into the wheelchair and pushed him to the bathroom, then with all her strength, she slowly assisted him into the bathtub. With the towel, she gently wiped his neck and cheeks, areas the bath couldn''t reach. With the water''s cover, Yao Mingyue was a bit less distracted, looking at Xu Musen, who was regaining his color. It felt as if they were characters from an ancient martial arts novel, healing injuries in a bathtub. Ignoring the wounds on her own hands, she slowly cleaned his body. After soaking for a while, Yao Mingyue helped him up slowly and struggled to get him back into bed. She dried him off with a bath towel, haphazardly wiping some areas. Then she pulled up the blanket to cover him. Yao Mingyue felt her face must be terribly red, even though she had fallen into ice-cold water today, her cheeks felt scorching hot. The process of bathing Xu Musen was almost too much for a girl to bear. Yet this guy managed to maintain his composure while changing her clothes, hmmph... she wondered if he was all show and no substance. She was a bit annoyed but looking at Xu Musen''s peaceful sleeping face, she couldn''t help but squint her eyes. Seeing Xu Musen like this was something she figured she would rarely see in her lifetime. Chapter 222 Nuannuan? He... fell asleep beside me..._3 She stretched out her hand, gently caressing Xu Musen''s cheek, pinching his face, then kneading it, as if she were venting, yet it also had the air of coquetry. She looked at Xu Musen''s lips that were gradually regaining their color. She didn''t choose to seize the moment to kiss them, but she secretly pecked his cheek several times. This was... her reward for saving him, it was what she deserved. The night had grown deep. Yao Mingyue wasn''t exactly in high spirits. She held Xu Musen''s hand, lying quietly with him, and through the blanket, Yao Mingyue could feel the warmth belonging to the two of them. She gently, rested her head on his shoulder. The room had the heater on, and it didn''t feel cold, so it was quite nice to sleep leaning on each other like this. "Ring, ring, ring..." The ringtone of the mobile phone suddenly sounded, and Yao Mingyue quickly took her phone out from her wet clothes. Thankfully, the quality of the iPhones was still up to par, and its normal use wasn''t affected. sea??h th N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That''s right, she hadn''t gotten around to assuring her mother today. Yao Mingyue glanced at Xu Musen and then answered the call, clearing her throat softly. "Hello, Mom." "So you remember you have a mom? It''s so late now, and you don''t even think to call me to report your safety." Liu Rushuang''s worried voice also carried a trace of annoyance as she chastised. "We just went out for dinner earlier, and then we went ice skating for a bit, I didn''t get a chance to check my phone." "Oh, you know how to enjoy yourselves, huh? What about Musen? I couldn''t get through when I called him just now." "He might be asleep, he drove all day and is probably tired" Yao Mingyue lied quite naturally. After all, she didn''t need her family to know about this; it would only make them worry unnecessarily. "Alright, as long as everything is okay. Remembering that Xiao Sen has worked hard, you should take extra care of him, girls have to be considerate." Liu Rushuang began to share her experience again. Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire Gently holding Xu Musen''s hand and looking at his sleeping face, Yao Mingyue softly replied, "Mm, I''ll take good care of him." "Alright then, you should go to sleep early too, and remember to report to me promptly tomorrow." "Mm, Mom, you should rest early too." She hung up the phone. Yao Mingyue had just put down her own phone when she heard the sound of an incoming message. It was a sound of special concern. From within that pile of wet clothes. It was Xu Musen''s phone. Yao Mingyue hesitated for a moment but still picked it up. There were several missed calls from mom on the phone. There were also a few people''s daily chats in the group messages. The last chat window. "Xu Musen, where did you go today? (Curious bunny.)" "Xu Musen, did you have dinner yet? Driving is very tiring, you have to eat well. (Bunny nibbling on a carrot) " "Xu Musen, why have you been ignoring me all day? (Confused bunny) " "Xu Musen, I miss you... (Downcast bunny.) " The messages were sent during the time from when Xu Musen had jumped down to rescue the person until now, especially the last message. Yao Mingyue silently looked at them, then turned to gaze at Xu Musen, who was still sound asleep. She hesitated for a moment, then picked up the phone. While looking at the chat window between the two, she was still slightly indecisive. The next second, a call from An Nuannuan suddenly came through. Yao Mingyue was about to reply with a brush-off message, but as her finger was about to press the send button, the call came through, and she inadvertently pressed the answer button! "Hello, Musen" An Nuannuan''s soft and cute voice came through, laced with concern and a touch of petulance. On this end, Yao Mingyue was momentarily stunned, unsure whether to speak or not. An Nuannuan couldn''t help but continue to ask. "Xu Musen, why are you still not talking to me?" The plaintive tone in her voice made it hard to remain unaffected. Yao Mingyue was a bit confused, but hearing the voice on the phone, she cleared her dry throat. "Well, he''s already asleep" An Nuannuan: ??????????? Chapter 223 If Im pregnant, would you take responsibility for me? The first day separated from Xu Musen. An Nuannuan stayed at home painting, but her mind was filled with nothing but Xu Musen''s shadow. The separation during the passionate phase of a relationship is the most tormenting. She used to be alone all the time, even capable of spending an entire day quietly in her room. But now, she was practically counting every second as it passed by. She missed him so much... An Nuannuan felt she was lacking the "Musen Element," devoid of any energy. But she also knew that Xu Musen had to drive all day today and couldn''t send him messages to distract him. So, she endured until evening before finally sending him several messages. But Xu Musen did not reply at all. An Nuannuan''s heart grew more and more anxious because Xu Musen always replied instantly to her messages, which made her worry if something had happened to him. She couldn''t help it and made a phone call. On the other end of the line, however, was a voice she knew all too well. "He, he''s already asleep." An Nuannuan felt as if her head had been struck by a bolt out of the blue. Were they... still together? An Nuannuan knew they had gone home together, but at this time he was already sleeping, yet how did she get a hold of his phone? Could it be that they were still in the same room? Even though An Nuannuan trusted Xu Musen deeply, she was now his girlfriend and couldn''t help but feel a surge of jealousy and a touch of grievance. On the other hand, Yao Mingyue was also facing such a situation for the first time, feeling as though she was caught in an adulterous affair like a mistress. But it was supposed to be her who usually caught the other "little fox spirits." This feeling was actually quite unpleasant. Especially since she hadn''t even had the chance to do anything... She glanced at Xu Musen and then said, "Don''t get me wrong, Xu Musen felt a bit unwell today and went to bed early." Such an explanation sounded almost like a girlfriend telling you she just spent an innocent night sleeping beside him. Could that be believed? Although this was the truth, if it were Yao Mingyue herself, she would definitely fly over immediately, no matter where she was, to strangle that "little fox spirit!" However, hearing this, An Nuannuan''s first reaction was concern and anxiety. "Is Xu Musen sick?" An Nuannuan''s voice contained only worry, as if in her heart, Xu Musen was always the most important person. Yao Mingyue''s heart stirred as she looked at Xu Musen, still sleeping soundly. "Just a slight cold, he''s already seen a doctor, it''s nothing serious, let''s talk about it when he wakes up tomorrow." After speaking, Yao Mingyue quietly waited for An Nuannuan''s response. After a while, An Nuannuan finally spoke, "Are you and he still in the same room now?" "Yes, I stayed to take care of him," Yao Mingyue replied softly, without offering any further explanation, unfazed by potential misunderstandings. After all, they were still, in a way, love rivals. Perhaps an inevitable confrontation was bound to occur in the future. Even if the other person knew nothing would happen, she couldn''t help but feel jealous and angry, right? After all, it''s unsettling to have one''s boyfriend looked after by another girl who has feelings for him. On Nuannuan''s end, there was a lengthy silence; Yao Mingyue thought it would be abnormal if she wasn''t upset. Next, perhaps a hysterical argument or a hair-pulling fight? Moments later, An Nuannuan finally spoke up. "I understand, thank you for taking care of him for me, I will call him tomorrow." An Nuannuan''s response was straightforward, devoid of any irritation or embarrassment, so earnest that it almost seemed heartless. Yao Mingyue was taken aback for a moment, "Is there nothing else you want to say to me?" You are Xu Musen''s girlfriend now, isn''t there any warning or a reminder to maintain distance? "You should also get some rest early." An Nuannuan''s voice remained as soft and naive as usual. "..." Yao Mingyue was silent for a moment. Sarch* The novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire "Are you not angry at all?" "Xu Musen needs someone to take care of him right now, and since I can''t be by his side, I can''t selfishly prevent him from getting the help he needs." An Nuannuan''s voice was always gentle, never hiding her true feelings. Yao Mingyue drifted into thought. Yes, if it were her, she would definitely be angry if another girl took care of a sick Xu Musen. But she hadn''t thought immediately that, beyond her jealousy and anger, the help he needed while sick was the most important. Words from An Nuannuan always seemed to strike right at the heart, exposing the most honest and easily overlooked thoughts... Yao Mingyue pursed her lips. An Nuannuan''s voice changed slightly as she earnestly said, "Besides, whether I''m angry or not is something between him and me, we''ll have time in the future, and he will slowly tell me." Between him and me... Time in the future to talk slowly... Yao Mingyue felt a sudden tightness in her chest, these words felt like something from a palace drama where concubines fight tooth and nail for the emperor''s favor. But the empress rests easy, knowing one sentence could shatter their desperate hopes for a change in fate. This is the advantage of being the legitimate partner, favored and fearless; these privileges used to belong to Yao Mingyue. Chapter 223 If I Got Pregnant, Would You Take Responsibility for Me?_2 She was the one Xu Musen cherished in the palm of his hand. But now, that all belonged to An Nuannuan. And she seemed to have become the person who could only hide and secretly watch their happiness... The exchange of fates made Yao Mingyue bite her lip slightly. The call ended. She looked at Xu Musen lying beside her and reached out to gently caress his cheek. She could understand more and more why Xu Musen would let go of her and turn to like An Nuannuan. But she wouldn''t be content, nor would she give up. She slowly leaned against Xu Musen and reached out her left hand to gently touch his cheek. Gradually, she rested her head on his shoulder. The two cuddled together, as if still driving away the cold from falling into an ice cave. Yao Mingyue slowly snuggled into his embrace, just pressing against his chest. Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire Feeling his slow and strong heartbeat was especially comforting. Xu Musen was still a bit cold; he subconsciously sought a warm embrace. He instinctively held Yao Mingyue in his arms, his slightly cold hand touching her arm to draw warmth. The two clung tightly together. Yao Mingyue was now wearing only her pajamas, their breaths, warmth, scents, and touches all made them want to get even closer. Yao Mingyue felt the coolness of his palm; her own hand had not fully regained its temperature. She looked at Xu Musen''s cheek. Her face was a bit red. She slowly reached out, took Xu Musen''s hand... and placed it where it was warmest, closest to her heart. Men, perhaps it''s an innate instinct; in an instant, Xu Musen became much more behaved, yet a little naughty. At this moment, Yao Mingyue felt her heartbeat quicken, her cheeks flush like blood. She gazed at Xu Musen and burrowed even deeper into his arms. "You jerk..." ... The next day. Xu Musen felt that he did not sleep very well that night, his body alternately cold and hot, as if he had many nightmares. He dreamt of the thunderous night six years ago. He also dreamt of a previous life where he pulled Yao Mingyue into his embrace but ended up in a puddle of blood himself. It seemed as though the world was full of accidents that could take away the most important things in their lives. Finally, he dreamt of himself jumping into the water, but this time he couldn''t save the person and instead began to sink deeper into the lake yourself. The bone-chilling cold and the lusterless darkness enveloped them both, that indescribable feeling of despair. But at that moment, he seemed to faintly hear two voices close to his ear. "Xu Musen, we are each other''s light, we will defeat all the little monsters in life..." "Xu Musen, don''t leave me alone anymore..." It seemed a light appeared on the surface of the ice: An Nuannuan, leaning on her cane, broke through the ice, allowing the light to shine into the water. And Yao Mingyue didn''t hesitate to jump into the water and held him tight, An Nuannuan also leaped in to embrace him... Xu Musen''s body seemed to gradually regain warmth, with the most precious presences before and behind him. Without either, he felt he might find it hard to bear. He slowly opened his eyes... In front of him, the sunlight was already coming through the window and falling on his face. But whether in front or behind, it was all empty... No, it felt like he himself was empty as well. His head still felt heavy, and it took some effort to sit up. Looking at the strange room beside him, he was a bit stunned; this didn''t seem to be his room. His memories hadn''t fully loaded yet. All he knew was that he had assured himself that Yao Mingyue was alright, and then he had lost consciousness. He rubbed his temples, but his gaze suddenly caught the clothes on the bed. sea??h th N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There were his, and there were Yao Mingyue''s, just intermingled and carelessly placed together. Xu Musen''s mind blanked for a moment. He looked down only to realize that he was devoid of clothes; even the two patient gowns were gone. Bare as a newborn. Xu Musen was silent for a moment, then he lifted the blanket, and became even more silent. How could there be no underwear either? And moreover, the blanket retained a lingering fragrance; it was a scent he knew well, belonging to Yao Mingyue. A sinking feeling hit him, what exactly did he and she do last night? Why was he naked, the scent in the blanket confirming they had slept together, and perhaps, they might have been cuddling, bare, and it seemed like he faintly felt something very special... Xu Musen''s heart suddenly felt uneasy. This Xiao Sickly Cutie... it wasn''t impossible for her to do such a thing. Distracted for a moment, he looked again inside the blanket and saw, to his shock, at the spot where both hands could lay flat, a little bit of blood. Xu Musen felt as if struck by lightning. His suspenseful heart finally died! What in the world happened last night? "Yo, awake?" As Xu Musen was slightly distracted, Yao Mingyue walked in carrying a bowl of soup. Seeing Xu Musen still in a state of bewilderment, her face turned a shade of red and blazing hot for a moment. Xu Musen didn''t speak; for the first time he felt somewhat panicked, watching the way Yao Mingyue walked. Chapter 223 If Im pregnant, would you take responsibility for me?_3 But yesterday, when she jumped into the lake, the ice cut into her leg, so she was already walking with a bit of a limp. She carried the soup over to the bedside and looked at Xu Musen, watched him steadily, but then she suddenly smiled. Sar?h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You don''t need to look at me like that, after all, I''ve seen everything there is to see on you, both what should and shouldn''t be seen, hmm, my Brother Musen sure has grown up." A mischievous smirk played at the corners of Yao Mingyue''s lips. Xu Musen had actually guessed that it was her who had taken off his clothes. But looking at Yao Mingyue''s expression at that moment, Xu Musen was a bit puzzled, and only after a moment did he speak, his voice somewhat hoarse, "Last night, did we both do...?" "Last night, I took off your clothes, washed you, and wiped down your body, cleaned you up completely." Yao Mingyue still had a smile, her gaze drifting slightly lower on his body. Xu Musen was silent for a moment, watching Yao Mingyue, and he could no longer feel as distant and heartless towards her as he once did. In fact, ever since she threw herself into the water without a second thought to save him yesterday, Xu Musen''s feelings for her had started to become complicated again. Especially since the situation now was a little complex. He looked at Yao Mingyue and spoke again, "Did we sleep together last night?" "What else? You were cold and held onto me, wouldn''t let me go, and you even... do you want to hear some details?" Speaking, Yao Mingyue''s cheeks blushed, unmistakably referring to warming his hands the previous night. This guy was a bit restless in the middle of the night; when she woke up in the morning and checked, there were already red marks. She looked at Xu Musen, thinking to herself, as an untouched girl, although it was willingly done, this already counts as being unclean, not marrying you would be a difficult matter to settle... But Xu Musen felt a tremor in his heart, watching Yao Mingyue''s expression, even though her acting had always been quite good. Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire After all, in their past life, they were an old married couple. The eyes don''t lie, and the shy sparkle at the bottom of Yao Mingyue''s blushing gaze was the same as on their wedding night in their previous life. Xu Musen''s gaze became even more complex as he rubbed his temples in silence. The situation was just too complicated now, not to mention Nuannuan on the one side... and then at home, if they found out about their affair. Little sister turning into... well, something else. Xu Musen felt it wouldn''t be surprising if he lost his legs over this. If it had been before, Yao Mingyue taking advantage of his unprepared state to do such a thing, he would definitely have been able to immediately make his choice. But now... In his mind, the image of Yao Mingyue risking her life to save him the day before, along with all the scenes of their conversation, resurfaced. He could no longer turn a blind eye. He watched Yao Mingyue, his eyes unconsciously complicated, "Then did we take any measures last night...?" "Measures?" Yao Mingyue paused, and looking at Xu Musen''s expression, it dawned on her in an instant. So they had both been talking past each other the entire time... Seeing Xu Musen''s face, she immediately knew he must have misunderstood something, her cheeks reddening, but a gleam appeared in her eyes. With just a moment of bewilderment, she let out a gentle sigh, her demeanor submissive, like a newlywed bride, coquettishly yet plaintively saying, "Of course not..." "Then you..." Xu Musen spoke, but he couldn''t continue, rubbing his temples with a bit of a headache. Yao Mingyue then lifted her head, forcibly mustering some tears in her phoenix eyes. "Xu Musen, what if, I mean what if, I really become pregnant... would you take responsibility?" Chapter 224 This is the Punishment of the Main Wife! (5k for Subscription!) "If I were pregnant, would you take responsibility?" Yao Mingyue bit her lip, as she spoke, she also stretched out her hand to gently rub her belly. Her eyes, bathed in a tender maternal glow, seemed as if there really was a cute little life forming inside her womb. However, Xu Musen, watching her expression, slightly raised his eyebrows. Her reaction would be right for a normal girl, but Yao Mingyue her personal reaction was somewhat off. She shouldn''t be so fond of children, though he didn''t know why, but if she really was pregnant, her most instinctual reaction should be a bit conflicted. Xu Musen looked into her eyes, then, after a moment, he asked in return, "If there really were a child, would you want it now?" Yao Mingyue was slightly surprised, she touched her belly again, "If you want it" "What if I don''t take responsibility? Would you not want the child then? Is this child important to you because you like children or for some other reason?" Xu Musen directly interrupted her, his gaze still locked onto her eyes. Just like in their past life, Yao Mingyue always hesitated to have children, always finding various excuses, and Xu Musen couldn''t be sure what she really thought. Yao Mingyue''s eyes flickered. The truth was, Xu Musen had made it clear whether the child was a product of love or a bargaining chip in negotiations. Yao Mingyue looked at Xu Musen, her phoenix eyes shimmering with a clear and profound luster. His words were rather hurtful, but Yao Mingyue slowly curved her lips into a smile. "Honestly, if it were before, I wouldn''t have had much affection for children, but because I understand you, if I had this child, you would be with me for the child''s sake, I haven''t ruled out this ''cooked rice'' method." For a beautiful girl like Yao Mingyue to suggest downright forcing him into a shotgun type of situation, any ordinary young guy would probably be ecstatic enough to pass out in the bathroom. But Xu Musen didn''t speak, and Yao Mingyue laughed softly, still touching her belly, "Now, I might not particularly be fond of children, but I am clear that I like you, so I will learn to like everything we have. If there really is a baby, I will grow fond of it too... Perhaps, the day it truly exists, I''ll naturally come to love it. After all, it will be our most precious creation." Yao Mingyue''s voice was gentle, touching her belly as if it really contained a little life being nurtured. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It could reconnect the distance between the two of them. Xu Musen took in every expression on her face. Yao Mingyue was really a bit different. "So, will you take responsibility for me?" Yao Mingyue repeated the question. Xu Musen looked at her, and after a long while, finally spoke, "Take responsibility for what? The air?" Xu Musen laughed helplessly, "Don''t joke about that matter lightly in the future, if the family hears about it, it''d be troublesome." Yao Mingyue''s eyes twinkled, watching Xu Musen''s calm expression, she was somewhat unclear which of her words had given her away. "How can you be so sure we didn''t do anything last night?" "Because I understand you, even more than you know yourself." Xu Musen''s response came without hesitation. As a couple from a past life, their understanding of each other was even deeper and clearer than the understanding of themselves. Yao Mingyue faced him, and although she didn''t get the answer she wanted, she might have read the answer she sought in the tenderness of Xu Musen''s eyes now. Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire Actually, this guy, was also a bit different. The bone-chilling cold of yesterday became the opportunity for the two of them to thaw the ice between them. Both of them couldn''t help but smile faintly as they looked at each other. "Alright, I didn''t fool you, in fact, last night, we didn''t go that far." Yao Mingyue sighed, yet spoke with a laugh as she laid another trap. "What do you mean we didn''t go that far?" Xu Musen was about to correct her grammatical mistake, but Yao Mingyue spoke calmly. "You removed my clothes while I was unconscious." "..." Xu Musen was momentarily at a loss for words, "That was a special situation, I was concerned for your health" "I''ve been seen by you completely." "I was focused on saving you." "A girl, completely seen by a guy, do you think I can still get married?" Xu Musen was speechless, thinking that in the society of old, if a girl from a big family had been seen by a man before marriage, she''d probably be drowned in a pig cage. Moreover, as Yao Mingyue brought it up, Xu Musen couldn''t help but recall some images of towering mountains, hidden paths, and falling snow in the forest. "But forget it, I''ve seen enough in return, so it''s not a loss. We''re even now." Yao Mingyue looked at his slightly blushing cheeks, her words light and airy, yet her own cheeks couldn''t help but flush with color. In her mind too, scenes of towering rocks, soaring eagles, and skies darkened by their wings arose Xu Musen also felt a bit awkward. Despite the fact that they were now not only childhood sweethearts but also treated each other like brother and sister, such an incident had occurred between them. Though it was an emergency situation, it was still inevitably a little strange. And speaking of being even, in today''s society, the virginity of a girl might be highly valued, but that of a boy might not even be worth a duck leg meal. Chapter 224 This is the Punishment of the Main Wife! (5k for Subscription!)_2 Are these the same? sea??h th n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xu Musen looked at Yao Mingyue''s rosy cheeks, and he also wanted to gloss over this topic. "The bloodstain on the quilt... is it from your hand?" Xu Musen noticed that Yao Mingyue''s right hand was still bandaged. "What else?" Yao Mingyue squinted and smiled: "You were all soft and weak yesterday. Do you think you still had the ability to do anything bad?" Xu Musen couldn''t rebut; recalling yesterday''s events and looking at Yao Mingyue''s injured hand, her still somewhat frail complexion, and the hot porridge and medicinal soup she had brought over on the table beside her. Xu Musen slowly got out of bed, wanting to let Yao Mingyue lie down and rest for a while, and he looked at the hot porridge and soup on the table. "Have you eaten?" "I''m not hungry." Yao Mingyue shook her head; in fact, her head was still a bit groggy. "When you''re sick, eating to replenish nutrition is the best medicine. You must eat." Xu Musen knew she always skipped breakfast. In her previous life, she would often head out to work early in the morning and forget to eat because she was so engrossed in her work, resulting in a period of stomach illness. In the end, it was Xu Musen who delivered three meals a day to make her learn to eat properly. Xu Musen picked up the spoon, a spoonful of seafood porridgethe restaurant''s skills were still good, most suitable for someone with a weak constitution. Xu Musen gently blew on the porridge and brought it to Yao Mingyue''s mouth. Yao Mingyue felt slightly flattered, as it was the first time in such a long while that he had actively fed her. Plus, he was so gentle, and even without drinking the porridge, she already felt as if she was enveloped in a comfortable warmth. "If you feed me this porridge like this, won''t your girlfriend get jealous if she finds out..." Before Yao Mingyue could finish her sarcastic remark, Xu Musen stuffed the spoonful of porridge into her mouth. "Eating and still you can''t keep your mouth shut." "Mmm... it''s hot, a bit salty, but smells so good..." Yao Mingyue squinted her eyes, appraising the bowl of seafood porridge. Xu Musen ignored her racy joke and said, "You haven''t recovered yet, better rest up for now. There''s no rush to go back today. I''ll just let Aunt know." Since neither of them had fully recovered yet, there really was no need to rush back. It was better to rest more for one more day. While drinking the porridge he fed her, Yao Mingyue''s eyes twinkled faintly as she spoke. "I''ve already dealt with my mom''s side. What you need to worry about now is someone else." After Yao Mingyue spoke, Xu Musen''s action of feeding her paused slightly; he had already remembered whom Yao Mingyue was referring to. Nuannuan... The events of yesterday had happened so suddenly that he hadn''t had the chance to reassure An Nuannuan before passing out. This little girl, if she didn''t get a message from him, she would probably have spent the entire night worrying and unable to sleep. "You passed out last night, and I accidentally received her call. Don''t worry, I didn''t spill what happened yesterday. I just said you caught a cold and went to bed early, and I happened to be here taking care of you." Yao Mingyue spoke straightforwardly, without any embellishment: "She said she wasn''t angry, but I feel like she definitely is." Hearing this, Xu Musen could already picture An Nuannuan''s cute cheeks puffed up like a little pufferfish. Yeah, no matter how simple-minded, it''s natural to get jealous. After all, she''s going to be my future wife, and I''ve got to keep her sweet. Xu Musen''s gaze flickered, but he continued to feed Yao Mingyue the remaining porridge. Yao Mingyue was somewhat surprised: "Aren''t you going to sweet-talk her first?" "Kneeling and scrubbing is inevitable, this little delay won''t make a difference." Xu Musen laughed, actually calculating how he would explain everything to An Nuannuan later. "Are you afraid of the scrubbing board?" Yao Mingyue couldn''t help but smile slightly. She could guess what Xu Musen was thinking, but for whatever reason, he continued to feed her the porridge. This was the first time she felt she had the upper hand in her competition with An Nuannuan, no matter how slight it may be... Yao Mingyue had also not slept well last night and continued to nap after drinking most of the porridge. Xu Musen finished the rest of the porridge and drank a few sips of the medicinal soup before finally taking out his phone. Looking at the messages from An Nuannuan in the chat box, Xu Musen felt sorry for this little sweetheart for the first time. He dialed An Nuannuan''s number. An Nuannuan answered almost immediately. "Xu Musen..." However, her voice carried a blend of anxiety, concern, tiredness, and grievance. She called out Xu Musen''s name as if she had weaved a countless number of words into that single call. Stay tuned for updates on My Virtual Library Empire "I''m sorry, Nuannuan. Something came up yesterday, and I didn''t get a chance to call you." Xu Musen immediately apologized, feeling a pang of heartache upon hearing Nuannuan''s voice: "Nuannuan, did you not sleep well?" On the other end of the phone, An Nuannuan''s fair cheeks showed faint dark circles. It wasn''t that she hadn''t slept well, but rather that she had been waiting all night for Xu Musen''s call and kept waiting until morning. "You jerk! My sister didn''t sleep all night, did you bully her again?" Before An Nuannuan could speak, An Nannan''s voice was heard. "Nannan, sister is fine, go get me a glass of water..." An Nuannuan pacified her younger sister. An Nannan hummed twice but, feeling pity for her sister who hadn''t had water all night, quickly ran to fetch some. Listening, Xu Musen felt a surge of guilt. "Xu Musen, are you okay?" Chapter 224 This is the Punishment of the Main Wife! (5k for Subscription!)_3 But An Nuannuan''s first question still concerned Xu Musen''s health. Xu Musen felt touched and guilty, "I''m fine now, it was just a trivial matter." On the other side of the phone, An Nuannuan bit her tender lips, and once she was certain Xu Musen was alright, the emotions she had suppressed all night seemed ready to burst forth. "You lied to me If it really was a small matter, you definitely wouldn''t have forgotten to call me." An Nuannuan''s voice was filled with grievance and an earnestness seldom seen on ordinary days. "Musen, no matter what happens we can take our time, but please don''t lie to me, okay? I want to face all the problems with you, you still have me" Xu Musen fell silent for a moment, there were no accusations in An Nuannuan''s words, she was seriously laying out the matter. Because in An Nuannuan''s view, they were already together, and would eventually marry, all issues were to be faced by the two of them together. And since it was a problem for both of them, they should solve it together What An Nuannuan wanted was not for Xu Musen to keep spoiling her, but to share the responsibilities as well. That''s what couples do Xu Musen took a deep breath, unable to believe that he, someone who had been married in his previous life, was less thorough in his thinking than An Nuannuan, the simpleton. Moreover, this feeling of being considered in every way by someone else gave him an unparalleled sense of warmth. "Nuannuan, thank you. Actually, yesterday" Xu Musen recounted the events of the previous day, where he saved someone and then fainted from not being able to hold on, telling An Nuannuan with proper emphasis. "It was roughly like this, but I''m fine now. I didn''t want you to worry too much, and also didn''t get the chance to tell you..." As Xu Musen slowly spoke, An Nuannuan on the other end seemed to have gone offline. "Nuannuan?" Thinking she was still angry, Xu Musen called out gently once more. Yet from the phone, only "thump, thump, thump" could be heard. "Nuannuan?" Xu Musen called out again, and only then did a voice finally come from the other end, "You jerk..." In An Nuannuan''s voice, there seemed to be a hint of grievance and worry mixed with a sob. "I''m sorry, I just acted impulsively in the moment, but everything''s fine now, right? I even saved a family." Xu Musen tried to keep his tone light. But An Nuannuan interrupted him, her voice a blend of sobbing and complaining. "But I don''t want some hero who saves others; I just want my boyfriend, I just want my Xu Musen..." An Nuannuan''s emotions had been uncontrollable from the moment she heard that Xu Musen had jumped into icy water to save someone. Compared to his ordeal with Yao Mingyue, An Nuannuan cared more about his safety. Her trembling cries tightened Xu Musen''s heart, and all he could do was continuously apologize to her. "I''m sorry Nuannuan, I was impulsive this time, I promise it won''t happen again. How about, when I get back, you hit me to vent your anger, okay?" Xu Musen spoke softly, as An Nuannuan''s words had become a warm pulse in his heart. Only true care can provoke such anger, such obstinacy. It was like when Yao Mingyue had slapped him in anger the night before. An Nuannuan sniffled a few more times, sounding genuinely upset, "You, put the phone on your head!" "What?" Xu Musen didn''t understand immediately. "Are you going to place it or not?" "Okay, okay, I''m placing it now." "You set the phone to vibrate mode!" "Alright..." Xu Musen placed his phone against his forehead, feeling a bit like when he was a student being punished to stand with a book on his head. Was this his punishment, to stand with it? Xu Musen smiled; it was silly yet adorable. But then An Nuannuan stopped speaking. Instead, he just felt the phone vibrate frantically a few times, accompanied by strange slapping sounds. It felt like a massage on his scalp. "Okay." An Nuannuan''s voice came again, before Xu Musen could react to what just happened. "I''ll forgive you this time, but if you dare to do it again, I... I won''t be nice to you anymore..." An Nuannuan was like that, unable to say even a harsh word. Yet for Xu Musen, that light statement felt more powerful than a royal decree. "You got your anger out with that?" Xu Musen still didn''t understand the purpose of before. "Hmph... I won''t let you off so easily. Some things... When you''re better, I''m still going to deal with you." An Nuannuan seriously threatened him. "At your service, my lord Nuannuan, ready for punishment!" Xu Musen immediately responded. "Then, then you rest well..." "Yeah, you too, get some sleep." The two were reluctant to part, but they both knew the other needed rest. The call ended. But Xu Musen received a message. It was from An Nannan. A piece of text. "Jerk! You better pamper my sister well. If my sister is still unhappy, I won''t let you off! (Bloody knife.)" And the video, which Xu Musen opened. It was An Nannan sneakily filming from the crack in the door, showing An Nuannuan suddenly lifting her phone up and then reaching out to slap the phone screen several times. Sarch* The N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That gesture, like someone patting a dog''s head. Xu Musen was stunned for a moment, then returned to his chat with An Nuannuan and saw a series of messages she had sent. All the same emoticon. It was a rabbit emoticon she often used, with a big white rabbit holding a mallet, eyes ablaze, smashing a mole with the hammer. He suddenly remembered that when she asked him to place the phone on top of his head, she was embodying that little rabbit, hammering away on his head. What a brutal punishment. Xu Musen looked at the series of emoticons, an indescribable emotion swelling in his heart for this silly girl. Not even willing to truly hit him once when she was mad. Naive yet endearingly adorable. Xu Musen stared blankly for a long while, then a knowing smile spread across his face as he stretched out his hand to type. "Thank you, my dear wife, for the esteemed punishment... (Mouse with a swollen head.)" Chapter 225 Can Only Offer Myself in Return. Xu Musen decided to rest in the hotel for an additional day. Having slept until noon, he was roused by a knocking at his door. Upon opening it, he found a little girl standing there with a basket of fruit and fresh flowers in her hand. The moment she saw Xu Musen, she immediately shouted out. "Big brother, big hero!" The little girl seemed quite emotional, her cherubic face flushed red, and her eyes rimmed with redness too. Xu Musen was momentarily taken aback, but upon closer inspection, he recognized her as the little girl from last night. Behind her, a woman carrying gifts exhibited weary eyes, yet upon seeing Xu Musen, her face was filled with gratitude. She bowed deeply to him and tried to kneel with her daughter in tow. "Thank you thank you for saving my husband yesterday" The woman''s expression brimmed with gratitude, and just mentioning the previous day''s event made her emotionally charged and tearful. She and her daughter attempted to kneel on the ground. Xu Musen quickly helped them to their feet. "Doing a good deed is only right. I''m just glad you''re all okay." "Thank you, if it weren''t for you, my daughter might not have a father anymore. We waited in the hospital all of yesterday for her father to wake up. It was only today that we had time to thank you..." The woman, dabbing the tears at the corner of her eyes, presented gifts to Xu Musen. "We don''t know how to thank you enough... This is a small token of our appreciation, please accept it!" Xu Musen glimpsed an envelope in the bag among the gifts, undoubtedly filled with cash. Xu Musen looked at the mother and daughter, taking in their guilt and gratitude. He crouched down and extended his hand, accepting the flowers and fruit basket from the little girl. "I''ll accept these, but I can''t accept these other gifts." "How can that be acceptable? You saved our lives, and you were injured in the process. We don''t even know how to begin to repay you..." The woman said guiltily, knowing that offering money wasn''t ideal, but as a single woman, she didn''t know any other way to express her gratitude for the life-saving favor. "Your gratitude is received, and knowing that I helped save a good father, a good husband, and a family, also makes me very happy." Xu Musen offered a smile. If only someone had come to lend a hand immediately when that accident happened, perhaps everything would have been very different. Maybe it''s just that having been through the rain himself, he always wanted to share his umbrella with others. The woman choked up, too moved to speak. Xu Musen chuckled and took the nutritional products she had set down, crouching in front of the little girl. Her big eyes were a bit red from crying, and her fair little face had a somewhat haggard appearance. Xu Musen impulsively pinched her cheek, placing the nutritional products back in her hands. "But right now, it''s your father who needs the most care, and nourishment. These things should go to your father so he can recover faster." "Big brother..." The little girl, with her big eyes fixed on Xu Musen''s warm, sunny smile, couldn''t help but burst into tears. Xu Musen helped her wipe away the tears. "There, there, big brother is very happy now. You should also go get some rest early." Xu Musen stood up as the woman gently took her daughter by the hand. She bowed deeply to Xu Musen once again. "Big brother! I will, definitely repay you in the future!" The little girl looked at Xu Musen, as if committing his features to memory, and spoke with earnest seriousness. "Okay, then I''ll wait for you to repay me when you grow up," he said with a smile, waving his hand at the little girl. The woman left with her daughter. Xu Musen also closed the door. He carried the basket of fruit and flowers to the bedside. He found that Yao Mingyue, who had been asleep before, was now wide awake, watching him with big eyes. "Awake?" "I woke up to the sound of you talking to another woman." Great, this woman gets jealous at the drop of a hat. Xu Musen placed the flowers in front of her. "It was the wife and daughter of the man we saved yesterday, they came especially to thank us." As he spoke, Xu Musen began to peel an apple from the fruit basket. Yao Mingyue smelled the fragrance of the flowers, watching Xu Musen as he peeled the apple, and squinting her eyes, she asked, "The little girl just now said she wants to repay you when she grows up." Xu Musen glanced at her. "So what?" "Hehehe" Yao Mingyue let out a series of chuckles, teasingly saying, "I read a news story where a firefighter saved a little girl from a fire. The girl said she would repay him, and when she grew up, she married the firefighter and they had several children hehehe." Yao Mingyue had just woken up and her body hadn''t completely recovered yet, so she seemed a bit dazed. Xu Musen looked at her speechlessly. Kid, you''re invincible. Jealous of other girls, your own mother, and now even this little girl. "Who said repaying someone means you have to marry them?" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yao Mingyue squinted her eyes, leaning in close to Xu Musen. "Because ever since that day, six years ago, I''ve been thinking about marrying you to repay you, you know?" As she spoke, she gently poked Xu Musen''s chest with one hand. "You just gave that little girl a chance to marry you in repayment, so won''t you give me one?" Xu Musen cut a slice of apple, placing it directly in her mouth. "This is biting the hand that feeds." "You don''t know what''s good for you!" Xu Musen observed that, considering her voice was bright and lively, she mustn''t have any major issues, but her right hand hadn''t recovered yet. In the winter, wounds heal slowly, especially since she injured her fingertips. She wouldn''t be able to hold chopsticks or bowls for a few days. The restaurant delivered meals on time, and although it was just the two of them, they brought in at least a dozen dishes, almost like an imperial morning banquet, for fear of not having enough to eat. Xu Musen fed her her meal. Yao Mingyue lay contentedly on the bed as if she were an empress, only needing to open her mouth for Xu Musen to place the steaming food inside. Fruit, tea, Yao Mingyue lay in bed feeling extremely comfortable, as if she had reached the pinnacle of life. If Xu Musen was even a little slow in his attentiveness, she would utter pitifully, "Nevermind me then, it seems I have no one to dote on me," or "I bled because of you..." In the evening, they were still in one room, but Xu Musen went straight to sleep on the couch. "Come and sleep with me in the bed, this bed is pretty comfortable," Yao Mingyue said, donning her loose-fitting pajamas, watching as Xu Musen prepared to sleep on the couch. "It''s not like we haven''t slept together before..." Remembering last night''s incident, Yao Mingyue subconsciously covered her chest. Xu Musen glanced at her, "Behave and sleep, we still have to hit the road tomorrow." Their relationship had actually eased a lot, especially after the events of these past couple of days. Between them, it seemed they couldn''t be described just as childhood sweethearts anymore... Last night was a special circumstance, Xu Musen was a family man now. Though he didn''t consider himself a saint, he wasn''t the type to fool around either. Some unexpected situations should be avoided if possible. "What if I want to drink water or something at night?" "The house is only so big, a few seconds won''t leave you parched to death." "What if I want to go to the bathroom?" "Pee in the bed." "Xu Musen!!" After their playful bickering, they soon each started to sleep. Dawn. It was time to go home. The man they had rescued was finally able to get out of bed and came over early to thank them again specifically. The hotel staff refunded their money and also gave them some shopping and fuel cards as compensation. Xu Musen did not refuse the hotel''s compensation, as it would be handy for buying New Year goods. After expressing their gratitude several times, Xu Musen was ready to leave. But the little girl tugged at Xu Musen; she looked up at him, her big eyes sparkling like little stars. Little girls, who always fantasize about princes on white horses, undoubtedly find the big brother who heroically saved her father even handsomer than a prince! "Big brother..." "What is it?" Xu Musen kneeled down smiling at her. "Um..." The little girl glanced at Yao Mingyue behind Xu Musen, blushing slightly, "Is this beautiful big sister your girlfriend?" Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue exchanged glances. "No, she''s my sister," Xu Musen said, speaking up first. Yao Mingyue''s expression instantly turned a bit sullen as she crossed her arms and puckered her lips, resembling the anime character who pouts while folding her arms. "Sister, huh..." The little girl''s big eyes rolled around; she rubbed her hands together: "Big brother, will you always be in Huhai?" "Guess so, I''m still studying at Huhai University," "Huhai University... I want to go there too!" The little girl said with anticipation. "Sure, but by that time, this old senior would probably have already retired," Xu Musen said, laughing. But no sooner had he finished his sentence than he felt as if he''d been kicked. Turning his head, Yao Mingyue was still standing with her arms crossed and lips pursed, looking away. It was about time to leave. Xu Musen patted her head, "Then, big brother will be going first." After saying this, Xu Musen tried to stand up, but the little girl grabbed his arm again and suddenly pecked his cheek. Yao Mingyue: "?(?C?)??" Xu Musen: "??@?A??" Little girl: "????????~~" The little girl covered her face, shyly ran away. Xu Musen silently stood up and exchanged glances with Yao Mingyue. "Perverted lolicon!" "..." They got in the car and left this place, which had been full of twists and turns. But all the way, Yao Mingyue kept staring at his cheek and occasionally made sarcastic remarks, "Wow, big brother, you are really handsome." "Big brother, wait for me to grow up, okay, I''ll carry on your family line..." "Enough already." Xu Musen was helpless, jealousy truly knew no end: "That little girl is at most a middle school student, do you have all this nonsense in your head?" Yao Mingyue leaned in close to him, "But at her age, I was already wanting to marry you." "You''re brave to admit that." "What''s there to be embarrassed about? Liking someone isn''t a disgrace, and think carefully, everyone in the world might leave you, but I''m the only one who will never leave you..." Yao Mingyue whispered in Xu Musen''s ear like a siren''s call. Xu Musen glanced at her without a response. But deep down he was also slightly moved. Indeed, if he ended up with Yao Mingyue, in this life there would only be dying together, no chance of divorce... In this fast-food world, he really didn''t know if that was good or bad... Chapter 226 Actually, Youve Been Freeloading Off Me for Quite a While Now. Zheng City. Familiar cityscapes came into view, successively passing Central Plains Futa and Dayu Building. Even though Xu Musen had planned to stay in Huhai from now on, it was only upon entering Zheng City that he felt a sense of solidity. Here, nobody would call him a country bumpkin; but it was very easy to fail in keeping his...aunt safe. Looking at the familiar streets, Yao Mingyue''s mood seemed to have improved a lot. Especially when passing the road they used to walk together after school, her lips were constantly curved in a smile, and many memories surfaced in her mind. When they passed a snack street, it happened to be the time when students were let out of school, and students dressed in blue and white uniforms instantly flooded the street, making it impassable. Many snacks that were not seen in Huhai also wafted their familiar scents. Discover hidden stories at My Virtual Library Empire Hairy eggs, starch sausages, and some small sodas, were all full of memories. The sidewalk bustled with life, not as glamorous as Huhai, but with its own unique charm. Xu Musen was ready to cook a meal for his parents, to let the old couple taste his cooking skills. Xu Musen parked the car by the roadside, and got out with Yao Mingyue to head for the vegetable market to buy groceries. "Musen, do you still remember this road?" Sarch* The N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Getting out of the car, Yao Mingyue pointed to the students queuing up to buy snacks outside. Her eyebrows and eyes were tender, and there was a glint of reminiscence in her eyes: "You used to buy me a lot of tasty things every day." Of course, Musen remembered. Back when they were in school, he would always spend his allowance to buy snacks for Yao Mingyue. Of course, after those things happened at home, the little snacks Musen sent her changed from exquisite chocolates and small cakes to roadside grilled sausages and meatballs. Looking at the boys and girls in school uniforms on the streets, Musen glimpsed the image of his former self, but now it was not them wearing the uniforms. Although it had only been half a year, they could already tell that they were different from before. Musen looked at the Audi car key in his hand, and the students passing by also showed curiosity and envy when they saw the Audi emblem. Musen felt a bit nostalgic, for just a year ago, his pocket would rarely contain more than a few tens of dollars in spending money. Buying a grilled sausage would involve an internal struggle. But now, he had achieved snack independence, yet looking at those snacks he used to drool over, especially the one-yuan grilled sausages, he didn''t feel the same craving as before. "Miss Yao certainly wouldn''t miss these things now, would she?" In the past, whenever Yao Mingyue received snacks from Musen, she was always happy, and she would share her own snacks with him as well. Actually... sometimes, Yao Mingyue would hand over half-eaten grilled chicken legs or half-bitten meatballs that she couldn''t finish to Musen. Musen was very willing, for, to the old him C avid in acting like a lovestruck fool C this was an excellent opportunity for an indirect kiss with his goddess. Thinking back, Musen felt a bit sleazy... But such things certainly didn''t appeal to her anymore. However, Yao Mingyue held her cheeks in her hands, the corners of her mouth lifting with a hint of mirth: "But isn''t it someone who especially loved eating these? And also quite liked the ones I left my saliva on~" Yao Mingyue fluttered her phoenix eyes, revealing a slyness akin to that of a fox at this moment. Her words struck directly at the most shameful part of Musen''s heart. Musen''s face turned red, and he gave a dignified cough: "Don''t falsely accuse me!" "Am I falsely accusing you?" Yao Mingyue laughed even more joyfully: "Then why would you always skip the whole snacks and only want the ones I left?" "I am against food wastage. We''ve only had enough to eat for a few years. Do you know that in the days of famine, a single steamed bun could save a person''s life?" Musen spoke with conviction, his reasoning sound. Yao Mingyue just watched him and laughed, saying nothing, but her joy was evident. Musen simply ignored her. It was a petty matter from years past, not worth digging up again. "Musen, I want to eat grilled sausage." Yao Mingyue tugged at the hem of his clothes. "We will have dinner when we get home." "No, I want to eat this now. I am still a patient, and you need to take care of me!" "Miss Yao, even as a patient, you should eat less junk food." Yao Mingyue cocked her head to the side and chuckled softly: "That''s right, now that we have money, the snacks I once craved but couldn''t afford have become junk food. Men are like that, forgetting the old love for a new one; it''s alright, after all, I''ll be treated like trash and tossed aside, just like the snacks..." As Yao Mingyue spoke, she even began to raise her hand to touch the nonexistent tears at the corner of her eyes. Musen listened and felt that things were getting off track, observing her increasingly aggrieved tone and her indirect accusations. Her body hadn''t completely recovered, still showing a slightly unhealthy flush, and with the band-aid on her hand, she looked even more pitiable. To onlookers, it appeared as if Musen were a domestic abuser who wasn''t even willing to buy his wife a grilled sausage. "Alright, alright, I''ll go buy it for you, okay?" Musen surrendered. Ever since the incident a few days ago, Musen hadn''t managed to maintain a firm stance with her. And Yao Mingyue was becoming more adept at wielding soft power to manipulate people. From sickly cute to subtly manipulative... "You just sit in the car and rest." Musen didn''t let her get out of the car, fearing the strong wind outside might cause her to catch a cold again. Chapter 226 Youve actually been living off me for a long time. _2 "I''ll be waiting for your return~" Yao Mingyue revealed a triumphant smile, leaning against the car window and winked at him. "..." Xu Musen looked at her, wondering when did her phoenix eyes suddenly begin to look like the seductive eyes of a fox bringing disaster upon the country? Indeed, boys are easily swayed by gentleness, not by force. Girls are easily swayed by resilience, not by weakness. It''s about temperament... Xu Musen went to the nearby market and bought some groceries; his cooking skills had already graced Nuannuan''s family''s table several times, and Liu Rushuang had tasted his dishes as well. However, he had yet to properly prepare a New Year''s Eve dinner for his parents. On his way back, Xu Musen casually bought a grilled sausage, with the cheapest starch sausage costing one yuan and the meat ones three yuan. "Boss, I''ll have a grilled meat sausage." "Alrighty!" Street stalls, to which Xu Musen had rarely been lately, seemed to pale in comparison to the increasingly discerning palate of An Nuannuan, whom he had pampered with his cooking. Now, what she loved most was the food he made. These street food items were typically loaded with excessive oil and sugar, and the cooking oil was most likely problematiceither gutter oil or the kind that''s never replaced. But once you''re out for street snacks, you don''t tend to bother about it much. I even eat instant noodles, so do I care about nutrition? Plus, the aroma of the oil and seasonings can be quite tempting. Xu Musen glanced at the starch sausage beside him. A flood of past scenes suddenly filled his mind. It was a time when his family had just suffered a great misfortune. Xu Musen''s pocket money was just a couple of yuan a day, barely enough for meals, let alone snacks. At an age when cravings run wild, watching peers enjoy all sorts of treats every day was hard. To say Xu Musen wasn''t envious would be a lie, but the more he craved, the worse he felt; having fallen from a fairly comfortable life to the very bottom, the contrast was indescribable for a child. Especially when he saw other boys giving Yao Mingyue small gifts, Xu Musen felt even worse. He too wanted to give Yao Mingyue something, but all he could afford in his pocket was the cheapest starch sausage... After giving it to Yao Mingyue, he would have to swallow his saliva in silence. Moreover, Yao Mingyue seemed to have a special fondness for starch sausages, always snatching his away to eat. Luckily, after she finished the starch sausage, she couldn''t eat her own grilled meat sausage and, after just one bite, would leave it for Xu Musen to finish off... It was as though he was a walking garbage bin. Thinking back to those days, it was a bittersweet feeling laced with some grim fun. "Boss, give me another starch sausage as well." Xu Musen suddenly said. "You got it, handsome. Here you go." The boss prepared both the meat and starch sausages and handed them to Xu Musen. Holding the grilled sausages, Xu Musen took a whiff. Surely, in terms of fragrance and appearance, the meat sausage ought to be the tastier choice, He got back into the car. Yao Mingyue was already twitching her nose, having caught the aroma of the grilled sausage. "I got this for you." Xu Musen was about to hand her the starch sausage she loved most but saw Yao Mingyue reach directly for the grilled meat sausage and took an unwavering bite. "Mm~ It''s been a long time since I''ve had our local grilled sausage, and it still tastes like it used to." Yao Mingyue narrowed her eyes, looking at Xu Musen who seemed a bit lost as he watched her: "What''s wrong?" "Didn''t you say you like starch sausages?" "When did I say I liked starch sausages?" Yao Mingyue blinked at him. "Then why would you always snatch my starch sausage to eat?" Xu Musen said, feeling speechless, remembering how his daily allowance was just a yuan or two. He couldn''t afford the meat sausages and had to settle for a starch sausage, but every time he bought one, Yao Mingyue would snatch it away immediately. In the end, Yao Mingyue would leave behind for him her leftover grilled meat sausage or some other item she had. Although Xu Musen didn''t mind and even felt a little thrilled, he always felt as if she was playing a trick on him back then. It was like a child taking another child''s snacks, perhaps not because they liked it but just wanting what others valued. This little Sickly Cutie had been like that since childhood, seizing what Xu Musen liked and then exchanging it for something she preferred. Xu Musen sighed internally, taking a bite of the starch sausage. Well, you get what you pay for. Starchy ones certainly weren''t as tasty as the meaty ones. But as Yao Mingyue chewed on the grilled meat sausage, her phoenix eyes sparkled, and upon seeing Xu Musen looking a bit dejected, she curved her lips into a smile. "Dummy." "?" Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire Having been inexplicably called a fool, Xu Musen turned his head to look at her. But before he could react, Yao Mingyue had already pushed the grilled sausage against his lips. As he instinctively opened his mouth, she shoved it in. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This gesture was somewhat a reversal of roles, as if defying the natural order. The young girl''s eyes, shimmering and soft in expression, mesmerized Xu Musen. "That''s because... I wanted to let a certain greedy yet stubborn kid who needed meat to grow have a bit more to eat." Yao Mingyue''s voice was soft, watching Xu Musen take a bite of the grilled meat sausage; her gaze flickered. It was as if they had returned to a scene from years ago. "I still remember when our families were going through the toughest times, when our lives had plummeted and there was a period where even having meat was a luxury" Yao Mingyue reminisced about the past. Of course, Xu Musen hadn''t forgotten either. Back then, his father was in the hospital, and all their money was tied up in the company on the brink of bankruptcy; their family relied solely on his mother to keep them afloat. Chapter 226 Actually, Youve Been Freeloading Off Me for Quite a While Now. _3 Yao Mingyue''s family wasn''t doing well either, even though her father had given all the compensation money to her and her mother. But the family was still missing its economic pillar, so Liu Rushuang had to take the remaining money to desperately support the company. During that time, Xu Musen had only a yuan or two of pocket money each day, and Yao Mingyue at most five or six yuan. "But back then, you were starting to grow, but to save money, you could only eat some vegetables and rice, as well as free millet porridge. With just that little pocket money every day, you bought grilled sausages, and the first thing you did was to give it to me to eat..." As Yao Mingyue spoke, those times were hard, but every time she thought about how Xu Musen had given her all his remaining favor back then, a sweet smile curved on her lips. Xu Musen chewed on the grilled sausage in his mouth and looked at Yao Mingyue now, he also saw the little girl from the past. Back then, Yao Mingyue''s life wasn''t exactly going too well. From a well-off princess, she suddenly encountered the lowest point in her life, and her family began to live frugally. She started buying new clothes less often and rarely ate her previously favorite pastries. In school, there were many who wanted to pursue her. As long as Yao Mingyue was willing, many boys would give her pretty clothes, delicate pastries, and exquisite gifts. She could still be that dazzling princess. But she didn''t. She never gave a second glance to any of the gifts from boys who wanted to woo her. Except she never refused the dollar sausage from Xu Musen. Even during life''s harshest moments. Xu Musen hadn''t forgotten to give her his most diligent favor. Similarly, Yao Mingyue had never given up her steadfast love for Xu Musen because of other people''s advances. Xu Musen''s heart was repeatedly washed over by the waves of the past. Many things, when he thought of them now, were actually filled with romance that couldn''t be appreciated in their youth. Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire Yao Mingyue continued with a smile, "Back then, I wanted you to eat more meat, but you were sensitive and stubborn. If I spent money on pure meat sausages for you, you definitely wouldn''t have eaten them..." Xu Musen knew his own temper back then, just like all boys who didn''t want to expose an embarrassed side in front of a girl they liked. Every time he spent his last bit of pocket money to buy Yao Mingyue a starch sausage, even though he really craved it, he would claim he didn''t like to eat those things. Especially back then, so much had happened in Xu Musen''s family. The classmates he used to play with were slowly unable to stay together, and even many gossiped about his family''s situation behind his back. Human nature inherently fears the strong and bullies the weak. Even due to some people''s mockery, Xu Musen had fought with others a few times. For the teenage Xu Musen, his self-esteem was both stubborn and fragile. Especially in front of the girl he liked, he didn''t want to show an embarrassed side. Yao Mingyue looked at him, reading all his thoughts from his eyes. She laughed and snatched away the starch sausage from his hand. Just like the countless times she had snatched from him, the action was skilled and natural. "So, I had to snatch your grilled sausages. The more unreasonably I acted, the more I seemed to like them, the faster that little bit of pride in your heart would fade. It would make you feel more comfortable accepting the things I got for you." Yao Mingyue said with a light laugh, snatching the starch sausage from his hand and handing him the pure meat sausage that was in hers. Just like many years ago... "Stingy, can''t I have a bite?" "This starch one is even tastier than my meat sausage, here, let''s trade." "Humph, I''m full, help me eat the rest. If you waste food, I''ll have Auntie spank you!" She didn''t even like starch sausages, but to let him have a bite of pure meat sausage, she had pretended to like them for so many years. Yao Mingyue took a bite of the starch sausage, chewed a mouthful: "Hmm, indeed not very tasty, I still can''t get used to it." She said, yet with a smile, she looked towards Xu Musen, "Someone said earlier that they would never eat off a woman in this lifetime, but you''ve already been eating for several years now~" Xu Musen looked at her, then down at the fragrant pure meat sausage in his hand. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So, he had actually been eating her "soft rice" all this time? Looking at Yao Mingyue''s expression at that moment, for the first time, Xu Musen felt no disgust for the term "eating soft rice" but instead felt warmth surging through him. My unreasonable demands were to make you feel at ease... Xu Musen gradually realized that he might not have fully understood his childhood sweetheart, his nominally adopted sister, his wife from a past life... He picked up the grilled meat sausage in his hand. This was the best thing he could eat during the toughest time of his life. It was also the first time Yao Mingyue had gone to such lengths to feed him a meal of "soft rice." Xu Musen looked at it for a long while, then finally put it in his mouth and chewed. If it was this kind of soft rice. Lovely~ Chapter 227 A mans success is his familys smile. Xu Musen planned to give his parents a surprise today, and he hadn''t been in touch with them. He drove straight to his mother''s flower shop. Now the financial pressure on the family was not so great. It was getting dark, and Mother Xu was preparing to close up for the day. Mother Xu organized the flowers that hadn''t sold, some of which had a short shelf life and had to be sold at a low price to some public facilities to put on a show if they weren''t sold in a day. "Sigh, if it had been before, that brat would''ve picked these flowers to give to Ming Yue." Looking at the still-fresh flowers, Mother Xu couldn''t help but let out a sigh. In the past, Musen would always sneak flowers from home to give to Yao Mingyue, thinking he was being stealthy and unnoticed. In truth, Mother Xu permitted it, and she would even specially arrange some flowers at times, to make the bouquet Musen was giving look even nicer. They had hoped the two kids would end up together before. Thinking of the past, Mother Xu couldn''t help but smile, which then turned into another sigh. "That rascal, I don''t know what kind of girlfriend he''s found, and what will become of Ming Yue..." She muttered to herself, viewing Yao Mingyue, who she had watched grow up since she was a child, as the most suitable daughter-in-law. However, as parents, they fundamentally hoped their child would have an even better life; if there were a more suitable match, of course, they wouldn''t stand in their way. It all came down to their own fate, after all. "Boss, are you still open for business?" Right then, someone walked in through the door, dressed in down clothing, complete with a hat and sunglasses, wrapped up as if they were the mummy from the "Detective Conan" episode "The Bandaged Man Case" in the snowy castle, with no face visible. The voice was a bit strange too, and oddly familiar. Mother Xu turned her head and was a little startled, but still responded, "What would you like?" The customer looked at the flowers in the room and then pointed to the carnations on the counter nearby. "This one." "Carnations, they''re very suitable for giving to elders." "Yes, I''m giving it to my mother." The heavily wrapped figure was naturally Xu Musen; he looked at his mother through his sunglasses, holding back laughter and speaking in a pinched voice. Mother Xu found the person before her a bit odd, but then, what bad person comes to show filial piety to their mother? Sear?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She smiled and asked, "Alright, how many would you like?" "Can you sell just one?" "One flower?" Mother Xu paused for a moment, realizing that a single flower could hardly be wrapped; the cost of packaging would not even be covered. "Just one. I don''t have much money, but I don''t want to give my mother something too shabby." Musen kept his voice low, his tone slightly embarrassed. Mother Xu took only a brief pause then smiled softly, "No problem, I''ll wrap it for you." "Actually, as parents, we don''t care whether it''s one flower or a bunch, it''s the thought that counts, and that alone makes us happy." While wrapping the flower carefully, Mother Xu spoke. Musen sat down to one side while listening to his mother''s comforting tone and sighed, "Sigh, it''s been more than half a year since I left home, and I have achieved nothing; I just fear that mom and dad will not be happy." "How could that be? The only people in the world who wish you well unconditionally, without expecting anything in return, are your parents, and no matter what, you''re always their dearest child." Mother Xu said consolingly, which prompted her to think of Musen. When the family''s circumstances were tough, Musen also doubted himself and almost became reclusive. "Actually, my family introduced me to a very wealthy girl, but she wants me to marry into her family. What do you think, boss, should I accept?" The subject changed abruptly. Mother Xu was taken aback; in all honesty, arranging for men to marry into the bride''s family wasn''t so rare these days. Many local families in Zheng City have only daughters, possessing several properties, and conditions for a good life, the demands they place on potential sons-in-law are similar to marrying into the wife''s family. "This... in truth, it depends on the choices of both parties, but marrying a good wife can indeed save you ten years of struggle, or even a lifetime." Mother Xu thought reflexively of her rascal son, Musen. Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire In truth, when their family was facing its toughest times, they hadn''t ruled out the possibility that if the company completely failed, or if Musen''s father were to become truly disabled, they would take on all the debts. They would let Musen follow Yao Mingyue''s family, even if it meant marrying into her family in the future. Better to live poorly than to die, especially since the two of them had been childhood sweethearts and were deeply attached to each other. Marrying in or not, it surely beat living a life where you go hungry three days out of the week. After one''s youthful pride fades, one realizes that dignity isn''t worth forsaking even for money. "Actually, no parents truly want their son to marry into another family; that''s always a last resort. Staying alive is better than starving to death. Besides, marrying... moving in with the girl''s family doesn''t necessarily mean living a bad life. Sometimes adults have to be realistic, and both sides need to understand each other. Who doesn''t want the best for their child, after all..." Mother Xu sighed, saying these things that reflected her inner thoughts, her voice tinged with bitterness and helplessness. True, though Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue were childhood sweethearts with a strong mutual affection, Ming Yue''s temperament was admittedly a bit arrogant. Any average young man would probably feel somewhat aggrieved following her lead. If the two families had always been in equal circumstances, Musen could still take his time to find common ground with her slowly. But given how things had been over the years, there was bound to be inequality between them. Chapter 227 A mans success is his familys smile. Rong 2 But they didn''t have a choice, after all, from their point of view, with Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue getting together, there was no longer a need to worry about a living, and even if it meant tolerating some grievances, it wasn''t such a big deal. How many people long for such grievances yet can''t get them. Xu Musen kept watching his mother''s expression. In his past life, even though he had never clearly discussed with his parents about the issues between him and Yao Mingyue, he had subtly mentioned his inner troubles several times. But each time, his parents would always say, "Don''t know the blessing of what you have," "Even if you go out to work, don''t you also have to deal with your boss''s temper?" and "What couples can''t get over? They fight at the head but make up at the foot of the bed..." Xu Musen had also suspected whether his parents were after Yao Mingyue''s family wealth. But later he gradually understood that this was the helplessness of adults, those pursuing spiritual freedom, not wanting to be puppets, are often the well-fed. But most people can''t even solve the basic needs, let alone being puppets, they can only be beasts of burden. Xu Musen looked at his mother''s brows, which now had many more wrinkles, she was a few years older than Liu Rushuang, but she looked much more worn. It''s the same saying, in this world there is only one kind of person who will treat you well without asking for anything in return, and that is your own parents. "Your flower is ready." At that moment, Mother Xu handed him the wrapped flower, although there was only one, it was exquisitely packaged. "Thank you... How much?" Xu Musen reached out to take it. "It''s on the house, I was going to close up anyway, go home and spend some good time with your family, there''s nothing that can''t be talked out. I have a son, probably about your age, these days he should be coming home soon too. My son had a time when he was also muddled, but now he has become much better, I believe you''ll also get better and better, just like my son." Mother Xu was smiling as she spoke, looking at the young man wrapped up so tightly, even though she couldn''t see his face, he seemed to be about the same age as her son. She spoke of Xu Musen with relief and pride. It wasn''t about how much money Musen could earn now, but about Musen being confident, cheerful, full of ideas, and capable, surely leading to a better future. Xu Musen, feeling warm inside, reached out to take the flower. "Thanks, then... Can you give me some money as well?" sea??h th N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "???" Mother Xu''s warm smile suddenly froze on her face. What? Not only is he taking a free flower, but he''s also asking for money? That shameless behavior, why does it remind her so much of her own unfortunate son? "What do you need the money for?" Mother Xu was taken aback for a moment. Xu Musen couldn''t pretend anymore and burst out laughing. "I need money, of course, to get you a daughter-in-law." Mother Xu was stunned, that voice... wasn''t right... it sounded just like her own son! She reached out and took off the young man''s sunglasses, and instantly, those eyes with a hint of laughter were exposed. "Aiya! It''s you, my tortoise son!" Mother Xu''s face lit up with joy the moment she saw him clearly, cursing, even though she was obviously delighted. "Son, from a genetic point of view, such name-calling doesn''t reflect well on you." Xu Musen chuckled too. "Now you start! You come back today and don''t even say a word, and you tease your mother!" Mother Xu hit her son a few times, having missed him during the month or two they hadn''t seen each other. "I wanted to give you a surprise." Xu Musen said with a smile, handing the beautifully wrapped carnation back to his mother, "Mom, these flowers are for you!" Mother Xu looked at the flower, even though she owned a flower shop, she rarely received flowers, and at that moment, her eyes were tearfully touched. Yet she said, "Is that how you give flowers? Taking off your pants to fart, not enough of a waste of my money." Mother Xu''s words were harsh, but she was quite happy when she took the flowers. Discover hidden stories at My Virtual Library Empire Just as she said, flowers for mom, one or many, even picked off the street, would make mom very happy. "By the way, how did you guys get back? Where''s Ming Yue?" After the joy, Mother Xu''s first thought was of Yao Ming Yue. "Mom, I feel like she''s your real child." "Go on, Ming Yue is a girl and needs to pay more attention to her safety." No sooner had Mother Xu''s words dropped when someone hugged her from behind. "Auntie! Are you happy to see us?" Yao Ming Yue came from behind her, greeting her happily. Mother Xu''s eyes were full of love as she looked at the lively Yao Ming Yue, nodding repeatedly, "Of course I''m happy. You clever girl, giving people surprises now." "Mom, you''re really double-standard. I''m insincere, and she''s a surprise?" Xu Musen spoke resentfully from the side. Ming Yue hummed proudly on the side, and Mother Xu outright ignored her own son. "Come on, I''ll cook a big meal for you two today." Mother Xu happily closed up the shop, ready to hop on her Ya Di electric scooter. "You two go home first and wait, I''ll go to the grocery market to buy some food and come back." But Xu Musen just smiled, "Mom, let me drive you there." Mother Xu gave him a look, "This Ya Di of mine sure can''t carry the two of you now." "Ya Di might not, but Audi should do." Xu Musen laughed as he took out his car keys from his pocket and shook them. At the curb in front of the shop, a brand-new Audi A6 beeped, unlocking the car doors automatically. Mother Xu''s electric scooter key almost fell from her hand as her eyes widened in shock. Chapter 227 A mans success is his familys smile. _3 Glancing at this brand-new A6 in front of him, the car must have cost at least four or five hundred thousand yuan. An average family would hesitate to make such a purchase, even for those with a bit more money it would require some teeth-gritting. Watching his mother''s astonished expression, Xu Musen felt it would be a lie to say he wasn''t pleased with himself. A man''s sense of achievement is sown from the envy in others'' eyes, the contentment in his parents'', the hero he is to his children, and the praise from his wife... What else is earning money for? Is it not to share the blessings with one''s family? Show-off to strangers? No fun. It''s awesome to show-off along with one''s parents! "This car..." Mother Xu was stunned for a moment, yet her gaze passed by her smug-faced son to rest on Yao Mingyue, "Ming Yue, did your family buy a new car?" Xu Musen: ... Yao Mingyue zoned out for a second, observing Xu Musen''s dazed expression. Haha, so you also have moments when you can''t show off! She barely contained her laughter, "Auntie, this isn''t mine, it''s Musen''s." Only then did Mother Xu turn her attention to her son. Xu Musen straightened his back, thinking isn''t he bringing glory to his ancestors? Await the performance! "Son, whose car did you rent?" "???" Xu Musen was on the verge of spitting blood. "Mom, I didn''t rent it." "If it''s not rented, where did you get so much money? Don''t you imitate those who rent luxury cars for the New Year. We don''t need to put on airs. You''ve just learned to drive; what if you scratch or damage it, it will cost a lot to repair." "It''s really mine, I bought it." "You bought it... How many years did you finance it for?" "Paid in full!" "You? Robbed a bank?" Mother Xu still found it hard to believe, although she knew her son could now make money, but this car must have cost at least four or five hundred thousand yuan. He hadn''t been studying for long; how could he afford such a nice car, it''s like driving half a house out. "Mom, don''t you have that little faith in your son?" But Xu Musen was feeling frustrated, this was not how he had imagined things would go. Yao Mingyue, standing to the side, could no longer hold back her laughter, and she felt happy seeing Xu Musen thwarted. Serves him right for always being so full of himself! "Son, this car Did you really buy it?" Mother Xu, actually gauging her son and Yao Mingyue''s expressions, was already somewhat convinced that the car was indeed bought by her son. "Of course, if you don''t believe it, when we get home, I''ll show you the purchase contract," Xu Musen said, half laughing, half crying. Finally, Mother Xu approached the brand-new Audi, reached out to touch the car window, and quickly wiped it clean, worried about leaving fingerprints. She then glanced back at her Ya Di electric scooter. Ya Di, Audi. One signifies life, so does the other. But the difference of a single word signifies entirely different lives. Mother Xu wasn''t particularly obsessed with cars, but she knew what this car represented for her son. For their family that has weathered ups and downs, it meant something significant. It was a spine that had been bent for many years, finally able to straighten up again. She looked at the car in front of her, her eyes welling up with tears, unable to stop herself from crying as she looked at the car. "Mom, you should be happy," Xu Musen walked over and spoke softly. The truth was, seeing his mother''s gestures, he too was filled with a flood of emotions. Isn''t this moment what earning money is all about? "Of course, Mom''s happy... It''s just that I feel a bit sorry for you, for letting you suffer previously, and now that I''m old, I can''t help you" Mother Xu, touching the tears in her eyes, felt more and more that they hadn''t taken good care of him in the past as she saw her son''s improved life. Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire And when their child was successful, they couldn''t help either. They''ve ultimately become old. "Mom, you and Dad have already given me the best you had, it''s the son who realized things too late, things will get better and better." "Yes, Auntie, we will all continue to improve." Yao Mingyue also gently embraced Mother Xu''s arm, taking out a tissue to help wipe the tears from the corner of her eyes. Watching this scene, her feelings subtly shifted. For Xu Musen''s family, earning money and changing their current life was the greatest happiness. And for Yao Mingyue... Yao Mingyue looked at Mother Xu, perhaps when she truly attained her own happiness, Her mother would be even happier than at this moment. Yao Mingyue then glanced at Xu Musen. Striving for one''s own happiness... "Mom, get in the car, I''ve already bought the groceries. Today I''ll cook, and you and Dad can taste my cooking." Xu Musen walked to the front of the car, opened the door, and said with a smile, "Empress Dowager, Princess, please get into the car!" Mother Xu and Yao Mingyue both tried hard to suppress their grins. The car started, heading towards the familiar home, but a brand new life was also about to start. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 228 You Just Like Me. Driving home, Yao Mingyue didn''t even glance at her family''s villa. Instead, she followed Xu Musen back to his place. Returning to the familiar room, after an absence of several months, everything was just as he had left it. Even the desk was still cluttered with high school textbooks and exam papers, which he had been too lazy to tidy up. Looking back now, the sight gave off a different flavor. The bed, however, already had its winter quilt changed by Mother Xu. "It''s still your familiar pigsty." Yao Mingyue walked in, making herself at home by lying directly on Xu Musen''s bed. "Lying in a pigsty?" "Maybe I was Gao Cuilan in a past life, just fond of you, Zhu Bajie." Yao Mingyue hugged his quilt, rubbed it, and then sounded a bit disappointed, "Too bad, the quilt is too clean, doesn''t have your piggy smell anymore." Xu Musen was helpless against this sickly sweet girl, and he set down his things, "Aren''t you going back to check on your own home first?" "Home? What kind of home is it when there''s no one there?" Yao Mingyue spoke softly. Though the villa was regularly cleaned by housekeepers, every time she went back, it felt cold and deserted, devoid of vitality. Especially at night, if there was any wind or rain, the empty villa seemed even more eerie. She really didn''t like that feeling. Xu Musen didn''t continue on the subject, handing her a new towel instead, "Then go wash your face first, we''ll get ready for dinner in a bit." Yao Mingyue looked at the towel he handed her, and Xu Musen''s gentle eyes. She smiled as she took the towel, her lips curving involuntarily, "Inviting a girl to wash up at your place... Aren''t you afraid of being misunderstood?" Xu Musen smiled back at her. "Of course not, you are my dear sister, after all. It would be terrible if siblings had strange thoughts about each other, wouldn''t it?" Xu Musen playfully teased her with their current relationship. Sure enough, Yao Mingyue''s lips pouted slightly, but in the next moment, she huffed, "Being a beast is being a beast. Even beasts have partners, only I don''t." Xu Musen''s mouth twitched. What did she mean by even beasts have partners? Xu Musen turned to start cooking. Mother Xu was in the kitchen preparing vegetables, as always, instinctively taking over household chores. "Mom, let me do the cooking today. You go watch TV and rest." "I''ll help you out, you won''t be able to manage on your own." Mother Xu was still a bit skeptical about her son''s cooking skills, as he had hardly ever worked in the kitchen. "Auntie, I can help out." Yao Mingyue also came into the kitchen. Xu Musen glanced at her right hand, which was still wrapped in a band-aid. "You''d better not cause more trouble, just go and rest." "Oh, Ming Yue, what happened to your hand?" Mother Xu had just noticed Yao Mingyue''s right hand wrapped in a band-aid. "It''s just a small cut, nothing serious." Yao Mingyue smiled and shook her head. "Then you shouldn''t do any work; the wound can''t get wet." Mother Xu said, concerned. "It''s fine, I''m just here to chat with him and can still help fetch things. Auntie, you''ve worked all day, let us take care of you for the day~" Yao Mingyue smiled sweetly, gently wrapping her arm around Mother Xu''s. "You two kids..." Mother Xu''s heart warmed, looking at Yao Mingyue''s well-behaved and thoughtful demeanor. Not only had Xu Musen changed, but this little girl had grown up a lot too. Her current temperament was indeed praiseworthy. Mother Xu was slightly regretful in her heart, wondering just how fine a girlfriend Xu Musen had found. He had actually left Ming Yue high and dry. Plus, she''d always thought that given Yao Mingyue''s temperament, if she knew Xu Musen had a girlfriend, she would be so angry she might stop acknowledging him altogether. But seeing the situation now, it seemed the reality was far beyond her expectations. She even felt... Ming Yue seemed to be more concerned about Xu Musen than before. And her foolish son''s attitude towards Ming Yue seemed to have changed from before too. In any case, even though she didn''t know what was going on between these young people... The current harmonious atmosphere was quite pleasant. ... Soon after, the door opened. "Wife, whose car is parked in our spot downstairs?" Father Xu also came home and noticed a brand-new Audi A6 parked in their spot as soon as he entered the residential complex. He entered, grumbling, "That looks expensive, and it''s new too, but taking a parking spot without leaving a number, the rich these days really have no manners." Mother Xu was making tea in the living room, listening to her husband''s complaints, barely holding back her laughter, "Right, I saw it too. Seems like a young person brought it back. That car isn''t cheap at all, we didn''t dare cause a fuss." Father Xu continued in disbelief, "What does it matter if the car''s not cheap? Rich folks still need to have manners. I just don''t get how their parents raised them they could have at least left a number." "Exactly, exactly. If the child isn''t taught, it''s the father''s fault. Just looking at it, you can tell the dad didn''t teach well." Mother Xu echoed but her lips were curling into a smile all the while. Father Xu had yet to sense anything amiss, continuing on. "Exactly, young folk are just rash when it comes to driving. Flashes around in an Audi like they own the place. If I were his elder, just wait until I got back, I''d smack him silly..." Just as he hadn''t finished speaking, Xu Musen emerged from the kitchen with a dish. "Yo, old dad." Xu Musen greeted cheerfully. Father Xu was taken aback, and then joyfully responded, "You little rascal, how come you''re back so early?" Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire "Of course because I missed you guys, dad. What were you just talking about?" Xu Musen had heard their conversation in the kitchen and deliberately asked with a smile. "Well, someone downstairs took our parking spot. These young folks driving cars are just impatient. Flaunting an Audi like they''re something special. If I were his elder, I''d certainly sort him out!" "I doubt you''d really want to scold him, Dad," Yao Mingyue smiled. "Why wouldn''t I? He''s not my son..." Father Xu began, but the very next moment, Xu Musen pulled out a set of Audi car keys. With a grin, he dangled them before his father''s eyes. "Look at this. Does it remind you of that Audi you wanted to have a go at?" Father Xu was stunned for a good while, his mouth open for several seconds without uttering a single word. Could it be... this Audi actually belongs to his own son? "That car..." "That''s right, it''s your son''s. Still feel like hitting him?" Seeing his father''s shocked expression ignited a sense of accomplishment between the grown men. Father Xu stared blankly at the brand-new Audi keys in his hand: "Did you take out a loan shark, or have you kidnapped some rich girl?" Xu Musen: "..." "Pfft, hahaha..." Mother Xu couldn''t help but burst into laughter, now finding her own prior reaction hilariously over the top. "Really, can''t you two hope for the best for your own son?" Xu Musen found it both sad and amusing. "Hello Uncle!" Yao Mingyue also came out of the kitchen at this time, smiling and greeting Father Xu. "Ming Yue''s back too, good, good, as long as everyone''s back, that''s good." Father Xu''s mood brightened considerably upon seeing Yao Mingyue. At the dining table, Xu Musen showed his parents the contract for the car purchase. Paid in full. Father Xu looked at the string of figures on the car purchase contract and was filled with mixed feelings: relief, guilt, and a pang of sadness all turned into joy at that moment. Happy for his son. In the car, An Nuannuan''s grandfather had taken out a few bottles of his prized vintage wine, which Xu Musen then shared with his old man. It had been many years since Father Xu had tasted such good wine. During the toughest times, whenever he was stressed out enough to drink, he could only afford the cheapest bulk wine. The fine liquor warmed him from within, not only dispelling the cold of winter but also lifting the long-standing gloom that had overshadowed their family. Father Xu''s words shifted from "What do young people know about Audi," "Young people shouldn''t be so hotheaded," "Watch me teach him a lesson," to "If young people don''t drive Audis, are they going to drive Ya Dis?" "If young people aren''t hotheaded, are they still young?" "My son is unbeatable in this world!" The first meal home from university. Father Xu was so pleased he nearly drank himself under the table, and Mother Xu, for once, didn''t nag him for getting drunk. Because today, everyone in the family was happy. Yao Mingyue, with her injured right hand, couldn''t even hold chopsticks, so basically, Xu Musen fed her throughout the meal. When grains of rice stuck to her lips, Xu Musen instinctively reached out to help her remove them, eating them himself. Xu Musen didn''t even realize he had gotten so used to taking care of An Nuannuan that he had subconsciously mixed up the two girls. Yao Mingyue''s face turned a light shade of red, surprised by Xu Musen''s actions, even though she understood that he probably just saw her as An Nuannuan. But she couldn''t help feeling joyfully sweet inside, like the tangy taste of an orange. Mother Xu watched the two of them, feeling more puzzled the more she observed. Why did these two seem even closer than before? Father Xu''s eyes were red from the drinking as he looked at Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue. "Ah, we let you two suffer in the past. Now that you''ve grown up and can live a good life, we couldn''t really be of any help..." Xu Musen said, "Mom and Dad, you did great. We have grown up, and the days ahead will only get better!" Yao Mingyue joined in, "Yeah, Uncle, Auntie, you''ve worked so hard. I will take good care of you with Musen from now on." "Good... good kids." Overwhelmed with emotion, Father Xu felt the corners of his eyes dampen. Looking at the two young ones, he slurred as if he was still stuck in the past and blurted out. "You''re in university now, making your own money. Apart from studying, if you two have anything... we certainly won''t object... Wife, why are you kicking me?" Father Xu''s words were cut off by a kick from Mother Xu. Mother Xu hadn''t drunk a drop and had been watching Yao Mingyue''s expression closely. "You''ve had too much to drink, less talking, let''s get you to bed." She began to stand up, tugging at him to leave. "I''m not that drunk..." Father Xu protested but winced when he was pinched at the waist. He sobered up a bit and suddenly recalled that his son seemed to be... already in a relationship with another girl. Yet in his mind, the two kids had always been together since childhood, and subconsciously, he couldn''t quite believe it. At that moment, Yao Mingyue''s eyes sparkled, with a hint of sourness and brightness... "I''m drunk... Anyway, continue eating, I''m going to lie down." Father Xu immediately changed his tune and staggered back to his room. "I''ll take him back, you two keep eating," Mother Xu said with a smile, quickly ushering her husband out. At the dining table, Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue exchanged glances. Without a word. Yao Mingyue was the first to chuckle: "Uncle was just speaking drunken nonsense, right?" "Right." "But aren''t a man''s drunken words usually his most sincere?" "Drunken words are nonsense; there''s a saying you might not have heard: When a man gets tipsy, even his mother-in-law cries at the performance." Sear?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yao Mingyue cracked a smile, looking at Xu Musen''s slightly flushed cheeks: "How about you? You''ve had a drink too. Do you still like me?" Xu Musen looked into her shimmering eyes and took another sip of his drink in silence. "I''m drunk too, I''m going to sleep," he replied. Yao Mingyue watched his retreating figure and smiled. "Drunken words are nonsense... so you do like me..." Chapter 229 Yao Mingyue: Then can you choose again? Xu Musen feigned drunkenness but was unsuccessful. He was chased by Mother Xu to help Yao Mingyue tidy up her room. The villa was regularly cleaned and was very tidy. However, it felt empty and even colder in the biting winter wind. Xu Musen thought that if he had to live alone in such a desolate room, his temperament probably wouldn''t be too pleasant. It was like the Cold Palace in the imperial palace, so silent that not even a sound could be heard, and that''s how many consortes banished to the Cold Palace ended up. Every day they were locked in their rooms, with nothing to do, some would scatter a handful of soybeans on the ground and play by picking them up. All the more, Yao Mingyue, a young girl, had lived here almost all by herself for these years. It was odd that her temperament hadn''t become an issue. Xu Musen brought over all her belongings for her. "Rest early," he said. Xu Musen wanted to leave, but Yao Mingyue grabbed the hem of his clothes. "My hand is injured; you need to help me make the bed," she said. Yao Mingyue held up her injured right hand and declared righteously. "An injury isn''t a disability," he retorted. "No! I bled for you, I did it for you" "Okay okay, I''ll do it, I''ll do it," he conceded. Xu Musen was someone who couldn''t resist her soft approach, especially since it was true that Yao Mingyue got injured jumping into the water to save him. As he entered her room and took the quilt out of the closet, he started to help her make the bed. Yao Mingyue sat on the side triumphantly, gently swaying her legs, feeling waves of happiness as she watched Xu Musen serve her. Observing Xu Musen confidently making her bed, she noticed that he could always find her favorite sheets, with the perfect material, color, and style in the wardrobe. He would fluff the pillows first to make the cotton inside even softer and add a small cushion on top of the pillow because that''s the way Yao Mingyue liked it. The position of the bedside lamp''s switch and even her slippers were placed in just the right spot. For some reason, Yao Mingyue always felt that Xu Musen understood her very well, even better than she understood herself in many ways. This tacit understanding was like that of an old married couple: coming home, making the bed, sleeping without shame or embarrassment Looking at Xu Musen''s now increasingly tall and straight figure, and his focused profile while making the bed, a particular "husbandly" aura seemed to make it easy for a young girl to become infatuated with him. Yao Mingyue didn''t even want to think about how happy she would be if they got married. Only, another figure would always emerge in her mind. Yao Mingyue looked down at her right hand, wrapped in adhesive bandages, and let out an involuntary sigh. "What''s wrong?" he asked. "It''s nothing, I was just thinking that it would be nice if my hand never healed," she responded. "Has your brain been numbed by the icy water?" he said with irritation. Who else would curse for their own injury not to heal? Yao Mingyue narrowed her eyes and smiled, looking at her injured right hand: "Because now, you only indulge and take care of me when I''m injured, just like you do for her." The young girl''s voice carried a faintly sour laugh. "No wonder she likes you so much. If I were her, I wouldn''t want to get better either, so I could be taken care of by you indefinitely." Xu Musen turned to look at her, her fair cheeks tinged with a wistful glow. In the past, Xu Musen was indeed this kind to her. But now, he had started to be good to another girl, while Yao Mingyue could only stealthily snatch away some tenderness Liking someone doesn''t disappear; it just quietly shifts elsewhere. In the past, Xu Musen might have already left impatiently. But now, facing Yao Mingyue, he just couldn''t bring himself to utter those cruel words. She was slowly changing, but he already had An Nuannuan now. The future was long, but there was one thing Xu Musen was sure of. The one he liked would not be let go. Two-timing... the last person who did that probably had their head wind-dried already. Especially since Yao Mingyue was prone to sickness. Seeing her getting a bit better, if she were to be provoked, who knew what she might do. However, just like the many times Yao Mingyue had asked him, concerning his feelings for Yao Mingyue, Xu Musen admitted to himself that he did like her. Sar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The reason he left her was not because he no longer liked her, but because the way they were together was just too suffocating. Moreover, could Xu Musen really stand to see Yao Mingyue with another man one day? Xu Musen felt a pang of distress in his chest, strange... was it possible that after spending so much time with her, he had also become that kind of possessive person? But Xu Musen himself hadn''t realized that he had gradually shifted from being a committed, pure-hearted warrior of love to showing signs of becoming a polyamorous, pure-hearted warrior of love... Xu Musen exhaled softly and walked over to tap her head, "Even if you weren''t injured, I would still take care of you." "Really?" Yao Mingyue''s eyes glistened. "Really." Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire Xu Musen nodded, squinting his eyes and similarly smiling mischievously, as he stroked her head. "After all, you''re my one and only dear little sister; big brother loves you so much." It was always ''brother and sister; he always used that to sate her. Yao Mingyue frowned unhappily at her pert nose. But she didn''t care, and not just as a ''sworn brother'' either C even if he were her real brother, she wouldn''t give up! She hummed, her eyes lighting up as she looked at Xu Musen, then suddenly rubbed her face into the palm of his hand with a smile. Like a kitten seeking affection, she wound around Xu Musen''s hand and deftly circled past, causing the hand he had placed on her head to slide onto her smooth, delicate cheek. Chapter 229 Yao Mingyue: Then Can You Choose Again?_2 "Good brother~ I want to take a bath, can you help me change my clothes?" The girl''s soft figure, and that natural coquettishness begging to be caressed. Yao Mingyue''s delicate body. Xu Musen knew it very well, but the eighteen-year-old Yao Mingyue, though not yet fully matured, had that slightly green, bud-like youthfulness. It was like an apple green in color yet surprisingly sweet, enticingly juicy, with a crisp taste. Xu Musen suddenly felt the seal that An Nuannuan had set on him with the Dahuang Qiutian Finger before he left seeming a little loose. Alas, this damned body, can''t it learn from some middle-aged men, to remain calm and composed? Xu Musen silently withdrew his hand, looking at Yao Mingyue in front of him, his expression was just like Hong Shixian''s, "No need, you have already changed into Pinru''s clothes." "??" Yao Mingyue blinked, her lips parting gently, and a hint of orchid fragrance whispered into Xu Musen''s ear, "Since we''re seeking thrills, we might as well go all the way." Xu Musen flicked her forehead. Then he left the room. Yao Mingyue sat on the bed, touching her flicked forehead. The cheeks that had just been full of charm were slowly crawling with a hint of red flush. "Hmph and here I thought you really didn''t feel anything." ... Downstairs, Xu Musen didn''t hurry away. Instead, he went to the kitchen to check things out. Having had quite a bit of alcohol earlier, he thought of making a hangover soup, especially since both he and Yao Mingyue hadn''t completely recovered. Drinking some hot soup is always better. Soon, Yao Mingyue came out after the quick shower, mainly because her right hand couldn''t touch water. She arrived at the kitchen door. Seeing Xu Musen still simmering soup, she tiptoed behind him, gently stood on her tiptoes, and rested her exquisite chin on Xu Musen''s shoulder. "Good brother, what are you doing?" She whispered, her hands sneakily blocking his waist. The freshly bathed girl''s body carried the scent of shower gel, and a warm temperature wafting around her her breath at his ear was as tantalizing as a cat''s tail lightly touching. Xu Musen glanced at her sideways; the girl''s cheeks were reddish-pinka natural hue, the rosy flush of her capillaries after a bath, with both of them very close to each other. Just a slight turn of his head, and Xu Musen could taste her. "Hand." Xu Musen spoke. "Tsk, stingy." Yao Mingyue then withdrew her hand that was slowly reaching around his waist. Sar?h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I''m a married man now, you should behave yourself." Xu Musen spoke seriously. Yao Mingyue responded with a smile, "I know, but aren''t I your sister? That counts as being part of your family too, right?" Xu Musen knew he couldn''t win against her. Just like in the past, Yao Mingyue always told him, "I''ve always seen you as a brother." But, wasn''t Xu Musen also harboring unyielding desires, daydreaming of living a shameless life with her? The past boomerang hit right between the eyes. "Don''t be a lickspittle; in the end, you''ll be left with nothing." Xu Musen earnestly advised. If an ordinary girl was called a lickspittle, she would have been furious by now. But what kind of person was Yao Mingyue? She also glanced sidelong at Xu Musen, then suddenly leaned in and gently licked his earlobe. The girl''s tongue was like freshly cooked silky tofu, quivering, very moist. Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire However, Xu Musen almost couldn''t keep a steady grip on the ladle. Are you serious? Did you just bite my ear? "I think, to get just a taste is enough~" Yao Mingyue retreated a step with a smile, her hands clasped behind her back. She was wearing a white home dress, her long, smooth hair naturally draped over her shoulders. The warm light from the living room shone through the dress, revealing with no doubt the extraordinary long legs belonging to the girlthe light finally left its trace at this moment. Eighteen-year-old Yao Mingyue was truly beautiful, not possessed by the darkness and madness of her previous life. At this moment, she was just a stubborn and vulnerable, cute and proud girl. Xu Musen served two bowls of hot soup and walked with her to the living room. Yao Mingyue held the spoon in her left hand, looking a bit clumsy. "Let me do it." Xu Musen took her bowl and spoon, ladling the soup and feeding her spoon by spoon. Yao Mingyue enjoyed it with her eyes closed. The hot soup that Xu Musen made had jujubes in it, sweet and delicious. "Xu Musen, I want to ask you a question." "What is it?" "Why do I always feel like you are very familiar with many things about me, some that even I don''t know, you seem to know very clearly." Yao Mingyue stared at Xu Musen with wide eyes. How could Xu Musen not be familiar? After all, they had been husband and wife for several years. "Blind cat ran into a dead mouse, I guess." Xu Musen spoke indifferently. "But you''ve run into it too many times, haven''t you? Actually, I quite like this feeling. Xu Musen, you like this feeling too, don''t you?" Yao Mingyue asked him with a smile. Xu Musen didn''t refute. Taking care of someone, especially someone you like, is indeed a very nice feeling. It''s like parents who care for their children unconditionally, expecting nothing in return, feeling the greatest joy just witnessing their children succeed. It is the same for her, and for Nuannuan. "Maybe I''m just born to serve others, I just love taking care of people." Chapter 229 Yao Mingyue: Then Can You Choose Again?_3 Xu Musen smiled and shook his head. "No, it''s you who has good fortune, how many people wish to take care of a beauty like me but never have the chance." Yao Mingyue tilted up her gorgeous cheek, quite vain, but she indeed had the qualifications to be vain. "Xu Musen, since we are so familiar with each other, so in sync, so suitable, won''t you consider choosing once more?" "Yao Mingyue, since we understand each other, you also know that I won''t give up the person I like. Nuannuan is very good; she has also waited a long time for me, loving me without reservation, and I will never leave her." Xu Musen''s tone was very calm, but the calmer it was, the more it signified his earnestness. Yao Mingyue''s eyes drooped, those phoenix eyes harboring emotions others couldn''t understand. After a moment, she again revealed a smile that was somewhat bitter and wistful. "Xu Musen, I hate you..." Xu Musen looked at her, silently scooping up a spoonful of soup to continue feeding her. Yao Mingyue didn''t drink, her gaze fixed on Xu Musen, watching the motion of him feeding her soup. Still, she opened her mouth and took a sip. The sweet, warm soup seemed to dispel some of the bitterness in her heart as she looked at Xu Musen, her emotions churning in her eyes. "But, I''m also growing fonder of you. Do you know that? The reason I liked you to begin with was because of your stubbornness, I like that silly side of you that, once you''re committed to someone, you never let go..." Yao Mingyue''s eyes gathered some shining moisture, looking at Xu Musen, her gaze seemed to overlap with that of Brother Musen who once held her in his embrace. In reality, he was still him, and he had become even better. "You''ve also become better and better. I too liked the lively, adorable, mischievous, a bit willful, tsundere but actually very attentive Xiao Mingyue." Xu Musen slowly began to speak. He took a tissue, gently wiping the corners of her eyes. "It''s just that the road ahead is long. It seems to me, you should learn to love yourself first, and I also feel that you''ve already found some clues how to." As for Yao Mingyue, Xu Musen actually never harbored any resentment toward her; the matters of their past life were also his own choices. Yao Mingyue had always loved him. Maybe her love was too obsessive, distorted, even turning and hurting Xu Musen. But from beginning to end, she loved him, and she had changed a lot. Especially, that moment she unhesitatingly jumped into the cold lake water, it was also the first time she dared to confront her own inner demons. Thus, Xu Musen still hoped she would lead a better life, or at least, that she would manage to find her true self. Yao Mingyue gently grasped Xu Musen''s hand, her voice calm and serious, "Xu Musen, just like you, when I was most sad, most helpless, it was you by my side, liking me unreservedly, taking care of me for so many years. I can''t change the fact that I like you, I will learn to like myself properly, but also, I want to learn to slowly like you...". Yao Mingyue''s mouth curled into a smile. "I know, speaking like this now seems very shameless, but I don''t care, and I''m not in a hurry for your answer. You liked me for so long without receiving an outcome; at the very least, let me give some back to you." The two of them silently looked at each other for a long time; Xu Musen didn''t answer, nor did he try to persuade her like he used to. "Alright, it''s getting late, thank you for taking care of me today, I''m still very happy, and you should go back too." Yao Mingyue''s tone shifted, saying cheerfully to him. Xu Musen nodded, stood up, and walked towards the door. At the doorway, he paused his steps, and Yao Mingyue followed closely behind him. Behind her was the exquisitely decorated, yet lonely and cold room, and she was like a little cat curled up in the vast villa. She could only wait every day for someone to come and see her. Loneliness had always surrounded her, and perhaps it was for this very reason that she felt such an acute lack of security. Yao Mingyue had just now smiled and told him to go back, but Xu Musen could tell by the careful steps she took that her heart was not at peace at this moment. "What''s wrong?" Yao Mingyue saw him stop, and her lips drew back into a smile, "Don''t want to leave? Then beg me, maybe I''ll be merciful and let you stay..." She didn''t finish her sentence. Xu Musen stretched out his hand and gently flicked her forehead. "Get some good rest. Come to my place for breakfast tomorrow morning. I''m planning to make some red date glutinous rice cakes. If you come late, there won''t be any left." Xu Musen also revealed a smile. The forced smile on Yao Mingyue''s face paused, and as she looked at Xu Musen, those deep emotions at the bottom of her eyes seemed to sweeten with the words "red date glutinous rice cakes," becoming sticky and gooey at the bottom of her heart. "If you dare not leave any for me, you''re dead meat! I''ll have Auntie spank you!" She huffed, just as capricious and unreasonable as when she was a child. Yet her smile at this moment was exceptionally soothing to behold. Their eyes met, and they smiled at each other. "Good night." Xu Musen walked out of the villa''s gate and was just about to turn the corner to head home when a voice suddenly came from behind him. "Xu Musen!" Xu Musen stopped in his tracks and turned around. Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The night wind was cold, but the bright moonlight gave a touch of warmth to the skin. Yao Mingyue leaned on the low wall at the entrance of the villa, her upper body sloping over the edge of the wall, her hair flowing with the wind. The moonlight on her fair cheeks made her look even more pure and flawless. "It''s so cold, hurry back inside." Xu Musen saw that she was only wearing a thin dress. Yet Yao Mingyue was holding her cheeks, her face blooming with a somewhat girlish, shy, expectant, and nervous smile. "Xu Musen, do you remember you once said you owed me a favor?" Of course, Xu Musen remembered. From that last time at the milk tea shop, he had promised Yao Mingyue he would repay her well, and she had stored it up as a condition. "I''ve made up my mind, will you accompany me on a trip in the next couple of days? You have to listen to what I say." Xu Musen looked at her. Those carefully prepared words of hers could actually be summed up in just two words. Xu Musen looked at her, under the moonlight, her body shivering slightly with cold, but her smile remained. Only the hand lightly holding the fence revealed her anticipation and nervousness. "Okay." Xu Musen turned and left. The curve on Yao Mingyue''s face grew slightly, and only after Xu Musen''s figure disappeared did she whisper with a smile. The moon was hazy and the night no longer seemed so cold. "Good night..." Chapter 230 Son, is there anything other than feet in your phone? Xu Musen returned home. He had just lain down for a bit and reported his day to An Nuannuan as usual. Although they had only been apart for two or three days, he could clearly feel that An Nuannuan was becoming more clingy. The voice that used to be devoid of any emotional fluctuations was now learning to coo in a cute and naive manner. Xu Musen could easily imagine her holding the phone with her lips pouting adorably. He really wanted to pinch her face~ Just after hanging up the phone, his mother knocked on the door and came in. She was carrying a tray with fruit and hot tea. "Has Ming Yue gone to bed?" "Yeah." Xu Musen nodded. His mother sat down on a chair and looked at her son for a while. He had really grown up without her noticing. "Who were you on the phone with just now?" "Your future daughter-in-law." Xu Musen didn''t conceal anything and took a bite from the fruit his mother had brought over. "You kid, don''t count your chickens before they hatch." When it came to the topic of a daughter-in-law, the An family was like a wild boar raising white cabbagenaturally, as parents, they were happy. "Is this girl also from Zheng City?" "Her ancestral home is, but now she should be considered a person from Huhai." Xu Musen had actually asked Nuannuan about this. Her grandfather was from Zheng City, but he had lived in Huhai for a long time. "Oh, a person from Huhai, her family must be quite well off then," Mother Xu asked. While being in love was a matter between two people, as parents, they knew that marriage would bring two families together. Family conditions are an important factor. If the match is not well-suited, it''s difficult for the relationship to last. This is wisdom passed down through thousands of years by our ancestors and is generally accurate. And Mother Xu, having been scared of poverty for years, subconsciously inquired about the girl''s family background. Too poor is not good, too rich also requires cautionit''s best to be moderate. Sar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And being able to settle down in Huhai, the conditions must definitely be good. Xu Musen knew what his mother was thinking. An Nuannuan''s family conditions couldn''t just be described as goodthey were obscenely wealthy. Going out in a Rolls-Royce, living in a golden-valued courtyard house in Huhai, and not to mention the family''s business enterprises. Calling her a rich lady wouldn''t do her justice. This was a god-level heiress! "The conditions are indeed quite good." Xu Musen took another bite of his apple, chuckling, "Anyway, if I were to marry into her family, I could just lie flat and never worry about food or drink for the rest of my life." "You silly boy, spouting nonsense again. Let me tell you, when it comes to choosing a partner, it''s best to be evenly matched. Our family might have been poor before, but that doesn''t mean you should marry into her family. As the old saying goes, it''s better to starve than to farm your father-in-law''s land. A man who''s not capable will really feel aggrieved living with the girl''s family..." Mother Xu said earnestly. Xu Musen just smiled: "Then you were always urging me to be with Ming Yue before. Considering the circumstances of our two families, if I really got together with her, it wouldn''t be much different from marrying into her family." Mother Xu was taken aback for a moment, then shook her head and spoke, "It''s not the same. You two are childhood sweethearts, and our two families are so close. Aunt Liu is a good person, and Ming Yue has you in her heart. If you get together with her, even if you take care of the household, you won''t be made to suffer." What Mother Xu said was actually true. In ancient times, the status of a man marrying into a woman''s family might be even lower than a servant''s. Even now, a man who enters his wife''s family would be the subject of back-talk. But Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue''s situation was the most special, being childhood sweethearts with families who were lifesaving friends. And Liu Rushuang was indeed a very capable and kind woman, treating Xu Musen as her own. Yao Mingyue had her heart set on Xu Musen, so even if he were to "marry in," he wouldn''t really suffer. Xu Musen agreed with his mother''s words, but unfortunately, the premise of her saying all this was that the Yao Mingyue in their minds was still the proud and lively Yao Mingyue of the past. Unfortunately, the current Yao Mingyue was fragile, and indeed she didn''t look down on him. On the contrary, she doted on him to the skies and loved him to the extreme, which was a bit suffocating. Xu Musen laughed and shook his head as he took another bite of his apple. "She''s different from Ming Yue, and I''m not the same as I used to be either. Before I got to know Nuannuan well, I didn''t know her family was very wealthy. I even thought at one point that she was poorer than us." Xu Musen said, unable to suppress the smile on his face. Nuannuan always liked to keep her hair disheveled and dressed inconspicuously. She was also always alone, and especially since she was always in a wheelchair, and even picked his flowers to sell for money. It was easy to imagine her as a physically challenged girl with a strong will and an unfortunate family background. Xu Musen recalled how he wanted to find her a part-time job, pay her fifty yuan for an illustration, and how he tried so hard to bring her some fried chicken from the school, even trading meals with her like some domineering CEO. Only to be almost blinded by the sparkling abalones and lobsters in her lunchbox. Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire "I originally thought she was a poor girl, but after getting to know her better, I suddenly realized she is actually a little rich lady. Sigh, Mom, it''s just my fate. No matter where I go, I can''t seem to make a loss." Xu Musen spoke with a look of resignation. Mother Xu, watching her son''s shameless expression, couldn''t help but laugh out loud. "You rascal, never serious a single day." Although being evenly matched in social and economic status is still important, now her son''s abilities had also started to show. A man with his own career need not fear losing his dignity. "Mom, don''t worry. Nuannuan and I are doing great, and our being together is based on genuine feelings and affection, not related to money." Chapter 230 Son, Is There Anything But Feet on Your Phone?_2 "If you guys can be good together, that''s great... By the way, have you met her family?" "Yeah, I''ve met them many times, and they know about our relationship too," Xu Musen nodded. Mother Xu didn''t expect things to have progressed so quickly, but upon reflection, it made sensethey had known each other for over half a year. "Well, we should have been the first to meet the girl... You, even if her family agrees to you two being together, you still need to be mindful and maintain boundaries. You''re just a freshman, don''t... Anyway, be careful and treat the girl well, you understand?" Mother Xu advised with all seriousness. Although as the male''s family, her child wouldn''t really be at a disadvantage in matters of love. But they still held relatively conservative and traditional views. If he were with a girl, he should treat her well and be responsible; he couldn''t just mess around. "You don''t trust your son''s character?" Xu Musen said with a chuckle. "Enough, what good is a man anyway." "Hey, Mom, you should take that up with Dad, I''m not carrying the can." Mother Xu smiled, looking at her son, realizing that her precious boy really had changed a lot. He was no longer the aimless kid he used to be; he got into a good university, started his own business, and even his behavior and speech were more pleasing than before. Everything was progressing in a good direction. There was just one thing... "Son, what''s your situation with Ming Yue now?" Xu Musen fell silent for a moment. "Same as always, but no matter who I''m with, I''ll take care of her as long as she needs me." Xu Musen spoke, but his heart was far from as calm as his words. He wanted to see Yao Mingyue find her own path and happiness in life, but he simply couldn''t imagine her being with another guy. Xu Musen felt quite despicable, yet also felt he wasn''t wrong. Mother Xu looked at her son and after a while said, "Son, you sound just like a scumbag." "???" "Mom, what do you mean by that?" "You know very well what I mean. Anyway, if you''re in a relationship, be serious about it. As for Ming Yue, after all, she''s a girl, and there''s no one constantly by her side, you still need to... try to be nicer to her." Mother Xu said, seeming to remember something, her expression suddenly becoming a bit complex. Xu Musen, nibbling on an apple, laughed: "Mom, why do I feel like you''re the one pushing me towards being a scumbag?" "Go on, get out of here!" Mother Xu said, without any good air. "By the way, do you have a photo of the girl?" Mother Xu grew curious too. "Should have." Xu Musen took out his phone; having a pretty girlfriend was something to be proud of when introducing her to his family. Mother Xu also leaned in to look at the phone as Xu Musen opened the gallery. There was even a special album category for Nuannuan. Xu Musen subconsciously tapped to open it. As Xu Musen released his finger, the album category belonging to Nuannuan opened. On the bright screen of the phone, there immediately appeared... a pair of delicate and fair feet of a young girl, neat and petite like polished jade. Xu Musen:... Mother Xu: o_O??? Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire "I, I clicked the wrong one..." Xu Musen instantly felt sweat drenching his back. Now he remembered, the pictures he saved most were of the little feet photos An Nuannuan sent him. He hurriedly flipped to the next one. The second picture: a young girl''s snow-white long legs, extending to the feet, each cute and distinct little toe, the nails all a tender color. Xu Musen:... Mother Xu: ?????... Hastily swiped to the next photo It was An Nuannuan sitting on the bed with a row of colorful little socks arranged at the edge. It was as if in ancient times, where the Emperor would choose a concubine by flipping a tag; whichever pair Xu Musen liked, she would wear for him to see. Next photo. It was An Nuannuan soaking her feet, petals below, the fair and smooth little feet occasionally visible, extraordinarily tempting. Xu Musen:... Mother Xu:??????? "Mom, hear me out!" Xu Musen felt his face turn red. It was rather embarrassing to have such things caught by his parents, but he couldn''t let them get the wrong impression that he had some strange fetish. But Mother Xu just patted him on the head: "Young man, it''s normal, I understand, but you should still pay attention to personal hygiene issues." Xu Musen:... You understand what exactly! Why does everyone suspect him of being a perverted foot fetishist? Xu Musen scrolled through his phone for a while before realizing he hadn''t actually taken proper photos of her. S~ea??h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. One, Xu Musen indeed did not have the habit of taking photos, and two, they were together all the time, so there was no need for photos as keepsakes. "Son, in this album... aside from the girl''s feet, is there anything else?" Mother Xu watched him flipping through, unable to help but ask. With the youth these days, she could understand if you were into breasts and bottoms, but how did it evolve into... Xu Musen nearly choked: "Mom, just wait a bit." Xu Musen opened the chat with An Nuannuan: "Nuannuan, quick, send me a picture of you, it''s urgent!" An Nuannuan was just getting ready to sleep, An Nannan already cuddling with her, soundly asleep. Seeing the sudden pop-up message on her phone, her delicate cheeks froze for a moment. Why would he suddenly want a photo of her so late at night. And what was meant by... urgent use... His way of typing somehow reminded her of... that night... An Nuannuan somehow felt a bit embarrassed, but she had never refused a request from Xu Musen. Chapter 230 Son, is there anything other than feet in your phone? _3 She wanted to take a selfie, but in her arms, An Nannan was sleeping soundly. The little girl had such good sleep quality that it was difficult to wake her. Xu Musen: "Nuannuan, hurry up, or it''ll be too late." At this moment, Xu Musen was sweating profusely. If he couldn''t get the photo now, it would confirm that his phone really only had pictures of feet or legs, ruining his image as a great son. An Nuannuan also took a selfie directly and sent it over without hesitation. Xu Musen looked at the photo, saved it immediately, and then cleared his throat: "Mom, look at this." Mother Xu chuckled and then leaned over to take another look, and her eyes immediately lit up! In the photo, An Nuannuan was wearing a pink pajama, her hair a bit messy, and her stunning, au naturel cheeks lost nothing to Yao Mingyue''s beauty. The style was completely different, with skin so delicate and flawless it looked like it could be poked and water would ooze out. Plus, this girl was really good-looking, giving off a very comfortable feeling. "How about that, old lady, she''s pretty, isn''t she?" Xu Musen said smugly, observing his mother''s shocked expression. "Is... is she really your girlfriend? It''s not just a picture from the internet, is it?" "Mom, can''t you have a little faith in your son? If not, I''ll bring her home for you to see." Mother Xu looked and looked again. She had thought Yao Mingyue was already peerless, yet there was a girl who could match her. And... Her gaze in the photo lingered, noticing there was another little girl in the arms of this young woman, sleeping sweetly. And Mother Xu''s gaze followed an intriguing curve and took a turn. How could this little girl be... and she''s even lying down! This is good, at least in the future, there won''t be any worry that her grandbabies will go hungry. Very nourishing. Mother Xu''s assessment of the little girl reached a very high level in her mind. "She is really good-looking. I just don''t know what she sees in you." Mother Xu couldn''t help but mutter to herself. "It''s the charm of my personality, of course," Xu Musen said with shameless laughter. Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire "Go away." Mother Xu gave him a white glance, but she was cheerful inside, even starting to believe that her son''s fate was indeed excellent. Whether it was Ming Yue or this girl, they were beyond rare. "Alright, since she''s so good, you better treat her well." "So, you approve of this marriage?" "What''s the use of my approval? She has to be willing to marry you. Now, enough with your chatter. Go to bed early; I''m going back to look after your dad." S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Mother Xu nodded in satisfaction and stood up to leave. Xu Musen smiled to himself. He picked up his phone and saw that An Nuannuan had sent another message. An Nuannuan: "Xu Musen, what do you need my photo for? (Bunny confused.)" Xu Musen couldn''t help but smile from the corner of his mouth: "It''s not for me, it''s for your future mother-in-law." On the other end of the phone, An Nuannuan, seeing the message, realized... that would mean. Her little head began to work overtime, and her pretty face suddenly flushed red: "Is... is it your mother?" "Of course. Just now, I told her about the cutest and prettiest girlfriend in the world. She didn''t believe me, so I showed her your photo." Reading this reply, An Nuannuan felt as if she were a steam engine, puffing out shy steam. "Then why didn''t you tell me... I didn''t even pose properly, I don''t look good." An Nuannuan died of embarrassment. She had been wearing her pajamas, and if a parent saw it, they might think she lacked propriety. "Nuannuan, you look good no matter how you take a picture. Guess what my mom said?" "Auntie... Please, don''t tease me... just tell me." An Nuannuan felt especially tense at the moment, yet somewhat expectant. Xu Musen couldn''t help the smile at the corner of his mouth: "My mom said that I should treat you well and give her a couple of chubby grandsons in the future." It took a while for An Nuannuan to reply. She was probably shy, or nervous, or perhaps figuring out how to hit him. "You''re bad... Auntie definitely wouldn''t say that." It took a while for her to reply, but before Xu Musen could respond, An Nuannuan quickly sent another stream of messages. "But I''m so happy... I''m so happy you proudly introduced me to your family. I''m a bit clumsy with words, but please tell your aunt that I, I will also treat her son well! (Serious bunny!)" This might have been the fastest An Nuannuan had ever typed, as if she were eager to respond to this affection. Xu Musen read each word. Thank you for proudly introducing me to your family This was recognition, being cherished, something to be proudly spoken of. It might be something taken for granted by others, very typical, but An Nuannuan would warmly respond to even the slightest bit of warmth. This was why Xu Musen liked her so much. Nuannuan was really considerate. Xu Musen suddenly felt, could he really deserve such a wonderful girl? The night was quiet, the cold wind whistling, but this continuous warmth seemed to spread over thousands of miles... Chapter 231 Brother Musen and Sister Mingyue. Early morning. There''s nothing like the particular peace of sleeping in one''s own bed. Xu Musen was still deep in slumber, feeling an itch at the tip of his nose, and a pleasant fragrance lingered before him. It was as if mosquitoes were constantly buzzing around him. Xu Musen opened his eyes, only to meet a pair of delicate phoenix eyes. The room was just faintly lit, with dawn''s early light barely creeping through the window; the quiet of a winter morning was always extra serene. Yao Mingyue somehow appeared in his room without him noticing, squatting by his bed, and was lightly teasing his nose with her hair. The warm morning light draped over the girl''s soft hair, as if she was wearing a golden veil, making her fair skin even more translucent. She supported her chin with one hand, and upon seeing Xu Musen slowly open his eyes, she smiled, revealing two rows of white, even teeth. "Good morning." Xu Musen''s brain quickly kicked into gear. Honestly, waking up face-to-face with a pair of eyesif Yao Mingyue weren''t pretty, he might have instinctively thrown a punch. Xu Musen was still a bit dazed, "What are you doing here?" "Didn''t someone say last night that they would bake some pastries for me today? I''m here to supervise." Yao Mingyue''s lips curved into a smile, teasing Xu Musen''s face with her hair once more. Xu Musen felt like a dead man owned by a white planter, whipped out of bed before dawn to pick cotton. Who could endure such a torturous wakeup call of a hundred lashes? Xu Musen glanced at the alarm clock on the table. It was just past six... "Miss Yao, look at the time. Which college student gets up before six in the morning to eat during the holidays?" Xu Musen said helplessly. "I don''t care, I''m already up. You can''t go back on your word, can you?" Yao Mingyue tugged at his quilt. The warmth of the bed in the early winter morning was even cozier than the arms of a temptress; Xu Musen turned over, intending to continue his slumber. "Just five more minutes." "Haha, don''t think I don''t know. When you boys say ''five more minutes,'' it actually means an hour, and when you say ''an hour,'' it''s actually five minutes." "???" Xu Musen took a moment to register before he responded, "Yao Mingyue, where did you learn all these absurd things?" Yao Mingyue''s face was full of mirth, yet her gaze slid to the quilt on Xu Musen''s bed, "What does it matter to you, are you getting up or not?" "Just let me sleep a bit more... What are you doing?" Before Xu Musen could finish his sentence, he found Yao Mingyue pulling at his quiltand she was even sitting on the bed, trying to squeeze into the covers. "Aren''t you going to sleep a bit more? Perfect, I''m sleepy too; let''s snooze together." Yao Mingyue huh''ed and began burrowing into the quilt. Xu Musen clutched the quilt, "I''m not wearing any clothes." "So? I''ve seen it before, it''s not like it''s anything special," Yao Mingyue said, nonchalantly, yet she couldn''t help but swallow subtly at the sight of Xu Musen''s exposed muscles. Little man, somehow you''re becoming more irresistible by the day. "Alright, alright, you win." Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire Xu Musen, having been tormented to the point of wakefulness, reached out to ward Yao Mingyue off to the side. "Humph, then get up." "Then you get out." "Why?" "What else do you think, to get dressed?" Xu Musen said in annoyance. Yao Mingyue narrowed her eyes. Looking at Xu Musen wrapped up in the quilt, she seemed struck by a thought. "I''ll give you five minutes then." Having said that, she finally left the bed and walked out, the door closing behind her. Xu Musen let out a breath of relief. With the sunrise comes not just the sun... Youthful vigor indeed. And Yao Mingyue had been squeezing into the quilt with such determination; her scent was like a fat morsel delivered right when one was famished. Xu Musen took a deep breath. No, he had to reinforce that seal later. Just as he lifted the quilt and prepared to change his clothes, still in his boxer shorts, the door was suddenly pushed open again. Yao Mingyue''s head popped in, her phoenix eyes gleaming mischievously, "Is five minutes enough?" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Out!" Xu Musen immediately covered his pure body. "Giggle giggle giggle" Yao Mingyue left the room laughing merrily, closing the door behind her. Xu Musen quickly got himself dressed and upon stepping out of his room, he saw Yao Mingyue standing by the door, hands clasped behind her back, waiting for him. Xu Musen rubbed his eyes in resignation, "You know, even my parents aren''t up yet." "Then we can make them a nice breakfast. Don''t you know what filial piety is?" Yao Mingyue said solemnly. "Yeah, yeah, you''re always right." Xu Musen grumbled internally. He would be cooking, while this princess, who had never so much as touched spring water, would only be there to steal bites. However, Yao Mingyue then brought her hands from behind her back to the front, holding Xu Musen''s toothbrush, with toothpaste already applied. "Brother Musen, please brush your teeth~" Yao Mingyue smiled brightly, offering the toothbrush as if presenting some priceless treasure, with an extra sweet inflection to her voice. Xu Musen was taken aback. Was this the same Miss Yao he knew before? Xu Musen eyed her suspiciously, along with the toothbrush in her handshe couldn''t be adding some special seasoning to it first thing in the morning, could she? "What''s with that look? Aren''t you happy someone helped squeeze your toothpaste?" Yao Mingyue looked annoyed by his skeptical expression. Xu Musen accepted it, "It''s just surprising. Who would have thought Miss Yao could be so attentive." Chapter 231 Brother Musen and Sister Mingyue. _2 "I''m certainly not some young lady, but you are indeed Boss Xu. If I don''t curry favor with you now, I might really not be able to in the future." Yao Mingyue said in a pitiful tone. Xu Musen didn''t respond and went to brush his teeth and wash his face, while Yao Mingyue handed him a towel by his side. Xu Musen still felt a bit uncomfortable. In his past life, it was always him taking care of Yao Mingyue like this. How come it feels like the roles have reversed now, but he somehow felt a bit odd about it. Could it be that he wasn''t destined to enjoy such fortune? Xu Musen started to get busy in the kitchen, and Yao Mingyue just stood by watching him. Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the past half-year, the two of them hadn''t spent much time alone together, especially at school, where they could even go several days without seeing each other. It was only when they returned home that they truly had time for just the two of them. "Musen, we agreed to go out today. You''re not going to go back on your word, are you?" Yao Mingyue suddenly asked. Xu Musen looked at her expectant expression, thought for a moment, and since he had nothing else to do today, he nodded, "I can, sure, where do you want to go?" "You don''t need to worry about that. I''ll make sure to take you home at night, so don''t fret, I definitely won''t take advantage of you." Yao Mingyue chuckled, stretched out her hand, and gently patted Xu Musen''s shoulder with a tone akin to an old rascal''s. Xu Musen felt somewhat speechless. Weren''t those lines usually his? "I''ll definitely take you back at night" "Since it''s so late, let''s find a place to rest" "Don''t worry, I''ll just sleep" "Go take a bath" "Baby, you smell so good, your hands are so small" "I''ll just hold you" "Just a little bit, I promise." "Baby, I''ll be responsible for you..." Xu Musen shook his head as the red bean glutinous rice cakes in the steamer were ready. Yao Mingyue took charge of decorating them with a few red dates and raisins. Yao Mingyue couldn''t wait and picked up a piece, took a bite. "Hoo hoo~ So hot." Yao Mingyue covered her flushed lips, with hot breath puffing from her mouth. "Serves you right for being greedy, daring to put something just out of the pot right into your mouth." Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire Xu Musen laughed mockingly without any sympathy. He remembered doing the same thing when he was a kid, impatiently eating food straight out of the pot and ending up with a blister in his mouth. Yao Mingyue, looking at his mocking face, was so irritated her face turned red. She rotated her eyes, took the pastry out of her mouth, and stuffed it into his laughing mouth. "Huh!" Xu Musen was caught off guard and swallowed it reflexively, thanking his lucky stars Yao Mingyue had rolled it around in her mouth a few times, so it wasn''t too hot anymore. But somehow, he sensed a trace of floral scent in the red bean glutinous rice cake... "Yao Mingyue!" Xu Musen glared at her. "Hahaha, that''s for laughing at me. Serves you right, loo loo loo~" At that moment, Yao Mingyue looked like a little girl who had succeeded in a prank, even winking at him, "My saliva isn''t something just anyone can taste, you''re lucky." Xu Musen couldn''t be bothered with her. "It''s quite lively this early in the morning." By this time, Mother Xu had also gotten up and came to the kitchen to watch the two of them. Although she was quite pleased with the girl''s photo she saw last night, she couldn''t help but think "well-matched" as she watched them playfully bickering. After all, this was the close relationship she had witnessed growing over nearly twenty years, not something that could change overnight. "Auntie, try the red bean glutinous rice cake we made!" Yao Mingyue excitedly offered her a piece of the cake. Mother Xu smiled and took a bite, nodding her head, "Not bad at all. Did you make this?" "She was just in charge of putting some red dates and raisins on top." Xu Musen unapologetically exposed her lack of effort from the side. "That still counts as part of the work, auntie, don''t you think?" Yao Mingyue huffed, coquettishly speaking to Mother Xu. "Indeed, indeed." Mother Xu laughed heartily, looking at Yao Mingyue with a touch of sentimentality. Since their family''s misfortunes, this young lady''s personality had changed a lot. She was no longer as cheerful and outgoing as before and didn''t laugh as much, But now, she was gradually returning to her old wayslaughing, frolicking, acting spoilt, and even a little bit imperious, Just like the Yao Mingyue of the past. But such a good girl, if she ended up in someone else''s hands someday... Mother Xu''s heart felt suddenly heavy with unspeakable emotion. "By the way, auntie, could you save some flowers for me today? The ones that we can''t sell." "Why do you suddenly want flowers?" Mother Xu asked curiously. "To use for soaking my feet and taking baths," Yao Mingyue replied with a twinkle in her eyes, smiling. "Okay, there are always some left over every day, I''ll keep them for you." Mother Xu nodded and readily agreed without hesitation. The breakfast table was lively. Yao Mingyue''s hand hadn''t healed, or at least that''s what she claimed, so Xu Musen had no choice but to continue feeding her. It created a rather peculiar sense of harmony. After eating, Yao Mingyue went home to change clothes, pulling Xu Musen along to leave. Mother Xu was busy cleaning up the table while Father Xu took a sip of tea and clicked his tongue, "Do you think Musen is really in love?" Chinese fathers typically show less concern for their children''s emotional affairs, or rather feel awkward asking. Xu Musen''s current relationship status was something they knew about mostly through her. "That couldn''t fool you. I talked with the boy last night and he even showed me a photo of the girl. She''s indeed beautiful, has a good figure, and she''s from Huhai too. Her family seems quite nice as well," Mother Xu said, recalling the nice girl she saw in the photo yesterday. Chapter 231 Brother Musen and Sister Mingyue. _3 "Huhai''s..." Father Xu paused slightly, "The distance is quite far, and can their family agree to it?" Older generations still held on to their stereotypes. The economic development in Huhai was indeed impressive, setting aside the issue of the rich leading the poor to wealth, the fact was that people there were becoming affluent. Xenophobia was also not uncommon. "Ah, I would have been worried before, but now our son can earn his own money, and a capable person won''t be mistreated anywhere they go," Mother Xu said with a smile. She continued, "And our son told me he has already met with their family, and they''ve treated him quite well." Father Xu nodded, thought for a long while, then sighed softly, "Well, that''s good. It''s just that Ming Yue, that girl... I always hoped those two would get along well, but in the end..." "There''s nothing we can do about it, who can predict the matters of the young ones." "However, I always feel like their relationship seems to be even better than before? It even feels like they''re in love, just like before... more like dating," Father Xu clicked his tongue. Mother Xu felt the same way. But since Musen and Ming Yue were childhood sweethearts, it was normal for them to act in a way that surpassed the usual. They couldn''t ask them directly. "Who knows? I asked last night too, guess what your son said?" "What did he say?" "Your son said, no matter what the future holds, he will take good care of Ming Yue, because that''s what he promised her." Father Xu pondered for a moment, his mind automatically translating, "No matter who I marry in the future, even if I eat from the bowl, I won''t forget what''s in the pot, I want it all..." After pondering for a while, Father Xu looked at his wife, "Wife, our son''s thinking is a bit dangerous, how did you teach him?" "???" Mother Xu was so amused she laughed, "Isn''t he your son too? Why don''t you educate him, no good in any man! Your son, your son!" ... At this moment, Yao Mingyue had also changed her clothes, wearing the white down jacket she and Xu Musen had bought together. She wore a white fluffy scarf and a cute fluffy princess hat as well. She looked as adorable and playful as a snow elf. It was quite different from her usual cool and mature style. Today''s Yao Mingyue was a bit too pink and cute. Standing together, the two of them looked like they were wearing matching couple''s outfits. "Does this suit you?" Yao Mingyue caught the surprise in his eyes, laughed, and twirled around. "It''s not bad." Xu Musen looked away, but had to admit, Yao Mingyue did look very pretty today. "Tch, men who say one thing and mean another, this beauty isn''t going to be the death of you!" Yao Mingyue walked up to him, skillfully tugged at the hem of his clothes, and gently shook it, "Brother Musen, where are you taking me?" Her voice was sweet to the point of being excessive, and Xu Musen was momentarily uncomfortable, having adjusted to the cool and commanding Yao Mingyue he knew. "You should go back to normal, I''m not used to this..." Xu Musen felt goosebumps. "But this is how I am after I''ve ''recovered''..." However, Yao Mingyue was narrowing her eyes and smiling, those phoenix eyes lacking the usual nobility and sharpness, now beaming with a seldom-seen clear brilliance. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xu Musen looked at her, and suddenly his heart skipped a beat. This was her ''recovered'' state... Yes, wasn''t this the way Yao Mingyue was six years ago? Cute, lively, cheerful, spirited, slightly petulant, but still like a little shadow, she would follow Xu Musen around, tugging at his sleeve, sweetly calling him Brother Musen... "Brother Musen, where are you going to play?" "Brother Musen, take me with you, I''ll go with you!" "Xu Musen, if you don''t take me, I''ll get mad! The kind that you can''t appease." "Hehe, I knew Brother Musen was the best..." The voices that once echoed in his heart now seemed to traverse space, swirling around in his mind. Xu Musen lowered his head to look at her tugging at the hem of his clothes. Where to take her... Xu Musen didn''t know, but suddenly, it seemed... not that important anymore. What was important was the two of them. Just like when they were kids. Xu Musen took a deep breath and smiled. "Then let''s go." "Hehe..." The winter day was bleak, and on the ground seemed to be left a trail of invisible footprints. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire Big and small, each step landing right on top of the traces of their youthful memories. Chapter 232 Little Tricks in the Haunted House Zheng City is a place with very barren scenery. There are hardly any scenic spots. The only places to have fun are some amusement parks. And they had already played in them countless times together. Suddenly, Xu Musen thought of a place. "Let''s go." "Where to?" "You don''t need to worry about that." Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire Xu Musen chuckled, just like how she had responded to him this morning. Yao Mingyue snorted: "If I''m not satisfied with the place we go to, I won''t play along!" Xu Musen shook his head with a smile, got in the car, and took off with a press on the accelerator. Racing along the overpass, they had already reached outside the downtown area. In the distance, Yao Mingyue could see a sign. Fantawild Happy World... Her eyebrows and eyes quivered, and she looked at Xu Musen: "How did you think to bring me here?" Xu Musen was also looking at the distinctive buildings of Fantawild in the distance, chuckling: "Didn''t you always used to eagerly talk about coming here?" Yao Mingyue remembered, as a child, when Fantawild had just started construction, she used to pester her parents every day, looking forward to playing here together. But before Fantawild was completed, that incident happened at home, and afterwards... Yao Mingyue never brought it up again. Perhaps it was a regret in her heart. Yao Mingyue looked at Xu Musen, this guy, he actually remembered all these things... Her heart felt mildly sweet as she looked at the Fantawild Castle now in view, with many memories surfacing in her eyes. She remembered that when she first heard Fantawild was going to be built, she begged her parents every day, hoping they could come here to play together. But after that incident, even though there were countless opportunities to come later, her heart would subconsciously avoid these places that had once been a source of regret. But with Xu Musen accompanying her, Yao Mingyue finally had the chance to fulfill those past regrets... Actually, for Xu Musen it was also a regret, he had always thought about playing at Fantawild with Yao Mingyue. But after the family mishap, the financial strain meant he always balked at buying tickets that cost a hundred or two each. Now, at last, they could come. They parked the car in the parking lot, went to the ticket booth, bought two tickets, and successfully entered the park. The signature castle of Fantawild greeted them ahead, with small shops selling souvenirs on both sides. Yao Mingyue looked at the castle before her, she stared blankly for a good while, the place she had dreamed of visiting every day was finally within reach. She tugged at Xu Musen''s sleeve and took out her mobile phone. "Let''s take a selfie." Girls always like to capture their favorite sceneries with a camera. Xu Musen looked at her cheerful appearance and nodded. Yao Mingyue took out her phone and switched it to selfie mode. "Hey, why are you standing so far away? I can''t even capture your face." Yao Mingyue pulled him closer, tilting her head slightly, and finally, both of their faces squeezed into one frame. The two of them indeed looked quite matched, something Xu Musen couldn''t help but admire as he looked at the screen. The screen showed her exquisitely beautiful face; she had even put on a bit of light makeup today. It was just a slight touch-up of her brows and eyeliner, with a dab of lipstick, perhaps hardly considered makeup, which made her almond-shaped eyes even more spirited and alluring, and her tender lips more lustrous and radiant. Her dense eyelashes seemed as if they could gently sweep a young man''s heart. Sar?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yao Mingyue was indeed very beautiful, and Xu Musen admired her as he looked at her in the screen, so close that even Apple''s front camera selfie scored full marks on her beauty. This selfie had been delayed for far too long. Xu Musen still couldn''t resist glancing at her sideways; today''s Yao Mingyue showed no sign of madness, sickness, or obsession. She was just like little Ming Yue from his childhood. Since his rebirth, Xu Musen had always viewed her through the lens of his previous life. But now, looking at her, she seemed no different from before: lively, cheerful, cute, naive, with a bit of temper and spirit. Their cheeks were nearly touching, close enough to smell the faint scent of flowers emanating from the girl, the fair skin, the rosy lips. Like the red dates and glutinous rice cake from that morning, with a white and rosy complexion, fragrant and tempting, making one want to take a bite to savor slowly. "Click!" Yao Mingyue pressed the shutter button, but her cheeks turned towards Xu Musen, and their gazes met in an instant. Yao Mingyue''s lips curled slightly upwards, her eyes bright: "Do you want to kiss me?" Xu Musen looked away, towards the distance: "Now that we''ve taken the photo, let''s go." "If you want to kiss, just kiss, what are you afraid of, big man? Today I''ll let you have a taste for free." Yao Mingyue, like a pestering little demon, saw Xu Musen ignoring her and shook her phone at him. "Anyway, I''ve already captured that someone was drooling over me in secret; just admit it, you''re coveting this beauty''s looks!" "What lousy terms you''re using." Xu Musen shook his head helplessly and continued walking, while Yao Mingyue happily followed behind him. Fantawild is full of couples, and several boys watching this scene were itching with envy. Such a beautiful girl making such an obvious hint... to think he could resist. Fantawild is known for its water park, but this season it''s definitely too cold to play in the water, but there are plenty of other attractions to enjoy in winter. Plus, there are special New Year''s Eve activities and a lot of NPC interactions on the road. After wandering for a while, Yao Mingyue dragged Xu Musen to a place. Vampire Castle - Haunted House. Chapter 232 Little Tricks in the Haunted House_2 "Let''s go try this, it looks pretty exciting." Yao Mingyue squinted her eyes, girls are like this, clearly scared of ghosts, but every time they come, they still want to have a go at it. Typical of being timid yet eager to play. Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire "Are you sure? I remember last time you went to the haunted house in People''s Park, you cried for two days when you went home." "The past is the past; now is now. Just don''t you be scared!" Yao Mingyue, feeling challenged, grabbed his hand and headed in the direction of the haunted house. Indeed, at the entrance of the haunted house, there were a few girls, peeking in and wanting to go but also afraid. They hesitated back and forth at the entrance. "Are we going in or not? You just said you weren''t scared, right?" "I... didn''t say I was scared, I just want to take a sip of water first." "Still drinking, I bet you''ll only pee yourself from fright. We''re here now, just go in and have a look." "Then you go in first. You''re only talking the talk." "I... How about we wait and go in with others? Hey, look at that guy over there." The girls also noticed Xu Musen, their faces instantly brightened. Xu Musen was tall and well-built, not the thin, wiry type of thin man, with a sturdy and handsome appearance, giving people a strong sense of security. "He''s so handsome, why don''t we follow him in?" Sear?h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "But he''s with a girl, who''s also pretty. They must be a couple, right?" "I don''t think so. Which couple doesn''t hold hands? Maybe they''re not together yet..." The girls also noticed Yao Mingyue by Xu Musen''s side. Even the girls couldn''t find a fault with Yao Mingyue''s looks. The only thing people found uncomfortable was... Xu Musen went to the front desk at the entrance to check in. Suddenly, Yao Mingyue seemed to activate her spider sense, sharply aware of the gazes the girls were casting on Xu Musen. Subconsciously, she narrowed her eyes as her earlier docility swept away, like a lioness protecting her territory and prey, her fur bristling as she swept her gaze over them. Her eyes roved over the faces, chests, buttocks, and legs of the girls. In just an instant, Yao Mingyue let out a light snort. It wasn''t even a challenge for her; if it were a battle of hostility, these girls had less fighting strength than even the lowliest scrap. So, she immediately withdrew her gaze, her previously menacing eyes instantly switching back to a lively and sweet demeanor. She readied herself to enter the haunted house with Xu Musen. The girls didn''t know what had just happened, but they felt that in that instant, it was more terrifying than the haunted house itself. "Why do I find that girl a bit scary..." "Yeah, her eyes were frightening just now, but then she could revert back to being so sweet. Do you think she''s faking it or has a split personality..." "Are we going in or what? Should we just follow them?" After exchanging looks, the girls decided to follow. Even though that girl''s look was a bit scary for a moment, the handsome guy still gave them a strong sense of security. They followed them in. The haunted house was cleverly designed. Besides the basic sound effects, lighting, and props, some walls and floors were designed to move, and there were surprises jumping out just as you passed by. There were also actors playing NPCs. Xu Musen was immune to all these; what ghosts were there in this world? If there really were ghosts, Xu Musen''s resentment from his previous life as a pauper would be greater than anyone''s! "Ah!" Yao Mingyue was clearly frightened as soon as she entered the haunted house, her grip on his sleeve gradually turned into clutching his hand. Xu Musen felt she was taking advantage of him, but he had no evidence. "Hey..." "Musen, I''m scared..." In Yao Mingyue''s phoenix eyes, there was a hint of shimmering tears, as if she was truly terrified. Especially with the sounds of thunder and lightning in the haunted house, Yao Mingyue was particularly sensitive to these noises. Xu Musen found it hard to be indifferent. Startled again by a sudden apparition, Yao Mingyue clung to his arm, pressing herself so tightly against him she might as well have jumped into his embrace. "I thought you weren''t afraid?" Xu Musen said helplessly, grabbing hands wasn''t a new thing; they had held hands before. But now Yao Mingyue was no longer the little girl she had been, her feminine softness left Xu Musen in a dilemma as if mired in a deep valley. He was unsure whether to move or to stay still. "What''s wrong with being a girl and being scared?" Yao Mingyue, now truly like an ordinary little girl, clung to Xu Musen''s arm without letting go, though her right hand stealthily tried to pry his fingers apart, seeking to interlock their fingers. Xu Musen did not let her succeed, "Then let''s get out of here now." "No, we''ve come this far, we should see it through," she retorted. Yao Mingyue pulled him along, and they slowly moved forward, reaching a relatively well-lit area. There was a couple ahead, a girl who was frightened and speaking. "I don''t want to walk anymore This place is so scary." "Then hold on to me, I''ll lead you through." "No, I want to go back" The two clearly weren''t together yet; haunted houses like this were actually places for guys and girls to create opportunities. Once they held hands here, it would naturally carry on outside. The guy obviously had this in mind. Having come this far, he naturally didn''t want to leave. After thinking for a moment, he spoke up. "We''ve already walked halfway, how about this: I''ll go ahead and check it out for you, and if there''s anything scary, I''ll tell you in advance, okay?" "Is that so Okay, then." The girl looked a bit timid and nodded. "Good, wait here for me then." The guy''s eyes betrayed a hidden excitement as he moved ahead by himself. Xu Musen had a good idea of what was going on. He and Yao Mingyue also passed by the girl and looked ahead, and sure enough, in the next room The guy from before was now standing in front of an NPC dressed as a ghost, handing over a banknote. "Buddy, when people come later, you know what to do, right?" The NPC, having received the tip, naturally understood: "Don''t worry, buddy, I''ve done this plenty of times. Leave it to me!" Xu Musen couldn''t help but chuckle. It was a common tactic in haunted houses. "What are you laughing at?" Yao Mingyue asked from the side. "Just watch; in a moment that NPC will pay special attention to that girl from before. He won''t stop until she''s scared enough to hide in that guy''s embrace," Xu Musen answered smilingly. Yao Mingyue then narrowed her eyes and looked up at Xu Musen, "How come you know so much? Tell me, have you done this before?" Yao Mingyue ground her teeth in irritation. He had never used to be so calculating before; he must have learned this from that busty An Nuannuan! Her desire to hold hands with Xu Musen had been unsuccessful, and in her annoyance, she pinched the tender flesh of his waist. Xu Musen gave her an annoyed look. At that moment, the guy also turned around to head back. As he passed Xu Musen, he was momentarily stunned by Yao Mingyue''s beauty, especially seeing them in an intimate embrace, he couldn''t help but feel a pang of envy. Here he was, putting in so much effort just to hold a hand. He even gave Xu Musen a knowing wink, the sort of look that men understand. Xu Musen responded with a smile and a nod of his head. "Tsk, it figures, no man is decent. We girls would never do that" Yao Mingyue murmured. "Better to wreck ten temples than to destroy a single marriage, understand?" Xu Musen said matter-of-factly. Yao Mingyue''s eyes shone as she looked at him, "If a perfect match came your way, wasn''t it you who destroyed it?" Xu Musen did not respond, as in his past life that marriage really did create too much suffering. "So it''s really not scary ahead?" "Really, I''ll tell you in advance." At this time, the guy came back with the girl, who felt a bit more at ease seeing others in the room. But just as they reached the middle of the room, suddenly a ghostly figure popped out from the wall. The NPC, who had been paid, really showed professional dedication. He began chasing after the girl to scare her. "Ahhh!" The room filled with non-stop shrieks, and the girl was so frightened that she instinctively sought a sheltering embrace. The guy, seemingly consoling with a grin, opened his arms wide, ready to welcome the beauty into his embrace. The girl indeed was terrified, and as the NPC scared her into retreating, her subconscious mind sought out a place that felt truly safe. The guy had his arms open wide, looking forward with anticipation, while Xu Musen, on the side, was a spectator waiting for the show. But in the girl''s peripheral vision, her instincts trusted the taller, larger figure more. So, the next moment, under the expectant gaze of the guy, She threw herself into Xu Musen''s arms Xu Musen: (?BoB)?? Yao Mingyue: ???! The guy: Clown (JPG!) Chapter 233 Xiao Sickly Cutie: True hunters are always in the guise of prey. Screams were incessant in the haunted house. The girl subconsciously sought an even safer place. Xu Musen and the boys were not far away, but Xu Musen''s towering height and upright figure obviously gave a greater sense of security. So, the girl subconsciously threw herself into Xu Musen''s arms. All three were dumbfounded, even the NPC performers were flabbergasted. He glanced at the boy next to him, who stood there dumbstruck. Damn! What''s wrong with this brother? Paying to give another guy a chance? The boy was stunned for a moment, then suddenly panicked. Damn it, his carefully planned hero-saving-the-beauty moment was intercepted by someone else? But before he could speak up, a voice filled with jealousy came through. "You! Let go!" Yao Mingyue couldn''t take it anymore. No, she hadn''t even had the chance to throw herself into his arms, so where did this interloper come from? Yet the girl showed no sign of wanting to leave Xu Musen''s embrace and even seemed to be leaning back against him a little more. Xu Musen had already sensed that something was amiss and could only extend his hands to stabilize her. "Release her, you scoundrel!" "Let go, you jerk!" However, Xu Musen''s proactive embrace broke the defenses of both the boy and Yao Mingyue on the spot! With resignation, Xu Musen held the girl and said, "It seems like she has fainted, quickly call someone over." Once Xu Musen spoke, both of them calmed down considerably, and Xu Musen helped the girl sit down on the ground nearby. The girl was deathly pale, her eyes tightly closed, her breathing still unsteady, obviously terrified. The NPC got quite a fright, wanting to come over and check, knowing they''d be responsible if anything happened. "Bro, don''t get any closer, or she might faint again once she wakes up and sees you." Xu Musen said with exasperation, with the NPC''s ghastly, fanged visage, anyone would be scared out of their wits upon opening their eyes to that sight. The NPC scratched his head awkwardly through the mask and could only back away for now. "I didn''t mean for this to happen, I didn''t expect her to be so scared..." The boy next to him was also startled. He had only intended to give her a little scare, maybe a casual hand-holding as things progressed naturally. But he hadn''t imagined she would pass out completely. He was a bit at a loss about what to do. Xu Musen shook his head inwardly with resignation. Useless guy; all craft and no courage, unlikely to make it in this life. Just scheming all the time and afraid of taking responsibility when it counts. The NPC opened the emergency exit in the room. Looking at the boy, who was shrinking back in fear, Xu Musen could only pick up the unconscious girl. He turned back to look at Yao Mingyue, whose lips were pouted so high they seemed to reach the sky. "I''ll take her over there, wait for me for a bit." Yao Mingyue bit her lip, still aware that this was a special situation, though she felt uncomfortable at heart. She looked somewhat sour and pitiable, "But I''m scared all by myself..." "Then come back with me." Xu Musen glanced at the narrow passage ahead, thinking he just needed to get folks out of there quickly, and he hurriedly carried the girl through. Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire Yao Mingyue followed closely behind, and the boy hesitated for a moment before joining them. The room inside was very small, and a woman staff member efficiently laid down a bed, where Xu Musen placed the girl gently on top. "You two wait outside for a bit, the room''s too small to fit so many people." Xu Musen nodded, ready to withdraw immediately, but as he turned to leave, he realized the girl was still clutching the hem of his clothes, refusing to let go. "You''re her boyfriend, right?" the female staff member asked, observing the scene. "No!" 2 Xu Musen shook his head, but the boy and Yao Mingyue simultaneously shouted a denial. Both of them were quite unwilling to concede. The staff member paused, feeling the situation seemed a bit complicated. "Er... then you wait here for a bit. Once she wakes up, you can leave. You two can wait outside for now." The staff member said to the boy and Yao Mingyue, and indeed the room was so small, it was nearly impossible for them not to squeeze together. Xu Musen turned to Yao Mingyue and said helplessly, "Wait for me, I''ll be out shortly." Yao Mingyue didn''t want to leave, but looking at the boy beside her, she felt utter contempt for someone like him; it would be better to wait alone than stand around with him. sea??h th N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Oh..." Yao Mingyue gave Xu Musen another look, which seemed like a warning not to let the girl take advantage of him. The boy also had a pained expression, looking at the unconscious girl, then glancing at Xu Musen with a complexity of emotions, as if he too wanted to warn him against taking advantage of the girl. The two could only leave first. The door was even shut behind them, separating them from the terrifying sounds of the haunted house. Yao Mingyue and the boy stood outside the door, and for a moment, it felt like a scene out of a low-budget film about everyday life. Bringing the girlfriend to the doctor, only to have the devilish physician just beyond a wall... Ah! The more she thought about it, the angrier she got! The boy looked at Yao Mingyue, who was next to him, looking more terrifying than the haunted house itself. He gulped, wanting to speak up to ease the tension. "Um, sorry for the trouble..." "Pah!" But before he could finish, Yao Mingyue spat out a disdainful "Pah!" She detested hearing the boy speak. She turned and walked over to a bench in the haunted house. It held a model display of exposed, blood-soaked innards. Just a moment ago, Yao Mingyue had been clinging to Xu Musen''s arm, claiming she was so scared. But now, she nonchalantly tossed the model aside and sat down on the bench to rest. The boy was utterly baffled... Hadn''t she just said she was afraid of ghosts? Chapter 233 Xiao Sickly Cutie: True hunters are always in the guise of prey. _2 Why does she seem even more terrifying than Sadako right now, especially those dan phoenix eyes, which are staring intently at the door of the small room, as if ready to pounce at any moment. A bit chilling... Meanwhile, inside the haunted house, the sound effects of ghosts wailing and wolves howling still played on, and an NPC from another room received a message and came over to support the scene. Fainting in a haunted house isn''t particularly rare; they''re all accustomed to this procedure. The group of girls who had followed Xu Musen in also came over, and upon seeing that the room was filled with girls, the NPC immediately got excited. He ran over and chased after them with his ghostly screams, and instantly, the room was filled with the shrill screams of the girls! A few of the girls were scared so much that they hurriedly ran into the next room. The NPC felt a great sense of satisfaction from his mischief, working here was all about scaring girls for fun! He looked around and then saw Yao Mingyue sitting amidst a pile of bloody innards. Even in the dim light, he couldn''t help but be amazed when he saw her peerless beauty. Such a beautiful girl, and it seems she''s alonewhat a pity it would be not to scare her to tears at least once! "Heeheehee~" The NPC approached her with another ghostly scream, menacingly brandishing his claws in front of Yao Mingyue. But Yao Mingyue didn''t feel the slightest bit of fear at the moment, her gaze still fixated on the direction of the door. "Wuuu~" The NPC paused for a moment, then, with his green face and sharp teeth, he moved right up to her face and let out a roar, aiming for a face-to-face scare. "Get lost!" Yao Mingyue was in a bad mood at the moment, and she randomly grabbed a bloody prop intestine from the prop table next to her and threw it at him. The prop intestine went directly into the mouth of the startled ghost-playing NPC. Although it was fake, he couldn''t help but feel nauseated and retched in disgust, damn it''s an intestine! Did you do that on purpose or by accident? At this moment, Yao Mingyue, with her empty, dark-glossy eyes and the way she threw the organs, felt more like a millennium-old ghostess herself. No, seriously, who''s the real ghost here! "Beauty, please, respect my work and props!" The NPC was somewhat indignant. Yao Mingyue also took out a banknote from her bag and threw it at him. "Stop bothering me." The NPC was stunned, looking at the hundred-yuan bill in his hand, and his attitude made a complete 180-degree turn. "Sure thing!" The boys nearby were dumbfoundedis this the real-life version of ''money making the ghost turn the mill''? Find more to read on My Virtual Library Empire And at this moment, inside the room. The girl finally came to, and the bright lights of the room made her feel more relaxed. Upon examination, it turned out that the girl had low blood sugar, which coupled with the scare, had caused her to faint. "You are" Seeing Xu Musen, the girl was surprised. "You fainted just now; I brought you here." Xu Musen smiled and offered her a piece of candy, "You have low blood sugar, rest for a while and you''ll be fine. I''ll go ahead and leave." Xu Musen gently nudged her hand, finally letting go. Outside, Yao Mingyue C the little miss C must be about to spill her jar of jealousy. "Um, you thank you." sea??h th n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The girl looked at Xu Musen, recalling how she had thrown herself into his arms, and a tinge of color returned to her pale face. "No need to thank me; just be a little more cautious when making friends in the future." Xu Musen waved his hand and turned around to leave. "Um, can I add you as a friend? I want to invite you out for a meal to thank you properly..." The girl was hesitant, her gaze nervous as she watched Xu Musen. The girl was actually quite pretty, scoring around six or seven by Xu Musen''s standards. Xu Musen chuckled lightly, "It was no trouble at all, besides, my phone is with my girlfriend. I appreciate the thought, but you should rest up." With that, Xu Musen turned and left. The girl watched him go, still in a daze, and finally sighed. She knew that ''the phone is with the girlfriend'' was just a polite way of turning her down, yet such a man really gave a sense of security. She also figured out that the NPC that specifically scared her must have been arranged deliberately. By way of comparison, a feeling of indignation rose within her. Soon the boy came over, showing a very concerned expression: "Are you okay? The NPCs here really are too much, I''m going to make a complaint later" "Slap!" Angry, the girl slapped him hard: "Don''t think I don''t know it was you who put him up to this! I don''t like you, and now I dislike you even more; get lost!" The boy covered his face, unable to offer any rebuttal because he was in the wrong, and sheepishly left. ... Outside at the moment. Xu Musen moved from the bright room back into the darkened haunted house, momentarily unadjusted to the darkness, searching around for Yao Mingyue. But Yao Mingyue, who had been keeping watch, spotted Xu Musen the moment he emerged. Her eyes flickered slightly, the resentful glow in them not yet subsided. Suddenly, she had an idea and beckoned the NPC waiting obediently to her side. "Ri What can I do for you, beautiful?" The NPC hurried over immediately, and Yao Mingyue pulled out another banknote for him: "I''ve got a job for you." The NPC''s eyes nearly lit upthis was a real rich lady, casually handing out more money than his daily wage. "You can count on me, whoever you want me to scare, I''ll scare them!" He bowed and scraped; in the haunted house, it was all about providing couples with chances to get closer and friends with opportunities to play pranks. Yao Mingyue, however, curled her lips into a wicked smile, and coolly pointed at herself. Chapter 233 Xiao Sickly Cutie: True hunters are always in the guise of prey._3 "You scared me." "Ah?" The NPC paused, looking at Yao Mingyue, who was smiling at the moment. She was stunningly beautiful, but her smile felt like that of a hunter ready for the hunt. She also took out a bottle of eye drops to relieve eye fatigue from her bag, dropped some into her eyes, then rubbed her eyes vigorously until they turned red. The NPC watched, dumbfounded. Xu Musen had also gradually adjusted to the darkness and began searching for Yao Mingyue in the haunted house. "Ahhh!!" Suddenly, a scream echoed, and Xu Musen turned his head. He saw that in a corner, a green-faced NPC was shrieking, and the person cornered by it... "Musen, I''m so scared, where are you..." The girl hugged her legs, squatting in the corner, trembling all over, looking pitiful. "Musen, don''t leave me behind, I''ll be good, please come back..." Yao Mingyue''s trembling voice made one''s heart sour. The scene was like many years ago, when Yao Mingyue crouched helplessly alone in the hospital corridor. Xu Musen''s heart skipped a beat, and he immediately ran over, pulling away the still eagerly shrieking NPC and squatted in front of Yao Mingyue. Xu Musen hadn''t expected her to be so frightened of ghosts and stretched out his hand to stroke her head, only to be subconsciously blocked by her. "Ming Yue, it''s me." Xu Musen said softly. Yao Mingyue''s body trembled lightly, then she finally lifted her head, her phoenix eyes reddened and moist, looking like a ravaged beauty. It made one''s heart irresistibly surge with tenderness. "Musen... I thought you didn''t want me anymore..." Yao Mingyue''s voice was full of grievances, her eyes brimming with tears, biting her lip, yet she didn''t throw herself into Xu Musen''s arms. Instead, she stubbornly moved closer to the corner, as if still hurt that he had left her outside. Seeing her like that, Xu Musen also felt a twinge of guilt, mainly because Yao Mingyue looked so pitiable, just like that night six years ago. The more Yao Mingyue pushed back, the guiltier Xu Musen felt, reminiscent of the years he hadn''t provided her with proper psychological guidance. For the first time since his rebirth, Xu Musen took the initiative to embrace her. "You don''t have to worry about me..." Yao Mingyue resisted at first but then compliantly let Xu Musen hold her in his arms. "Sorry, it was an emergency just now, I didn''t mean it." Xu Musen hugged her tightly, the more she resisted, the more uneasy he felt, and the more he wanted to hold her close. Only, he couldn''t see that Yao Mingyue, seemingly "tear-stained," wasn''t scared at all. Instead, there was only a triumphant satisfaction and the enjoyment of their embrace in her eyes. The NPC beside them watched dumbfounded. Even a boy who had been slapped also noticed all the subtle maneuvers Yao Mingyue had just performed. Damn! Such scheming, the boy couldn''t help but inwardly scorn himself; his own strategies paled in comparison! The real hunter often appears in the guise of the prey! At that moment, Yao Mingyue shrank into his embrace, sniffling and saying grievously, "Musen, can you not leave me alone anymore?" "Yes, I won''t leave you behind until we get out of the haunted house." Xu Musen gently patted her back, consoling her as he had when they were children. But this clearly wasn''t the answer Yao Mingyue wanted as her voice began to whine. "Even after we leave the haunted house, you can''t leave me alone, Xu Musen. You promised to always protect me, to always be with me..." These words somewhat exceeded the bounds of childhood friends. Yet, hearing her sob, Xu Musen could only indulge her. "Alright, alright, I promise you, happy now?" "Mmm..." Yao Mingyue nestled in his embrace, unwilling to leave; her nose twitched as she greedily inhaled his scent. Her phone''s screen was lit inside the bag, recording his words~ "Let''s go then." Xu Musen saw her emotions stabilizing. sea??h th N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Oh..." Yao Mingyue, a bit reluctant to leave his embrace, nonetheless instinctively held onto his arm while her cool, soft hands slowly interlaced through Xu Musen''s fingers. Slowly locking fingers with his. Xu Musen turned to look at her. "You said it, you won''t abandon me..." Yao Mingyue pursed her lips slightly, her eyes still red and glossy, looking pitiful, making it difficult for him to refuse her. Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire Xu Musen couldn''t say much in return, and let it be, holding hands was just... childhood friends... sibling care. It wouldn''t count as giving in... "Let''s go." Xu Musen started walking out of the haunted house, holding her hand. He didn''t see the smug curve of Yao Mingyue''s lips, her phoenix eyes harboring cunning and slyness. She seemed... to have found a new strategy. Yao Mingyue silently grasped their intertwined hands tighter, feeling the warmth from his palm. And Xu Musen''s familiar looks of concern and self-reproach were things that Yao Mingyue would find hard to forget for the rest of her life. Indeed, I can''t let you go after all... Chapter 234 Past Regrets, Unfulfilled Romance. Amusement park. Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue had been strolling around for quite a while. Although they couldn''t go on any roller coasters or pirate ships, rides like the merry-go-round and various stage dramas were still pretty interesting. Today, they were featuring the story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, which moved quite a few girls to tears. In ancient times, defying an arranged engagement and boldly pursuing true love indeed felt exhilarating. Xu Musen looked at Yao Mingyue leaning against his shoulder, she was watching very attentively with her phoenix eyes flickering, seemingly full of emotion. Xu Musen, still pondering, looked at Yao Mingyue, "Do you really like this drama?" Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire "I just think Zhu Yingtai really doesn''t appreciate what she''s got." "?" Xu Musen was startled for a moment, and several of the couples watching the performance turned to look at them. Yao Mingyue spoke with reasoned assurance, "Clearly, she grew up with her childhood sweetheart Ma Wencai, who was also so nice to her, and their families were well-matched, too. Wouldn''t it have been good just to marry him? Though saying this, Yao Mingyue seemed to always feel like she was beating around the bush. Xu Musen replied with a sense of helplessness, "Childhood sweethearts are arranged by fate, but when it comes to true love, one has to make one''s own decisions. Sometimes habit and suitability are two different things." Xu Musen was also speaking indirectly. "Something you can''t figure out in one or two decades, can others really see through it in just a few months? It''s all just hormones and novelty at play. Those who abandon a relationship of over a decade to instantly fall for someone else are definitely asking for retribution." Yao Mingyue snorted and looked at Liang Shanbo weeping bitterly as he held Zhu Yingtai, who was bleeding from the mouth after poisoning herself. At the same time, she coldly sniffed and pointed at the scene. "See, dead, right?" "..." Xu Musen was a bit speechless and wanted to laugh at this utter mess. The few couples nearby were also stunned. Everyone had heard the story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai since childhood, but this was the first time they heard such an interpretation, and... somehow it made sense. It''s not just about ancient times, even in the modern day; a relationship between childhood sweethearts, matching families, a mutual fondness, and eager parental match-making C if these two people didn''t end up together, it really would seem like a waste of fate''s intentions. After all, from Ma Wencai''s perspective, his childhood sweetheart whom he had adored for over a decade and got along with so well was attracted to a poor scholar who suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Sear?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His own cherished, tender cabbage, which he guarded for so many years without taking a single bite, was suddenly nibbled by someone else. This damn thing could drive anyone crazy in Ma Wencai''s shoes. This reminded Xu Musen of the soap opera-like novels he used to read at home out of boredom, like "I''ve Reincarnated, but Regrettably I''m a Vile Male Supporting Character, and the Pure School Flower Who''s My Childhood Sweetheart Fell for the Poor New Kid..." Just the titles were enough to make your stomach hurt. Xu Musen stopped talking. But Yao Mingyue hummed proudly, the hand that hadn''t let go since coming out of the haunted house tightened its grip once more. As they left the exhibit, it was already past noon. They went to grab something to eat. They casually entered a small noodle shop, and Xu Musen ordered a bowl of spicy intestine noodles. Yao Mingyue glanced at him with a hint of disdain, "Can''t you eat something else?" "Intestines are delicious, hey boss, more garlic!" Xu Musen said carelessly, after all, he wasn''t planning to kiss anyone later. "Go ahead, turn your mouth into a crap pit for all I care" Yao Mingyue muttered under her breath, but in her heart, she was thinking, this way no one will compete with me for you, my stinky treasure~ The shop owner, looking at the young couple, couldn''t help but smile, "No worries, we give out free breath mints here, it won''t be a problem after eating." The owner even winked at Xu Musen, who inwardly grumbled, you might as well give me a couple more pieces of intestine instead. They found a table and sat down, but Xu Musen noticed their hands remained intertwined since exiting the haunted house, Yao Mingyue having held onto him the entire time. As if she wouldn''t want to let go even to use the restroom. "Let go, we need to eat." Xu Musen reminded appropriately. Yao Mingyue immediately began to speak in a pitiful tone, "Are you going to leave me again...?" "...There''s no ghost here, just intestines. Don''t make it sound like I''m trying to dine and dash." Xu Musen said helplessly, and he really couldn''t handle Yao Mingyue''s pitiful look. Reluctantly, Yao Mingyue released her grip a bit. The palm felt suddenly cold, and Xu Musen sensed a moment of discomfort, thinking that having a hand warmer in the winter wasn''t too bad. With his hand suddenly freed, it felt somewhat empty. But then, a delicate white hand found its way back into his palm, and Xu Musen instinctively gripped it again. That''s not right... Xu Musen looked up to meet Yao Mingyue''s glistening eyes, the upward curve of her lips seemingly loaded with the thrill of a successful hunt. "Look, you just can''t bear to let go." Yao Mingyue was smiling triumphantly, looking at her hand now held by his once more. Xu Musen paused for a moment, then reluctantly let go of her hand and picked up some garlic from the table for her, "No harm done, just peel some garlic for me, will you?" Yao Mingyue, watching his feigned composure, laughingly shook the garlic, "So, I came out with you and held your hand; now what ''garlic'' relationship do we have?" Chapter 234 Past Regrets, Unfulfilled Romance. _2 Yao Mingyue''s voice was not loud, but everyone in the shop could still hear her. When they saw Yao Ming Yue''s looks, they were amazed, and then they turned to Xu Musen. This little guy... what was there to hesitate about with such a beauty? If it were up to them, they definitely would''ve had the car break down halfway, and just so happened to have a hotel nearby to rest in... "...Never mind, I''ll peel it myself." Xu Musen tried to take the garlic in her hand back, but Yao Mingyue held onto it. She actually began to peel the garlic. Her slender, jade-like fingers clumsily peeled the garlic. Once it was done, Yao Mingyue placed the somewhat unevenly peeled garlic in front of Xu Musen. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Please enjoy." Xu Musen hadn''t expected her to actually volunteer to peel garlic for him, especially since these strong-smelling things were usually something Yao Mingyue wouldn''t even spare a second glance. Especially raw garlic, the smell was indeed unpleasant. "Don''t you dislike others eating garlic in front of you?" Xu Musen examined the garlic he received. With a wet wipe, Yao Mingyue cleaned her hands and looked at Xu Musen with a slight smile, "Go ahead, eat it. If the smell drives everyone else away, then you''ll only have me to be with." Speaking, she slowly leaned a bit closer to Xu Musen, "Besides, the books say, human saliva contains enzymes that break it down. After eating something with a strong flavor, it might take half an hour to suppress with chewing gum, but with a kiss, it only takes ten minutes..." Yao Mingyue''s words seemed to carry a bewitching feel, her rosy, slightly parted lips were particularly enticing. "Eat your meal." Xu Musen did not continue the conversation and started on his fat intestines noodles with the garlic. Yao Mingyue pursed her lips and watched Xu Musen burying himself in his meal, chuckling quietly. The store''s heating was on, and eating hot noodles in the dead of winter, Xu Musen was already sweating a little on his forehead. He took off his down jacket, and Yao Mingyue considerately took a wet wipe to help him clean up. Looking up at her, Yao Mingyue felt herself also heating up, her face turning red. "Aren''t you hot?" Explore more stories at My Virtual Library Empire "I''m fine." But Yao Mingyue touched her own down jacket, instead pulling the zipper all the way up. Girls are sometimes like that, wrapping themselves up tightly even in summer. Xu Musen continued to bury himself in his meal. After wandering around Fantawild for most of the day, they were a bit tired. These water parks were indeed more fun in the summer. Ready to head back, they got into the car, and Yao Mingyue looked out at Fantawild Castle in front of her. "Xu Musen, do you think we''ll have the chance to come here again in the summer? Just the two of us." Yao Mingyue turned to look at Xu Musen, who was chewing gum. Xu Musen turned to look at her. In the summer, in Xu Musen''s original plans, he might accompany An Nuannuan on a trip, or perhaps he would be busy with work, or busy with other things... But the time belonging to Yao Mingyue... now, with these words, was also marked in a spot in his heart. A moment later, Xu Musen stepped on the accelerator. "Hmm." ... As the vehicle moved along the road, looking at the familiar city, although not as glamorous as Huhai, it felt especially solid. It was the place he was most familiar with. Nights come early in winter, and by four or five o''clock, the sun was already setting. The warm glow of the winter sunset, though not warm, still felt pleasantly cozy. Yao Mingyue sifted through her phone, having taken many selfies that day, and couldn''t stop smiling as she looked at the pictures of them together. It''s like the way a girl looks at warm moments from the date, one after another, on the way back home. So it turns out... she could also feel so happy from just a shared photo. Every now and then, Xu Musen also glanced at her. Today, he had seen different sides of Yao Mingyue. Jealous, afraid, crying, making trouble, and also a bit scheming... This Yao Mingyue was slowly becoming more like her past self, the version Xu Musen liked the most. He couldn''t help but glance at her hands again. Her fingers were like segments of green onions, long and fair. Yao Mingyue didn''t have the habit of getting nail art. Her pink, tender, natural nails had a rounded luster, the color that suited a young girl best. Different from An Nuannuan''s hands, Nuannuan''s were slightly smaller and more plump, softer to the touch, like marshmallows in his hand. And Yao Mingyue, her hands were naturally as soft as any other young girl''s, but they were more elongated, with beautiful bone structure, the kind that felt substantial when held. A completely different kind of beauty, but the commonality was the same, that once you held them, you didn''t want to let go. Xu Musen silently withdrew his gaze, always feeling that his relationship with the two of them had become increasingly complicated, especially since falling into the ice lake. An Nuannuan was a bundle of warmth in Xu Musen''s life. But as for Yao Mingyue... he couldn''t quite bring himself to say he didn''t care at all. Xu Musen drove, his mind drifting to imagine An Nuannuan with teary eyes looking at him, Yao Mingyue standing aside with grievance. The old master, holding a Hongying Spear, took a gulp of alcohol and shouted, "Scum, die!" Able to nearly kill Xu Musen with a single jab, he fled in panic, only to fall into a warm embrace. Liu Rushuang gently patted his head, her phoenix eyes glistening, lips curling slightly, but with a hint of danger in her eyes. Liu Rushuang embraced him, but pulled out a knife from behind and circled it around his neck. "Tell me, why did you make my Xiao Mingyue sad? No worries, be more careful in your next life... whoosh!" Chapter 234 Past Regrets, Unfulfilled Romance. _3 Musen suddenly broke into a cold sweat, and he almost couldn''t steady the steering wheel. "What''s wrong with you?" Ming Yue looked at him as sweat suddenly began to bead on his forehead. "It''s nothing... the air conditioner is a bit low, I''ll turn it up." "Tsch, you''re not feeling faint, are you?" Ming Yue hummed and took out a wet wipe to help Musen dab the sweat off his forehead. The temperature inside the car rose. Musen glanced at her and realized that Ming Yue''s forehead also had a fine sheen of sweat. "If you''re hot, take off your down jacket. We have the air conditioning on anyway." Ming Yue''s eyes fluttered, and she said with a smile. "I won''t take it off. What if someone is attracted by my devilish figure and gets distracted while driving? What then?" Musen shook his head, speechless. He had a wry smile in his heart, feeling that the path of his pure love was always fraught with setbacks. The traffic reached the city center just in time to hit the rush hour of people leaving work and school. College students have one advantage, they start their breaks early; some college students had been lounging at home for a month, while the hapless high school students were still up at five in the morning for early self-study. On the way home, familiar buildings came into view. Zheng City No. 4 High School... It was just the end of the school day, and the road was so jammed that high school students in uniforms streamed out of the school. Boys ran excitedly to the shadowy internet cafes around the school, scrambling for computers, fearing that if they were a minute late, their coveted Silver Assassin accounts would expire. The girls huddled in groups around the snack stands at the school gate, many of them boarders, with only one or two days a week to enjoy the outside snacks. "How nostalgic..." Ming Yue watched the scene outside the window, seeing the uniforms they worejust half a year ago, they too were part of that crowd. Musen also watched the students outside the window. High school, especially senior year, was definitely not especially wonderful. But he had to admit, those were three years he''d never forget in his lifetime. Sarch* The n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Especially for Musen, high school... had been a major turning point for him. Before his rebirth, he had been completely under Ming Yue''s thumb in high school. After his rebirth, it was he who had to establish boundaries with Ming Yue, no longer indulging in the delusion of a toad lusting after a swan... In the blink of an eye, more than half a year had passed. So much had happened in that half year, and watching these students in uniforms, Musen couldn''t help but feel somewhat sentimental. No one can be eighteen forever, yet there will always be those who are in the throes of their eighteenth year. "Musen, since we''re stuck in traffic anyway, why don''t we get out and walk around a bit?" Ming Yue suddenly became very excited, looking at him expectantly. Musen looked at the congested traffic ahead and nodded. Getting out of the car, Ming Yue bounded over, attempting to take his hand. Musen dodged again. Consoling her was one thing, but now that they were back, they needed to maintain their distance. But Ming Yue stuck close to him again, firmly grabbing his hand. Her hand was soft, delicate, and her long fingers felt like Warm Jade with a temperature that was hard to let go of. Musen sighed softly. "Ming Yue, we still have to..." But before he could finish, Ming Yue gently forced her hand into Musen''s palm. The evening''s cold wind caused her hands to feel slightly chilled. "I know... but just for today, please?" Ming Yue looked up, her phoenix eyes reflecting the glow of the setting sun, casting a gentle gleam in her dark, deep orbs. Ming Yue rarely begged others, nor had she ever shown such a soft, pleading expression in front of others. Only in front of Musenon that night six years ago, and today. Musen remembered how in the haunted house earlier that day, she had been in his arms, her eyes brimming with tears... Forget it, he had agreed to accompany her today, so just for today. Musen willingly opened his hand, gently cradling her slightly cool hand in his palm. The warmth circulated between their palms, dispelling the chill of winter. "Let''s go." "Mhm~" Enjoy new stories from My Virtual Library Empire Ming Yue gently touched the collar of her down jacket, humming softly through her nose. She was docile, not at all like the Ming Yue he knew. For a moment, Musen felt that his entire day with Ming Yue... Was like the kind of date he had always wanted to have with her... Students in uniforms passed by, casting curious and envious glances at them. In the eyes of others, the two of them must look like a perfectly normal couple. Falling in love in high school, or rather, having one''s affections reciprocated. This was something Musen had always wanted... In an instant, Musen felt as if the empty regrets in his heart were being somewhat filled... Chapter 235 Xiao Sickly Cuties Confession, the Regrets of the Past (1/2) High school. For students anywhere in the country, it is not a place one can easily breeze through. Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire Every morning, the day begins with early self-study at around five o''clock, and it''s even worse for boarding students, who probably don''t finish their evening self-study until ten at night. And basically, there''s only one day off each week. By senior year, it gets worseyou might only be allowed to go home once a fortnight, just to take a quick shower, change clothes, and hurry back to continue grinding through practice papers. Everyone sighs at the unforgettable nature of high school, but no one fondly remembers it, after all, even the daily schedules in prison are more humane than those of a Grade 12 student. Under wartime conditions, this would''ve violated the Geneva Conventions. But fortunately, everyone is used to it. They even learned to make the best of a bad situation, like gathering for a mini concert during morning reading sessions, sneakily playing with mobile phones behind books during self-study classes, and making a run to the bathroom to shake it off whether there''s a need or not as soon as the break time hits. Then, of course, there''s the secret business of falling in love. High schoolers, almost adults, in the peak years of physical health and surging hormones, who wouldn''t want to experience a passionate romance? But many are hampered by timidity and shyness, family and school, or perhaps just plain unattractiveness, unappealing to anyone... Still, youth and romance are inseparable. Musen''s affection for Ming Yue had been present for a very, very long time, but the fondness that started in childish innocence and youthful unease eventually became a fierce passion, a process that traversed a great distance. When counted, the time that Musen truly began to express his feelings to Ming Yue was actually in high school. Musen still remembered, after Ming Yue entered high school, she seemed like a sparkling angel, and if most of the male students had a moon in their hearts, then the name of that moon would surely be Ming Yue. She was just too pretty, too perfect, her beauty so overwhelming it left all the girls in school unable to lift their heads, her grades consistently in the top three of the year, and on top of that, she was rich, with an air of nobility and aloofness, which left many boys lacking even the courage to speak to her. Sar?h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But there were always the bold ones, who tried every method to pursue Ming Yue. It was also then that Musen started to feel the pressure. Young people don''t need to clearly define what love is. Most are simply led by possessiveness, stumbling into a relationship in a daze. Musen was no exception. He began to slowly express his feelings to Ming Yue, from subtle verbal hints, anonymous love letters, to eventually being open about his feelings, and publicly confessing... Memories of the past circled in his mind, all flashing before his eyes like a revolving lantern to the noisy environment around him. In a daze, half a year had passed since graduation, in fact, they didn''t look much different from these high school students. But indeed, many things had changed... "Hey." Ming Yue suddenly tugged at him, glancing towards the school entrance where there was a small stage. "Do some people still remember this place?" Ming Yue squinted at him, her tone carrying a hint of a teacher holding someone to account. Musen''s gaze followed the crowd, looking towards that spot by the school gate... Of course he remembered. It could be said, this was where the dreams of his lifetime had begun. "I, Musen, have decided to be a self-aware toad and hereby announce that I, will no longer pursue Classmate Yao!" This was the first sentence he spoke on his rebirth. At that time, he truly wanted to steer clear of Ming Yue, to avoid her from afar. But unexpectedly, after all the twists and turns, the two of them still ended up entangled with one another. Musen nodded slightly. "I remember." "Good that you remember, someone was really tough back then, saying something about eating a certain little dog if they ever looked back?" Ming Yue seemed to be settling the score after autumn, pinching Musen''s palm as she spoke. Musen looked at their hands clasped together, then at the girl''s slightly resentful eyes. Clearly she still held a grudge about that day''s events. But then again, that day was supposed to be a confession, yet he pulled a surprise turnaround. She would probably nag him about it for a lifetime. "Are you settling accounts after the fact now?" Musen smiled. The past was past, and now that he thought about it, it was quite interesting. Just like when they were kids, they had their fair share of falling out, but it never took half a day to make up. "What''s the use of settling with you now..." Ming Yue''s gaze followed the crowd coming and going, with many couples who had secretly dated in school now able to walk out holding hands together. Though it was rare to see someone as bold as Musen confessing with a loudspeaker. But there was never a lack of those offering flowers, especially now that winter vacation was imminent, and the school teachers couldn''t care less whether you were dating or not. "Um, um, um!" An uproar rose from the crowd at the school gate, where a boy riding a scooter, commonly known as Ghostfire Boy, with a tint of blond in his hair, dressed in slightly tight clothes, holding several bunches of flowers, approached a girl. The quintessential Ghostfire Boy image, in the brief interlude just after the ''Killing Matt'' era had ended, these young lads fixated on riding Ghostfires and rapping seemed to have become a new kind of non-mainstream. From the perspective of his current self, Musen thought he could kick over a few of these skinny lads with a single foot. Chapter 235 Xiao Sickly Cuties Confession, the Regrets of the Past (1/2)_2 But if something becomes popular, there must be an audience for it. Compared to these high school students in uniforms, looking somewhat dopey, it does seem quite "trendy." Quite a few young girls were indeed easily deceived by these spirited lads. This boy, holding flowers, approached a girl. The girl seemed to be the quiet and obedient type. Standing together, the two didn''t look like they matched in style. "Li Lin, I like you. Be with me!" The young man went down on one knee with the bouquet, immediately drawing a chorus of hoots from the crowd. "Woah woah woah!" "Say yes, say yes!" The scenario high school students enjoyed the most. The girl''s face turned crimson, but despite them being an odd match in style, she took the flowers. Amidst the cheering crowd, she got on Ghostfire Boy''s bike and vanished in a puff of smoke. Xu Musen also couldn''t help but find it a bit funny, although not all boys like that are necessarily bad. Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire But how many are willing to gamble on that probability? "I really don''t understand why anyone would like such boys..." Next to him, Yao Mingyue didn''t feel touched at all, obviously because the pair were too different in their styles. Xu Musen, with a hint of sigh, said, "Because in high school, it''s the time when youth is most restless. But most people are too reserved to express themselves. Whether it''s boys or girls, they actually all long for and are impulsive about love. Those Ghostfire Boys, though they look unruly, are willing to say anything. Regardless of whether they can follow through, as long as they paint a picture, there will be girls willing to bite. No matter how demure the affection, if it isn''t voiced, others will never feel it. There''s a saying that goes well: the brave enjoy the world first, the shy only touch themselves. All the secret love and care sometimes just can''t compete with a bouquet of flowers from someone else." What Xu Musen said was the truth. Chasing girls is like that; you have to dare to speak up first. Even if it''s not successful, there''s no real loss. After all, do you really lack a female friend? No, what you lack is a girlfriend! And if it is successful, then it''s a win-win. This applies to anything in society as well. The world is like a grand makeshift stage; everyone''s skills are roughly similar. As long as you dare to speak up and show yourself, you''ll definitely achieve enviable results. Yao Mingyue looked at Xu Musen: "What about you, then? When you confessed to me before, were you also just feeding me a big pie?" Xu Musen thought for a moment: "Do you want the truth?" "Of course, but if it''s not nice, I''ll pretend I didn''t hear it!" Yao Mingyue also lifted her fair and delicate face. Xu Musen sighed softly, shook his head, and laughed: "Back then, I was so poor I was nearly eating dirt. I didn''t have the energy to paint you any pie. Actually, I wanted to eat your rich girl pie." Xu Musen said it jokingly, but he did indeed have some of those thoughts at the time. If he could win over Yao Mingyue, he and his family might have had it a bit better. Unfortunately, the pie that was Yao Mingyue was too big for him, almost choking him to death. It was an unexpected answer. Xu Musen almost said, "Actually, I liked your money." Had it been any other girl, she surely would have been angry, but Yao Mingyue, after being stunned for a moment, couldn''t help but snicker. She held Xu Musen''s hand, leaning close to him, and lifted her exquisite cheeks to meet his eyes: "Then you still have time now. I can still support you!" Yao Mingyue''s voice wasn''t kept low, and the passing students suddenly cast surprised glances their way. They would be dazzled seeing Yao Mingyue and relieved seeing Xu Musen. Damn, if I were this handsome, maybe I could also find a rich woman to take care of me. Xu Musen extended his hand and tapped her forehead: "I say, aren''t you going to get mad?" I was thinking of treating you like an ATM, but after marrying, I found out you''re actually a juicer... But Yao Mingyue just smiled. "What''s there to be angry about? Liking someone''s looks, personality, talent, essentially there''s no difference from liking money. Besides, you don''t like anyone else''s money; you just like mine, which proves you still like me!" Yao Mingyue seemed particularly adept at comforting herself. She humphed softly, holding Xu Musen''s hand even tighter. This bootlicking statement somehow gave Xu Musen a feeling like looking in a mirror. But Teacher Yao wasn''t wrong. Although Xu Musen did somewhat fancy the idea of clinging to wealthy connections, that was based on the fact that he liked Yao Mingyue. If it were someone else, they would still rather die than accept handouts. "Xu Musen." Yao Mingyue suddenly called out to him again. "Hmm?" "You, during the entire time in high school, never dated anyone. Do you feel any regrets?" Yao Mingyue was holding his hand, yet she lightly kicked at the pebbles on the ground, still seemingly a bit nervous. Xu Musen watched as people bustled around the campus, some boys and girls walking together, unable to hide that sense of flirtation. In college, dating became more casual, but it still lacked that secretive thrill of high school. "Regret, of course there are regrets." Xu Musen didn''t hide his true thoughts, who wouldn''t want to experience a proper romance in their youth? "If the last time I confessed to you, you had agreed, would things between us be completely different now?" Yao Mingyue also watched a couple holding hands, feeling as if she were a thief, only able to steal these bits of warmth on the sly. Yet, all of this could have been hers outright. Xu Musen didn''t answer directly, "That''s all in the past." "Yeah, it''s all in the past," Sar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yao Mingyue showed a wistful smile, eyeing the crowd in school uniforms before her, as if she had been transported back to over half a year ago. Back then, she could go to school and come back home with Xu Musen every day. If time could be reversed "Xu Musen, do you think, if you had that kind of superpower to turn back time, would you take care of me the same way you did before?" Yao Mingyue suddenly brought up this topic. Xu Musen paused for a moment, if time could be turned back to even earlier He never regretted taking care of her. Even if given a hundred chances, Xu Musen would still take good care of her. But if there really was such a chance. Xu Musen felt maybe he would have made her better, helped her completely overcome her psychological shadows, and allowed her to truly embrace the life she desired... Xu Musen didn''t give a direct answer, instead, he looked at her, giving a slight chuckle as he counter-asked, "What about you, if you could turn back time, what would you like to do?" "Me?" Yao Mingyue''s eyes flickered, a mixture of indescribable feelings swirling in those phoenix eyes. She offered a faint smile, staring at Xu Musen for a good while before giving his arm a playful shake. "I''m a bit hungry. Let''s get something to eat first. I want roasted sausages!" Yao Mingyue quickly diverted the conversation, pointing to the food street next to the school. Roasted sausages Xu Musen looked at the queue in front of the snack stand. "Okay." The two joined the queue and bought roasted sausages, grilled cold noodles, candied hawthorns Every time, Yao Mingyue would take a bite and then pass it to Xu Musen to eat. It was the same as before, but back then Yao Mingyue wanted Xu Musen to eat more to grow taller. Now, however, Yao Mingyue simply enjoyed the feeling of strolling through the streets with him. Yao Mingyue queued again for octopus balls, a snack perfect for couples to feed to each other. Xu Musen had already noticed a girl at the side feeding her boyfriend, their shy and satisfied smiles meeting each other''s eyes. The innocent and bewildered romance between teenage boys and girls made Xu Musen also reveal an understanding smile. In the past, he too fantasized more than once about walking through the streets and eating snacks with Yao Mingyue like this. If Yao Mingyue could have been like an ordinary girl, even if not that beautiful or outstanding, Xu Musen felt that his years up until now might not have been so dull. "Why are you looking at others?" Yao Mingyue''s voice interrupted his train of thought, she was holding a bowl of steaming octopus balls. Following his gaze, she also saw the couple nearby feeding each other. Yao Mingyue''s phoenix eyes suddenly narrowed, and she lifted the corners of her mouth in a curve. "Oh~ envious of others, huh? If you beg me, maybe I could feed you, how about it?" Yao Mingyue leaned close to his ear as she spoke and shook the freshly made, fragrant octopus balls in her hand. So close, the faint scent from her mouth was far more tempting than the snacks... Chapter 236 Xiao Sickly Cuties Confession, Amending the Regrets (2/2) "I can''t enjoy this." Xu Musen took a step back. But Yao Mingyue had anticipated his reaction, as if on cue, she skewered a small meatball with a toothpick and offered it directly to his mouth, "Here, I''m warning you, don''t refuse the meatball or suffer the penalty meatball!" Yao Mingyue''s stance, resembling a wall slam, drew curious glances from people nearby. Xu Musen knew that if he didn''t eat it, she wouldn''t rest until he did, he slowly opened his mouth about to take a bite. But Yao Mingyue suddenly withdrew the meatball and bit into it herself. "Hmph, that''s the price for hesitating, now you can''t have any, let''s see you drool and die of envy!" Yao Mingyue laughed happily, no longer needing to constantly consider Xu Musen''s pride like in the past. They were no longer in need of money and could finally enjoy things they couldn''t afford before. Xu Musen''s gaze flickered. Find more to read on My Virtual Library Empire The sight of Yao Mingyue''s willful and spoiled demeanor caused his heart to skip a beat. He remembered it was always like this; Yao Mingyue would force him to eat more by giving him her leftovers in such a domineering way. If he refused, she would tell Mother Xu that he was wasting food. This was indeed the Yao Mingyue he used to adorecute and playful on the outside, but sensitive at heart. At this moment, Xu Musen felt like he was struck by the boomerang of past memories right in the heart. Looking at the slightly unreasonable Yao Mingyue before him, he couldn''t muster a trace of dislike. He couldn''t help but shake his head and smile, "Alright, alright, you eat it" Before he finished speaking, he suddenly felt a warmth in his mouth, the salty, savory, and crunchy flavor. Yao Mingyue had stuffed the half-eaten takoyaki ball into his mouth. Sar?h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing Xu Musen still stunned, she happily narrowed her eyes, "I told you, as long as I have a bite, I''ll definitely share half of it with you. Stick with this beauty, and I won''t let you starve." Yao Mingyue then confidently patted Xu Musen''s shoulder, looking every bit like she''d take care of him. Xu Musen, facing her triumphant expression, felt the unmistakable sensation of being teased. At this moment, Yao Mingyue was like a punk sister, decked out in a JK uniform, riding a motorcycle, telling Xu Musen, "Being with big sis, I''ll ensure you eat well and drink well." And Xu Musen was like a pure high school boy, heart fluttering with excitement. Xiao Mingyue ah, if you had used this move on me sooner, maybe I would have fallen for you long ago. Xu Musen silently chewed on the meatball in his mouth. Pretty delicious. The two continued to eat and walk along the snack street, watching many guys squeezing into a store. "Red Buff Internet Cafe Gaming Hall." The gaming hall near the school, Xu Musen remembered sneaking off with He Qiang to the internet cafe once a week to play a few rounds of CF or King of Fighters. Such shady internet cafes had poor equipment, and even playing CF was laggy. And if someone started downloading a little movie or something, the whole cafe could get disconnected. But it was still the boys'' favorite place to be. Xu Musen paused for a moment and looked on, feeling quite nostalgic about the times he and He Qiang stealthily navigated the pipelines of the transport ship in CF. "Xu Musen, I want to go in and have a look too," Yao Mingyue suddenly said, gazing inside. "You? I thought you hated places like this." Xu Musen was surprised because he remembered Yao Mingyue particularly loathed the smell of smoke, especially the oily stench of smoke in internet cafes. "Occasionally, it''s good to take a look and see what it is that attracts you so much," Yao Mingyue said, her excitement palpable, as if she was the mischievous student trying to access the internet behind the wall for the first time, pulling him into the internet cafe with her. The cafe was filled with various gaming machines such as King of Fighters, fish shooting games, gun games, and slot machines. However, the machines were quite dated and primarily occupied by middle-aged people. The younger crowd was mostly playing CF, DNF, or racing games. Upon entering, Yao Mingyue was immediately choked by the oily smoke inside, and it was common for the gamers, especially those playing CF, to curse at each other. "Damn! Did you understand to plant the bomb at B site? What the hell are you doing in the sewers?" "Come on, I''ll snipe at A site, show your head and I''ll instantly take you down. Disagree? Fight me!" "Who the hell threw that flashbang? My eyes!" "Two against one and you get counter-killed, can you even play?" ... "Can''t stand it, huh?" Xu Musen chuckled, honestly even as a boy he hated the smell of oily smoke. "Hmph, I''m determined to see what''s so fun about it." Yao Mingyue clung to Xu Musen''s arm, covering her nose with her scarf to filter out the smoke as best as she could. "You really want to play?" "Of course!" "Then let''s just play casually," he said. Xu Musen went to ask the internet cafe manager to boot up a computer; with a cigarette dangling from his lips, the manager looked incredulously at Yao Mingyue standing next to Xu Musen. Man, with a girlfriend this pretty, why bother going to the internet? If it were him, he''d head straight home for some real action! Yao Mingyue''s appearance definitely reduced the swearing in the cafe. An internet cafe would treasure the rare sight of a girl, let alone one as beautiful as her. The looks Xu Musen received were filled with envy and resentment. Yao Mingyue''s expression was always seen as particularly aloof by others. She was used to the attention she drew. But she held on to Xu Musen''s arm even tighter, whispering near his ear, "Hmph, you see? Bringing me out gets you all this face, right?" Xu Musen glanced at her and had to admit, having Yao Mingyue by his side did indeed earn him a lot of respect. The most brag-worthy thing for a man wasn''t a watch or a car key, but the woman by his side. Chapter 236 Xiao Sickly Cuties Confession, Making Up for the Regrets (2/2)_2 Xu Musen led her to a corner and, looking at the keyboard that was shiny with grease, Yao Mingyue still felt a bit squeamish, so she took out a wet wipe and scrubbed it several times. "What do you want to play?" Xu Musen curiously asked her. "I''m not playing; I''ll watch you play." Yao Mingyue didn''t even want to sit on the sofa here, so she stood behind him watching. Xu Musen then opened CF and entered his QQ number. It had been a long time since he''d played, and listening to the familiar interface sounds, even Giant City was a newly released mode at that time. He felt a bit nostalgic. Xu Musen had never imagined that, aside from He Qiang, Yao Mingyue would actually accompany him to the internet cafe. Since they were here, they might as well play a few rounds. He found a transport ship map. Xu Musen joined the game and, having not touched it for quite some time, was quickly delivered several headshots upon entering. Although Yao Mingyue didn''t understand games, she could still see that Xu Musen was continuously dying. "Hmph, I thought certain people were so impressive, but turns out they just die as soon as they come out, can''t even hold on for a few seconds." Yao Mingyue stood behind him, gleefully mocking. But the more he heard, the more something felt off. Xu Musen coughed dryly, adjusted his state, and with his current physical fitness and reflexes, he immediately began to wreak havoc. "How''s that?" Read the latest on My Virtual Library Empire As a guy, Xu Musen naturally had his pride when it came to playing games. "Pfft, let me do it, isn''t it just moving the mouse?" Yao Mingyue retorted, unconvinced. "Okay, your turn." Xu Musen prepared to give her space, but Yao Mingyue was quicker, directly sitting on his lap. The full curves of the young girl''s slender figure, along with the perfect arc of her buttocks, left Xu Musen stunned for a moment. "Get off." "No, the sofas here are all greasy; I''d rather not sit on them." Yao Mingyue shifted her body, causing Xu Musen to feel even more overwhelmed; no, this wouldn''t do, if it continued like this he wouldn''t be able to shoot straight, not even if he installed ten vertical grips to stabilize the gun! Xu Musen pushed away from the sofa and picked up Yao Mingyue, placing her directly onto the chair. Yao Mingyue watched Xu Musen panting slightly; she couldn''t help but laugh with a flush on her face, her gaze meaningfully sweeping over him. "You''re reacting..." Hardened, his fists were hardened! Xu Musen knocked her on the head in annoyance: "Are you playing or not? If not, we''re leaving." Yao Mingyue also withdrew her gaze, looking at the game screen, and although she wasn''t very interested in gaming, it seemed quite fun. Only she couldn''t even switch weapons or walk properly. She kept getting killed as soon as she stepped out. "What kind of lousy game is this? Dying as soon as I go out! Is there a place to spend money..." Yao Mingyue, the little rich girl, was so frustrated she started to think about powering up with RMB. But in CF, even spending money wouldn''t help, you need to fight for the Fire Kirin yourself unless you cheat. Xu Musen looked at her getting worked up and couldn''t help but chuckle: "I''ll teach you." Xu Musen had originally planned to direct her on how to play, but Yao Mingyue seemed unteachable no matter how much instruction she received. "Just press the middle wheel to switch your weapon." "How do I press it?" "How else? You just press it, that''s it." "I don''t know how, you teach me." Xu Musen felt a bit of a headache and simply stretched out his hand, sliding her fingertip over it. She immediately succeeded in switching weapons. "Here they come, enemies!" Yao Mingyue''s eyes lit up, seeing the enemy pop out again, but her movements with the mouse were somewhat clumsy. She gritted her teeth; this person had killed her several times already, and each time after killing her they would send a "?" to taunt. Xu Musen remembered how he too used to feel so frustrated playing this game that he couldn''t sleep at night, and he couldn''t help but laugh, grabbing Yao Mingyue''s hand and guiding the aim of the gun. "Shoot him!" Xu Musen aimed at the headshot line, and Yao Mingyue intuitively pressed the shoot button. "headshot!!" Golden Headshot! "Yay!" Yao Mingyue couldn''t help but let out a cry of joy, and quickly typed out a "?" to retaliate on the keyboard. Xu Musen found it amusing and suddenly felt that Yao Mingyue might have a bit of talent for this. True to her reputation as the indomitable female CEO. Xu Musen looked at the now cheerful Yao Mingyue, who resembled a child... His mind replayed everything they had experienced that day, visiting the long-anticipated amusement park, holding hands while shopping, buying all sorts of snacks, and then coming to the Internet cafe to play games... These were scenarios that Xu Musen had fantasized about more than once before but had never materialized. But today, it seemed that those past regrets were being remedied one by one. The feeling was truly indescribable. Xu Musen lowered his head to look at Yao Mingyue; she was very beautiful, embodying the appearance he had always adored, and even now, she remained so, only... she had become one of the ones he liked the most. Watching her jubilant cheer, her lovely cheeks revealing the joy of a young girl, Xu Musen almost couldn''t resist the urge to kiss her. Xu Musen closed his eyes and shook his head silently, feeling as if there was a cleaver hanging over his head. When he opened his eyes, he saw Yao Mingyue smiling at him as if she had seen right through his thoughts. Xu Musen averted his gaze. "Still want to play?" "No more, let''s go." "Okay." Upon leaving the Internet cafe, Yao Mingyue took deep breaths of the fresh air outside. "Ahh~ I suddenly feel, although this place isn''t much, it''s pretty fun to play with you." Yao Mingyue giggled stupidly. "If you don''t like this place, why did you think of coming to the Internet cafe to play?" Xu Musen also asked her with a smile. "Because, I also want to understand the things you like, in the past it was always you taking care of me, indulging me, now it''s my turn to study you~" Yao Mingyue hummed, her tone as cheerful as it was serious. Xu Musen smiled, feeling a warmth in his heart; this Xiao Sickly Cutie... had really changed a lot. He subconsciously touched her head, but after doing so, he realized it was a bit off. That gesture was meant for An Nuannuan, and for the young Yao Mingyue of the past. But Yao Mingyue seemed to enjoy it, gently rubbing Xu Musen''s palm. Xu Musen''s tone softened a lot. "Let''s go home." "Hmm... I want to eat roasted sweet potatoes, could you buy some for me? I''ll wait for you by the car." Yao Mingyue suddenly pointed to a small cart selling roasted sweet potatoes not far away. "Okay, you go to the car first." Xu Musen handed her the car keys; the sun was setting, and the temperature outside was dropping. "Hehe, thank you Brother Mumu~" Yao Mingyue said, then hopped away with a bounce. The sunset fell, and Yao Mingyue''s long hair fluttered with the wind; her lovely figure was so beautiful that one couldn''t avert their eyes. Xu Musen quietly withdrew his gaze and left to buy roasted sweet potatoes. Steaming hot, he walked towards the car. Sarch* The N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Students from the school were also gradually leaving the campus. Xu Musen glanced at the familiar school gate and suddenly felt that many unfulfilled regrets from the past had come to fruition today... It felt incredibly surreal. The car was parked not far from the school entrance; Xu Musen, carrying the roasted sweet potatoes, wanted to walk over. "Hey hey hey!" Suddenly, a voice from a loudspeaker at the school entrance caught his attention. But the voice, Xu Musen found it peculiarly familiar. Many students who had just left school immediately turned curious glances that way. "Hey! Everyone, look at me, I have an announcement to make!" This familiar opening line made Xu Musen''s heart flinch. Looking over, he saw someone standing on a high platform at the entrance of the school gate. Clad in a white down jacket, her slender figure''s long hair swaying with the wind, she was standing up there. That pair of phoenix eyes exuded a hint of mirth, and through the bustling crowd, she locked eyes with Xu Musen in an instant. Yao Mingyue... Chapter 237 The White Swan Must Descend to Feast on the Toad (Definite Chapter! 6k) Outside the front gates of No. 4 High School. The raised platform was originally intended for a statue. After the statue was removed, it was left empty. It turned into the sacred spot for students to make their confessions. Of those who claimed the title of MVP for several days, Xu Musen was probably the most famous. He couldn''t remember how many times he had confessed to her here. Yao Mingyue also lost count of how many times she had rejected him in this spot. But today, Yao Mingyue was standing in that place. sea??h th N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She wore the same white down jacket as Xu Musen, a fluffy scarf, and the specks of sunset light made her seem like a shimmering sprite in the winter. In her hand, she held a megaphone. Her usually aloof voice now carried traces of a girl''s unease and nervousness. The surrounding gazes were instantly attracted; public confessions were not very rare. But for a girl to take a stand, that was quite rare, especially when they saw Yao Mingyue''s face, they were even more surprised. Such a beautiful girl, almost flawless, eighteen-year-old Yao Mingyue still had the vivacity of a young girl amidst her cool beauty. Like a half-bloomed rose, thorny yet not stabbing, waiting to blossom further, already exuding a captivating scent. "So beautiful, what is this for, a confession?" "No way... with that look, does she even need to confess? The line of people chasing after her could stretch all the way to the Yellow River." "Hey, why do I feel like I''ve seen her somewhere before..." "Oh, come on, when have you not felt that way about a beautiful girl?" The crowd''s attention was fully captivated, Xu Musen also stood within the crowd; at this moment, his role seemed to have switched with the previous Yao Mingyue. Xu Musen gazed at Yao Mingyue, who stood high above the ground. She was someone who hated doing certain things in public, especially confessing, which she considered to be a rather embarrassing "attention grabber." But now, she was holding the megaphone, her clear and bright voice wishing that everyone could hear, could see her at this moment, her very own largest "attention grabber." Yao Mingyue took a deep breath, her gaze sweeping over the dense crowd, and there was Xu Musen who still looked somewhat dazed. In the past, she always stood below, enjoying the pleasure of his confessions, but now standing here, she felt the gazes of so many on her. Even she felt indescribable nervousness and unease... So, that was how he felt, the emotions and courage that allowed him to stand here and confess to her. Layers of sweetness rose in Yao Mingyue''s heart, but there was also the bitter taste of regret. Such bravery he had back then, standing here for her, while she just thought about keeping him entirely to herself, never considering his feelings, rejecting him time after time... Yao Mingyue''s phoenix eyes reflected the sunset sky as she slowly exhaled and held the megaphone in her hand. "Hello everyone, I apologize for the interruption. I have some words today that I would like to say to someone." Yao Mingyue''s voice lacked its usual coldness; the girl''s voice was clear, melodic, and full of emotion, giving the onlookers a different feeling. "Beauty! Is this a confession?" "Damn! Which lucky son of a gun is going to step forward!" The students loved to create a commotion. And Xu Musen, the "male lead," was separated by the crowd, watching Yao Mingyue spellbound, everything about today was unexpected to him. However, Yao Mingyue seemed as if she had long planned today''s actions. Yao Mingyue listened to the crowd''s instigation, she smiled faintly, her gaze never leaving Xu Musen. "Once, he stood here, confessing to me more than once. Yet, I never responded properly. I always thought, if you like me, then you should like me more. You should confess over and over, tell more people, tell everyone how much you like me... But I always felt that his affection wasn''t enough, that there was something missing. But I never knew what was missing, so I avoided his confessions over and over, wasting his affections, until one day, he said he would never chase after me again, even said that if either of us looked back, we''d be the loser... Yao Mingyue kept smiling, but there was an unresolved bitterness in her voice. At the last sentence, her gaze followed the crowd and looked straight into Xu Musen''s eyes. Xu Musen silently watched her. Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire But those around them were all indignant. "Such a pretty girl; it''s normal to confess a few times more." "Damn, that''s like being a lapdog... But honestly, if I had a chance to confess to Liu Yifei, I''d rather be a lapdog too!" "What do you mean by lapdog? This girl clearly has feelings for him too. She just wants to test him a few more times. Being blindly enthusiastic would actually be being a lapdog, okay." Xu Musen heard the surrounding murmurs and mentally chuckled. In reality, by that definition, he wasn''t a lapdog. Just like what Yao Mingyue said, she always felt like something was missing, always afraid of losing it. Yao Mingyue''s voice came softly again. "At first, I was angry. I thought, why should he stop chasing me, why should he stop liking me? It was him who had always said he wanted to be with me forever. Why should he stop liking me? Clearly, I''m so pretty that I could even support him in the future. However you look at it, he''s the unappreciative one!" Chapter 237 The White Swan Must Also Descend to Eat the Toad (Definite Chapter! 6k)_2 Yao Mingyue''s slightly playful and willful remarks instantly made everyone present laugh. Such self-admiring words, if spoken by anyone else, would definitely have been met with ridicule, but when coming from Yao Mingyue, she did have the capital to be vain. "Exactly, exactly, some people just don''t appreciate what they''ve got, if it were me, I''d accept it in a heartbeat!" "Anyway, at home you play the son for your parents, at school you''re a venting bag for the teachers, and in society, you slave away for your boss. People spend their lives licking someone else''s boots; might as well lick a rich and beautiful woman''s instead." The crowd echoed in agreementwho would want to toil away as a beast of burden if they could be with a rich lady? Xu Musen also cracked a smile; he had thought the same at the time, but only after actually living off someone else did he realize that it wasn''t easy. The smile on Yao Mingyue''s face slowly faded, her eyes slightly lowered, and the smile on her face became tinged with melancholy. "But then, over time, I came to understand, it wasn''t that he had to keep liking me, but that I had become unable to leave him, that I had already become dependent on him. I took his kindness for granted, I was too greedy, too wilful..." "Perhaps I really don''t understand what it means to like someone, but one thing I''m certain of is, I can''t find a single reason not to like you." Yao Mingyue''s eyes were slightly wet, dazzling like shooting stars in the setting sun. For a moment, the crowd fell silent. Sear?h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "From a very young age, I liked to follow him around. If he played in the mud, I played too; if he climbed trees, I''d climb after him; I even wanted to learn to pee standing up... Then I would get home and get a thrashing from my aunt, who said he was leading me astray." At that time, he seemed to hold a grudge, unwilling to take me anywhere. But I would always stick to him; if he wouldn''t include me in his games, I''d tattle on him, and even though he didn''t feel like it, he''d have to take me..." As Yao Mingyue spoke, her expression showed a hint of pride. He looked up, their eyes quietly meeting for a moment. Bringing up these past events seemed to warm the air between them. "I always thought that we would continue on just fine, but after that day... it seemed like everything changed." Yao Mingyue''s voice involuntarily trembled a little, and even though so much time had passed, she would still occasionally have nightmares. Xu Musen also fell silent, the events of that day were an indelible scar for them. In an instant, as they looked at each other, the fear and sadness in Yao Mingyue''s eyes were slowly covered by a bit of warmth. She wouldn''t tell these things to others. She looked at Xu Musen, the luster in her eyes flickering. "Since that day, it was as if he had become a different person. Whenever he had something tasty or fun, he''d call for me right away. Each day he thought of jokes to cheer me up. I still remember he used all his saved pocket money to buy me a Barbie doll I wanted. He said, anything someone else has, Brother will buy for you. Back then, he was really so cool..." That was a memory from a long time ago, and Xu Musen also remembered parts of it; he remembered how Yao Mingyue would always covet a Barbie doll. But times were tough back then and Yao Mingyue was also living modestly. Every time she would look longingly in the store and then leave silently. Toys that used to be simply bought now required saving pocket money for a long time. So he used his saved pocket money to buy one for her, though he had originally planned to buy a remote-controlled car for himself. Yet he tooth-grittedly bought the Barbie doll for Yao Mingyue and waited until a month later on his birthday to get the remote-controlled car from his mom as a gift. But seeing how happy Yao Mingyue was at the time, Xu Musen felt it was all worth it. Their past selves were so pure, simply wanting to be kind to each other. Yao Mingyue''s eyes sparkled with tears, recalling their former selves, as though they had nothing and yet embraced the whole world. "Actually, from that time, I had already unknowingly planted a seed called ''him'' in my heart. He said to me, don''t confuse being moved with liking someone. I was a bit confused, but I also want to tell you, my liking for you... took root in my heart long ago, dependence, being moved, were just nutrients watering that seed, but... I really started liking my Brother Musen a long time ago..." Yao Mingyue bit her lip, her tearful eyes sparkling in the sunset''s afterglow, exceptionally poignant. The spectating crowd, now silent, struggled to find words. They could hear in her voice, the love of childhood friends, a lifelong regret. Who hasn''t loved someone full of regret in their youth? Xu Musen opened his mouth; indeed, maybe Yao Mingyue''s affection for him was mixed with many things, but... that didn''t mean there was no affection. Or maybe, even if she considered a lot and wanted a lot, the part of her that liked Xu Musen remained untouched by anything else. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire "Damn it! To make such a great girl cry, what a jerk!" "Childhood sweethearts, envy them. That''s a match made in heaven... the last pair of childhood sweethearts who didn''t end up together has already died and turned into butterflies..." "Who''s the guy she was talking about just now? When I see him, I''ll teach him a lesson..." Chapter 237 The White Swan Must Also Descend to Eat the Toad (Definite Chapter! 6k)_3 The boys all felt a sour feeling in their hearts, thinking that such a beautiful girl harbored regrets made them feel worse than if they were heartbroken themselves. "Actually, I''ve really learned a lot now, and I''ve always remembered what you said, about seriously learning to truly enjoy the feeling of liking someone, but... it seems I''ve learned it a bit too late." Yao Mingyue shook her head, the other girl had already slowly taken over the place that used to belong to her. "I''m very angry, very sad, but I can''t blame you, after all, it was me who wasted so many chances time and time again. I''m still lucky though, because even so, you still care about me, look after me. I haven''t liked the wrong person, and I never regret my affection, nor will I ever give up on it, not for my whole life." Yao Mingyue''s voice was bitter, yet it carried a determination that not even life or death could shake. It was like the last time she fell into the icy lake, she didn''t hesitate to jump in; they both didn''t lack the courage to like each other, only lacking a little bit in the way they went about it. Now, they at last understood how to properly like each other, but it seemed too late, and this change was like tearing open a wound again, like bones being broken and regrowing Behind this change lay unbearable pain. S~ea??h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xu Musen stood silently in place, watching Yao Mingyue, who was undergoing tremendous changes, and his heart was also silently pondering. If in the past, he could have done better, could have been more aware of Yao Mingyue''s emotional changes, could have better guided things, then maybe they wouldn''t have come to this point? He looked up, meeting Yao Mingyue''s eyes. As if reading each other''s thoughts, Yao Mingyue smiled again, her smile tinged with tears. "In the past, I stood below and received confessions, and now, this is the first time I''m standing here, making a confession. It turns out it really does require some courage. But more than confessing, I''d also like to apologize to him." Yao Mingyue said with a smile, she took a deep breath, her gaze moving over the crowd and settling on Xu Musen. "I''m sorry for not giving you the experience of a high school romance, but I also want to slowly make up for all these past regrets to you..." As Yao Mingyue spoke, she suddenly took off her scarf and slowly unzipped her down jacket. Beneath the jacket was a school uniform identical to those worn by many students around. "A school... uniform? Is this our school''s? How come I don''t remember seeing it before?" "Wait a minute, I finally remember now, she was amongst the top graduates of our school, her name was Yao something!" "I thought she looked familiar, couldn''t she be the school beauty from the previous year..." Finally, someone recognized her. At this moment, Yao Mingyue took off a hair tie from her wrist and tied her long hair into a high ponytail. The white and blue school uniform carried a unique beauty that no expensive luxury brand could providethe essence of youth. The loose school jacket, when worn by Yao Mingyue, perfectly showcased the feeling of youthful vitality. On her school uniform was only one name. Xu Musen saw it; he had written it, and now the girl so treasured it. He looked at Yao Mingyue in her school uniform, with her hair in a high ponytail. Even in the dead of winter, he felt as if he was back in the season scented with gardenia flowers, that sweltering June of summer. The rustling tree shadows and the youthfulness of high school days, it was the beautiful silhouette he used to stealthily gaze at during classes. Every frown and smile had long left indelible marks in his heart. Tears sparkled in Yao Mingyue''s eyes as she bent down to pick up a bouquet of flowers from behind the steps. The flowers were beautiful, and the belle holding them even more so. She took the megaphone, her trembling yet sincere voice carrying into the distance. "Thank you for giving me a youth filled with love and flowers! And I''m sorry for the delay in giving you these flowers and this confession." With the flowers in her hands, the tearful sparkle in the corner of her eyes resembled precious crystal gems against the setting sun, tracing the arc of affection across her upturned lips. Explore more stories at My Virtual Library Empire Holding the megaphone, her beautiful face bore no trace of haughtiness at that moment; it was the face of the eighteen-year-old Yao Mingyue, a girl filled with springtime, a love-smitten young woman, so excited, nervous, yet utterly determined and bold in pursuit of her love... She took a deep breath, her cheeks flushed from the deep inhalation, and her clear, deep voice resonated far and wide through the loudspeaker. "I, Yao Mingyue, am telling you, Xu Musen! Now, I, as the white swan, am willing to come down to you, the toad!" Her voice carried far and wide, loud and clear, bright with a hint of tremor. It was as if this roar was meant to be heard all along, as if the right response to all those confessions should have been shouted out properly! In that moment, everyone watching was stunned into silence. Her words seemed to evoke the wistful shadows of unrequited love within them. They had come expecting to watch a spectacle, but in the end, they were left with an inexplicable sense of regret. Indeed... At least she had the courage. How many others will never dare to open their mouths like this in their lifetime. Yao Mingyue set down the megaphone, cradling flowers as she began to walk towards the crowd. The crowd parted, consciously making way for her. At the far end, Xu Musen stood still, watching Yao Mingyue descend step by step from the stage. The school uniform adorned with his name, her high ponytail fluttering in the breeze, a girl with hazy tears and a smile. Xu Musen''s breath became uncontrollable, feeling his heart lashed by the whip of youth, losing its rhythm. It was only at this moment that he finally understood what Yao Mingyue meant by "I will return what I owe you, bit by bit." Yes, high school was a regret for Xu Musen, never having truly fallen in love, never having been genuinely moved by a response. But all these regrets were compensated for at this moment. "I, the toad, will not covet the swan''s flesh." "And I, the white swan, will fly down to eat you, the toad!" It seemed as if their cries to each other spanned the vast stretches of time and space. Snowflakes began to fall from the sky at this moment. Yao Mingyue had already reached him, the girl holding flowers, lifting her slender white neck, her beautiful cheeks, with the snowflakes drifting from the sky falling onto her face, indeed like a noble white swan. She held out the flowers to Xu Musen, her eyes brimming with tears, knowing she might not receive an answer today. But finally being able to shout out these words was like fulfilling a deep-seated regret in her heart. The two looked at each other, no words spoken, yet their heartbeats were deafening. Xu Musen looked at the flowers in her hands; he could tell they were the leftover flowers from his mother''s flower shop, wrapped by her own hands. Just like the ones he used to give to Yao Mingyue. And clearly, Yao Mingyue''s were more exquisite and attentive, full of blossoms, so beautiful. We had agreed, whoever looks back first would be the puppy... But still, Xu Musen reached out and gently accepted the flowers. Many say a man may only receive flowers at a funeral in his lifetime. Yet this belated bloom of youth finally made it into his hands. He lowered his gaze to Yao Mingyue, with only the distance of a bouquet separating them. The handsome boy and the pretty girl, friends since childhood, their youth soaring. Without a word, their gazes seemed to traverse through time. It was as if answering Xu Musen''s earlier question, if time could flow backward, what would you do? "This, is my answer" Yao Mingyue gently parted her red lips, sporting an innocent, silly smile, yet so moving. Something in Xu Musen''s heart fell, and something else stood up; holding the flowers, he took a step forward. He enveloped Yao Mingyue in his arms, hugging her tightly. This too, was an overdue embrace. In this cold winter, their warmth was like that of June. "Good!!!" Someone in the crowd began the cheer, and many found their eyes unexpectedly moist. In this world, people may mock a hopeless admirer, but no one ever mocks true love. Snowflakes covered their shoulders and hair, like a finely tailored wedding gown. Not knowing how long they hugged, Xu Musen gently released her, helping her brush the snowflakes off her hair, and the two looked at each other closely, smiling after a long moment. "Going home?" "Mhm." Xu Musen held the flowers, his other hand gently grasping the girl''s cold hand, slowly warming it. The ground kept their deep and shallow footprints, soon to be covered again by the falling snow. But the memories left behind would only grow more profound... Chapter 238 Liu Rushuangs Slight Move. The Lunar New Year approached. Snow had fallen continuously for several days, covering the ground with a thick layer of snow. A heavy snowfall heralds a fruitful year, and indeed it was a good year for Father Xu and Mother Xu. Their son got accepted into a prestigious university, suddenly excelled in business, bought himself an Audi, and even found a girlfriend he liked... The four great joys of life were almost fully realized in this year. The old couple felt much more at ease, as money could solve ninety-nine percent of their worries. Life at home became monotonous, and Xu Musen would sleep until he naturally woke up. With nowhere to go because of the snow, Yao Mingyue would often drag him out to stroll around the shops. Since that day, the relationship between the two had grown increasingly complicated and entangled. Sar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, they still hadn''t crossed the boundary of childhood friends. They kept bouncing back and forth on that line, crazily testing the waters. Really, what a mess... Xu Musen would occasionally sigh to himself. In the past, he was always played by Yao Mingyue. Now, he had changed. If before he was just a handsome but unfortunate fellow, now he could be considered a small, successful future boss with achievements. With Nuannuan, the cute little thing, and Yao Mingyue clinging to him every day... Xu Musen deeply felt a phrase. The greater the ability, the larger the territory! The larger the territory, the bigger the... "Xiao Yue''s mom will be back soon. I''m going out with your Uncle Xu to prepare for the New Year. Let Musen take you to the airport to pick her up." Mother Xu said to Yao Mingyue across the dining table. "Mhm, sure!" Yao Mingyue smiled and nodded, then turned to glance at Xu Musen. Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire "Okay," Xu Musen had no objections. "Then come with me later to change into a new set of clothes first." "Why change clothes to pick up your mom? It''s not like we are going to a blind date." "Tch, it''s precisely because we''re meeting family that we need to dress up nice and neat, not sloppy like you are every day. In a bit, I''ll pick out an outfit for you too, so we can go out without embarrassing Uncle and Auntie..." Yao Mingyue humphed and expertly rolled her eyes at Xu Musen. Xu Musen just pursed his lips, believing that the most important thing about clothes was to keep warm and cover up, fussing over fancy dress was unnecessary. After eating, Yao Mingyue dragged Xu Musen away. Father Xu and Mother Xu looked at each other, with Mother Xu unable to hold back her words. "Tsk, Old Xu, why do I feel like these two are getting along even better now?" Mother Xu pondered. "Isn''t that a good thing?" Father Xu poured himself a cup of tea. "No, I mean they''re getting along in... a somewhat different way. Especially these past few days, haven''t you noticed your son has been much more patient with Mingyue?" Mother Xu always felt their relationship was a bit too good recently. "That''s also normal. They are childhood friends, it''s natural for them to be closer than average boys and girls." "As a woman''s intuition, I feel that Mingyue''s gaze towards our son has been becoming more and more... It''s like looking at her own, you know." Mother Xu almost let the words "husband" slip out. Father Xu took a sip of tea, "You''re just going through menopause, seeing everything awkwardly. Just rest, don''t you know your son''s personality? Apart from other things, he is very faithful." Yes, faithfully chasing after Mingyue all these years. "I know him too well, which is why I''m always worried. Tell me, can he really let go of Mingyue... And when Ru Shuang comes back, how do we explain to them?" Father Xu sighed too, "It''s hard to say about the kids, but we can''t let it affect our families'' relationship. If it hadn''t been for Old Yao... it could have been me who''s no longer here." Mother Xu''s expression turned complicated, "Ru Shuang and Mingyue are both unlucky. We''ll just have to treat Mingyue even better in the future... Ah, it''s all the trouble caused by your son!" Mother Xu''s tone changed, and Father Xu gave a wry smile: "He''s your son too." "Your son, your son!" ... Yao Mingyue changed into a pretty attire, still in a light color scheme, with khaki wide-legged wool trousers, a two-tone knit wool overcoat, paired with a beige scarf. The world outside was blanketed in white snow, making her outfit look particularly lively and cute, just like a Snow Elf. Standing beside Xu Musen, who was in casual clothes, did indeed look like a mongrel dog. But luckily, he had an Audi! "Come on, I''ve prepared an outfit for you, too. Hurry up and change," Yao Mingyue handed a bag to him. Xu Musen looked inside and saw a new set of clothes, also in light colors, and they matched what Yao Mingyue was wearing. Seeing Yao Mingyue''s threatening glance, Xu Musen could only go and change. Sure enough, he came out after a short while. Yao Mingyue had a good eye for sure, the clothes she picked were just right. Xu Musen looked at himself in the mirror, and he had really transformed into a trendy guy. "Hmm~ that''s more like it." Yao Mingyue looked at Xu Musen in his new clothes, and her eyes lit up; he already had a nice look. Now, he was even more handsome. She bounded over, the more she looked, the more pleased she became. She had always thought of keeping Xu Musen hidden away, not wanting other girls to see his handsome side. But now, she realized she had missed so many opportunities to please her eyes. "I guess you pass, barely." Yao Mingyue said so with her mouth, but her eyes sparkled and never strayed from Xu Musen. "Then should I thank you?" Xu Musen also smiled. Chapter 238 Liu Rushuangs Slight Move._2 Yao Mingyue walked over, slyly attempting to sneakily grab his hand and had already gently hooked one of his fingers. Xu Musen looked down at her, "What are you doing?" "Don''t you want to thank me?" "I sell talent, not my body." Xu Musen tried to pull his hand back, but Yao Mingyue hugged his arm tightly against her chest instead, squinting her eyes and smiling. "If I don''t give you money, it doesn''t count as selling!" "???" Xu Musen was speechless, that phrase should''ve been his to say. Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire They left the house and got into the car. There was still some distance from the airport to their home. It was almost an hour''s drive to the airport. Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue, holding a pickup sign, waited at the airport''s entrance. After a while, a tall and busty figure with extraordinary temperament and graceful poise appeared at the airport exit. Liu Rushuang was wearing a haute couture velvet dress with a design similar to a gown but with a touch of Korean Wave style. The black color scheme with red-framed sunglasses and a mink coat emphasized her tall and curvaceous figure, giving off the air of a mafia lady from a Korean drama. The sound of her high heels had a rhythmic tapping on the ground. Her long hair was naturally let down, and every move she made was alluring with maturity and intellectual charm. She didn''t look like someone in her forties at all. The people at the airport couldn''t help but look over, exclaiming in admiration. Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue naturally saw her too. Seeing this outfit, Xu Musen couldn''t help but smile. Like mother, like daughter; Liu Rushuang usually wore professional suits, but whenever she came home to see her daughter, she always dressed beautifully. And Liu Rushuang''s intellectual and elegant aura was truly excellent. Even a future, fully-realized Yao Mingyue would still fall short in intellectual elegance. She was the ultimate contrastcold, yet crazy. Actually, Xu Musen preferred this type of intellectual and elegant older sister... Wondering if he could somehow transform Yao Mingyue into this style... wait a minute, what was he, a pure and devoted war god, thinking? "Hey! What are you looking at, you''re about to drool!" Yao Mingyue pinched him on the waist annoyed. Xu Musen coughed dryly. "Ming Yue! Xiao Sen!" At that moment, Liu Rushuang also spotted the two of them in the crowd and quickened her pace, jogging over. The space around them seemed to warp a bit with the commotion... Xu Musen felt his waist pain worsen, as Yao Mingyue nearly ground her teeth, and he gave a helpless smile. She really was jealous about everything. Liu Rushuang approached and hugged the two of them, one in each arm. "Oh my, I''ve missed you so much, have you missed me?" After a hug, Liu Rushuang took off her sunglasses, revealing eyes, just like Yao Mingyue''s, that shimmered with maturity. Yao Mingyue nestled in her mother''s embrace and subtly nudged Xu Musen out, feeling very happy inside, but on the outside, she snorted, "Well, some people definitely missed you." Xu Musen chuckled, "Auntie, you look very beautiful today." "Humph, of course, I have to dress beautifully when I''m seeing my little treasure." Liu Rushuang rubbed her daughter''s cheek and then turned to Xu Musen, puffing up her cheeks slightly, "But what did you call me?" Xu Musen, seeing her puff up her cheeks in a gesture that would seem contrived if done by a young girl, found it charming on her. "Mom." "That''s more like it~" Liu Rushuang, smiling, rubbed his head as well. "Okay, Mom, let''s head back soon," said Yao Mingyue, who then bounced up to stand between the two, grabbing her mother''s arm and ready to leave. Xu Musen watched her and suddenly found her jealousy, akin to a headless fly, quite adorable. Yao Mingyue seemed to sense what Xu Musen was thinking and shot him an annoyed glance. Liu Rushuang also squinted, observing the two, feeling something was different between them compared to before. But no matter what, she felt her daughter''s whole demeanor had improved, and this lively, cute, and somewhat silly girl was the best. They drove home. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Father Xu and Mother Xu were already eagerly waiting at home. Mother Xu had been bustling about in the kitchen. Liu Rushuang embraced her upon arriving. Although Mother Xu was a few years older than Liu Rushuang, the two got along like old friends. Only when the two women were together did it seem like they were still young, chatting about topics from their youthful days. The house became even more lively. Yet Father Xu and Mother Xu hadn''t yet figured out how to discuss Xu Musen''s dating life with him. Xu Musen took it upon himself to cook two dishes for Liu Rushuang. As soon as the dishes were served, Liu Rushuang couldn''t stop praising them. "Oh my, Xiao Sen, your cooking skills are getting better and better. No wonder you''ve charmed such a nice young lady." As Liu Rushuang spoke, everyone at the dinner table glanced up. Especially Father Xu and Mother Xu, who hadn''t reacted yet, were surprised that Liu Rushuang would bring up the topic so casually. Yao Mingyue''s eyes flickered as she silently gave Xu Musen a look. Seeing their expressions, Liu Rushuang smiled and said, "Oops, did I let the cat out of the bag? Has Xiao Sen not told you about the little girlfriend he found at school?" Chapter 238 Liu Rushuangs Slight Move._3 Liu Rushuang''s expression was dead serious. Xu Musen had to admire it, this natural acting and handling method, Yao Mingyue in her past life who was so sly, must have learned it from Liu Rushuang, only it seems she learned it somewhat askew. Father Xu and Mother Xu exchanged a look, and Mother Xu immediately picked up the topic, "Oh yes, we''ve mentioned it, we were just as surprised when we found out, the kid has just started university and is already dating, we didn''t expect it either." "Indeed, the kid, once at university, is beyond our control, probably just curiosity on the part of young people," Father Xu also chimed in. But still, the atmosphere felt oddly off. Liu Rushuang, however, smiled, "Considering everything, Xiao Sen is not that young anymore, dating in university is like a compulsory subject, and Xiao Sen has been quite the hot topic at Huhai University in these past six months, it''s quite normal for young girls to like him." Liu Rushuang seemed not to mind in the slightest, and kept on praising Musen. Mother Xu quickly interjected, "He''s just been lucky, I heard from him that he has your help, or else he wouldn''t have made such progress." "That also proves that our Xiao Sen is capable, though." Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire Liu Rushuang said with a smile, but her gaze shifted to Yao Mingyue, who was silent with her head down, and served her a piece of ribs. "It''s just my silly daughter, hasn''t achieved anything in almost half a year; she might feel like she can''t keep up with Xiao Sen from now on." At her words, everyone''s expressions changed once again. Xu Musen inwardly exclaimed, that statement was really something, quite double-edged. Mother Xu hastened to say, "Look at what you''re saying, with the relationship between our two families, it''s Musen, the young man who has been taken care of by you, no matter what he does in the future, he must not forget you and Ming Yue." As she spoke, she stretched out her hand to pat Xu Musen, "You little rascal, did you hear that!" Liu Rushuang then interjected, "Oh my, I was just making an offhand remark, when a child grows up, he is bound to differ from what one previously thought, and that''s a good thing, everyone has their own paths to take, and Ming Yue will also learn to take care of herself... Don''t force the kids." Liu Rushuang spoke with sincerity, but that last bit seemed to roast Musen on the fire. At that moment, he felt like the treacherous Chen Shimei, betraying his wife. With just a light touch from Liu Rushuang, Xu Musen already felt sweat streaming down his back. Father Xu also immediately declared, "Indeed, this young man used to be careless and it was Ming Yue who always looked out for him; even if he becomes president of the country in the future, he must not forget Ming Yue, did you hear that!" "Yes, yes." Xu Musen could only nod vigorously. He could only smile wryly to himself; the older the ginger, the spicier it is, indeed. Liu Rushuang''s seemingly innocuous remarks were actually a harsh indictment. Yao Mingyue, who was beside them, saw all of this and of course knew her mother was doing it on purpose. She observed Mother Xu''s eager expression. Her heart felt a bit of warmthit proved that in their hearts, she was actually their first choice for a daughter-in-law. sea??h th n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And seeing Xu Musen''s helpless and embarrassed look at the moment, she couldn''t help but smile. She took the ribs her mother had served her and gave them to Xu Musen, her voice sweet as she said, "Thank you, Uncle and Auntie for caring about me, but Musen has been quite good to me, he takes care of me and I will also learn to treat him well bit by bit, we''re childhood sweethearts after all, the kind that lasts a lifetime." Yao Mingyue''s voice was just like that of the carefree young girl from years ago, innocent, cute, and pure. Father Xu and Mother Xu could not help but be moved. Xu Musen also looked at the ribs she had given him in his bowl and looked up to meet her eyes. Childhood sweethearts, the kind that lasts a lifetime. He picked up and bit into one, as if he could never get tired of them, just like the ribs... Chapter 239 The Night. Liu Rushuang and Yao Mingyue returned to the villa. Yao Mingyue was soaking in the bathtub when, after a short while, Liu Rushuang, wrapped in a bath towel, pushed the door open and came in. She faced Yao Mingyue and soaked in the water as well. "You seem in a good mood, humming a song. Have you encountered something happy recently?" Liu Rushuang looked at her daughter, whose complexion was rosy, and asked with a smile. "What happy thing could it be? Maybe it''s just the joy of seeing you come back, Mom." Yao Mingyue thought of the few assists her mom had made at the dinner table today and hummed with a curve at the corner of her mouth. Liu Rushuang stretched out her hand and pinched her face. "Still pretending, anyone with eyes can see it. Did something happen between you and Xiao Sen?" S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yao Mingyue paused for a second, hugging her legs as if she wanted to slowly submerge beneath the water, her pretty face blushing: "Mom, I''m going to tell you something, and you can''t laugh at me." "When have I ever laughed at you? Go on, tell me." Liu Rushuang immediately showed an expression of readiness to "hear the gossip." Yao Mingyue bit her lip, then slowly began to speak: "I, a few days ago, I confessed to him..." Yao Mingyue now looked just like a little girl caught in puppy love, her whole person flushed with heat. Liu Rushuang''s eyes widened instantly as she stared at her precious daughter, pondering for a moment. "The confession you''re talking about, is it the proper kind or the improper kind?" "???" Yao Mingyue was also taken aback, her face growing even redder. What does that mean! What''s the difference between proper and improper, isn''t that just seduction? Could I, Yao Mingyue, be that kind of person? Ah, spit! "Mom, if you keep this up, I won''t talk to you about it in the future!" Yao Mingyue pouted. "So, did you really confess to Xiao Sen?" "Yes." Yao Mingyue nodded, looking at the astonishment on her mom''s face, she felt a little sentimental: "Mom, you won''t blame me, will you?" Liu Rushuang looked at her daughter and after a moment sighed with a smile: "If I were to blame you, it would be for taking too long to come around. You took too long to express your feelings to Xiao Sen. I''ve always told you not to wait until it''s too late and regret it." Xu Musen already had a girlfriend, and no matter what, it was somewhat not honorable. "Mom, am I doing something very wrong...?" Yao Mingyue looked at her mother''s expression, her lips subconsciously biting down. "This matter is indeed somewhat wrong, but... if it''s my daughter, then my stance and bottom line is you. I hope you can find your happiness, even if in the end that person isn''t Xiao Sen. But as the saying goes... you don''t turn back unless you hit the wall." Liu Rushuang''s expression was complicated yet distressed as she stroked Yao Mingyue''s head. In her whole life, she has done things with a clear conscience towards everyone, but now her only bottom line was her own daughter. She always felt she owed her daughter too much, especially when Ming Yue most needed someone by her side, and she had no choice but to leave her alone in the empty house. So, Yao Mingyue''s somewhat stubborn personality, she always felt was partly her own responsibility. Although such a thing was not glorious, if it was for her daughter, she was willing to be scorned and criticized, as long as her daughter could be a little happier. "Mom, thank you..." Tears twinkled in Yao Mingyue''s eyes. Despite the seeming nonchalance in her words, only she knew the stress she carried within. Having someone stand by her side, regardless of anything, felt incredibly warm. "What about Xiao Sen? How did he respond to you?" "He... He didn''t answer, and I didn''t expect him to reply. Mom, what I want now is not to be with him. I want to repay what I owe him... to square things away, and then start anew." Yao Mingyue spoke slowly, her head raised to reveal a pensive yet bright smile: "I also regret realizing it a bit late, but often you only learn to cherish and properly love someone after you''ve lost them once. At least I haven''t completely lost him yet, and I like him more now, as well as the current me." Yao Mingyue''s words touched Liu Rushuang''s heart deeply. It had been so many years since she saw her daughter openly smile and speak from the heart, something the girl she was before never showed. It was as if she was finally learning to slowly face the most vulnerable part of herself. She reached out to touch her daughter''s head, her face beaming with a proud smile: "I like the current Xiao Mingyue too, no matter what, Mama will always stand by your side." Yao Mingyue, feeling soothed, looked forward with even greater anticipation to that warmth. "Mom, I want to learn how to knit a scarf." "For Xiao Sen?" "Yes." Yao Mingyue nodded. When winter arrived, girls always thought about giving scarves to the boys they liked. It might stem from the traditional romantic notions ingrained in the hearts of the people. In ancient times, men ploughed and women weaved; a woman''s most precious possession was her handiwork, and giving something she knitted herself also expressed her feelings. "Hey, hey, hey, only now do you think of treating him well. Your mom hasn''t been treated like that yet. I''m going to be jealous!" "Mom, how many Gucci scarves do you have in your closet? Do you have the nerve to say that?" Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire "That''s different. No matter how expensive those scarves are, they''re not as precious as something my baby girl knits with her own hands..." ... The New Year was approaching. At the moment, in Huhai. An Nuannuan gazed outside the window; Huhai didn''t get snow every year, and this year there wasn''t any. In the past, especially in winter, she could hardly even leave her room for fear that the cold air would affect her legs. Chapter 527 Encountering Zhao Lianmai for the 240th time. Mang Mountain. Near the Yellow River wetlands, the final "resting place" for many from Zheng City, there is a large cemetery here. Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire Early in the morning, Xu Musen got up to prepare to take Yao Mingyue and Liu Rushuang here to pay tribute to Uncle Yao. Before leaving, Mother Xu handed the grave-tending snacks and meals she''d prepared in advance to Xu Musen. "These are all your Uncle Yao''s favorite foods. Bring them with you, and drive carefullythere''s still snow on the road." Mother Xu painstakingly instructed, and Father Xu also handed over a bottle of liquor for Xu Musen to take along. He didn''t say much, but his tone carried a hint of reminiscence, "Remember, when you arrive, bow a few extra times for your Uncle Yao." "Got it." Xu Musen nodded. "Aren''t you guys going together?" "It''s not appropriate for us to go today. We''ll visit on our own in a couple of days. Take good care of them," Father Xu said, patting his shoulder. Xu Musen nodded, always feeling like his parents wanted to say something but ended up swallowing the words. Whenever Yao Mingyue''s father is mentioned, his parents always seem to feel a bit guilty. ... With heavy snow sealing the mountain, it''s not easy to find such a place with water and hills, where feng shui is considered good, in the vast Central Plains. Today, there were many people who came up the mountain to offer their respects. Burning paper money, lighting incense, bowing heads. Xu Musen respectfully bowed his head together with Yao Mingyue. sea??h th n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In Xu Musen''s memory, Uncle Yao was always a man who was genteel and composed in speech and demeanor. Competent at work and always beaming at home, he was tall, handsome, and a role model to many young men for who they aspired to be in the future. To Xu Musen, he was like his own family; every time he returned from a business trip, he would bring gifts for Ming Yue and always had one for Xu Musen as well. When Xu Musen caused mischief as a child and faced his parents'' mixed doubles scolding, he would run to Yao Mingyue''s family seeking refuge with Aunt Liu and Uncle Yao. Even back then, Yao Mingyue''s family was doing better than his own. If not for that accident, Yao Mingyue''s family would surely be living an even better life now. Xu Musen as a child used to hold Uncle Yao as a paragonattending a good university, having a career of his own, finding an elegant and gentle girl like Aunt Liu, and building a happy family... If it weren''t for that accident, both families would definitely be happier, and perhaps many things would have turned out differently. Xu Musen arranged the sweets and meals prepared by his mother as well as the bottle of wine his father provided. Yao Mingyue stood in front of her father''s grave, appearing exceptionally downcast, silently wiping the accumulated snow off the tombstone with a handkerchief. Then, she poured two cups of liquor in front of the grave. She remembered as a child, how she used to dislike it when her father returned from social gatherings smelling of alcohol, intentionally pricking her face with his stubble in jest. But now, she wanted to personally offer her father a cup of liquor, but she could only do so over a grave. "Brother Yao, look, the children have grown up, got into good universities, Xiao Yao is becoming more and more cheerful, and Xiao Sen is becoming more and more promising..." Ru Shuang was also kneeling in front of the grave, burning paper money while speaking softly with a smile, as if she were discussing trivial family matters after waiting for him to return from a business trip. After Xu Musen finished bowing, he quietly stepped aside to give the mother and daughter some space, standing quietly nearby, waiting. "Xu Musen?" Xu Musen stood under a tree waiting, when suddenly a voice called out from behind him. Turning around, Xu Musen met a familiar figure, her complexion wheat-colored, standing out starkly in the expanse of white snow. "Xiao Mai?" Xu Musen hadn''t expected to encounter her here. Zhao Lianmai was dressed in a somewhat worn long down coat, still wearing a duckbill cap on her head, and carrying a bag filled with paper money and some apples and dumplings. "Are you here to tend a grave as well?" "Yeah, to bring some paper money and food to my grandparents." Zhao Lianmai nodded. Xu Musen nodded too, feeling this place made it hard to find the right topic of conversation. "Then you go ahead, we''ll catch up later." "You''re standing by my grandparents'' grave." "...Sorry. Xu Musen quickly stepped back, then noticed two modest graves together beside the tree. "It''s fine." Zhao Lianmai walked over, lay down her offerings, including some apples and bananas, a bowl of dumplings, a bowl of braised pork, and even a few sticks of fried dough. After bowing several times, she began silently burning the paper money. Not speaking. But that was typical for hersilent and uninterested in interacting with anyone, even dismissing Xu Musen, her boss. The only person she ever showed a hint of a smile to was Nuannuan, the other boss. Xu Musen stood beside her, unsure of what to say. However, Zhao Lianmai looked up at him and asked, "Are you here to burn paper too?" "Yeah, accompanying someone." Xu Musen nodded. Zhao Lianmai followed the direction he had been looking and inevitably saw Yao Mingyue not far away. Everybody knew that Xu Musen and she had been childhood sweethearts; it was no secret. Zhao Lianmai didn''t ask anything else, just continued to burn the paper, slowly adding, "Nuannuan has been chatting with me these past few days." "Nuannuan has been chatting with you?" Xu Musen was momentarily puzzled; that little ditz, taking the initiative to chat with others? "Yeah, she asked me what colors and patterns boys like now." "What does she want to know that for?" Xu Musen asked curiously. "She''s your girlfriend, how would I know?" Zhao Lianmai seemed to give him a disapproving look. Xu Musen laughed, "So what did you tell her?" "I don''t have a boyfriend; how would I know?" Chapter 528 Encountering Zhao Lianmai for the 240th time. _2 Zhao Lianmai replied calmly. "Good, good, good, your move can attack and defend." Xu Musen rubbed his temples, "You''re invincible." "But she must be missing you, she usually waits alone in the milk tea shop from morning until it''s dark. With this separation for so long, I don''t even know if someone is missing her..." As a firm supporter of "Nuannuan and Musen," Zhao Lianmai spoke in a tone that was a bit sarcastic, fully supporting her own boss''s wife. Xu Musen glanced over at Yao Mingyue in the distance. He looked away and smiled, looking at the offerings for the gravesite visit. Dumplings were normal, but this was the first time he''d seen deep-fried dough sticks placed there. Zhao Lianmai noticed Xu Musen''s gaze and began to speak slowly, "In the past, when we were poor, my grandparents always wanted to have a taste of deep-fried dough sticks, but they never did until the day they died." Xu Musen listened quietly. As a province rich in grain, but those ancient famines were the most severe. When families were poor, seven or eight children would be born, and it wasn''t uncommon for half to starve to death. "The sadness of that era... In today''s society, it''s harder to go hungry. They would be very comforted if they knew." Xu Musen whispered soothingly. No matter what the current social structure is, the vast majority of ordinary people are indeed less likely to go hungry. In this regard, looking at the entire world, it''s a very great and unbelievable achievement. Zhao Lianmai also nodded, looking at Xu Musen; her delicate cheeks finally softened a bit, "I want to thank you, you''ve improved my family''s life by quite a bit." "Now you know to cozy up to the boss?" Xu Musen laughed, it wasn''t often he got to see her smile. Sure enough, Zhao Lianmai returned to her stern expression, "Cozying up to you isn''t as good as cozying up to Nuannuan, anyway, you''ll end up listening to her in the end." Xu Musen chuckled touching his chin, "I think you have a bit of a dark humor, telling jokes with such a straight face." Zhao Lianmai didn''t respond to him. Xu Musen was also used to it, "How''s your aunt feeling now?" "Much better, she''s now resting at home." As Zhao Lianmai spoke, she pursed her lips slightly and continued, "My mom found out about my job, and she''s really grateful to you." The wages she had earned working at the school for the past half year were more than the sum of several years of part-time jobs. The family could finally breathe easier. Her mother could finally go to see a doctor, her sister could continue her schooling, and they could finally have full meals three times a day. "All that you have is deserved, your capability will shine wherever you go in the future." Xu Musen replied. Although Zhao Lianmai usually didn''t show much respect, her work was flawless. He might not have been able to expand the business without worrying if Zhao Lianmai hadn''t been working as hard as several people by herself. In starting a business, talent is the most important. Zhao Lianmai shook her head. "We should judge by results, not intentions. The money I''ve earned working for you has made you a benefactor to my family." "Then can you be a little nicer to your benefactor from now on?" "I''ll try." "Alright then." Xu Musen couldn''t help but laugh, alright then, he had no expectations of her becoming more welcoming in the future. "I should head back now." "Hmm." Zhao Lianmai watched his retreating figure, and after a moment, she burned the last of the paper money in her hand and began to pack up to go down the mountain. Liu Rushuang went to find the cemetery''s manager, hoping to plant a sunflower beside the grave in the future and have someone look after it. She started to pack up her things, preparing to leave as well. Driving on the road. She hadn''t gone far. Suddenly, Xu Musen noticed a familiar figure along the snowy roadside. Wearing an old down jacket, with a duck billed cap on her head, the basket she carried hung from her arm as she walked through the deep snow with difficulty. The mountain road stretched for two or three kilometers, and the snow had not melted; her shoes seemed soaked with snow water, which must have been uncomfortable in this weather. Yet she was hiking up the mountain alone and she was a girl... Xu Musen sighed silently. "Is that... your little employee?" Yao Mingyue also saw her; any girl who appeared around Xu Musen was always immediately noted. "Xiao Sen, is she your friend?" Liu Rushuang also asked. "Yes, we''re from the same university, and you could say she''s a colleague of mine." Xu Musen spoke to introduce her. "This child, why is she going up the mountain alone in such heavy snow..." As a mother, Liu Rushuang inevitably felt distressed at this sight. Xu Musen drove directly to her side and rolled down the window. "Zhao Lianmai!" Xu Musen called out, and Zhao Lianmai turned her head to meet his eyes. This Zhao Lianmai, it''s just this about her, she doesn''t want to trouble others at all, not even willing to take advantage of a lift, even though she has come across acquaintances, she''s reluctant to even mention hitching a ride. "Get in." Xu Musen said. Zhao Lianmai first looked up at him, and also saw Yao Mingyue and Liu Rushuang in the back seat of the car. "Child, get in, we can go down the mountain together." Liu Rushuang offered a smile and spoke to her. Zhao Lianmai looked at the open car window they were offering, knowing if she didn''t go over, they would carry on sitting in the cold wind, so she walked over. Once in the car, Zhao Lianmai looked at Yao Mingyue in the car and the elegant and gentle woman beside her, not knowing what to say for a moment. "Young lady, I am Ming Yue''s mother. I''ve heard you and Xiao Sen are good friends from the same university?" Liu Rushuang said with a light laugh, extending her hand. Zhao Lianmai gazed at Liu Rushuang, then at Yao Mingyue. Mother and daughter... why was there such a difference in their presence? "Auntie, hello, my name is Zhao Lianmai, I work with him at the school," Zhao Lianmai also immediately reached out her hand to shake Liu Rushuang''s in a polite manner. "Then that''s quite a fate. Your hands are frozen; here, warm your hands with this hand warmer first," Liu Rushuang said gently, first rubbing Zhao Lianmai''s hands with her own to warm them. Then she asked Yao Mingyue to fetch the hand warmer from the car. Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire Zhao Lianmai looked at Liu Rushuang, then down at her hands being held, and for some reason... warmth surged in her heart. This feeling of being cared for by an elder. "Here you go." By then, Yao Mingyue had brought over the hand warmer and placed it in her hands. Zhao Lianmai''s eyes moved between the mother and daughter, which seemed to alter her perspective on Yao Mingyue somewhat. "Thank you." Zhao Lianmai said softly, holding the hand warmer in her hands. Along the way, Liu Rushuang chatted merrily about various topics. Although Zhao Lianmai spoke little, she responded to every one of Liu Rushuang''s inquiries. Yao Mingyue didn''t speak, but she didn''t feel much hostility towards Zhao Lianmai. A woman''s sixth sense told her. This person likely won''t become her rival in love. The vehicle reached the foot of the mountain, and there was a village not far away. "This is fine here." Zhao Lianmai spoke. "I''ll drive you straight home." Xu Musen figured, since he was giving a ride, he might as well drive her all the way to her doorstep. "No need, here is fine." Zhao Lianmai''s eyes imperceptibly quivered. "Let''s stop here then." Liu Rushuang also joined in, smiling as she patted Zhao Lianmai''s head, "We don''t live too far from here, you are welcome to come visit Ming Yue and Musen for fun." Zhao Lianmai nodded in response, intending to leave the hand warmer behind, but Liu Rushuang smiled and said, "Keep it and use it for now, you can return it to them later." "Okay." This time, Zhao Lianmai didn''t refuse, she got out of the car, and gave them a slight bow, "Thank you." "Go on, give my regards to your aunt," Xu Musen said. Zhao Lianmai nodded and walked away. Xu Musen watched her head towards the village. This was the outskirts of Zheng City, and the village consisted mostly of old single-story houses. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Compared to Zheng City with its skyscrapers a few kilometers away, this place seemed forgotten. Xu Musen sighed and drove away. Chapter 241 The Future Daughter-in-law and the Family Dog. Zhao Lianmai returned home. Her home was nestled in a corner of the village, an old tile-roofed house with a perimeter wall made of bricks and yellow mud piled up haphazardly. The wooden gate, which had seen many years, creaked at the slightest gust of wind and hardly served any protective purpose. "Woof woof!" A small yellow dog poking its head out of a hole it had dug beneath the clay door, barked twice upon hearing footsteps. Sarch* The N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Once it saw who it was, it immediately began wagging its head and tails, squeezing through the door seam and bouncing around excitedly at Zhao Lianmai''s feet. Zhao Lianmai patted the dog''s head and opened the house door. The yard contained three simple rooms, all quite old; firewood was piled up in the yard, which also housed a few chickens and ducks. Although rustic, it was very tidy. "Sister''s back!" Zhao Lianmai''s sister, hearing the noise, crawled out from the cellar and ran over joyfully. The little girl seemed slightly plumper than she had been in the hospital, not as thin as before, and her smiling face was still a bit flushed from the cold. The family''s refrigerator was very old, and they refrained from using it, so in winter, they primarily relied on the cellar for storage. The little girl had been in the cellar fetching a cabbage, her small hands cold and icy. "Didn''t I tell you to wait for me to come home so I could fetch it?" "I wanted to help Sister with chores too." Zhao Lianmai lovingly rubbed her sister''s hands and then handed her a hand warmer. "What''s this? It''s so warm." The little girl examined the delicate hand warmer in her hand, having never seen such a thing before. "It''s for warming your hands, where''s Mom?" "She''s in the kitchen." Zhao Lianmai, holding her sister''s hand, walked to the kitchen together. The middle-aged woman still didn''t look too well and was in the midst of cracking eggs to make a meal. "Mom, didn''t I say I''d cook? You''ve just gotten better, don''t catch a cold." Zhao Lianmai went into the kitchen and took over the work. "I''m much better now. You, my child, are busy running around as soon as you''re off." The woman guiltily touched the corner of her eye. Her poor health had been a burden on the family, and even cooking a meal seemed strenuous. The little girl quietly went to boil the pot. The kitchen was run-down, but the warmth of the firewood made this small kitchen exceptionally cozy. This Chinese New Year, Zhao Lianmai had bought a lot of goodies; she took out some cured meat and sausages and a fish to stew a pot of fish soup. The little girl, tending to the pot, smelled the scent of the cured meat and sausages, salivating with desire. It had been a long time since they had eaten such things, even during the holidays, they hardly ever indulged. Zhao Lianmai sliced a piece of sausage and fed it to her sister''s mouth. The little girl, a little embarrassed, giggled before taking a bite, her eyes shining bright. The woman watched this scene and couldn''t help but smile. "Why did you come back so soon this time?" As Zhao Lianmai fried the eggs, she replied, "I ran into my boss on the way, and he gave me a lift for part of the journey." Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire "The boss... Is it the same young man we saw at the hospital last time?" The woman was aware that her daughter worked under that young man. "Yes." "Then why didn''t you invite him to come over, sit in our home, and have a cup of tea..." The woman felt grateful towards her daughter''s young boss for providing her with a job and such a high salary. If they hadn''t met him, they might not have been able to afford her medical treatment, and her daughter''s education would have had to stop. Yet in just half a year working at the school, Zhao Lianmai had been able to send money home every month, not only covering her mother''s medical expenses but also reducing the family''s debt, allowing her younger sister to attend school normally. Once they could only afford to eat plain vegetables and noodles daily. Now, at last, they could have nutritious meals every day. All this had been provided by that young man, for which she felt eternally grateful. However, her voice trailed off as she said this... She looked around the modest conditions of their homethe house was over a decade old, and there wasn''t even a decent chair to offer, let alone the tea which was the cheapest they could find, God knew how old it was. With these conditions, she figured that no significant boss would probably visit. "Lianmai, I''m sorry you have to endure this at home." The woman felt her eyes sting with emotion. She didn''t care what others thought of her, but she was concerned that her daughter might feel inferior because of their home situation. Zhao Lianmai''s eyes flickered thoughtfully as she pondered quietly. Xu Musen was... Memories of their encounters unfurled in her mind, and although she always found Musen rather flippant and somewhat vampiric in his capitalist ways... There was truly nothing to fault in his character. He was never stingy towards friends or employees. In fact, on many occasions, he provided a warmth that was deeply comforting. Even though he was a big boss, he was unpretentious in everyday life, and she could often leave him speechless and shaking his head in resignation with just a word. Zhao Lianmai''s lips unwittingly curved into a smile. "He wouldn''t mind these things, he''s a good person." Little did Musen know that this girl, who barely ever gave him a smile, would secretly sing his praises behind his back. And the woman, seeing her daughter''s gently smiling face, knew Zhao Lianmai rarely ever smiled so sincerely and happily at home. If one were to mention it, Musen, Zhao Lianmai''s boss, was about her age, tall, handsome, capable, and with an agreeable personality. Chapter 241 Future Daughter-in-law and the Family Dog._2 If you spend a lot of time together, it''s hard not to be attracted to each other. But given the gap between their families, if there really were any other thoughts, it would only end in hurt. She pursed her lips, "Xiao Mai, you and him" Zhao Lianmai seemed to guess what her mother wanted to say, and she smiled again, "Mom, don''t worry, I''m well aware of myself. He is very good, but he might not be the type I like, and I don''t want to be in a relationship." The woman silently sighed, wanting to say something, but in the end, she could only shake her head in distress. Dinner time. Even for the New Year''s reunion dinner, there were only two or three dishes and a pot of fish soup on the table. Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire But for them, it was already a very sumptuous meal. The little girl, craving the food, stared eagerly and reached out with her chopsticks, but first served her mother and sister. Mother needed to nourish her body, and sister worked the hardest; on the rare occasions there was meat at home, they would always push it to each other, never willing to eat a bit more themselves. "Eat," Zhao Lianmai served her sister and mother plenty of meat and also the fish soup. With a rare smile, she patted her sister''s head and said to their mother, "From now on, we will never lack meat again." Those were the simplest of words, yet they filled this once-fractured little home with immense warmth. Zhao Lianmai took a sip of fish soup and looked out the window at the sky, smiling softly to herself and shaking her head as she wondered... I''ll be nicer to you from now on. ... New Year''s Eve, eating dumplings, watching the Spring Festival Gala. Every evening, fireworks could be seen blooming in the sky. At this time, fireworks and firecrackers were not yet banned, and the night sky was brilliantly colored, the air tinged with the scent of sulfur. Children carried lanterns through streets and lanes, finally able to splurge at the corner store with the pocket money from adults. Adults also took the rare opportunity to relax, preparing to hang Spring Festival couplets or meet with a few good friends to play cards. Elderly people too could enjoy the hard-earned joy of having their children and grandchildren around them. This is the flavor of the New Year. The New Year''s Eve dinner. Families gather to make dumplings and watch the Spring Festival Gala. People in the north have a preference for dumplings over all the delicacies of the sea and mountainsno matter how well-off a family is, it doesn''t feel like New Year''s without having a bite of dumplings. And as living conditions improved, the variety of dumpling fillings increased as well, including fillings like Spanish mackerel, shrimp, abalone, and crab roe. But Xu Musen still had a special fondness for dumplings filled with chives and egg or pork and green onions. During festivals, Yao Mingyue and Liu Rushuang, mother and daughter, would always come to Xu Musen''s home. Their villa was spacious, but always seemed too quiet and lacking in warmth. They actually preferred to come to Xu Musen''s not-so-spacious living room. Together they would make dumplings, watch the Spring Festival Gala, and enjoy Uncle Benshan''s non-sentimental performances on the show which were always worth watching. "I put two coins in some of the dumplings; whoever eats themit''s their luck!" Mother Xu said happily. "Humph, it must be me. I''ve found them several times before," Yao Mingyue declared proudly. Xu Musen added teasingly from the side, "Yeah, some people almost knocked out their teeth eating dumplings when they were kids." "That was when I was losing my baby teeth, okay! And you''re laughing? Watch as I make you a ''firecracker'' filling, blast your teeth out!" Yao Mingyue said indignantly, recalling being mocked by Xu Musen when she was a child and losing her baby teeth, pronouncing her threats huffily. The adults laughed at this, starting to reminisce about the embarrassing things the two did as kids. Like how Xu Musen went swimming in the river in his open-crotch pants and almost got pinched by a crayfish on his... he cried all the way home worrying he would turn into a little girl. Or the time they played in the mud together and Yao Mingyue''s dress got dirty, leading to a sound spanking when they got home. Or when they played house as children, fought over the toys, and Yao Mingyue ended up brandishing a washboard, ready to mete out ''household law''... Xu Musen felt a bit embarrassed hearing all this. Why did it seem like boys did so many silly things when they were young? Yao Mingyue''s face, meanwhile, turned a rosy hue as she listened; these were memories that belonged only to the two of them, which nobody could ever take away, no matter what happened in the future. Xu Musen, no longer able to bear the stories, slipped into the kitchen to cook the dumplings while Mother Xu cleverly shaped some steamed buns into small animals. In their tradition, this was called a "cat," and people would give them as gifts to each other during New Year''s. Fresh out of the steamer, plump and white with red bean and dates as decoration, they looked lifelike. Especially the little white rabbit, Xu Musen always felt as if seeing this was like seeing a cute little silly thing. "Yo, Mom, why did you think to shape a rabbit this year? Didn''t you usually make cats or dogs in the past?" Xu Musen asked with a smile. Mother Xu glanced at him and said, "Some people won''t stop talking about how their little girlfriend likes rabbits; I''ve heard so much that my ears are about to grow calluses." "So you made this especially for your future daughter-in-law," "Stop your babbling; get up and don''t delay me from cooking the dumplings," Xu Musen chuckled. He took out his phone, snapped a photo, and sent it to An Nuannuan. "Wow, so cute! Where did you buy it? (Rabbit surprised.)" An Nuannuan replied almost immediately. Mother Xu also glanced at the phone and seeing An Nuannuan''s comment, naturally felt very pleased. Xu Musen laughed and dialed An Nuannuan''s number. "Nuannuan, do you like the little rabbit?" Sar?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Mmm! Where did you buy it?" An Nuannuan''s soft and cute voice came through, and Mother Xu couldn''t help but perk up her ears to listen. That voice was pleasingyou could tell she was a gentle girl, so there was no need to worry about her son being mistreated in the future. Chapter 241 The Future Daughter-in-law and the Family Dog._3 Xu Musen was watching his mom eat melon with such flair that he started showing off as well. "You can''t buy these outside; these are made by your future mother-in-law, who knew you liked rabbits, herself. Don''t you want to say a few good words to her so she''ll make you a few more that are even nicer?" Xu Musen''s words made Mother Xu a bit embarrassed too. This sly kid, how come he could make girls so happy with just a few words. On the other end of the phone, An Nuannuan''s voice also sounded a bit restrained. "I don''t dare..." On the other side of the phone, An Nuannuan was also preparing for the New Year''s Eve dinner, staring at the message on her phone screen, her snow-white lovely face blushing like red dates. She looked at the photo of the cute rabbit-shaped steamed buns with stars in her eyes. She hadn''t expected Musen''s mother to be so deft and crafty, able to create such adorable little rabbits, she must be a very gentle person too. But still, she felt a bit nervous, Musen''s mother''s cooking skills were so good, and she had never even set foot in the kitchen, still so clumsy, she wondered whether she would be disliked... S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In her heart, she silently thought that she also needed to learn how to cook. Xu Musen knew An Nuannuan must still be feeling a bit shy, after all, the most complicated relationship in the world is the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship. Even a simpleton like her would think a lot about it. As someone who had been through it herself, Mother Xu understood more. It was normal for the girl to be shy and nervous, she stretched out her hand to pat Xu Musen, giving him a look. Xu Musen could only change the subject first. "Are you eating now?" "Yeah, we''re about to have dinner." "Good, first enjoy your dinner with your grandparents, and I''ll talk to you later." "Mmm." An Nuannuan''s soft and cute voice came through; just as Xu Musen was about to hang up the phone, An Nuannuan''s voice came again. "Xu Musen..." "What''s up?" Xu Musen picked up the phone again. On the other end, An Nuannuan''s voice seemed to slowly bolster her own courage, sounding a bit nervous yet very sincere. "Xu Musen, I''m very happy aunty remembered what I like, I''m very thankful to aunty, but I still don''t know how to talk to her, I''m afraid the first impression won''t be good... Can you and your uncle and aunty wait for me a bit longer, please?" An Nuannuan wasn''t the kind to consider too much what others thought, except when it came to Xu Musen and the people around him. An Nuannuan always wanted to present her best self. She was nervous because she cared. Xu Musen felt warm inside, almost as if he could see her blushing cute face through the phone. Mother Xu also felt like her heart was melting. What a good girl she was; if last time she liked the appearance of this girl''s photo, this time, Mother Xu was also reassured about the girl''s character and virtue. "It''s alright, we''ll be together for the rest of our lives, everything can take its time, we are all waiting for you." Xu Musen said softly. Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire "Okay!" An Nuannuan responded happily. After turning off the phone. Xu Musen and his mom looked at each other. Mother Xu suddenly sighed. "Mom, are you not satisfied?" "I''m not satisfied with you, this kiddo. How could such a nice girl be blinded into falling for you." "Mom, you can''t put down your own son like that!" Xu Musen laughed helplessly and then said, "Mom, in a couple of days, I want to go to Huhai to see Nuannuan." During the New Year, going out at this time would have surely been frowned upon in the past. But now, she hesitated no more. "Go ahead, spend more time with her, and be sure to prepare gifts for her family for the New Year." "So agreeable? You''re not going to say I''ve got a wife and forgotten my mom this time?" "As if you wouldn''t forget if you didn''t get a wife, go on, I''ll knead a few more little rabbits for the girl. Take these away first and stop causing trouble here." Mother Xu said, handing him the steamed buns to take away: "This little cat is for Ming Yue." Xu Musen looked at them: "If this rabbit is Nuannuan, and this little cat is Yao Mingyue, then this dog is that me?" "Yes, my puppy." Mother Xu shooed him out with all seriousness. Xu Musen left with a smile, but just as he turned around, he met a pair of eyes tinged with a slight hint of jealousy. Yao Mingyue was leaning on the kitchen doorway, having been there unnoticed, squinting at Xu Musen who was holding three steamed buns in his hand, especially that little rabbit bun, she clenched her teeth subtly. "Heh, how considerate." It seemed she didn''t want to be a little cat but more like a tigress coming down the mountain Chapter 242 Punishing Xiao Sickly Cutie~ Having learned that Xu Musen was going to spend the New Year with An Nuannuan, Mother Xu hadn''t yet accused him of forgetting his mother because he got a wife. But Xiao Sickly Cutie was twisting her mouth so much that she was almost on par with a lopsided-mouthed war deity. After dinner, Xu Musen had a drink with old dad, and Father Xu, being advanced in age, went to his room and slept like a log after drinking. Mother, on the other hand, was sitting on the balcony with Liu Rushuang, drinking flower tea and chatting away. Liu Rushuang had even brought a nail art machine and a beauty device, and they started discussing skincare and beauty on the spot. After all, no matter the age, women are always enthusiastic about maintenance and beauty. It''s just that in the past few years, with the Xu family''s situation, Mother Xu didn''t talk much about maintenance and would rather save every penny for Xu Musen''s future marriage. But starting now, she could finally breathe a sigh of relief and naturally was very willing to try all sorts of new and interesting ways to take care of her skin with Liu Rushuang. Liu Rushuang did Mother Xu''s nails, and Mother Xu was delighted with the delicate nail art, "Ru Shuang, your skills are truly impressive, I feel like it looks better than those done by professionals." Liu Rushuang''s taste has always been top-notch, and it was not the kind of flashy, vulgar style that''s covered in rhinestones, but rather just the right blend of color and a little bit of decoration, an embellishment that is pleasing to the eye. "I really think that after I retire, I''ll come back home and open a nail salon next to your flower shop, and we can spend our retirement days together." "That sounds wonderful!" The two mothers chatted and laughed, and in a year, there were only these few days to truly relax. Yao Mingyue and Xu Musen were sitting on the living room sofa watching the Spring Festival Gala. However, Yao Mingyue was clearly focused on Xu Musen, huffing and puffing from time to time. Xu Musen really couldn''t take it anymore, "What''s the matter with you? You''ve been huffing and puffing for a while now." "What does it matter to you why I huff and puff? Are you the only one allowed secret meetings, and I can''t even huff and puff on my own?" Yao Mingyue gave him a white look, feeling more and more annoyed because, in past New Years, he would always stick close to her. "What a jumble of absurd words." Xu Musen smile helplessly. As if not satisfied with the situation, Yao Mingyue sat on the sofa, kicked off her slippers, and stretched out her fair little foot to kick him. Though it didn''t hurt and was actually somewhat comforting like a back massage, Xu Musen still reached out and grabbed her smooth and delicate ankle, casually moving it aside. "Stop kicking around with your stinky feet." "My stinky feet?" Yao Mingyue glared, as the last thing girls can stand is being called stinky C all girls are fragrant little princesses, okay? "I''ll smell so sweet it''ll be the end of you!" Yao Mingyue raised her long legs, and under the light, her tender feet looked particularly clear and translucent, with plump and round toes that even revealed the tiny capillaries. At seventeen or eighteen, girls are at their most delicate, like blossoming buds, with the charm of blooming flowers and the tenderness of young blooms. Just like the locust tree that blooms in May and June, using newly blossomed locust flowers to steam dishes is especially tender, paired with mashed garlic, vinegar, and sesame oil, sweet and soft, slightly garlicky on the first bite, followed by a long-lasting and pleasant flower fragrance filling the mouth, irresistibly delicious. "You''re drooling." Yao Mingyue looked at Xu Musen''s expression, and in his eyes, a myriad of emotions flashed, yet none of them resembled disgust. Xu Musen suddenly straightened his face, but he didn''t dare speak loudly, as Mother and Auntie Liu were just chatting below the balcony. "I was dazzled by the glare." "You swallowed." Yao Mingyue, as though discovering something remarkable, squinted slightly, "I used to think you liked my legs, but I never expected your taste to be so... perverse..." Xu Musen couldn''t stand it anymore and wanted to retreat to his room to rest, but Yao Mingyue wouldn''t let him get his way and stretched out her leg to hook around Xu Musen''s thigh. "What are you doing?" "Keep me company watching the Spring Festival Gala." Yao Mingyue looked up and said, then whispered, "If you dare leave, I''ll tell Auntie you''re a pervert." "You''re the pervert!" Xu Musen was speechless. "That doesn''t matter, let''s see who Auntie believes in the end?" Yao Mingyue had the expression of a boar that was not afraid of scalding water. "What are you two whispering about over there?" At this moment, Mother Xu from the balcony also peered over and asked. Xu Musen quickly turned around, his hands behind his back, covering Yao Mingyue''s foot that was hooked onto him. "Nothing, we...", Xu Musen hadn''t finished his words, when suddenly he felt something smooth and soft thrust into his hands. It felt like Yao Mingyue''s little hand but with a delicate and exquisite touch... Xu Musen inwardly cursed, pervert! Who forces someone to be a foot fetishist like this? Sarch* The Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Auntie, I find the sofa a bit cold, and Musen is going to fetch a blanket for me so we can watch the Spring Festival Gala together." At this moment, Yao Mingyue poked her head from the sofa, her phoenix eyes pure and innocent. "Oh, then you better hurry up and don''t let Ming Yue catch a cold," Mother Xu immediately nodded and said to Xu Musen. At this point, Yao Mingyue pulled back her little foot, and Xu Musen was a bit steamed. Watch out, Xiao Sickly Cutie, I''ll get you back for this! Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire He went to the room, brought back a blanket, threw it at Yao Mingyue when he returned to the living room, and then sat in another corner of the sofa. But Yao Mingyue, wrapped in the blanket, somehow managed to move right next to him again. Xu Musen turned to look at her, "Can you be a bit more mindful of your image, please?" "Don''t you like this? I''m letting you squeeze it for free, aren''t you going to thank me?" Chapter 242 Punishing Xiao Sickly Cutie~_2 Yao Mingyue acted as if she had caught Xu Musen in the act, with her equally mischievous self wrapped in the blanket, her delicate white feet still rubbing against Xu Musen under the blanket. At that moment, Mother Xu went to the living room''s water dispenser to refill the teapot with some hot water, and Yao Mingyue quietly placed her foot under the blanket on Xu Musen''s hand again. Xu Musen glared at her. Yao Mingyue showed an expression that said, "What can you do about it?" looking very smug. Xu Musen didn''t consider himself a pervert, but it was really hard for him to resist not giving this little devilish girl a good lesson! Under the blanket, he directly grabbed her foot, the scorching heat of his palm made Yao Mingyue let out a yelp unconsciously. "What''s wrong, Ming Yue?" Mother Xu turned her head and asked. "No, nothing, I just ate too much and burped." Yao Mingyue''s face turned a bit red, she hadn''t expected Xu Musen, the "pushover", to be so bold. In contrast, Xu Musen looked composed at that moment. When it came to foot massages, Xu Musen was very skilled, having practiced in his past life while massaging Yao Mingyue. Furthermore, he had practiced plenty on An Nuannuan in this life. In fact, Yao Mingyue''s feet in his hands did not require him to look; he was familiar with every inch and every sensitive spot, even more than Yao Mingyue knew her own little feet. When Xu Musen lightly pressed on a spot on the sole of her foot, Yao Mingyue immediately felt a particularly ticklish sensation and yelped again. "Ming Yue, are you alright?" Mother Xu came over, somewhat concerned. Now Yao Mingyue was starting to panic a bit, "Auntie, I''m fine, I just choked a little; I''ll be fine with a sip of water." "Oh alright, good, I''ll get you a cup of water." Mother Xu handed her a cup of warm water as well. "Thank you, Auntie..." Yao Mingyue took the water but didn''t dare to move the lower half of her body, while Xu Musen remained calm, watching TV. "You naughty boy, why don''t you take better care of Ming Yue?" Mother Xu also scolded Xu Musen a bit. Xu Musen smiled and said, "Don''t worry, Mom, next time I''ll take good care of her." Xu Musen spoke and squeezed a few familiar pressure points on the sole of her foot. Yao Mingyue, enduring the sensation, blushed and bowed her head, daring not to look up. "Alright, you two enjoy watching TV now." Mother Xu didn''t notice anything amiss and turned back to continue discussing skincare tips with Liu Rushuang. As soon as Mother Xu left, Xu Musen felt Yao Mingyue''s foot become somewhat limp in his hand, indicating she was somewhat surrendering to him. If this massage continued, she was likely to explode in frustration. After all, this Xiao Sickly Cutie, the future female CEO, always liked to maintain an air of superiority over him. "Hmph, now you know the consequences of your mischief, I''ll let you off this time. See if you dare again..." Xu Musen didn''t finish his sentence when he noticed Yao Mingyue leaning softly against his shoulder, her face flushed. Her pair of phoenix eyes held a bewitching charm: "I still dare, why don''t you keep bullying me, please?" Xu Musen''s massage was indeed very comforting, every touch landed on her favorite spots, as if he had practiced countless times, almost addictive to her. But to Xu Musen, her look made his legs go weak. In his last life, that look from her would have meant big trouble for him. Xu Musen quickly stood up. "What''s wrong now?" Mother Xu, hearing the noise, turned back to look at her son who looked as if he had seen a ghost and asked unhappily. "I... choked as well, I''ll have some water." Xu Musen found an excuse. But Yao Mingyue handed him her cup, "You drink this, no need to bother Mom and Auntie while they''re chatting." "Exactly, we can''t even have a conversation, so no need to move around for no reason." Mother Xu said, and shut the sliding door to the balcony, then turned her head back to continue studying the nail printer. Liu Rushuang seemed to sense something, her eyes flickered, the phoenix eyes narrowed slightly without any sign, and she smiled quietly. Xu Musen sat down feeling slightly resigned. Now, Yao Mingyue was moving closer again. Xu Musen was just about to put some distance between them when Yao Mingyue gently hugged his arm. "Alright, I''ll stop teasing you. Will you join me to watch TV for a while? It''s only once a year that we have this Spring Festival Gala." Her complexion still bore the bloom of color, and her head lightly rested on Xu Musen''s shoulder. She turned so swiftly that Xu Musen was caught a bit off guard. Enjoy new stories from My Virtual Library Empire But looking at Yao Mingyue acting oddly obedient at this moment, Xu Musen found himself at a loss for words as well. In fact, he had imagined this scene countless times, where the two of them could snuggle up close together to watch the Spring Festival Gala. Today, it had been so unexpectedly realized. "Xu Musen, when you pinched my foot just now, why were you so proficient?" Yao Mingyue suddenly asked, her eyes sparkling with a luster that made it hard to meet her gaze. Xu Musen, of course, couldn''t say he had pinched it countless times in his past life: "You''re imagining things." "Imagining things Does imagining let you press that many times? And did pinching that time give you the feeling of fulfilling a regret?" Yao Mingyue squinted her eyes and kept pressing for an answer. Xu Musen didn''t answer her. Yao Mingyue hummed with a smile, "Whether you admit it or not, you still like me, just as I like you. It''s instinctual; you can''t resist it, nor can you forget it, no matter how many times we start over..." Yao Mingyue''s last words were spoken so softly that Xu Musen didn''t hear them clearly; he looked down at her. Yao Mingyue''s phoenix eyes sparkled, and she seemed to have no intention of repeating herself, instead, she made herself comfortable on Xu Musen''s shoulder, ready to sleep. "Aren''t you going to watch TV anymore?" "There''s nothing good left to watch. From now on, it''s just song and dance dramas, I''m so bored with the Thousand-Hand Guanyin and Peacock Dance, I''ll just take a nap," Yao Mingyue said offhandedly. Xu Musen felt a bit helpless; of the Spring Festival Gala, he could only remember some outstanding sketches, but as for song and dance dramas, those were typically when he''d take a bathroom break. Sarch* The ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yao Mingyue leaned on his shoulder, and Xu Musen looked at her. Yao Mingyue was always a bit susceptible to the cold, and she seemed to feel a chill even wrapped in a blanket, especially her hands and feet, which he had felt when he had held them earlier. She quietly closed her eyes and seemed genuinely about to doze off. The warm family environment at home, the fireworks ascending outside the window, the laughter of Mother Xu and Auntie Liu chatting on the balcony, as well as the warmth from Xu Musen''s body, all lulled Yao Mingyue quickly into dreamland. One dream after another seemed to emerge in her mind. Xu Musen felt that she might be dreaming again, some were good, and some were bad. The body temperature drops slightly when one is asleep. Xu Musen touched her feet, which were a bit cold; he shook her, hoping she''d at least put on some socks, but Yao Mingyue just clung tighter to his arm. "Musen, I miss you so much; don''t leave me again..." The girl murmured with a giggle, Xu Musen didn''t catch it clearly, but he could make out some words. He sighed, neither willing nor able to wake her up. Ever since she fell into the lake, it always seemed like she had changed a lot, including her confession to Xu Musen at the school. Indeed, it had filled a void in Xu Musen''s heart that had persisted for a long while. Such behavior, if it were in his previous life, would have been utterly impossible. "I really owe you..." Xu Musen sighed again and quietly warmed her feet with his palms under the blanket. Yao Mingyue was right, what followed on TV were indeed all song and dance dramas, and there indeed was a Thousand-Hand Guanyin and a Peacock Dance. Perhaps it was a coincidence. Xu Musen wasn''t too interested in watching, but at this moment, the atmosphere here was really warm and comfortable. Dad, having drunk too much, could rest with ease, and if Uncle Yao were still around, the two of them could play a game of chess. Mom and Auntie Liu were discussing topics that women enjoyed the most. He and Yao Mingyue snuggled together watching the Spring Festival Gala, listening to the booming fireworks outside. Despite the piercing cold winds, it felt like springtime within the room. Xu Musen looked at Yao Mingyue''s profile; perhaps it was because of the room''s warm lighting, but it made Yao Mingyue seem even more tender. If there were two parallel lines in this world, without that accident, perhaps all these enjoyable moments would have been realized. But now, looking at Yao Mingyue, He didn''t feel he could really forget her completely. She was Nuannuan as well. Xu Musen knew his thoughts were dangerous right now, but in the end, he just shook his head and gave a bitter smile. Maybe he really wasn''t such a good person after all. But deep down, Xu Musen felt he might have a better future choice... Chapter 243 Im here to see you on behalf of Santa Claus. The second and third days of the Chinese New Year are for visiting the maternal side of the family. This is a very important custom among the Han ethnicity. It''s also a good day for meeting the parents. Of course, since Xu Musen hasn''t married and brought home a wife yet, he could only visit his prospective father-in-law''s house. Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire Mother Xu got up at around four or five in the morning. Knowing that An Nuannuan liked little rabbits, she meticulously made several steamed buns in the shape of rabbits, each with a unique pose. She also made some pastries for Xu Musen to take with him. "The family doesn''t lack anything... but you should bring all the gifts you''re supposed to give," she said. Father Xu also gave his instructions early in the morning, scratching his head, thinking the best they could take was a couple of bottles of aged Wuliangye. But they knew that this girl An Nuannuan''s family wasn''t short of money, and they were unsure if their gifts would be deemed insufficient. But they needed to give what had to be given. S~ea??h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Mother Xu packed the prepared sweets and other items in a fine dining box. Handmade things show more sincerity. Xu Musen, looking at his parents who were even more nervous than him, said with a smile, "You don''t need to worry, it''s not like I''ve never been there, I know what to do." "This is different, this is a formal New Year''s visit, don''t be casual about it," Mother Xu earnestly instructed. "Alright, alright, I got it," Xu Musen nodded and agreed, then carefully took something from the fridge and placed it into a small thermal cooler. "What are you taking?" "A gift, also handmade by me, Nuannuan will definitely like it more," Xu Musen said cheerfully. "Looking at you..." Mother Xu said with a hint of exasperation, really, trying to outdo his own mother. "Right, should I also make you a couple of dishes for you to eat on the road at lunchtime?" "Never mind, by the time we set off it will be dark when we arrive, I''ll just eat some instant noodles at a service area along the way," Xu Musen shook his head, not wanting to inconvenience his mother who had been busy since early morning. He went downstairs and arranged everything properly in the car''s trunk. Xu Musen decided to drive there, to arrive faster, which meant he could probably reach by evening. Also, he didn''t tell Nuannuan about his visit today, but he had spoken to the grandparents in advance, hoping to give An Nuannuan a surprise. With everything ready, Xu Musen looked at the villa beside him; Xiao Sickly Cutie hadn''t come over this morning to nag as usual. Xu Musen suddenly felt a bit unaccustomed to it. Based on her character, she would have been standing by his bed whining early in the morning. Just as Xu Musen closed the trunk and was about to get into the car, a voice reached him from behind. The crunching sound of steps in the snow; he turned to look, and Yao Mingyue appeared behind him. She was also carrying something. Yao Mingyue saw the down jacket he was wearing, identical to one they had bought together. There was only a slight color difference, but this set matched An Nuannuan''s. She huffed. And threw what she was holding at him. "A lunchbox?" Xu Musen caught it and weighed it, feeling some residual warmth. "For me?" "For a dog," Yao Mingyue huffed and turned her head away. Used to being insulted by her, Xu Musen looked at the exquisite lunchbox, but one glance told him it wasn''t from a restaurant; it was her usual one. Xu Musen opened one layer and a wave of meaty fragrance wafted out, sweet and sour pork ribs... This was definitely not made by a chef, because Xu Musen noticed two pieces were burnt; he looked up at Yao Mingyue. "Did you make these?" The future female CEO who never ventured into the kitchen was cooking him a meal? "I was clearing out the fridge and just made it along the way, if not eaten it would have just fed a dog," Yao Mingyue said, seeing Xu Musen''s gaze and slightly turning her head away, looking sickly and coquettish in a way that unexpectedly made him find her silly but cute. A dog, eh? Xu Musen didn''t mind at all, he had been one in the household for many years anyway. Besides, the lunchbox contained a couple of dishes that required some preparation time, and considering how late she stayed up watching the New Year''s Gala, Yao Mingyue seemed to be in a state of lack of sleep. And with her being a kitchen novice, it''s hard to tell how many attempts she''d had before finally succeeding. This batch of pork ribs that didn''t look perfect was probably what she herself felt was the best she had made so far. "Thank you," Xu Musen collected the lunchbox, and seeing Yao Mingyue still somewhat caring, he smiled and said, "Now I don''t have to worry about being hungry." "Tsk, some people are so good at sneaking treats, how could they ever be hungry, and don''t you dare say my cooking is not tasty!" Yao Mingyue''s lips couldn''t help curling into a smile, but she continued to be unkind with her words. Xu Musen shook his head and smiled, remembering in his past life how he always used to bring her breakfast at the university and after they got married, it was always him cooking for her. Otherwise, the maid cooked and delivered it to them. This was the first time Xu Musen had received a meal she made by hand. Once, Xu Musen had longed for a normal life where Yao Mingyue would occasionally put on an apron to cook and tell him "Honey, you''re home, get ready for dinner..." Xu Musen felt a bit dazed, his tone growing softer as he looked at Yao Mingyue: "Go back inside, it''s cold out here." Yao Mingyue pursed her lips slightly, and looked at Xu Musen, seeming like she wanted to say something but held back, only letting out a huff at last. "Be careful that someone doesn''t get kicked out when going to visit others during the New Year." Xu Musen jokingly replied, "It shouldn''t come to that." Chapter 243 Im here to see you on behalf of Santa Claus._2 Yao Mingyue''s gaze lingered on Xu Musen, "It doesn''t matter to me whether they''re good to you or not, but tell her, if they aren''t good to you, then don''t blame me for turning against her and snatching you away immediately!" If they are good to you, then she''ll slowly snatch you away too... Xu Musen looked at the stubbornness in Yao Mingyue''s eyes that perhaps would never change. Xu Musen silently shook his head, "Do you have anything else you want to say to me?" Sar?h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yao Mingyue''s foot hovered half an inch above the snowy ground, but then she seemed to kick at the piled snow, "I have nothing much to say to you... Be careful on the road; without me, there''s no one to save you if something happens." That mouth of hers... Xu Musen, however, smiled, "I''ll take your good words to heart, then I''ll be leaving first." As the vehicle left, it left two tracks on the ground; Yao Mingyue stood there, watching the direction he left for a long time. Only then did she take out the scarf that had been clenched behind her, wrinkled from her grip. Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire The scarf, which she had taken many days to knit, was somewhat crooked and could not be considered aesthetically pleasing. Her fingers were pricked by the needles several times. This was her first time knitting a scarf. Giving a scarf she had personally knitted to a boy was like a boy giving a girl the first bouquet of flowers; it held significant meaning. But Yao Mingyue, who was always very confident in herself, felt somewhat unsure about the scarf she had knitted. She looked at the somewhat "sloppy" scarf in her hands... not very good-looking, sure, but it was warm. Yet she hadn''t mustered up the courage to give it away... After all, neither Yao Mingyue nor Xu Musen wanted their precious firsts to be so sloppy. This complicated, twisted, anxious, yet hopeful feeling made Yao Mingyue increasingly enlightened. She looked down at the scarf in her hands, just like her once broken and ragged self. But Xu Musen still treasured her. But now, Yao Mingyue couldn''t give him her broken and ragged self anymore; she needed to become his favorite... At the window of the villa. Auntie Liu stood silently watching the scene unfold below. She too gave a light chuckle and shook her head in contemplation. The breakfast today was what Yao Mingyue had been learning how to cook from videos ever since she returned from Xu Musen''s home. After many hours spent making simple dishes and countless failures, she''d repeated the process over and over again. Her scarf too had been knitted imperfectly, but it was after all the first scarf Yao Mingyue had ever personally crafted. Her daughter had changed a lot recently, especially compared to the past when she was stubborn and always craving more security. Now, she was finally learning how to love others, how to express her affection. Just that, it wasn''t known whether this realization had come too late... Liu Rushuang lifted her head to the snow-laden scenery outside, it was quite cold this year, but each day from now on was a day closer to spring. ... Evening. In a house in Huhai, An Nuannuan was sitting by the bedside table. Instead of drawing, she was writing something in a notebook, repeating the words quietly to herself over and over again. The words would make her cheeks flush red, making her feel it wasn''t right, and she continued to furiously turn the page to start over again. The sun outside was about to set. It was almost time for dinner. An Nuannuan looked up at the setting sun, her cute, rosy face tinted by the warm sunlight, resembling a ripening plum. She leaned on the table, glancing at the calendar. The New Year had started, and Santa Claus had not yet come; could it be he was delayed by traffic regulations even on his reindeer... Moreover, this year in Huhai, not a single snowflake had fallen, and many trees outside were bare. She really wanted to play in the snow... A bit glum, she puffed up her cheeks, looking like a small, inflated pufferfish. It had been a very long time since she had last replenished her Musen energy; she felt listless, as if she was going through withdrawal. "Sister, it''s time to eat." Just then, a little head popped in. An Nannan''s large eyes sparkled with a bit of excitement. "Sister, let''s go wash our hands together." Nannan hugged her sister''s arm. An Nuannuan could now walk slowly on her own, but the little girl still enjoyed walking forwards, snuggled up close to her sister. Departing the room, they went to the adjacent bathroom, where An Nuannuan briefly washed her hands, preparing to return. But An Nan pulled on her sister''s hand, holding hand soap with a serious look, "Sister, our teacher said there''s a virus called hand-foot-mouth disease, so we really need to wash our hands for at least a couple of minutes." An Nuannuan was always willing to play along with her sister''s antics, and together, their hands mimicked the TV demonstrations and started to scrub slowly. However, An Nan kept sneaking glances towards the hallway... "Sister, has that guy said anything about coming to visit you?" An Nan suddenly asked. "He should have..." An Nuannuan thought to herself, he said he would send Santa Claus, but the New Year had already begun, and he still hadn''t come. "Humph, humph, humph! If I had a girlfriend as great as you, I definitely couldn''t bear to be apart even for a day. When he comes, you have to punish him good!" An Nan said with a mischievous instigation. Chapter 243 Im here to see you on behalf of Santa Claus. _3 An Nuannuan blinked her large eyes and thought to herself, punish him yes, she must punish him. But before the punishment, An Nuannuan really wanted to have a good hug, cuddle, and kiss with him first. She went downstairs. In the living room, Grandpa and Grandma were already seated at the dining table, and the delicious smell of the dishes permeated throughout. Although they always ate well, An Nuannuan felt that today''s dishes had a very familiar taste to them. "Have you washed your hands? Come and get ready for dinner." Grandpa and Grandma also seemed especially happy today, smiling warmly as they invited their granddaughters to sit down. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The dishes on the table today seemed even more abundant than those of New Year''s Eve''s feast the day before. And Grandpa and Grandma were also wearing their beautiful new clothes. An Nuannuan curiously asked, "Why are we having so much food again today?" Grandma caressed her granddaughter''s head, her eyes brimming with laughter, "Because today, someone has come back to see you." An Nuannuan''s eyes widened as she scanned the dishes on the table, which truly tasted different from usual. She instantly felt a joy that brightened up her appearance. At that moment, the kitchen door was slowly pushed open, and a tall and straight figure emerged. An Nuannuan couldn''t help but stand up; her eyes filled with long-suppressed excitement as she looked towards the kitchen entrance. However, when she clearly saw the person standing there, An Nuannuan was momentarily stunned. "Eh... Dad, Daddy?" At the kitchen entrance stood An Shanhai, holding a dinner plate, still clad in his suit without having time to change, seeing the expression of his daughter shifting from surprise to a bit of bewilderment. He smiled helplessly, not blaming Nuannuan for her reaction, as it had been several years since he last came home for the New Year. It was natural for the child to feel resentful; this was his own failing towards Nuannuan and Nannan. Carrying the dinner plate, he walked over to his increasingly grown-up daughters; he wanted to reach out and touch their heads, but felt too remorseful and retracted his hand, "Daddy''s back. Let''s celebrate the New Year together, and from now on, every year we''ll celebrate together." An Shanhai, like many traditional fathers, was not good at expressing his feelings, and even apologizing seemed awkward and understated. Yet, that statement softened the atmosphere at the dining table. "Mm-hmm!" An Nuannuan nodded, looking at her aging father, whose face was etched with wrinkles and whose once staunch figure seemed to show signs of fatigue when seen from up close. Though she had held some resentment in her heart, she understood that after the death of their mother, the person most heartbroken was actually her dad. An Nuannuan never wanted to dwell on anyone''s past; their incrementally improved lives were what Mom would have most wanted to see. Grandpa and Grandma also felt a twinge of emotion, not having experienced such a harmonious scene in a long time. "However, this dish was specially prepared for you by a little rascal." An Shanhai set down the dinner plate he was holding, gazing at his daughter with a wistful smile as he slowly lifted the lid off the plate. Inside the plate were not extravagant delicacies such as lobster or abalone, but a few white steamed buns. Read the latest on My Virtual Library Empire To be precise, they were steamed buns pinched into the shape of rabbits, decorated with raisins, red beans, and dates to form the eyes, making them look just like several real snowy white rabbits that had been steamed. "Wow! So cute!" An Nannan''s eyes immediately lit up, "Where did you buy these?" "Xu Musen..." Yet, at this moment, just as An Nuannuan had seated herself, she stood again, her eyes locked on the rabbit-shaped steamed buns in the plate, her previous bit of disappointment now dissolved by immense surprise. Click, click... The kitchen door opened once again, and the man An Nuannuan was muttering about emerged with a gentle smile. Musen was wearing an apron, holding An Nuannuan''s favorite dessert in his hand, appearing as if he stepped out of an idol drama.> He stood in front of An Nuannuan, smiling warmly at her. "Nuannuan, Santa Claus got stuck in traffic, so I came to check on you instead." An Nuannuan''s dazed face instantly flushed with a red glow, the yearning in her eyes palpable, giving her the strength to stand. She got up, staggered a couple of steps, and plunged headlong into Xu Musen''s arms. "Xu Musen..." As the girl called out his name, it seemed all her longing from the days apart melted into those three words and into Xu Musen''s embrace. Xu Musen reached out to gently stroke her head, this too was his lifetime''s greatest treasure. "Happy New Year, from now on, every year, I''ll be with you." At this moment, it was winter, yet so warm. The grandparents wore a benevolent look, experienced as they were, recognizing the authenticity and preciousness of this affection. An Nannan watched, huffing slightly, feeling a little jealousher sister had never hugged her with such excitement. And she had just provided this guy with a cover too. Humph! No debt could be settled without ten sticks of roasted sausages and three cups of milk tea! An Shanhai''s expression turned complex, a mix of happiness and the melancholy that comes with being a father watching his daughter grow up. They say that a man forgets his mother when he finds a wife. The same could be said for a girl. Nevertheless, An Shanhai felt relieved; he knew that many things he couldn''t make up to his daughter. Now, seeing his daughter living happily was what mattered the most, making this the most perfect New Year''s Eve dinner they had shared in many years... Chapter 244 Nuannuan Wants to be a Naughty Child~ Huhai. The New Year''s Eve dinner lasted a long time. Both the old man and An Shanhai now treated Xu Musen as a future son-in-law. The alcohol flowed glass by glass, as both the elder and An Shanhai were seasoned drinkers. But Xu Musen was on another level, hardly showing signs of drunkenness even after more than a jin had gone down his gullet. When a man had one too many drinks, no matter how formidable the people he faced, boasting and reminiscing were inevitable. As the old man spoke, the conversation inevitably turned to An Shanhai, and he unconsciously chided him for not coming home these past few years. Now a business mogul in his own right, An Shanhai had no choice but to bow his head and admit his wrongs to his father. As the elder''s words grew more impassioned, he almost wanted to drag An Shanhai outside for some exercise, nearly staging an elderly version of "seven wolves." In the end, a glance from grandma extinguished his fervor in an instant. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire However, back and forth these exchanges went, and the atmosphere around the table became increasingly harmonious. Any previous divisions were slowly melting away. Dinner ended. The family seemed to have an unspoken agreement, giving Xu Musen and Nuannuan some space to themselves. After all, it was only natural to allow young people some time to be affectionate, lest they be more prone to accidents. Xu Musen helped An Nuannuan upstairs, and though she could manage the stairs herself, she acted as if she couldn''t walk as soon as Xu Musen was around. She clung to him entirely. Upon reaching the room. Sear?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. An Nuannuan''s room was still covered in shades of pink, the air rich with the scent of milk and fruit, surrounded by many rabbit dolls. I remember the first time I came here, it felt somewhat empty, but now there were even more dolls. The little lady herself had changed too. In contrast to her former dazed self, she now spoke and laughed more. Xu Musen gently laid her on the bed. The two of them exchanged silent glances for a while. An Nuannuan''s gaze never left him, reminiscent of a staring bunny. Xu Musen couldn''t help but cup her chubby cheeks and rubbed them gently with just a bit of force. How he had missed this very touch! It was as soft as cotton candy and irresistibly moist. "Still staring? Don''t your eyes hurt?" Xu Musen said contentedly. "Because, I want to catch up on all the days I haven''t seen Xu Musen." An Nuannuan''s cheeks squished as she spoke, her voice slightly whistling. She also loved the sensation of Xu Musen''s slightly rough yet warm palms on her face. As the girl spoke, her eyes reflected only his image, like a sparkling river of stars in the night sky. Her lips were slightly pursed, translucent and tender. Returned affection is sweeter than new love. Xu Musen leaned down and savored a long-missed kiss. Sweet Like bite-sized pieces of fruit pudding. Although the family had given them privacy, Xu Musen didn''t overstep, preferring moderation. As he lifted his head, An Nuannuan seemed reenergized, her whole complexion glowing rosily and pliantly nestled in Xu Musen''s embrace. "Why didn''t you give me a heads-up about coming today?" An Nuannuan poked him with her finger. "But you had already guessed, hadn''t you?" Xu Musen replied with a smile. An Nuannuan might seem simple but was actually quite clever. If he mentioned that Santa Claus would visit her, she would definitely guess that Santa Claus was Xu Musen. "Also, I wanted to surprise you. Are you happy with it?" An Nuannuan nodded, then looked up into Xu Musen''s eyes, "But rather than a surprise, I''d prefer being told in advance." "Why? Don''t you like surprises?" Xu Musen asked, smiling. An Nuannuan snuggled even closer into his arms. "Because a surprise only makes me happy for a moment, but if you tell me in advance, I could be happier a day sooner, or even a month sooner if you tell me a month ahead..." An Nuannuan calculated with her fingers, appearing to count her losses more and more. She pouted, her large eyes shimmering with a luster that was impossible to deny: "You owe me all this happiness..." Listening to her, Xu Musen felt a warmth at the core of his being and couldn''t help but laugh, gently pinching An Nuannuan''s chin: "Then how would you like me to make it up to you?" An Nuannuan''s face flushed as her mind raced with many thoughts, like going shopping together, eating delicious food, watching movies, or simply quiet moments watching the world go by... "Nuannuan, didn''t you want to see the snow?" Xu Musen''s voice interrupted her train of thought. The mention of snow filled An Nuannuan with anticipation, but the scenery outside the window was barethe likelihood of snow an impossibility. "But it doesn''t snow in Huhai." "I promised you, this year you''ll definitely see snow." Xu Musen looked at her expectant eyes, a mysterious smile on his face, then stretched out his finger and pointed towards her window sill. Following the direction of Xu Musen''s pointer, An Nuannuan saw that where a flowerpot usually sat on one of the room''s windows, now there was a small box decorated with Christmas stickers. "Go take a look." Xu Musen smiled, helping her up and guiding her to the window. An Nuannuan eyed the Christmas-stickered box, resembling a carefully prepared Christmas gift. In the center of the box was a button, with an arrow indicating it. She looked up at Xu Musen, the brilliance of surprise in her eyes shining brightly. Chapter 244 Nuannuan Wants to be a Naughty Child~_2 "What''s inside this?" "Open it and see." Xu Musen''s smile was indulgent and proud. An Nuannuan looked at the button in the middle of the box, and she slowly stretched out her finger to press it down. Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire "Click~" A crisp mechanical sound rang out, followed by a flow of gentle music, similar to that of a music box. Lights lined up inside the box, colorful and pretty. This little box was actually a mini fridge. In the center of the box, a delicate little snowman stood quietly in place, resembling a little white rabbit waiting for its owner. The moment she saw the snowman, An Nuannuan recognized it as the one Xu Musen had shown her in a photo a few days earlier. She looked up at Xu Musen, truly surprised by the gift she had not expected. "You better not think my gift is too modest, after all, I made it with my own hands." Xu Musen said with a smile as he tapped her nose gently. This gift, if given to some other girls, might have ended up being shown off on some Red Book-like platform. "Who gets it, ladies? For the New Year, my lousy boyfriend got me just a broken snowman..." But at this moment, An Nuannuan''s eyes were like the melting snow, shining with a crystalline luster that seemed to melt others as well. She looked at the delicate and adorable little snowman, and at Xu Musen''s tender gaze. In her heart, this was not just any gift, but a token of his intent to meticulously preserve the fragile snowman she whimsically wished to play with and send it across miles into her hands. "Musen..." An Nuannuan was not articulate; she couldn''t speak sweet words like other girls. Instead, she hugged Xu Musen tightly. "Thank you... I''m so happy, this is the best gift I''ve received this year." Her voice seemed to tremble slightly as Xu Musen quietly stroked her head. For a young man, to have a handmade gift, regardless of its monetary value, cherished like a treasure by the person he likes, brought an indescribable sense of achievement and reward! An Nuannuan carefully touched the snowman, not daring to really take it out. Her fingertips felt cold, but her heart was filled with warmth. This was her snowman; she looked at it, then closed the door of the fridge again. "Why don''t you take it out to look?" "I''m afraid it''ll melt..." "If it melts, I''ll make you another, a big one!" Xu Musen gestured to indicate a snowman as big as her. An Nuannuan treasured the little box: "I want this one, and I want the big one too." As she said this, her other hand gently tugged at the corner of Xu Musen''s clothes, her voice soft yet sweet: "And I want you too." The tone of her remark reminded Xu Musen of Xiao Sickly Cutie. One felt inescapable, while the other felt like there was no desire to escape. Xu Musen smiled and pinched her cheek: "You''re quite greedy, but I promise." An Nuannuan threw herself into his arms, stood on her tiptoes, and the distance between themonce only reachable when she was in a wheelchair and he had to bend downcould finally be bridged with just a tip-toe''s reach. The happiness of tiptoeing. The two kissed gently. It was still a shallow taste, but An Nuannuan''s face turned a crimson that was quite unmistakable. She moved her legs slightly and looked down. Xu Musen too felt a flush on his face. Having been apart for so long, it was normal for a young man to have some small reactions. "It''s late, we should get some rest. Otherwise, if I don''t leave your room, I guess the whole family won''t be able to sleep." Xu Musen gently patted her head. After all, at Nuannuan''s house, with the old man outside the room drunk, if he knew Xu Musen had taken advantage of his granddaughter, he probably would have come at him with Guan Blade in hand, ready to chop Xu Dog with some warm wine. Sarch* The Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. An Nuannuan was aware; she nodded but kept looking at Xu Musen. She pursed her lips, but in the end, said nothing. She left the room. Indeed, the old man was leaning against the staircase, ready to rush up at the slightest rustle of leaves. An Shanhai was also sipping tea. Seeing Xu Musen come out, he smiled and gestured to him to come over. Xu Musen descended the stairs and took a seat with a greeting. "Xiao Sen, you''re still staying in the room from last time; it''s all prepared for you." Grandma said with a smile, implying that the room was essentially reserved for Xu Musen from now on. "Okay, thank you, Grandma." Xu Musen nodded, complying with the arrangements. Xu Musen and An Shanhai drank tea together. An Shanhai personally poured a cup of tea for his future son-in-law. "It''s a long way from Zheng City to here, are you tired?" "Not really, an occasional long drive is not a bother." "Youth is great." "Uncle An, you are also in good health. To be in your condition at your age is not easy." Xu Musen responded with a smile, knowing that flattery of his future father-in-law was still necessary. "Ah, but I''m old, especially this leg of mine... Nuannuan''s mother passed away early, and over the years, I feel I haven''t done what a father should have, always feeling I''ve let Nuannuan down." An Shanhai sighed; his leg had been broken in an earthquake years ago, or he wouldn''t have had to watch Nuannuan''s mother leave this world right before his eyes. Listening, Xu Musen said softly, "You''re much like my father. He injured his leg in a car accident as well and always feels like he''s been a burden to me. But he has done his best, and no one is perfect in this world. I believe Nuannuan and Nannan feel the same." Chapter 244 Nuannuan Wants to be a Naughty Child~_3 An Shanhai listened quietly for a while before a smile slowly appeared on his face, and his satisfaction grew when he looked at Xu Musen. "Nuannuan is lucky to have found someone like you who takes such good care of her. Her mother passed away early, and before she did, she always entrusted me to find Nuannuan a good family, mainly one that would treat her well. Now, I can rest easy." As An Shanhai spoke, he poured another cup of tea for Xu Musen, "But, Nuannuan''s health has only just recovered, and she can''t quite compare to other girls. You also need to take good care of her at school, make sure she doesn''t get hurt or become too emotionally upset." Xu Musen listened in silence and nodded, but inside he couldn''t help but wryly smile, the old man was obviously pointing fingers at him. He could understand, though, given Nuannuan''s fragile health, and as a girl, she would be the one to suffer any consequences in the end. Becoming a father obviously made him extra cautious. Xu Musen nodded: "Don''t worry, Uncle An, Nuannuan and I are very happy now, I will take good care of her." An Shanhai knew that at this stage in a young person''s life, even if they truly reached that step. He couldn''t really say much, after all, it was mutual consent, and it was a very normal part of life. Still, he was very pleased with Xu Musen''s response. "You are both young, and there are many days ahead of you. Alright, you must be tired after driving all day, get some rest early, we''ll chat more tomorrow." An Shanhai patted Xu Musen on the shoulder. And went off to sleep. ... After showering, Xu Musen lay down on the soft bed, somewhat exhausted from driving all day; he began to doze off as soon as he laid down. In the next room, An Nannan came in again, sent on a mission to sleep with her sister. sea??h th n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But as soon as she entered the room, she saw her sister, staring at the small box on the desk with a slightly goofy smile. "Sister, what are you looking at?" An Nannan ran over lightly, and when she saw the small snowman in the box, her eyes sparkled brightly. "Wow! Such a cute snowman, eh? But it hasn''t snowed here, has it?" "He made it for me." An Nuannuan spoke, her face showing pride. "He? He can actually make snowmen?" An Nannan didn''t expect that, looking at the adorable snowman, it did indeed resemble her sister a bit. "Hehe, sister, can I touch it?" "Better not." "Ah? Sister, you''re rejecting your cute little sister?!" An Nannan looked wounded, her face one of a sibling forgotten for a lover. An Nuannuan smiled, she herself was reluctant to touch it. "You can have boys give you one in the future, too." Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire "No, no, I don''t want to date, I just want to be with Sister." Shaking her head and twirling her large eyes, An Nannan huffed, "Humph, I''ll make that guy help me make one too, especially since I covered for him" An Nuannuan gently patted her little bottom: "Time for bed." "Mhmm!" An Nannan happily prepared to snuggle up with her sister''s arm and sleep. But An Nuannuan stared at the ceiling and then glanced at her sister, who was not yet sleepy, and suddenly asked, "Nannan, can''t you fall asleep?" "Yeah, I ate too much, I''ll lie here for a while." "Then why don''t you get up and do some winter homework for a bit?" "???" "Let set A = {1,2,3,4,5}, the mapping f: AA satisfies, for all x in A, f(f(f(x)))=f(z)..." "Hoo hoo hoo~" An Nuannuan really brought out her summer homework, but An Nannan was fast asleep before even two problems were discussed. It was an old trick, and especially effective. An Nuannuan pursed her lips slightly, her cheeks gradually flushing; she always felt like she was becoming mischievous. And after last time, she had secretly looked up some things on her phone; actually, such matters were normal. It was even uncomfortable for boys if she always held back... She pursed her lips, decided to be a ''bad kid'' after all. She gently moved Nannan aside and slowly got out of bed... Chapter 245 The Right Way for a Younger Aunt to Ask for a Red Packet! Xu Musen rarely locked his door when sleeping at home. Locks, after all, are only meant to deter the honest. His parents would always knock before entering his room. And then there was that Xiao Sickly Cutie, even if you replaced the door with a security lock, she had ways to pick it. Therefore, at this moment, his bedroom door was quietly pushed open a crack. A pair of big eyes blinked as they peered through the gap. Then, the figure clad in a pink pajama slowly entered the room and gently locked the door behind her. Although it wasn''t the first time she came to find him in the dead of night, An Nuannuan still felt a bit jittery, aware that what she was doing was a little improper, but today''s surprises were just too overwhelming. Moreover, it had been a long time since they''d cuddled up together for a nap. An Nuannuan missed those days at school when they would take a break in their small roomshe would snuggle into his arms and sleep incredibly peacefully. She approached Xu Musen''s bed and gazed at his cheeks, just within reach. An Nuannuan held her own cheeks, her eyes bright as if they were skies washed clean, quietly watching him for a good while. She reached out and gently nudged him. Sarch* The N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. No response. An Nuannuan then pinched his nose. Still no response. An Nuannuan''s cheeks flushed as she slowly lifted his blanket and carefully lay down inside. At this, Xu Musen, though still not awake, subconsciously wrapped his arms around Nuannuan. In the dead of winter, the sudden appearance of something sweet, soft, and warm in his arms was instinctively nuzzled. And men, well, they''re like driversa seasoned driver can find the clutch, brakes, accelerator, and gears with their eyes closed, first gear, second gear, third gear... An Nuannuan let out a soft murmur, but Xu Musen''s embrace was truly warm, and now her heartbeat quickened, even if his hold made it a bit hard to breathe. Yet An Nuannuan still wanted to lie there a bit longer. Just then, Xu Musen seemed to have dreamt somethinghe dreamt that he and his mother were learning how to mold steamed buns, and he fashioned one into a large White Rabbit. A rather large, lifelike, round, and fluffy White Rabbit, finally adorned with a tiny red bean. Holding the hot bun in his hand after it came out of the steamer, Xu Musen couldn''t resist giving it a squeeze. "Mmm..." Half-asleep, Xu Musen felt some movement in his arms, as if there really was a large White Rabbit kicking him. Xu Musen slowly awoke, feeling that something was amiss... He looked down and saw a large White... Nuannuan the Cutie had somehow burrowed into his blanket! "Nuannuan?" Xu Musen looked at the flushed An Nuannuan, "Why are you..." Before he could finish, An Nuannuan slightly gasped with a breathy tone, "Xu Musen, my chest feels a bit stuffy..." Xu Musen looked down, his face turning red, and quickly let go of her, "I didn''t do it on purpose." "I know, you do that subconsciously." An Nuannuan breathed a sigh of relief, looking up at Xu Musen, she gave her candid assessment. Xu Musen felt a bit embarrassedthis... well, it was just instinct for a man. However, seeing An Nuannuan panting slightly, as if she were a White Rabbit who had presented herself, wouldn''t he be worse than a beast not to take a bite? He hugged An Nuannuan tighter, smiling as he sharpened his wolf teeth, "I can''t be blamed for this. Who made you climb into my bed in the middle of the night? If you ask me, you tempted me. Don''t you believe I could gobble you up?" Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire Held in his embrace, surrounded by a captivating warmth, An Nuannuan genuinely enjoyed being held like this. Faced with Xu Musen''s threat, An Nuannuan blinked, not sure if it was an illusion. It seemed there was a bit of Ming Yue''s cunning in her tone. "You wouldn''t dare. My grandfather would break your legs." Xu Musen was genuinely concerned, but looking at An Nuannuan''s little expression, he leaned down and teased her fiercely for a while. After a bit, Xu Musen let go of her. Looking at the blush-covered An Nuannuan, he triumphantly declared, "Still dare to talk back to me?" An Nuannuan humphed while nestled in his arms, her lips pursed, "You started it." "Me?" Xu Musen laughed, "How did I talk back to you?" "Your little straw." "..." So we''re still on this topic! Xu Musen reached out and gently rubbed her cheek, "You shouldn''t speak like that about your future husband, you know?" "Hmm... why not?" An Nuannuan blinked. "Would you be happy if someone called you Princess Taiping?" Xu Musen said seriously. Ming Yue''s figure was already perfect, but she''d still clench her teeth whenever she saw someone curvier than her. An Nuannuan looked down slightly and then raised her head, "But nobody has ever said that about me." "..." Xu Musen disregarded that. An Nannan, being a force to reckon withwho would dare say she''s flat? "So, you came here in the middle of the night just to pick on me?" Xu Musen poked her cheek with some resignation. An Nuannuan snuggled closer into his embrace, "I''m so happy today." "That''s good." An Nuannuan''s cheeks reddened further, she squirmed a little and said, "So, I want to make you happy too... "Seeing you happy already makes me very happy." Xu Musen held her, treasuring how his emotions were so cherished. But just as he finished speaking, he suddenly felt his entire being sealed by the "Nuan Nuan Qiutian Finger." "Nuannuan..." "Don''t talk... Why does it feel a bit different, hey... hey? hey!" ... Next door, An Nan slept soundly, dreaming she had become Sun Wukong! Chapter 245 The Right Way for a Younger Aunt to Ask for a Red Packet!_2 Holding her yellow pearwood stick, it transformed into a huge yellow pear tree just like the Ruyi Jingu Bang amidst the loud cheering! As spring warmed the flowers into bloom, many white blossoms emerged, falling gently onto her face with the breeze~ "Hehe! Take this hit from Old An!" An Nannan was no less active in her dreams, wrapping herself in a comforter as if she too was battling tens of thousands of heavenly soldiers in the sky. With a roll, wrapped in her thick comforter, she tumbled right off the bed and onto the floor. "Ouch..." Groggy An Nannan was fine though, thanks to the comforter and the thick carpet on the floor, it didn''t hurt. But as she opened her eyes, sleepy and dazed, she realized the bed was empty. "Eh Where''s sister?" An Nannan yawned, wondering if her sister had gone to the bathroom. She thought she might go too. Stumbling out of the room, she had just opened the door to the bathroom to relieve herself when she bumped straight into her sister''s arms. An Nuannuan was still brushing her teeth, her sister''s flustered appearance catching her eye. "Eh, sister, why are you up brushing your teeth in the middle of the night again?" "I suddenly remembered I forgot to brush my teeth before bed." An Nuannuan slightly bowed her head, her cheeks reddening, oh dear, she was lying now, even to her own little sister... how naughty she had become. "Sister, on your face..." An Nannan brightened up looking at her sister''s ear: "Sister, did you sneak out to eat ice cream?" Ever since Xu Musen tricked An Nuannuan away with a few grilled sausages, a few cups of milk tea, and a few hot pot meals. Their grandmother realized that being too strict with children wasn''t the way, so the house gradually started stocking up on snacks and ice creams. But there were still daily limits, especially in winter, a fridge full of ice cream that was absolutely off-limits. Every day, it left An Nannan desperately craving. Sister was also a foodie, she must have snuck out in the middle of the night to indulge in a treat. With her entire face blushing, An Nuannuan denied sneaking food... but seeing her sister''s gaze, she just hummed in acknowledgment. "Hehe, sister, next time you sneak out to eat, can you bring me along? Grandma will spank me, but she surely won''t scold you, just let me have a bite..." An Nannan sidled up and swayed her sister''s arm. But An Nuannuan was at a loss for words, her face flushed and she quickly covered her sister''s mouth: "Alright, hurry back to sleep." ... Xu Musen wasn''t in a rush to leave. Since he was already here, he decided to stay for two or three days to spend more time with An Nuannuan. Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire He wanted to check on the milk tea shop as well, Driving over, Xu Musen took An Nuannuan and her sister to the university. Even during New Year''s, there were quite a few people around. Most of the shops had closed since business wasn''t great over New Year''s; with only the school''s population, it was hard to even make enough to cover staff costs. But Xu Musen insisted on staying open over New Year''s. Remaining operational while others were closed subtly reinforced the reliability of the business. It was a golden time for publicity. Sure enough, upon arriving at Huhai University, the milk tea shop still had customers enjoying their drinks and pastries. This was An Nannan''s first visit and looking around at the myriad flavors on display in the shop, She felt like a goblin that had stumbled into a saintess''s lair, almost drooling with excitement. An Nuannuan, too, was nostalgic for the days she spent as the shop''s lady boss, it felt like returning to her own domain. "Hello, boss." The two staff working at the milk tea shop greeted Xu Musen as soon as they saw him. "Happy New Year! Thank you for your hard work." Xu Musen, with a beaming smile, took out two red envelopes and handed one to each: "For the New Year, a small token of appreciation for holding down the fort." sea??h th ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Wow! Thank you, boss!" The girls accepted the red envelopes with excitement, feeling that they were quite hefty. They had already received a lot of overtime pay during the New Year''s period. They assured with even greater earnestness that they would work even harder. This is the right corporate culture after all. How do you get employees willingly to stay overtime? By ensuring fair wages and benefits, nothing else will suffice. "Hey, where''s my red envelope?" An Nannan came forward too, as kids are usually excited about red envelopes. "You want a red envelope? Well, you have to do something to earn it, right?" Xu Musen chuckled. Auspicious words are expected in exchange for a red envelope, and even the younger aunt can''t be an exception. An Nannan looked at Xu Musen, to "do something"... her cheeks flush with excitement. "If you don''t want to say anything, that''s fine. I''ll just give it all to my lady boss. In her shop, I''m under her orders." Xu Musen said, handing over another big red envelope to An Nuannuan. An Nuannuan smiled gently, she really liked Xu Musen''s words. She tiptoed lightly and kissed Xu Musen on the cheek. Ah!!! An Nannan puffed up her cheeks in frustration, it was bad enough not getting a red envelope, but to flaunt their affection in front of her! "What do you say? Do you want it?" Xu Musen teased his future younger aunt, flaunting the red envelope in his hand. The girl''s disposition and naughtiness reminded him of a younger Yao Mingyue; playful and bratty with her sister''s simple-natured charm. Xu Musen enjoyed teasing children. An Nannan eyed the bulging red envelope, calculating in her mindall that money could buy an immense amount of milk tea and ice cream. Her adorable face started to turn red as she looked at Xu Musen''s capitalist smirk. Biting her lip, she approached, "You, come here..." Chapter 245 The Right Way for a Younger Aunt to Ask for a Red Packet!_3 Xu Musen walked over and bent down, holding up his ear, eager to hear how his younger aunt would compliment him. As a result, An Nannan did go through a bit of mental struggle, and after that, she tip-toed, mimicked her sister''s earlier action, and gently kissed Xu Musen''s cheek. Xu Musen was stunned. What''s happening? But the little girl had already stepped back, her face flushed red, and she extended her hand: "Red envelope!" From the angle just now, An Nuannuan hadn''t seen it. Xu Musen looked at Nannan''s rosy little face and immediately knew she must have misunderstood. But at Nannan''s age, just starting middle school and still retaining some of a child''s innocence, perhaps she already regarded him as a brother in her heart. It was quite normal for a sister to show affection to her brother. After all, not every sister was like a certain Xiao Sickly Cutie, thinking all day long about how to get into orthopedics. Xu Musen smiled, handed her the red envelope he was holding, and patted her head: "Alright, you stay here with your sister, I''ll go check out the other stores, and you can eat anything you want in the shop." "Really?" "Really." "That''s more like it..." Any shyness in An Nannan''s heart was immediately swept away by the surprise, and she happily started picking out milk tea and desserts. An Nuannuan thought about tidying up everything in the small room and took the chance to check the bills as well. As a competent shop owner, she had to be adept in both household and business finances. "I''ll come back to pick you up." Xu Musen patted An Nuannuan''s head and then left to inspect his various stores by car. At each shop, Xu Musen personally checked in, and during the New Year period, Musen paid the staff triple wages! Sarch* The N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So the attitude of most employees was quite diligent. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire The few who slacked off, Musen didn''t make a big deal about; he gave them red envelopes as well. Seeing the surprised and slightly guilty expressions on the faces of these slackers as they took the red envelopes. Thinking about how they must be telling themselves they ought to be damned while working hard. Xu Musen looked at his Rolex wristwatch and couldn''t help but smile. Everything was so monotonous. After making a big round, Xu Musen''s last stop was Fudan University. As the second location to open, it also brought in the most profit outside of the main store in Huhai. Speaking of which, he hadn''t yet sent Zhu Yulan any New Year''s greetings. Never mind, this rich girl surely had endless social engagements during the New Year; he''d see her when they both had time. Entering the university. Xu Musen went to the milk tea shop. The staff spotted him the moment he entered and immediately greeted him. "Hello boss!" "Happy New Year." Xu Musen nodded in response, exchanged a few pleasantries, gave some pep talks, and then began handing out red envelopes. "Wow, the boss is so generous!" "Thank you, boss, you''re so handsome!" The two young girls were also jumping with joy. "For your keen eyes, here''s another one!" Xu Musen cheerfully handed out two more red envelopes, which were actually meant for the performance bonus for the store. But the two girls were so pleased they almost wanted to come over and give Xu Musen a kiss too. "Handsome guy, give me a red packet too." A crisp voice with a playful tone came from behind. This voice, well, at first listen, it was that of a rich girl who wasn''t short of money. He turned around, and sure enough. She wore a pair of sunglasses and a deep green designer coat, paired with a simple white turtleneck sweater; the black wool trousers emphasized the advantage of her long legs. Zhu Yulan usually had a cold demeanor; after all, as a wealthy woman driving a Ferrari every day, it was easy to give people a sense of distance. But now, she took off her sunglasses, revealing her pretty almond-shaped eyes with a playful gleam. Looking at Xu Musen, even she didn''t realize the delight that was showing in the depths of her eyes... Chapter 246 Zhu Yulans Rebellion, Complicated Sisters Fudan Milk Tea Shop. Zhu Yulan sat in the boss chair that only Xu Musen usually occupied. Xu Musen himself had prepared a cup of milk tea for her and placed it in front of her. "Boss Zhu, long time no see, I''ve really missed you," he said. "It''s been a long time," she replied. Zhu Yulan took a sip of the milk tea, and although she wouldn''t admit it, the milk tea that Xu Musen made always tasted better. Feeling a bit better, she looked at Xu Musen who clicked his tongue nonchalantly and said, "But I don''t think you''ve missed me that much." He had just passed by her company and hadn''t stopped to visit. If she hadn''t been out and about, they might have completely missed each other. sea??h th novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I didn''t expect you to be at the school during the New Year''s holiday." "And you? Why are you back during the New Year''s... oh, is your little girlfriend still in Huhai? Did you come to meet the parents?" "You could say that." Xu Musen nodded. "That''s nice" Zhu Yulan let out an ambiguous sigh and took another sip of her milk tea, suddenly feeling a bit sour. "But what about you? Why are you keeping to your post during the New Year''s holiday instead of traveling with your family or something?" Xu Musen asked. Her company surely wouldn''t have any customers during the New Year''s holiday, and besides, Zhu Yulan wasn''t short on money. She should be vacationing with her family in Sanya or somewhere similar. "Not interested. I don''t have much to talk about with them." Zhu Yulan''s tone was indifferent, and she even frowned slightly at the mention. The atmosphere in wealthy households sure is complicated. Xu Musen changed the subject, "What about friends? Don''t you play mahjong or something with them?" "No friends." "...How am I supposed to respond to that?" Xu Musen laughed helplessly, feeling like he was unintentionally peeling back someone''s scars. Seeing his expression, Zhu Yulan curved her lips slightly, "The people I know only talk about brand-name bags and luxury sports cars when they''re together, which is utterly boring." "Others would curse if they heard what you just said." Xu Musen laughed and shook his head in amazement. These were the worries of the rich second generation. Ordinary people probably wouldn''t even have the standing to discuss such matters. "The world is like a besieged city. Those inside and outside envy each other. I actually envy you... at the very least, you can make your own choices about many things," Zhu Yulan said, taking a sip of her milk tea, her eyes slightly narrowed and her tone wistful. "Have you encountered something recently? Being so sentimental doesn''t seem like you." Xu Musen sensed that her mood hadn''t been very good. "It''s nothing..." Zhu Yulan shook her head. "You don''t have to talk about some things if you don''t want to, but if you ever need help, you can still tell me. After all, we are good friends," Xu Musen offered with a smile. Zhu Yulan squinted her eyes, "Friends? Are you sure you''re not just scamming me every day?" "Think about it differently. I scam you because you''re capable, which also proves Boss Zhu is magnanimous. You''re bound to achieve great things in the future," Xu Musen said cheerfully. "So I should thank you, then?" "No need to be that polite," he replied. "Such thick skin!" Zhu Yulan mocked him, but her tone was clearly lighter. She looked at Xu Musen. They had known each other for almost half a year now. Recalling the scenes of their meetings, Zhu Yulan felt a stir in her heart. She had never lacked so-called friends since childhood, and they were all children from wealthy families, in a circle that ordinary people could only dream of and desperately envy. They didn''t lack money and had experienced various luxuries early onluxuries that others might never experience in a lifetime. Yet when they gathered, there were few who were truly friends; they maintained their so-called upper-class circle just to preserve their status as rich second generations. Together, they would only brag about the new sports cars or mansions they bought or the top universities they attended for a bit of gold-plating... But none could sit down and have a proper chat. In this circle of rich second generations, Zhu Yulan was among the best. Those who associated with her had their own motives, and she was fed up with their flattering and insincere facades. Yet Xu Musen was the first person she''d met who dared to scam her right from the first encounter and kept on doing it, brazenly admitting it to her face. Full of banter and cheek, shamelessly vain, yet not a hint of pretense to be seen. Zhu Yulan found his candor refreshing and chatting with him the most relaxing and casual experience. It was as if they were truly friends. Zhu Yulan wanted to say something, but her phone suddenly rang. Looking at the caller ID, she frowned slightly and, after hesitating for a couple of seconds, picked up the call. Zhu Yulan answered the phone, and after a few words from the other end, she replied reluctantly. "Yeah, I got it." After hanging up, Zhu Yulan''s good mood seemed to vanish again. "What''s wrong?" "Nothing, I need to go back." Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire "Alright, I was thinking we could have dinner together later." Xu Musen showed a look of disappointment. Zhu Yulan rolled her eyes at him, mocking, "Nice try! You should go have dinner with your little girlfriend instead." Men are always like thisfond of issuing empty promises that they don''t have to pay any price for. In fact, Xu Musen had genuinely wanted to have dinner together later so he could take An Nuannuan out on a date, just the two of them, and let Zhu Yulan handle Nannan, the little troublemaker. Sigh, he hadn''t managed to pull that off, how disappointing "Okay, then, see you later." Xu Musen waved goodbye. Zhu Yulan stood up to leave and turned back to look at him, "You said we''re friends, right?"> Chapter 246 Zhu Yulans Rebellion, Complicated Sisters_2 "I''ve always felt that we were already very good friends," Xu Musen chuckled. Zhu Yulan curled her lip, but couldn''t quite hide a slight upward turn of her mouth, "Then remember what you''ve said, the day you scam me, I''ll scam you back eventually." As she spoke, she picked up the milk tea from the table and, while walking to the counter at the entrance, grabbed two freshly baked egg tarts, "Have your boss settle the bill." After saying that, Zhu Yulan walked away proudly, as if she had gained a huge advantage. The staff looked towards Xu Musen. Xu Musen nodded with a smile. This young lady certainly had a childish way of gaining an advantage. Xu Musen also stood up, took a few egg tarts himself, and drove away. The two young staff members in the shop couldn''t help but whisper to each other. "Hey, I always feel that our boss has a special relationship with that girl." "They are a pair of talented and attractive individuals, but she drives a Ferrari every day, it seems like she''s even richer than our boss." "That''s exactly why she''s richer than our boss, and yet she comes every day to ''gain an advantage.'' Two egg tarts aren''t even worth the gas money from one press of her car''s accelerator. Girls are like that; they care enough about someone to try to gain an advantage over them..." "Eh, you understand so much, how come we haven''t seen you dating yet?" "Go away. I''ll also be a woman driving a Ferrari in the future, and then all I''ll need is a handsome guy." ... At this moment, Zhu Yulan was driving back to the Zhu Family''s private estate in Huhai. With the year''s end, visitors to the Zhu family never stopped coming, day after day. Zhu Yulan received a call from her sister, asking her to come home for a meal together. Zhu Yulan always felt it wasn''t going to be anything good, and sure enough, once she arrived in the living room, Zhu Yulan saw the person she didn''t want to see. Huang Tianming was still dressed in his eye-catching, dapper way, wearing a white suit. Besides being slightly short, Huang Tianming''s other qualities were indeed beyond reproach. Looks, family background, and personal capabilities, he was quite outstanding even among the children of the wealthy. This idea of arranged marriages may sound somewhat unbelievable in modern times, but upon reflection, it''s actually quite normal. Even ordinary families would prioritize local spouses with stable assets like houses and cars. Strong alliances are always the best choice. Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire Moreover, for big corporations, if they intermarry, it sends a signal to the outside world that the cooperation between the two families will definitely be closer, and their capacity for bearing risks and making investments will assuredly be stronger. Others will be more willing to invest in them, which is beneficial for the development of both families. After all, the larger the family, the more interests are involved. Enjoying the life provided by a wealthy family always comes with its costs. Even daughters of ancient emperors had their own political marriages; much more so for these big corporations. Sar?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Yu Lan, long time no see," Huang Tianming greeted her gentlemanly. But Zhu Yulan didn''t spare him a second glance and instead sat down on the side. "Yu Lan, can''t you hear Tianming greeting you?" Zhu Changlin frowned and scolded his daughter softly. "Uncle Zhu, it''s fine, maybe it''s just that Yu Lan and I haven''t seen each other for a long time and she''s a bit unaccustomed to it," Huang Tianming responded with a smile, appearing very cultured. "Look at how composed Tianming is, and then look at you. At your age, you''re still throwing tantrums every day," said Zhu Changlin. Zhu Yulan scoffed, "Two years abroad and he thinks he''s a treacle turtle..." Her voice wasn''t loud, inaudible to others, but everyone could sense she wasn''t saying anything nice. Zhu Changlin was about to get angry again, but Zhu Xianglan, with her ever-elegant smile, went over to diffuse the situation, "Let''s have dinner first, it''s New Year''s. I''ll brew some tea." A table full of exquisite food, although not on New Year''s Eve, was equivalent to one or two months'' expenses for an ordinary family. Most people might never have such a meal in their lifetimes. However, Zhu Yulan didn''t even give it a glance; she continued eating her milk tea and egg tarts. "Eat your meal, why are you eating those things?" Zhu Changlin couldn''t help but say. Although the family wouldn''t forbid eating such "junk food," it still wasn''t very presentable to do so at the table, especially with guests around. "They''re tasty, I feel like eating them," Zhu Yulan replied nonchalantly, crunching on the egg tart without any concern for her image. "It''s okay, those who have never tried it will occasionally treat themselves. But these nutritious-lacking things are still bad for your health; you should eat proper meals in the future," Huang Tianming mediated, but his words seemed pointed. What do you mean by nutritious-lacking things? And who are you, some little biscuit? Zhu Yulan knew he was referring to Xu Musen and spoke as if she had sneaked a bite, his tone presumptuous. What right did he have to speak like that? "The ingredients in the egg tarts are genuine, not like some things, shoddy inside," Zhu Yulan retorted sarcastically. "Yu Lan!" Zhu Changlin called out sternly again. "Alright, alright, let''s talk slowly since it''s the New Year, Xiao Yulan might have gotten a bit carsick. Come, have some fruit first," Zhu Xianglan maintained her graceful smile, sat next to her sister, and caringly brought over a plate of fruit. In this family, Zhu Yulan probably only had a bit of affection for her elder sister, so she ate a piece of fruit and said nothing further. Zhu Changlin shook his head and said to Huang Tianming, "Tianming, I apologize for this spectacle. This child has been spoiled since she was young." "It''s good; it means that Yu Lan has always maintained her innocence and that Uncle Zhu has protected her very well." Chapter 246 Zhu Yulans Rebellion, Complicated Sisters_3 Huang Tianming, with his high IQ, was surreptitiously buttering up Zhu Changlin. Zhu Yulan sneered inwardly. But Zhu Changlin clearly enjoyed the flattery and chuckled, "You see, it''s better for a man to have seen the world. You and Yu Lan have grown up together since childhood; you could teach her a thing or two, so she won''t be deceived by some ulterior motives out there." Zhu Changlin had his own considerations. Huang Tianming indeed was quite outstanding, and there were numerous collaborations between the two families; all aspects were favorable. Moreover, since the ancestors of both families had been good friends, and they had been childhood sweethearts, being together was the best outcome. However, if it were only for this reason, Zhu Changlin would not be so eager to match the two. The main issue was that he had recently learned that his daughter might have gotten to know a young man outside the family, and their relationship was not shallow. Moreover, that young man was said to have a girlfriend. If this got out, the face of the Zhu Family would be lost, and his daughter could not be with someone who neither had a family nor ability. The so-called career of that young man, in his view, was still not worth mentioning, and even more so when compared to Huang Tianming''s family background. Therefore, Zhu Changlin wanted his daughter to interact with Huang Tianming, to show her what kinds of people were worth choosing and associating with. At the very least, anyone she married in the future could not fall below this standard. Huang Tianming was naturally willing, nodding repeatedly, "Uncle Zhu, rest assured, this is all something I should do..." "What business is it of yours who I associate with?" Sar?h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhu Yulan couldn''t hold back any longer, interrupting their conversation through clenched teeth. She naturally knew what they meant. "Did I say something wrong? Any normal person knows to be close to gentlemen and avoid petty people. What''s wrong with associating with excellent people?" "And how do you know that others aren''t excellent?" Zhu Yulan sneered, "Others start from scratch, while some could achieve nothing without relying on their family''s connections." "Zhu Yulan!" Zhu Changlin slammed the table, "You''re grown up now, can''t you understand anything?" Zhu Yulan coldly smiled, "Understand? So to ''understand'' means to be puppeted around by you all?" With that said, Zhu Xianglan''s eyes flickered slightly, but she remained motionless. "How dare you! What do you know, I''m doing this for your own good!" Zhu Changlin was defending his dignity. Zhu Yulan took a deep breath, stood up, and left directly. "You..." "Dad, I''ll go check on her." Zhu Xianglan said with a faint smile as she stood up and walked out as well. Zhu Changlin sighed; he really was at a loss with his younger daughter. He looked at Huang Tianming, "Tianming, Yu Lan is still young, don''t take it to heart." Huang Tianming naturally didn''t dare to say anything; even if he was unhappy, he could only offer a forced smile, "Not at all..." ... At the entrance, Zhu Yulan got into her car, ready to leave immediately. Zhu Xianglan walked over and looked at her younger sister, her face seemingly always adorned with a smile, "Why get so angry? Dad just wants you to interact with him a bit; he''s not saying you two have to be together." "Don''t you know what his intentions are?" Zhu Yulan was indignant as she looked at her elder sister. Her eyes were also complex; after all, her elder sister had done the same, obeying the family''s arrangements to marry a man from another family whom she had barely met. Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire She wasn''t like this as a child, but ever since her elder sister left, she has become this way, doing whatever is said at home. It was even rare to see a second expression on her face apart from a smile. Always graceful, always maintaining the demeanor of a lady from a distinguished family, she became the pride of the household, the model her father boasted about. "Sister, are you truly happy?" Zhu Yulan bit her lip. Zhu Xianglan''s eyes flickered, but her lips still carried a smile, "From the moment we were born, we have been far luckier than most people. What''s there to be unhappy about?" "But I don''t think we should be like this. I want to have my own choices... Sister, you should too." Zhu Xianglan was silent for a moment, looking at her only younger sister, "Sister won''t try to persuade you, but my thoughts are the same as Dad''s; we want you to have a good life." "So, do you also think I am wrong, Sister?" Zhu Yulan clenched her teeth, looking at her second sister, many words stuck in her throat, yet feeling it unnecessary to say them. Zhu Xianglan did not speak. After a quiet exchange of glances, Zhu Yulan''s expression was complex, "Sister, take care of yourself, but I won''t admit defeat." After saying that, she pressed the accelerator and left. Zhu Xianglan watched the direction her sister disappeared in, lost in thought for a long time and a slight smile crept onto her lips again. She returned to the living room. "Where''s Yu Lan?" "She left first." "That child, really spoiled rotten, she''s so willful but we can''t do anything about it..." Zhu Changlin couldn''t say much more in front of outsiders. But Zhu Xianglan suddenly spoke with a laugh, "Actually, it''s quite simple. Yu Lan just hasn''t experienced the life of ordinary people. If she does, maybe she will understand Dad''s good intentions." Zhu Changlin raised an eyebrow, "You mean..." "Just freeze her credit cards and such for a while. Yu Lan has never suffered; she won''t last long." Zhu Xianglan said with a smile. Zhu Changlin and Huang Tianming immediately felt that this was a good idea. To these descendants of wealth who have no concept of everyday expenses, having their cards stopped is almost like threatening their lives. After all, accustomed to luxury, how could they possibly consider eating noodles or rice that cost a few bucks when even a random piece of chocolate costs hundreds? It''s easy to transition from frugality to luxury, but difficult to go from luxury to frugality. This tactic works well on any rich second generation. Only it is quite ruthless. Zhu Changlin looked at his second daughter, "Aren''t you the one who cares about Yu Lan the most?" "I''m doing this for her own good. By the way, hand over the company under her name to me for temporary management." Zhu Xianglan spoke with a smile. Zhu Changlin nodded, thinking it was good for his daughter to be educated appropriately. "Then let''s do as you say." "Alright, you go ahead and eat first, Dad." Zhu Xianglan nodded with her elegant smile and left. But when she stood up, she looked at Huang Tianming intentionally or unintentionally. Huang Tianming swallowed hard, not knowing what to make of this. The elegant and decorous smile seemed to give him chills down his spine... He always felt that the relationship between the two sisters seemed a bit complicated. Chapter 247 Youre Still Someone Elses Lapdog. Xu Musen drove back to Huhai University. From a distance, he saw a little pig frantically feasting in the milk tea shop. An Nannan was like a little pig that had fallen into a food paradise, she gobbled everything in the shop, snacks, desserts, and milk tea, one after another. Her little belly swelled up from being so full, she lay satisfied on the sofa, feeling like she could die without any regrets. And beside her sat a familiar figure. Full-figured and tall, wearing a simple knitted sweater, with glasses that gave off an aura of intellectual elegance. "Aunt Bai?" Xu Musen walked over and looked at his round and plump younger aunt. And Bai Xin was still holding snacks, continuing to feed An Nannan with interest. "Yo, you''re back." Bai Xin looked up at Xu Musen, her delicate cheeks still carrying a smile. Xu Musen walked over to them. "Aunt Bai, how much have you fed her?" "I''ve lost count, this little cutie can really eat." "Stop feeding her, or her little belly is going to burst." "Alright then." Bai Xin felt regretful, after all, An Nannan was so cute, almost like a mini version of An Nuannuan, even cuter than the cutest kitten in the world. She was enjoying feeding her. Xu Musen smiled helplessly, walked over and patted An Nannan''s belly, feeling like he could even hear a "thud thud" sound. "Don''t pat, my belly feels so bloated." An Nannan had eaten her fill and wasn''t showing her teeth or snarling at Xu Musen any longer. "You know you''re bloated and you still eat. I''ll tell Grandma when we get back." "No! You''re the one who told me to eat whatever I wanted!" "Then say something nice about me and I might consider not tattling." "You''re taking advantage of me!" "Congratulations, you got it right. Say ''brother-in-law is handsome.'' Xu Musen chuckled as he pinched her cheek. Usually, he couldn''t pinch it, but now An Nannan was so full she didn''t want to move; her cheek as soft as her sister''s. "Bro... brother-in-law..." An Nannan called out, her face turning red with reluctance. "And what else?" "Hand... suave brother." The little girl twisted her words at the end, Xu Musen heard it but didn''t expose her. The acts of revenge from little girls are so adorably foolish. "I''ve noticed, you''re quite good at coaxing kids." Bai Xin watched their interaction, her mature face tinged with a gentle hue. "Aunt Bai, you also seem to enjoy taking care of little rascals, don''t you?" Xu Musen smiled. "Of course, everyone loves cute kids." Bai Xin also patted An Nannan''s little head. "With your looks, Aunt Bai, if you have a baby in the future, they''ll definitely be cuter than this silly girl." Xu Musen joked, but An Nannan was a bit displeased. Who is she calling a silly girl? If this were at home, she would definitely pull out a small wooden stick to hit him with! But she was so full right now, so forget it, she''d ignore him for now! Bai Xin''s smile was gentle, but she slightly lifted her head to look at Xu Musen and jokingly asked, "That''s easy to say, but do you have any way to have such a cute baby without relying on a man?" Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire "Clone it, when Aunt Bai clones a younger version of herself, I can hold little Aunt Bai too," Xu Musen said with a serious face. Bai Xin blushed and hit him lightly. Sar?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This rascal really, what kind of weird ideas are there in his head. An Nuannuan was hugging her piggy bank, counting her savings; in half a month, it had filled up again. Although it was just small change, it looked quite impressive when taken out. "Xu Musen, I''ve saved a lot of money again," An Nuannuan said with a bit of joy. In the past, when Xu Musen had no money, whenever their piggy bank had some money in it, he would take the money and treat her to eat out. "Then I''ll treat you to hot pot tonight," Xu Musen fulfilled her expectation. "Eh-heh!" An Nuannuan counted the money happily. An Nannan struggled to stand up: "Hot pot? I want to eat too!" "Can you even eat any more?" Xu Musen tapped her round belly. "If I control myself a bit, there''s always room," An Nannan said as she rubbed her little belly, trying hard to press it, "I can fit in two slices of tripe here, and two beef balls here, and over here..." "Pfft..." Bai Xin couldn''t hold back her laughter first. It was too cute; indeed, children are endearing. Maybe... having a child wouldn''t be too bad. But cloning was definitely out of the question, and men, well, she had no interest in them. Plus, to have a truly cute and naively innocent baby, the father''s genes are very important. Without knowing why, she glanced at Xu Musen. "..." Bai Xin''s face suddenly became a bit red, and she inwardly scolded herself several times, calling herself shameless for having such stray thoughts. Xu Musen didn''t notice and was only thinking about his younger aunt''s intelligence, feeling quite anxious. He sighed helplessly. "Aunt Bai, did you come to see me for something today?" "Can''t I come without a reason?" Bai Xin regained her composure, her tone teasing, "Some people, when they just started their shop, used to ask me over every day. Now that I''m not needed, am I going to be shown the door?" "Look at what you''re saying, Aunt Bai. It''s an honor for us to have you here; it''s like bringing brilliance to my humble establishment. Next time, just let me know in advance, so I can lay out a red carpet for you ten meters from the doorway to welcome you." "Enough, enough, quit your gab," Bai Xin rolled her eyes at him. It seemed like this youngster was becoming more and more glib. "I just suddenly felt like having a coffee from your shop, and then I happened to see your little girlfriend." "Ah, during the festive season, you could actually hang out with friends, play some cards, travel a bit," Xu Musen politely suggested. But Bai Xin, as if she was waiting for this very response, said, "You''re actually right. Your godmother called me and asked me to go to Zheng City to visit her. Do you mind if I hitch a ride in your car?" Chapter 247 Youre Still Someone Elses Lapdog. _2 Xu Musen was startled, "Aunt Bai, are you serious?" "Otherwise? Didn''t you tell me to find a friend to play cards with? She''s the only friend I have." With a smile, Bai Xin said, "If it''s inconvenient, I can take a plane." "No, it''s quite convenient." Xu Musen immediately chimed in, knowing that if Bai Xin really did go to Zheng City for fun and he didn''t accompany her, Liu Rushuang would probably give him a hard time when he got back. "All right, then I won''t bother you guys any longer." "Aren''t you joining us for hotpot tonight?" "No thanks, I''m old and don''t want to be a third wheel." Bai Xin laughed and then rubbed An Nannan''s cheeks again. "Goodbye, pretty sister." An Nannan had a good impression of the pretty big sister who was generous with the snacks. Xu Musen was serious in correcting her, "You should call her auntie, don''t you know manners?" I call her Aunt Bai, you call her sister, so are you my younger aunt or my old aunt? "Do you even know what manners are!" Bai Xin hit Xu Musen irritably and then smilingly said to An Nannan, "From now on, just call me sister." "Mm-hmm!" Bai Xin looked at Xu Musen with satisfaction and greeted An Nuannuan before turning to leave. "It''s okay, from now on we''ll each call our own." An Nannan, who was rather clever for her age, came over and patted Xu Musen on the shoulder. Xu Musen patted her little bottom twice in response. "Let''s go, time to eat." Xu Musen took the two sisters to a hotpot restaurant next to the school. The pair, sharing Sichuan and Chongqing bloodlines, looked sweet but were formidable when it came to eating spicy food. "Hello, what kind of base would you like for the pot?" The server asked. An Nannan excitedly raised her hand, "Nine-grid hotpot, nine-grid hotpot!" An Nuannuan agreed as well. But Xu Musen, after carefully considering An Nuannuan''s delicate lips, earnestly thought it over and told the server, "Bring us a Yin Yang pot, with one side being tomato soup." "Eh? Why are we having a Yin Yang pot?" "What does a little brat know? Eating spicy food every day is not good for your health. Drinking more tomato soup will make your lips sweeter, do you understand?" It was a choice Xu Musen made out of serious consideration for health, truly kind-hearted indeed. If she is well, so am I. An Nuannuan blinked. She looked at the tomato and spicy pots. So eating tomato soup would make your lips sweeter? She exhaled softly, but they were sweet already~ After the meal, An Nannan seemed to have made up for the last few days'' worth of meals. In the car, she comfortably leaned against her sister and fell asleep. Driving, Xu Musen looked at the sisters in the rearview mirror, suddenly feeling the sensation of a family of three on an outing. As the vehicle passed by the bridge, Xu Musen stopped the car at the bench by the bridge, the place where the two of them confirmed their relationship. Xu Musen exchanged a look with An Nuannuan, an unspoken understanding between them. Gently placing her sister back in the car to rest, An Nuannuan got out of the car with Xu Musen and once again came to the bench. "Time flies so quickly." Xu Musen let out a sigh. An Nuannuan too looked down and remembered the last time they came here, she had to use crutches, but now, she could walk on her own. Finally, she could walk side by side with him. The lights stretched their shadows long. An Nuannuan, feeling somewhat playful, liked to walk on tiptoes, their hands held tightly together, even though she hardly stumbled when walking now. But Xu Musen still instinctively held her very tight. Winter in Huhai might not have snow, but the bright lights and the sleepless city had a charm of their own. "Do you still remember this place?" sea??h th N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xu Musen pulled her to sit down on the bench. "Mm..." An Nuannuan felt a little flush on her face; after all, she had been the one to take the initiative to confess her feelings. "Sigh, I don''t know how it happened, but some bold young girl confessed to me and stole my first love of this lifetime." Xu Musen sighed, sounding plaintive like a young girl. An Nuannuan, with her face flushed, said, "Me too." "Though I really didn''t expect you to be so bold as to confess to me," he said, as he used to do, cradling her legs in his and gently massaging them. Looking at him, An Nuannuan remembered that day, and her legs shook with excitement, "Because, I have liked you for a very, very long time." "How long is that?" "A very, very long time." Warm colors reflected in An Nuannuan''s eyes, "Maybe it was from six or seven years ago when you gave yourself a cake, or perhaps during high school when you were clearly upset but still faced life optimistically every day..." "That early on, it might have just been admiration." Xu Musen chuckled softly. Many relationships start with being moved and reliant, and the feelings of liking someone grow slowly from there. An Nuannuan shook her head, her voice still soft, "I never really knew what it was like to feel affection before, maybe it was like what you said, being moved, being dependent..." "I don''t know when I started liking you, but since I understood what affection was, I''ve found that all the traits of liking someone are all you." As she spoke, An Nuannuan looked up into Xu Musen''s eyes. Those bright eyes seemed capable of melting the cold of winter. An Nuannuan was not the type to act coquettishly, but her every word seemed to penetrate directly into one''s heart. Indeed, how could one clearly articulate the concept of liking someone? But looking back, the confession wall filled dense with someone''s name, that name happened to be yours. Xu Musen, holding her legs, felt his heart tremble, even as a grown man swayed by her words. "Why didn''t you appear in my life sooner, making me miss so much time to like you?" If An Nuannuan had appeared earlier, everything in his past life could have been very different. "Because back then you were still being someone else''s lapdog..." An Nuannuan pouted her lips. "Cough cough..." Xu Musen almost choked on An Nuannuan''s blunt words. He felt a bit embarrassed, with his face turning red, being reminded so directly of his past, "...Nuannuan, could we use a different term in the future?" The idea of being someone''s lapdog again after rebirth was out of the question! "I was actually scared... At that time, I could only sit in a wheelchair, not knowing if my legs would completely heal. I feared you would look down on me, and I feared others would laugh at you..." An Nuannuan looked at her own legs, recalling the years she spent in a wheelchair, how could she not hear others'' peculiar remarks and stares. Even she had her vulnerability that she did not want others to see. Xu Musen, with a pitying squeeze of her legs, said softly, "Silly girl, do you know how outstanding you are? How could I look down on you?" An Nuannuan, even if she remained in a wheelchair, was not someone just anyone could match. Recalling the past, Xu Musen also could imagine, during the times he loved without reciprocation, there was this adorable girl secretly keeping an eye on him. Xu Musen suddenly felt a surge of emotion, "Nuannuan, what if I hadn''t changed my mind that day, what if she and I remained entangled like that, what would you have done?" Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire Xu Musen didn''t know if this life overlapped with the last, if it was a parallel world, or perhaps time had reversed. But what would have become of An Nuannuan after he married Yao Mingyue in his previous life? An Nuannuan also went quiet for a moment, her bright eyes seemingly void of much thought. "I would have kept waiting like this." "And... what if you never got the chance in this lifetime?" The corners of Xu Musen''s mouth twitched, as if recalling his past self. An Nuannuan''s eyes, clear against the night lamp, gazed at Xu Musen; in those eyes flickered a luster never seen before. Her stunning face broke into a sweet smile as she gently touched Xu Musen''s cheek, "But in the end, I still waited for you..." It might have been an illusion, but there seemed to be an emotion in An Nuannuan''s voice that did not belong to her age... Xu Musen was a bit dazed. She slowly withdrew her legs, slowly moving into Xu Musen''s embrace, "Xu Musen, we should cherish our lifetime together." Xu Musen too embraced her tightly, in the cold Huhai night that now felt endlessly warm. Indeed, nothing else mattered. What mattered was that they liked each other. For a lifetime. Chapter 248 What if Ming Yue Never Marries in Her Lifetime? ``` On the third day in Huhai. Another guest arrived at An Nuannuan''s home in the evening. Professor Liang. Her hair was graying, and her figure slightly stooped, but her demeanor remained untouched by the passing years, an elderly lady with unwavering charm. For this old professor, Xu Musen had always been grateful. If it hadn''t been for her, he would''ve faced many more troubles with the incident at the milk tea shop last time. Moreover, during the New Year, a time meant for family reunions, Professor Liang had always been alone. Though students and old friends frequently visited her, she inevitably seemed a bit lonely. "Young man, we meet again." Having arrived at An Nuannuan''s house, Professor Liang didn''t stand on ceremony; she was used to such visits and greeted Xu Musen with a kind smile upon seeing him. It was the look of an elder watching over a younger generation. "Hello, Grandma Liang, today I''m taking over the kitchen. You''ll get to taste my cooking later." Xu Musen said with a respectful smile. "You can cook?" Grandma Liang said in surprise. Grandma Nuan Nuan replied with a smile, "This child is indeed skilled in cooking. You''ll definitely like the taste. Come, let me make you a cup of tea." Grandma Nuan Nuan''s tone was like that of someone proudly showing off their family''s younger generations. Professor Liang also smiled. The two elderly ladies were truly old friends of several decades, supporting each other as they went to drink tea and chat about daily life. Xu Musen and An Nuannuan got busy in the kitchen, and through the window, they could see the yard, The only person in the family who seemed a bit uneasy was the old master. At that moment, the old master was practicing martial arts in the yard with his granddaughter, but it was apparent that his heart wasn''t in it. Allowing An Nan to hit him several times with a little wooden stick. "Grandpa, you can''t beat me anymore. I''m going to be the greatest hero in our family!" An Nan laughed triumphantly. "You''re still green, my girl. Come on, oh... you little rascal, Grandpa hasn''t said to start yet." Perhaps people really do become more childlike as they age. The old master was having a great time playing with his granddaughter. Even if occasionally, he got beaten as if he was the grandson. Xu Musen couldn''t help but smile, feeling a strange sensation in his heart. If in the future, when he and Nuannuan grew old, and Yao Mingyue came to visit, would he be like this... "What are you daydreaming about?" Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire An Nuannuan had washed a carrot and was waving it in front of his eyes. Xu Musen took the carrot and skillfully shredded it. He didn''t want to ask, but Yao Mingyue''s changes and the feelings she had given him recently had been too intense. Sear?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If in the future, he and An Nuannuan got married and together, it would be very difficult for Yao Mingyue to truly let go and accept him being with someone else. Would that mean leaving her to... live out the rest of her life alone? "Nuannuan, I want to ask you a question, just hypothetically, don''t get mad." Xu Musen prepared himself first. The kitchen was full of knives and forks, and without a bit of armor, one might take real damage. An Nuannuan blinked, nodded obediently. "It''s, if in the future, Yao Mingyue never marries and becomes like Grandma Liang, visiting our home from time to time, what would you think?" Xu Musen waited for her reaction after asking the question. She was her usual dazed self, seeming not surprised at all. Her beautiful eyebrows moved slightly, and her eyes lit up momentarily. "Are you saying that, in the future, you''ll marry me?" "Of course... but that''s not the point of the question, is it?" An Nuannuan suddenly seized upon the strange point. Especially after receiving Xu Musen''s answer, her lovely face obviously flushed with pleasure. "Xu Musen, I like you, and I also believe that you will always like me. That''s all I need to know." An Nuannuan''s words always sounded so naive to others, yet also so sincere. "But won''t you be upset?" Xu Musen asked, knowing that girls are bound to get jealous about such topics; the more you care about someone, the more jealousy there will be. "Of course, I won''t be happy, but I also feel sorry for her. I know what she''s feeling..." An Nuannuan remembered her own past: "Mom said that everyone has someone in their heart to hold them up. But after mom passed, that place in my heart was empty, waiting until you came along. Even if I couldn''t be with you, just seeing you made me feel at ease." It was like before when An Nuannuan thought she might only ever be able to secretly watch him from his side, but that was enough for her. People need a hope that''s intangible yet visible. Xu Musen understood this mentality; he and Yao Mingyue had once mutually relied on each other for support. But love is such a thing, it may sound grand, but in reality, it''s only spacious enough for two people to share. An Nuannuan looked at him, gently held one of his fingers: "Mom told me that we can be a bit selfish and hold onto the person we love tightly in our arms, but we shouldn''t be upset because the shadow of the person we love blocks a little sunlight for someone else. If we love, we hold tighter; anger only creates distance. After finally being able to hold each other, I never want to be upset with you..." An Nuannuan''s voice was soft, and she leaned against Xu Musen. Xu Musen opened his arms and embraced her. Perhaps An Nuannuan had already given her answer. Xu Musen had his answer too. Just like the warm sun and the bright moon in the sky. Though the moon may wax and wane, at least Xu Musen would never let go of this warm sun, not ever. ... Having been in Huhai for two or three days, Xu Musen was preparing to go back. ``` Chapter 248 What if Ming Yue never marries in this life?_2 Early in the morning, after breakfast, Xu Musen began packing his things. The old man had given him a lot of alcohol to take back, as well as some of his own cherished medicinal materials. Genuine Wild Ginseng, Rhinoceros Horn, Deer Antler Slices, and the like. Nowadays, those things were either extinct or prohibitively expensive. But kept at home, you never know, they might actually save a life. Not to mention the alcohol, the old man''s wine was really abundant and it was all many years old. An Shanhai also came out to say goodbye and had prepared a gift for Xu Musen. Xu Musen glanced at it, a very delicate gift box, inside was a belt. "I was thinking of giving you a watch, but since you already have one, I got you a belt instead. Take care on your journey," An Shanhai wasn''t very good at expressing himself either. Men giving each other gifts, especially things like watches, belts, suits, are gifts that adults in the family give when they feel their child has grown up. However, there''s also a saying that when a father-in-law gives a belt, it means he wants his son-in-law to keep his pants on. Otherwise, that belt might just become a tool for whipping him. "Thank you, Uncle An, take good care of your health as well," After the gifts were given, the adults tacitly left Xu Musen and An Nuannuan some space to themselves. The joy of meeting is as striking as the sorrow of parting. An Nuannuan looked at Xu Musen with eager eyes, and Xu Musen couldn''t resist gently embracing her. "School is about to start too. We''ll see each other again soon, and then we can be together every day," Xu Musen was calculating: although the real estate prices in Huhai were already high, they hadn''t yet reached the tens of millions for any random property like in his previous life. Xu Musen was planning to take out a loan to buy a property directly. In a few years, the housing prices could skyrocket by more than tenfold, whereas the mortgage would at most double. Compared to the appreciation of the property, mortgage repayments were nothing. What other investment brings as much appreciation as real estate investments? After all, it was nationally driven. Xu Musen''s problem now was that he had too little liquid capital, and it was already a bit late to enter the market. The real estate tycoons had already received insider information and taken almost all the land they could get their hands on. Xu Musen would just follow up by buying more properties, banking on the internet economy. He didn''t aspire to be a world billionaire. Being wealthy in his area, living securely without worries about the basics for the rest of his life was enough for him. As Xu Musen was thinking of checking out properties upon his return, he suddenly felt something soft and warm encircle his neck. A scarf. Xu Musen came back to his senses and looked down. An Nuannuan had tied a scarf around his neck. At a glance, the scarf didn''t seem particularly exquisite, but it was obviously made with great care, and even had a pattern of a small rabbit sewn onto it. This style, no need to guess, was so An Nuannuan. "Did you knit this?" Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Um..." Xu Musen looked at her somewhat nervous demeanor, as if she was afraid he would find fault with her knitting skills. The scarf might not be refined, in fact, it even seemed a bit narrow, but the material was good, and it was knitted with care. What mattered most was that a girl had knitted the scarf by hand. Girls usually only give scarves they knit themselves to people they like; even their own parents don''t always get such a treat. "Do you li... like it?" An Nuannuan was still a bit anxious. She had put a lot of effort into the scarf, but it still turned out a bit narrow because knitting it wider made it easy for the stitches to run, leading to a messy pattern. By the time she got better at knitting, the winter might be over... Xu Musen smiled, touched the scarf, and cradled her cheeks: "Thank you, I really like it. This is also the first time I''ve received such a gift." That was true. Yao Mingyue, that princess, had never set foot in the kitchen in her past life, let alone done any needlework. A lot of regrets from that time. "Hehe... Do you really like it that much?" An Nuannuan rarely adopted a girlish coyness. Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire "Really, it''s truer than diamonds. In the future, when I die, I''d have to be buried with this scarf to rest in peace," Xu Musen was dead serious as he joked around. But before he could finish, An Nuannuan in his arms gently tiptoed, her rosy lips glistening warm and moist in the morning light. The happiness of tiptoeing was just an inch away. Their lips slowly drew closer, and the morning sun seemed gradually dimmed between their kiss. A quick taste on the roadside. "I''m off." "Okay." ... Not far from Huhai University, there was a high-end residential area. Xu Musen drove directly into the underground garage and skillfully found the floor to head up. He had been to Bai Xin''s place a few times before. The location wasn''t too far from Huhai University, and the decoration, layout, greenery, and property management were all good. Bai Xin was still tidying up when she opened the door, telling Xu Musen to make himself comfortable. And he did, walking around the room without holding back. It was a four-bedroom, two-hall apartment with two balconies, spanning over 170 square metersnot small by any means. Even for Bai Xin, living alone could seem a bit too quiet. "Aunt Bai, how much did this apartment cost approximately?" Xu Musen asked while inspecting the layout. "I bought it with the fine decoration for about four million or so." "Cash payment?" "Mhm." "Sheesh, rich lady, huh." Xu Musen let out a sigh. In an era where the average salary wasn''t even three thousand, owning a four million apartment outright made one wealthy even by national standards. And given its location and size, the price could well soar to around ten million in just a few years. Bai Xin gave him an unamused look; calling someone a rich lady didn''t sound very nice. She should be called an independent woman, she thought. "Why ask out of the blue? Are you thinking of buying a place too?" Bai Xin knew he had already bought an Audi. Ah, men and their yearning for houses and cars. "Actually, I am considering it. If the down payment is within one million, I might bite the bullet and think about it." "It should be around that. I recently passed by the property management and saw the listing prices; a million shouldn''t be a problem. I can ask around for you. Are you also aiming for this type of layout?" "Of course, it''d be great to have Aunt Bai as a neighbor." Xu Musen said with a grin. Bai Xin paused for a moment, but looking at his shameless demeanor, she couldn''t help but smile. "Alright, I''ve always heard from Ru Shuang that you''re good at cooking. I haven''t had the chance to try your dishes yet. I''ll have to go... not mooch but, visit you often." She had already tasted his noodles, and they were quite delicious. "A good child isn''t afraid of home visits." Xu Musen nodded with a smile, "Can I also take a look at the bedroom?" Since he had decided to buy an apartment, the master bedroom was undoubtedly the most important; the room had to be spacious enough, ideally to fit a swing chair and tea table among other things. Unveil more props and scene setups. "Go ahead, the layout here is pretty standard. The master bedroom is the largest. If you''re... wait a minute! Don''t just..." Bai Xin was casually speaking but suddenly remembered something. She looked up, only to see that Xu Musen had already opened the door. Bai Xin''s own bedroom was actually quite simply styled, befitting a grown-up''s tastes, but contrary to expectations, there were two plush toys on the headboard of her bed. Of course, this wasn''t the most significant thing. The important thing was that her spacious bed was currently cluttered with a variety of clothes. That type with eye masks and those tiny triangular pieces. Not as visually overwhelming as the female dorms at universities where clothes flutter like prayer flags with every gust of wind, but the mature styles and assorted fabrics were overwhelming enough for anyone. "Slam!" The door was shut straight away. Bai Xin stood in front of him with a flushed face, seemingly annoyed as she looked at him. "You were the one who let me come in and see." Xu Musen gestured innocently. Bai Xin, knowing she was in the wrong and thinking it over, deemed this wasn''t a big dealit was just some fabric, after all, and she was his aunt. Overreacting could make it look like she was reading too much into it. "Smart-mouth, go on, go. Later on, go find the property management and look at the rooms yourself." Bai Xin chased him out of the room, then darted into her bedroom to tidy up her ''little fabrics.'' Xu Musen shook his head with a smile; after all, she was a woman who had never been married. If it had been Liu Rushuang, it would have been Xu Musen making a hasty retreat amidst taunts and laughter. Quite cute, really. Chapter 249 Yao Mingyue: Sister? Verb or Noun? ``` "Fluffy, have you guys arrived yet?" "Still got a hundred or two kilometers to go... How many times have I told you, stop calling me with such a disgusting nickname." Bai Xin was on the phone with Liu Rushuang, who was using the affectionate nickname commonly shared between best friends. But clearly, Bai Xin was not pleased with this nickname. "Haha, I think this name is pretty good, it fits your image perfectly, big and white." The voice of Liu Rushuang, always so mischievously youthful, seemed to never match her age. Bai Xin quickly turned the volume of her phone down, her cheeks tinting red. "You! You''re a mother now, can''t you be a bit more reserved?" "Haha, I''m just excited to see you, by the way, will you guys make it home today?" "We should be there, as long as it doesn''t snow heavily." Bai Xin glanced outside. Zheng City is said to be in the Central Plains, but it is actually slightly northward, with distinct seasons, still with lots of snow piled up on the sides of the roads. There were also a few snowflakes falling from the sky, but it didn''t seem like it would snow heavily. This was a scene hard to come by in Huhai. She remembered that the last time she visited Zheng City to play with Liu Rushuang was many years ago. Back then, Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue were just little brats in split pants. "That''s good, but if it does start to snow, find a place to stay and remember to take good care of my godson." "Does he even need me to look after him?" S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai Xin said, slightly annoyed, and glanced at Xu Musen, who was driving intently. Xu Musen was about to turn nineteen, but he had already achieved success in his career and had a happy life, something not many young people his age could claim. "No matter how big he gets, he''s still my son. And with Xiao Sen being so handsome, what if he catches the eye of some single female hooligan with no partner when staying outside?" "...Liu Rushuang! Are you insinuating something about someone?!" The more Bai Xin thought about it, the odder it felt. What was that about a female hooligan without a partner? She couldn''t help but glance at Xu Musen again, and she had to admit, the kid was indeed handsome... Bai Xin''s heart crumbled a bit, her voice lowered: "I''m not the least bit interested in such a brat." "Who knows? You haven''t dated in so many years, maybe you''ve become a repressed weirdo..." "Liu Rushuang! Wait until I get there, I''m going to explode at you!" "Haha, I''ll be waiting~" The two friends chattered away. Even though Xu Musen couldn''t hear their conversation, he knew Liu Rushuang well enough to guess that Bai Xin must be the one getting picked on. But this is what friends are for, right? Having such uninhibited friends at this age is something truly special. Zheng City. After a long day''s journey, they had finally returned. Mother Xu was also aware of Liu Rushuang''s best friend, who ironically was Xu Musen''s college professor, and she took it very seriously. She went all out preparing chicken and fishthe hospitality was top-notch. Arriving home. Liu Rushuang was also lending a hand, laughing, "There''s no need to go to such lengths, it''s not like we haven''t met before." "It''s been so many years, I remember the last time we met, she was about the same age as Ming Yue and Musen, right?" Mother Xu was also struggling to recall. "We weren''t much older at the time, and now in the blink of an eye, the kids have grown so much." Liu Rushuang felt a bit nostalgic too; they were only about twenty when they had their children. But people used to have children early back in the day. "Yes, in the blink of an eye..." Mother Xu smiled, noticing her hands were now wrinkled. Even though Liu Rushuang took good care of herself, she no longer had the youthful exuberance of the girl they had first met, always beaming with laughter. Read latest chapters at My Virtual Library Empire Nevertheless, it was fine. Musen and Ming Yue had also reached this wonderful age. Meanwhile, Yao Mingyue was sitting in Xu Musen''s room. These past few days, she had restrained herself from sending messages to Xu Musen. It seemed there was nothing worthwhile to say, and messaging him at this time would only make her feel more redundant. But that didn''t mean she didn''t miss him. An Nuannuan and Xu Musen were experiencing the joy of reunion after a brief separation. What about her and Xu Musen? After more than ten years together, every minute and every second apart was like an agonizing ordeal, as if she had been "divorced." She aimlessly flipped through the trinkets on Xu Musen''s desk. Xu Musen''s study desk was still covered with many high school books. Since graduation, he had hardly sat down there, nor did he bother to pack them away or sell them all off in one go. After all, it was the most unforgettable learning experience of his life, and Xu Musen didn''t want to dismiss those three years for just a few bucks. It was better to keep them as a memento. However, a thin layer of dust had inevitably settled on them over time. Yao Mingyue opened a few books and looked at Xu Musen''s handwriting, along with the random annotations and doodles on the textbooks. The boring and stressful days in high school were not immune to doodles, like the popular "Busy Du Fu" memes back then. Even using Chinese homophones as mnemonic devices for English vocabulary was a common trick many used to get through classes. Looking at his handwriting, Yao Mingyue felt as if she had been transported back to their high school years. Despite the tedium and hardships, at least... aside from their studies, they really didn''t have to worry too much. The two of them could be together every day. And most importantly, he was so in love with her. Yao Mingyue slowly closed the textbook, a hint of a smile in her phoenix eyes, mixed with a touch of wistfulness. Wishing to buy fragrant osmanthus wine to share, but in the end, it cannot compare to the joy of youth... At the time, it only seemed common, but now it has faded... Many say that memorizing poetry is useless, often just a self-deceptive lament of the unafflicted. ``` Chapter 249 Yao Mingyue: Sister? Verb or Noun?_2 It was only because as students in the school, we were far from having the chance to touch upon such matters, and how could those in the prime of youth understand the sorrow of youth slipping away? These poems that were learned will only ambush you suddenly at a certain moment, and only then can one truly comprehend their meaning. Um... so bitter. Yao Mingyue looked at the specks of dust that had settled on the desk and picked up a cloth to gently wipe them away. He always said he wasn''t gentle enough, that she had never cooked a meal for him or done the housework... Yao Mingyue inwardly disagreed. When she had money in the future, there would be no need to worry about this sort of thing. If it came to it, she could just hire a maid. With money, why still bother with these trivial matters? But when she actually took the initiative to do things she had never thought of doing before, like showing weakness to him, cooking him a meal, preparing a surprise for him, or simply taking care of the household chores... She suddenly felt that actually, this was not so bad, especially when she saw Xu Musen''s surprised and touched expression. Her heart felt a fulfillment she had never experienced before. Taking care of someone could become addictive, and perhaps that was the feeling she was experiencing. "Eh?" As Yao Mingyue crouched down to wipe the table, she discovered a small drawer underneath. Yao Mingyue pulled it open and was momentarily stunned by the contents inside, which included numerous photos and letters, and even a remote-controlled car. There were many photos, but in each one was the figure of Yao Mingyue. From a young age, there was Yao Mingyue playing, riding a bicycle, walking, eating, happy, goofy, sad, daydreaming... Yao Mingyue could not remember having done so many things, yet they were preserved forever in the photos. All of them were taken by Xu Musen, or picked from other photos. That was... really creepy... Yao Mingyue''s face turned a little red. She could understand Xu Musen''s thoughts at the time because she also had an album about him in her room. If both are creepy, does that make it mutual infatuation? Pfft! That could only be considered an understanding between childhood sweethearts, yes, that''s it. Just don''t know if that teenager used this as his spell-casting material... Yao Mingyue decided not to think about it, focusing her attention back on the envelopes lying around, numerous and scattered. She picked one up and her eyes immediately brightened. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire "Yao Mingyue, please make sure to read this letter carefully, I have so many things I want to tell you..." "Yao Mingyue, forgive me for not daring to write my name, but my feelings are genuine. I''ve always liked you..." "Ming Yue, I am Xu Musen. I think you should know by now, I''m sorry I didn''t have the courage to write my name until now. Ming Yue, I like you, not because someone else confessed to you yesterday and I decided to confess in a huff... Okay, I was really angry, but I also truly like you..." Letter by letter, the span of time they covered may have been the longest at four or five years. Their style changed from naive to... increasingly slick. The pages were slightly yellowed, and many were clearly drafts written unsatisfactorily, or perhaps without the courage to be sent out. But each letter, or rather each love letter, was written with utmost sincerity. There were a few letters whose content Yao Mingyue still remembered, after all, Xu Musen had embarrassed himself publicly many times. But seeing this thick stack, she truly realized what it meant to materialize one''s affection for someone. If love had a thickness... Yao Mingyue held the thick stack of love letters and read them over and over, as if all the versions of Xu Musen from elementary school, middle school, and high school appeared before her, each holding their respective letters from that time, confessing to the common heroine in these lettersSister Mingyue. Yao Mingyue silently read, cherishing the naive, slick, youthful, innocent words. She alternated between laughter and pursed lips, with a tearful gleam flickering in the corner of her eye. "Love letters..." Yao Mingyue committed every word of these envelopes to memory, then gently placed them back where they belonged. Her gaze drifted to the remote-controlled car set aside. Though Xu Musen had bought her a Barbie doll, she had also secretly bought him a remote-controlled car, worried Xu Musen would overthink it, so she never let him know and sneakily gave it to him among other birthday presents. Xu Musen hadn''t played with it in a long time but still cherished it greatly. "Mom, I''m back." At the doorway, Xu Musen knocked and called out. Yao Mingyue snapped back to reality, quickly put everything away, pushed the drawer back in place, and walked out. At that moment, Xu Musen had arrived at the front door with Bai Xin. Sarch* The n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Big Bai... Xiao Bai, I''ve missed you so much." Liu Rushuang was the happiest, hugging Bai Xin tightly as she walked over. Standing aside, Xu Musen felt it was like a particle collider experiment; indeed, like attracts like. Bai Xin, noticing there were still people in the room, blushed slightly and released her best friend. "You must be Teacher Bai. It''s been many years since we last met." Mother Xu also came forward, looking at Bai Xin. It had been many years since they last met, and she had been much younger then; both of them had changed significantly over the years. "Sister Xu, there''s no need to call me teacher; just call me Xiao Bai or Xiao Xin like before," Bai Xin said, addressing Mother Xu, recalling the substantial changes she had undergone throughout the years, having met her when she was only in her twenties. Chapter 249 Yao Mingyue: Sister? Verb or Noun?_3 ``` This "Xiao Bai," Mother Xu did remember a bit more vividly; she seemed to have grown a few years younger, "Alright, hurry inside, I''ve cooked some delicious food for you all." It was lively and bustling. Xu Musen, knowing he couldn''t contribute to the conversation, directly slipped away to the front of his room. As he was about to hang up his down jacket, he unexpectedly bumped into Yao Mingyue coming out of his room. Yao Mingyue lifted her eyes to look at him, revealing the slightly sly smile she usually wore, "Yo, what time do you think this is, finally remembering to come home?" While speaking, she skillfully took the jacket from Xu Musen''s hand and hung it on the rack. This smooth series of actions was just like a wife chiding a late-returning husband. Only, in their previous lives, it was mostly Xu Musen who would cook and wait for her to come home. The sudden role reversal was still a bit unfamiliar. Before Xu Musen could react, Yao Mingyue suddenly reached out and grabbed the scarf around his neck. "What''s this?" "Nuannuan knitted it." Xu Musen didn''t hide the fact; he took off the scarf C it wasn''t fancy, but it was very warm and quite cute. "Hehe, how nice, a scarf knitted by a girl. To accept it and not marry her would be a sin." Yao Mingyue''s smirk was ambiguous, and as she looked at the scarf in Xu Musen''s hands, she seemed a bit unwilling, and yet there seemed to be a strange sense of balance in her competitive desire. Her hand reached unnaturally into her pocket. Xu Musen didn''t respond to her comment, instead properly placing the scarf and then noticing that his room had been wiped clean. Even though his mother would regularly tidy up the room, Xu Musen had instructed her that just sweeping the floor would suffice and that she shouldn''t touch the things on the tables and in the cabinets. But now the table was spotlessly clean. "Did you clean the table?" Xu Musen was surprised for a moment; the domineering CEO from their previous lives was indeed exceeding his expectations time and again. He hadn''t expected her to now even be capable of doing household chores. "It was as dirty as a pigsty, I couldn''t stand it, so I just wiped it down haphazardly," Yao Mingyue snorted, but seeing the surprise in Xu Musen''s eyes, she was somewhat proud. "To casually wipe it and be this good, you''re really amazing." Xu Musen wasn''t stingy with his praise, adopting a manner like he was coaxing a child. Yao Mingyue felt a bit ashamed, as if he had taken advantage of her, but for some reason, she also felt somewhat blissful inside ... They had dinner together. Bai Xin''s arrival didn''t feel awkward; as they sat together, they talked about the past. The most frequently mentioned words were "Ming Yue has been beautiful ever since she was little," and "Musen also always looked like a kid..." Xu Musen expressed speechlessness, while Yao Mingyue kept smiling proudly. "Musen didn''t cause any trouble for you at school, did he?" Mother Xu, with her occupational hazard as a parent, always asked the teacher whenever she met one. Bai Xin gave Xu Musen a meaningful look. What could she say? After all, Xu Musen had only attended a handful of classes during the whole semester. But in other respects, Xu Musen was fairly good: he had started his own brand company, took charge of school activities, found a beautiful girlfriend, bought a car, and was even considering purchasing a house... One could say that as a college student, aside from the primary task of attending classes which he didn''t do well, Xu Musen was excellent in other aspects. Xu Musen felt a bit guilty. Bai Xin smiled, "He''s very good, respects his teachers, always willing to help others, a good Samaritan, never skips class, a good kid." Xu Musen coughed, "Tsk! That''s targeted!" Mother Xu was beaming; as a parent, whenever someone praised her child, it made her happy. Yao Mingyue rolled her eyes from the side, her assessment of Xu Musen: disrespectful to elders, loves tricking people, all business all the time, never attends classes, a big jerk! After the meal. Bai Xin naturally went to sleep with Liu Rushuang. Xu Musen was tasked to escort the three golden flowers back home. Indeed, the combined beauty of Liu Rushuang, Bai Xin, and Yao Mingyue could almost tilt half the Earth''s beauty. The other half, of course, belonged to his dear little cutie Nuannuan~ Yao Mingyue deliberately slowed down her pace. Waiting until Mother Xu and Aunt Bai had entered the villa. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She then paused slightly in her footsteps, standing together with Xu Musen. After three days without seeing him, Yao Mingyue missed him too. Flakes of fine snow were still falling from the sky, landing on Yao Mingyue, as if casting a layer of stardust upon her. ``` Xu Musen also stopped to look at her, and the two of them silently gazed at each other for a while, the tension that used to be present during their past encounters was no longer there. But it seemed like they didn''t know what to say. So they just looked at each other in silence. In the end, it was Xu Musen who broke the silence, "It''s cold outside, hurry back." "I knew you would say that." Yao Mingyue pouted, "Let it be cold, if I freeze to death, no one would care anyway." Xu Musen laughed, stretching out his hand to gently brush off the snowflakes on her bangs. "That''s not your style to say such things, and besides, there are a lot of people who care about you." "Do you count among those who care about me?" Yao Mingyue stared at him intently. Xu Musen nodded seriously, "Yes." Yao Mingyue''s eyes flickered slightly, but Xu Musen quickly added, "I only have this one godsister, if something happened to you I would definitely be upset." "Hehehe..." Yao Mingyue squinted her eyes, "Godsister, verb or noun?" "?" "Spend less time on the internet." Xu Musen said wordlessly. "Tsk, feeling guilty, are we" Yao Mingyue revealed a chuckling smile again, but she was already very happy to hear this answer from his lips today. "Alright, I''m heading back." The weather in Zheng City was indeed very cold, it felt even more so coming back from Huhai; Xu Musen was about to turn and leave. But he suddenly found that the slender figure behind him had surged forward, apparently holding something like a string, which she promptly wrapped around his neck! For a moment, Xu Musen was a bit scared, wondering if Xiao Sickly Cutie would actually tie him up and take him back to the basement. He reached out to defend himself, but when he grasped it, he found it was very soft fabric. He looked down. A scarf... The craftsmanship was far from exquisite, but he could feel that it had been made with care, stitch by stitch. Xu Musen looked at Yao Mingyue, who seemed a bit nervous and expectant, "Did you knit this?" "Found it in the trash!" Her standard tsundere retort. Xu Musen looked at the scarf and smiled, tsunderes are really out of fashion now, but considering how beautiful you are, I''ll forgive you. Xu Musen stroked the scarf, a bit rough, but it was also very warm. The most important thing was, this was the first scarf Yao Mingyue had ever knitted in her life... no, in these two lifetimes. A girl''s scarf carries a lot of meaning. "Is it for me?" At that moment, Xu Musen''s first instinct was not to decline; perhaps deep down, he had long been anticipating a scarf hand-knitted by Yao Mingyue. It was only now that this regret could finally be fulfilled. "Mhm..." This time Yao Mingyue did not play the tsundere, she nodded, "If you dare to think it''s ugly, I''ll bite you to death!" She grit her teeth. Xu Musen''s heart was filled with indescribable feelings; he remembered what Yao Mingyue had just said. "Hehehe, if a girl knits you a scarf and you accept it, not marrying her is going to be quite difficult to justify..." At this moment, not a single thought of letting the scarf go crossed Xu Musen''s mind; deep down, he felt it was something he had been longing for, something that rightfully belonged to him. Xu Musen felt like he wasn''t a good person. But if he were to return the scarf, it would be even worse than being a beast. "Thank you, I really like it." Xu Musen chose to be a bad person. Yao Mingyue''s eyes lit up, "You''re keeping it?" "Having second thoughts?" "No, just don''t you regret it." The two of them gazed at each other silently, then broke into a smile. Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire "Good night?" "Good night." Though there was a bit of light snow, the moon was truly round. Chapter 250 Family Hot Spring Trip~ Winter vacation always seems less convenient for outings than summer. But some activities that only feel right in winter were also scheduled. "Family hot springs?" Xu Musen was a bit baffled when he heard the news. He always felt like something was missing in the middle. "Yeah, it would be such a waste not to soak in a hot spring during winter. A new hot spring hotel recently opened near the third ring, and I heard it''s really nice. They have a flower pool and a wine pool, which are especially good for the body, and they even offer family private bookings with snacks and fruits. You could soak all day." Liu Rushuang spoke with anticipation. Women, especially for things that can improve their skin, tend to be quite superstitious. They don''t think about the fact that in Zheng City, in the Central Plains region, there aren''t that many hot springs to discover; it''s really just a larger, fancier bathhouse. Someone still heats the boiler behind the scenes, adds some fancy decorations and a sprinkle of sulfur powder, and the price can skyrocket several times over. Of course, Xu Musen wouldn''t say this out loud, otherwise, he''d come across as lacking emotional intelligence. From another perspective, spending a hundred or two so that the women can soak in the hot springs all day without bothering him is quite a deal. Yao Mingyue and Bai Xin were also intrigued; women naturally love bathing, especially in the middle of winter, with fine snow floating from the sky, soaking in the hot springs is pure enjoyment. "Then you all go ahead." Xu Musen said. Today his mother went out to visit relatives, and Xu Musen had planned to sleep in or go out to play with He Qiang. "Come on, it''s a family private booking. You should join us; if you don''t go, it''s a waste of money." Liu Rushuang immediately grabbed Xu Musen. Xu Musen thought to himself, does this female CEO of a big company really care about this little amount of money? "It''s not very convenient for me to go, is it?" Xu Musen noticed the gazes of Bai Xin and Yao Mingyue. Although everyone wore swimwear at hot springs, and it was fine with Liu Rushuang and Yao Mingyue since they had soaked together before, Bai Xin Bai Xin felt her face heat up. Even though she''d always seen Xu Musen as a child, he was certainly not little anymore. "What''s inconvenient about it? We''ll all be in swimsuits, just like sunbathing at the beach," Liu Rushuang blinked, giving off a sense of false pity, "Besides, it''s dangerous for the three of us girls to go out alone. Since you''re the only man in the house, shouldn''t you protect us?" Girls... For Yao Mingyue, sure, but thinking about Liu Rushuang and Bai Xin, the two mature and chic ladies, why even join in on this. "If he doesn''t want to go, that''s fine, let''s just go. Right, Mingyue?" Bai Xin spoke up, actually feeling a bit embarrassed since these past few days, she indulged in Mother Xu''s cooking in Zheng City. She accidentally ate a lot at every meal and always felt her stomach was a bit bloated. Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire As a woman, she was always concerned about her figure. Especially in front of her students, she always wanted to maintain a perfect image. She knew persuading Liu Rushuang was pointless, but surely, little girl Yao Mingyue would have some sense of shame, right? But Yao Mingyue just blinked and spoke very calmly, "Aunt Bai, it''s a bit unsafe for us ladies to go alone. We should bring him along since we have swimsuits anyway." Yao Mingyue said so, even giving Xu Musen a glance. Humph, she might have missed the chance to go to the beach together in the summer, but she had secretly bought several swimsuits of different styles. Yao Mingyue was quite satisfied with her figure, even if it didn''t quite compare to her mother''s or Aunt Bai''s. But she was still young, after all. With a little more growth, who knows who would be more impressive? Plus, she had been diligently doing yoga to maintain her figure; she even had the beginnings of abs. She''ll definitely dazzle him while soaking in the hot springs! Bai Xin abruptly stopped speaking. What''s up with this mother and daughter? There''s something off about them. Sar?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xu Musen also silently shook his head, this isn''t like serving up an assist? In any case, the decision was pleasantly made. Xu Musen went back to his room to prepare his swimwear; it was basically just a pair of big trunks. After packing lightly, Xu Musen took An Nuannuan''s scarf and put it on. Nuannuan''s knitted scarf was a bit short; if he raised his head or made sudden movements, it would let in the cold air. He then picked up the scarf Yao Mingyue gave him. Although Yao Mingyue''s was not entirely complete, the two scarves together felt perfectly warm and comfortable. Xu Musen paused, feeling his thoughts becoming more and more improper. He was a person of pure love after all. Meanwhile, the three "young ladies" were also picking out swimsuits. Liu Rushuang and Bai Xin had similar body types and heights, and Liu Rushuang generously let Bai Xin choose whatever she liked from her wardrobe. "How about this one? The red color would go great with your fair skin, and you''d look rosy and beautiful." Liu Rushuang took out a boldly designed red swimsuit, which bared the entire waist, almost like a bikini. Bai Xin immediately blushed, "Let''s not go with that one..." "What''s wrong? Hiding your figure even though it''s great? We''re all family, are you afraid of being taken advantage of?" Liu Rushuang grinned mischievously and even poked Bai Xin''s impressive front. Ah, the benefit of a woman who has never had children is that uniquely abundant feel. "Liu Rushuang, what are you doing?" Bai Xin''s face turned red, and clearly, in front of her best friend, she was always the "bullied" one. Chapter 250 Family Hot Spring Trip~_2 She was still a bit unconvinced, observing Liu Rushuang''s obviously more voluptuous figure. "Then why don''t you wear this?" "As a married woman, I certainly can''t compare with you, I''ll wear something else." "Tsk, now you''re playing the married woman card..." In the next room, Yao Mingyue surveyed her wardrobe full of swimsuits, also feeling a bit of decision paralysis. The overly sexy ones suggested too much brazenness, making it seem like she was... so eager to present herself. The too conservative ones completely buried her figure; in that case, what would be the point of going to the hot springs? After much thought, Yao Mingyue''s gaze finally settled on a somewhat cute style that was gracefully modest without losing charm, very much in line with her personality. Xu Musen naturally took on the role of driver, quickly reaching the hot spring hotel in his car. The hotel was indeed newly opened and quite busy; when Xu Musen stepped out with three "young ladies", the surrounding men couldn''t help but take a few extra glances, to say they weren''t envious would be a lie. Liu Rushuang, Bai Xin, Yao Mingyue, they were like fruits from three different seasons. Liu Rushuang was unintentionally the most mature and intellectual, with her stunning face and ever-present warm smile that gave off a feeling of intimacy that''s hard to define, but indeed made her instantly endearing; her charm was irresistible to all ages and genders. Bai Xin lacked the distinctive married woman aura Liu Rushuang had, but her tall stature and the profession of teaching endowed her with a sense of approachable sisterly warmth. She might appear a bit stern and aloof, but deep down, she was actually quite gentle. As for Yao Mingyue, well, that goes without saying. Men in this world may change, but they will invariably love young and beautiful women to death. Sarch* The n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yao Mingyue, eighteen, a fresh beauty in academia, wore an off-white down jacket, her long hair tied into a high ponytail, her figure already slim and graceful, embodying the image of the pure moonlight cherished in most people''s hearts. Let''s not kid ourselves, if these three beauties walked together at night, and ran into some ruffians or the like, it would indeed be a bit dangerous. Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire But luckily, Xu Musen was a major ruffian. The hotel was booked in advance by Liu Rushuang when they arrived. There were many pools in the hot spring area, the public ones open to anyone who wanted to soak and socialize with both strangers and acquaintances. But clearly, both Liu Rushuang and Bai Xin were very conscious of their bodies, not to mention the gaze of others. The thought of the communal pools used by who knows how many could be off-putting in itself, not to mention the possibility of skin diseases. Therefore, they all preferred the private ones; a newly opened hot spring hotel would generally be much cleaner. As for Yao Mingyue, it was even more obviousin her principles, she only allowed the person she liked to see her. If any other man dared to look at her, she would definitely find a way to gouge out his eyes! A family''s private booking was much like having a private room within the hotel. The open-air hot spring was divided into sections, each containing three to five pools, exclusively for the use of the party that booked it. All sorts of fruits, beverages, and snacks were already prepared, sharing similarities with Japanese hot spring styles, and it looked quite comfortable indeed. "This is nice, I thought it would be a small room, but I didn''t expect it to be an airy, open-air space." Liu Rushuang was pleased, admiring the yard decorated in garden style, exquisitely refined, with at least a couple hundred square meters of free space. The hot spring steamed ardently with layers of mist wafting through, like a scene from a fairyland. Bai Xin was also impressed by the environment, recognizing that although Huhai had many hot spring hotels with nice environments, it was difficult to find such a large space in the valuable land area of Huhai. "Alright, let''s hurry up and change." Liu Rushuang, already impatient, pulled Bai Xin and her daughter and turned to Xu Musen with a wink, "Xiao Sen, make sure no peeping toms get in." Xu Musen smiled helplessly and nodded. The women went into the room to change clothes. Xu Musen went to try a few pieces of fruit first. They couldn''t compare to the fruits at Nuannuan''s home, but hotel freebies were not to be judged too harshly. "Xiao Sen, we''re coming out!" Liu Rushuang was the first to emerge, heard before seen. Xu Musen, eating a grape, turned his head to look and suddenly found himself pausing mid-chew. Liu Rushuang approached, smiling in a red swimsuit. Actually, the swimsuit Liu Rushuang wore was of a very conservative type, similar to a dress in style. The upper half covered up to the collarbone; as a mature woman, Liu Rushuang didn''t have the pale, young, and thin look that girls crave. Her shoulders were fair and plump, the collarbone as perfectly polished rough jade, while the lower half was covered by a beach skirt, reaching down two-thirds of the thigh. Yao Mingyue was all about legs, and her genetic source, her mother Liu Rushuang was even more so; compared to a young girl''s slender and straight limbs, Liu Rushuang''s legs appeared more sensuous. Her long hair was also pinned up, tied into an elaborate bun at the back of her head, showing few signs of the passage of time. If anything, she seemed to be right at the most perfect moment in a woman''s life. Chapter 250 Family Hot Spring Trip~_3 In his past life, Yao Mingyue hadn''t yet grown to this stage before Xu Musen was forced to reborn. It''s a bit regrettable. "How about it, I''m not that old, am I?" Liu Rushuang came over with a smile and asked him. He remembered the last time he went to take a bath with Xu Musen, which was a long, long time ago. At that time, Xu Musen was still wearing split-crotch pants. "If you were old, no other woman would stand a chance." Xu Musen smiled and shook his head. "Hmm, Xiao Sen really knows how to talk~" Liu Rushuang nodded in satisfaction, and even snatched the grapes Xu Musen was holding. Just like before, the "grown-up beautiful girl" who wouldn''t let Xu Musen call her aunt, but instead insisted on being called sister. If this mindset could also be inherited by Yao Mingyue, he couldn''t even dare to imagine how happy he could have lived in his last life. "Cough!" At that moment, a crisp cough came through. Yao Mingyue also walked out. Xu Musen''s gaze shifted towards her, and there was a momentary daze. Yao Mingyue was wearing a light yellow swimsuit, a style with wavy patterns and lace edges, exuding a youthful and cute vibe with a touch of flounce. She was like a summer green orange, and even the neckline of Yao Mingyue''s swimsuit was slightly lower than that of Liu Rushuang''s. Her bare shoulders on both sides fully exposed, her delicate collarbones seemed able to balance an egg, and her graceful curves were fully displayed. The swimsuit appropriately started to save on fabric right at the position of her belly button. The girl''s flat tummythe belly of a woman who enjoys drinking milk tea or eating high-calorie snacks could easily accumulate some flab. But Yao Mingyue''s figure was maintained so perfectly that not a single trace of fat could be seen on her belly, and there were even some ab lines. Her petite and delicate navel playfully winked at him, as if it were. Sar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her skirt covered only one third of her thighs, highlighting her slender and porcelain-like long legs even more conspicuously. Xu Musen had seen Yao Mingyue in swimsuits too many times in his past life, but the eighteen-year-old Ming Yue in a swimsuit still made his heart skip a beat. Alas, men are indeed visual creatures. No matter the age, they invariably fall for beautiful young girls who are eighteen. So faithful! Yao Mingyue noticed all the admiration in his eyes and took it all in stride. She felt proud inside, but still maintained the restraint of a young girl. She held her white neck high, seemingly waiting for praise. "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and compliment her." Liu Rushuang teased her with a beaming smile. Xu Musen naturally wasn''t stingy with his praise, "You look very beautiful." "It looks beautiful without you saying so." Yao Mingyue obviously wasn''t satisfied with his somewhat perfunctory compliment and snorted. "Yo yo yo, look at Miss Proud, even with her lips curled up, she''s still stubborn. Why do I remember your swimsuit originally didn''t reveal your belly button? Don''t tell me you specially cut it for today..." Liu Rushuang affectionately hugged her daughter and playfully poked her cheek. Yao Mingyue, feeling a bit embarrassed, blushed and stuffed a couple of grapes into her mother''s mouth. "Mom, can''t you keep quiet with something to eat?" Liu Rushuang giggled, and the two of them together looked less like mother and daughter, more like sisters. "Cough..." Just then, at the door of the room, another hesitant voice came through. Xu Musen turned his head to look, only to see a pair of bears that seemed to have sprouted beside the door. To be precise, Bai Xin stood somewhat embarrassedly behind the door, it was just that her fabulous figure couldn''t quite be contained, as if springtime was overflowing from a garden. If Liu Rushuang and Yao Mingyue both had a routine of maintaining their bodies, then Bai Xin''s typically lazy appearance made her seem a bit more curvaceous. She wore a white swimsuit, similar in style to Liu Rushuang''s but even more conservative, with a skirt that almost completely covered her thighs. Her shoulders were mostly covered too, but even so, her curvy figure was still noticeable, and such conservative swimwear still made her look a bit mouth-watering. "Xiao Bai, didn''t I tell you to wear another set of swimwear? You''re more conservative than an old lady." Liu Rushuang walked over with a smile and gave her best friend a big hug. Bai Xin gave her an eye roll: "Aren''t you the same?" "But I have" "Don''t you say it!" "Look, even Ming Yue dares to wear less than you." "If I had a body as well-managed as Ming Yue''s, I would wear it too." "You look great as you are, look at you, look" "Don''t you look!" The two of them giggled and pulled Yao Mingyue into their chatter, this is what happens when women gather. If you work in an office and the company is all women, with you being the only man, especially a younger man, they would discuss body shapes, bra sizes, menstrual periods, and such right in front of you, not considering you a man at all. Of course, when it comes time to move things or lift tables, they quickly remember you as the big man. "Xiao Sen, tell us, who among the three of us is the most attractive?" Liu Rushuang suddenly directed the question at Xu Musen. Xu Musen already didn''t know where to rest his eyes. One his aunt, one his sworn sister, another his teacher. Offending any of them meant no good days ahead. At this moment, Bai Xin felt a bit flushed; although her swimsuit didn''t differ much from her usual pajamas, the thought still embarrassed herwhat would become of her dignity as a teacher? Yao Mingyue also felt slightly bashful, standing on tiptoes in their midst, always sensing an overwhelming pressure. Darn it... Isn''t it said that generally in Asia the average is an A? Why does it seem none around her were below a D... Yao Mingyue felt a bit disappointed but then reassured herself in her heart, insisting that this was nothing but a perverted aesthetic. She believed she was just right; everything else was just him being too greedy! Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire She glared at Xu Musen, puffing with anger. Xu Musen chuckled and faced this life-or-death question with a cough, "Not to sing my own praises, but once I change into my swimwear, none of the ladies present will look as good as me!" After saying that, Xu Musen picked up his swimming trunks and dashed into the men''s changing room like a shot. The three women couldn''t help laughing as they watched Xu Musen high-tail it out of there. They also began to find their favorite pools to comfortably soak in. Men change quickly, and for Xu Musen, it was just a matter of putting on swimming trunks and coming out bare-chested. He looked towards one of the nearby hot springs, where the three women had already submerged themselves, with Liu Rushuang playfully splashing water. The droplets flowed slowly down their fair, smooth skin, the swimwear clinging tightly, outlining their enviable body curves even more attractively. The steam rising from the hot spring twisted around them, their laughter and chatter reminiscent of the bathing celestial maidens in Journey to the West''s Heavenly Pond. Xu Musen wondered why the Monkey King, after immobilizing the seven fairies, would turn and go pick peaches; if it were him... heh heh. Of course, he couldn''t afford to mess with any of the three celestial maidens in the pool now. Xu Musen planned to say hello and then find another pool for himself. But as he approached them, the women turned and glanced over Xu Musen, their eyes gleaming. "Wow! Xiao Sen, are those your abs?" Chapter 251 The Hot Spring Massage Game. According to an unofficial survey, actually less than one percent, or even less than that, of guys have clearly defined abs. Sarch* The N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Those skinny guys with just ribs showing can step aside. Xu Musen''s physique is that typical type that looks good clothed and even better with muscles showing when unclothed. His abs and pecs aren''t as exaggerated as those who workout year-round, but the contours are clearly visible, the kind girls like most in a man. In Liu Rushuang''s memory, Xu Musen was always a little kid, running around in split pants, but in the blink of an eye, he had really grown up. Bai Xin couldn''t help but take a second look at Xu Musen''s exposed upper body and the clearly visible abs. This is etched into human DNA, the admiration for strength. With Xu Musen''s height and physique, it''s easy to overlook his age. It''s just abs, what''s the big deal... That''s what Bai Xin thought, but she still sneakily took another couple of glances. Yao Mingyue couldn''t take her eyes off Xu Musen; she always felt that he was getting better and better in every aspect. When she would snatch him back later, she would sleep on his big abs every day! Hehehe... Yao Mingyue was also in the prime of youth and prone to wild thoughts, especially since she''d never felt an aversion to Xu Musen, to anything... "Hehe, Xiao Sen''s physique is really great now, let mom take a pinch!" Liu Rushuang''s eyes sparkled, and after glancing at her daughter, she reached out to touch Xu Musen''s abs. "Mom... didn''t you want to eat some fruit? I''ll go get it for you!" As expected, a certain jealous Xiao Sickly Cutie immediately couldn''t hold back, standing up from the hot spring and blocking Xu Musen. "You''re coming with me!" Such an awesome threat! Yao Mingyue, looking a bit like a bristling little fox, dragged Xu Musen away. Xu Musen knew at a glance that the little sickly cutie had been provoked by her mom''s goading method again. The two left the area. Looking at her daughter''s huffy silhouette, Liu Rushuang couldn''t help but laugh out loud. "Ru Shuang, you..." Bai Xin also sensed something, but Xu Musen already had a girlfriend, didn''t he? How did it feel like she was still giving her daughter a big push? Actually, coming to the hot spring today felt like it was for the sake of her daughter getting together with Xu Musen. She pursed her lips but didn''t voice her lingering question. "Are you wondering why I''m still trying to set them up?" Liu Rushuang asked with a candid smile. Bai Xin was slightly stunned and then nodded. "Maybe I''m just the kind of person who doesn''t turn back until I hit the south wall. After all, I''ve watched Xiao Sen grow up and have taken care of him for so many years. To suddenly have him run off to someone else''s pen is a bit hard to swallow." Liu Rushuang said with a sigh. Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire "But he already has that little girlfriend..." "I know, I''ve always wanted Ming Yue and Xiao Sen to get married in the future, but if it''s really not meant to be, obviously I can''t tie him up and bring him home for Ming Yue to marry, can I?" Liu Rushuang nodded as she looked at Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue picking fruit together, her eyes twinkling: "I know it''s not respectable, but my daughter is the most important thing to me. What Ming Yue fears most isn''t failure, but the prospect of facing failure without even having the chance to strive for success." It was like six years ago, when Ming Yue cried her heart out, yet when facing her father''s death, she didn''t even have a chance to fight for him. She had already lost a father who loved her the most; Xu Musen was now the most important man to her. Liu Rushuang leaned on the edge of the hot spring, her face usually brimming with smiles, but now, inevitably, a little sorrow showed through. "Perhaps Ming Yue won''t manage to keep Xiao Sen by her side in the end, but at least she''ll have tried. The slow process of failure is also a process of healing. If I directly control her and stop her from contacting Xu Musen, it would be like taking everything away from her again. Ming Yue would collapse, and I can''t do that." Speaking, her gaze shifted to Bai Xin, and she revealed a bitter smile: "Xiao Bai, do you look down on me for doing this?" Bai Xin had also thought quietly for a long time. Liu Rushuang was her mother''s former student, and Bai Xin had indeed witnessed the whole process from Liu Rushuang''s romance to starting a family with her husband. Losing a loved one is a heavy blow to anyone. She too felt a great debt towards her only daughter. To her, Ming Yue was her all as well. Perhaps it''s those who have been through life-and-death who understand, that before true happiness, other people''s opinions don''t matter at all Bai Xin felt sympathy for her good friend; after so many years, this was the first time she had seen such a bitter, sorrowful expression. As an observer, Liu Rushuang''s actions may of course be wrong. But as her close friend, she could only understand. Yes, many things need a process, even if it is a process of failure. In the end, everyone can slowly come to terms with it. If it stopped abruptly, it would be a lifetime of regret. She shook her head and gently embraced Liu Rushuang: "No, if it were me, perhaps my decision would be the same as yours." Bai Xin''s voice carried a hint of sadness. Liu Rushuang calmed her breathing slightly and, hugging her good friend, nuzzled against her: "Thank you, Big White, indeed, you are magnanimous, with a broad mind..." Chapter 251 The Hot Spring Massage Game._2 Bai Xin''s face turned red in an instant, "Ah, you are always... never serious for more than three seconds." "We''re out to have fun, be happy, and forget all this." ... Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue were picking out fruit, and Xu Musen even carefully cut up apples, honeydew melons, and the like. Yao Mingyue, on the other hand, pinched a grape, peeled it, and then put it into Xu Musen''s mouth. "Is it sweet?" "Sweet." "Then, who do you think is prettier, me, Mom, or Aunt Bai?" "..." Xu Musen''s fruit-cutting hand paused, thinking her Yan Country map was ridiculously short. She went straight to the point in just one sentence. Xu Musen lifted his head to look at Yao Mingyue. Yao Mingyue''s attire for the day included a bit of scheming; a cute swimsuit but one she had custom-trimmed to reveal her entire snowy-white shoulder. Below the clavicle, that slightly undulating charm was always subtly captivating. Especially that slightly visible line of abdominal muscles on her flat and smooth stomach; a girl''s waist looks really good when it''s a bit thin, as if it had been polished for countless years like a beautiful jade. And then there was her delicate navel; in the past, if a girl''s navel was seen by someone, if she didn''t marry that person, she would feel like her purity was lost, and she might go back home and hang herself from a southeastern branch. Moving lower, the girl''s slender and straight legs; Yao Mingyue was proud of them. She enjoyed playing volleyball, so her legs were thin but looked especially well-proportioned, especially the curve from her thigh to her buttocks. Many slim girls with long legs had somewhat flat buttocks, but Yao Mingyue was different. Her slender legs suddenly rose at just the right spot, forming an enticingly perfect curve. Further down were her delicate and fair feet. The term "jade feet" might have become a bit overused. But this just shows people''s fondness for such feet. Since ancient times, men have had an inexplicable fascination with women''s feet, even leading to the bad habit of foot binding. Just to be able to hold the three-inch golden lotuses in their hands to play with. While Yao Mingyue''s feet were not as exaggerated as three-inch golden lotuses, they were at most a size 34 or 35. Xu Musen could just about let her small feet stand in his wide-open palm. Pink tender skin, sparkly smooth nails, not a wrinkle in sight; Xu Musen lowered his head to look at the grapes in the fruit basket. If these were mixed in, they would indeed be difficult to distinguish. "Each has their own beauty; you don''t need to compare yourself to them," Xu Musen really found it hard to say who was prettier. It''s like comparing different kinds of flowers: the proud independence of lotus, the rich beauty of peonies, the fiery passion of roses, the elegant youthfulness of gardenias... They each attained perfection in their own realms. "What if you have to choose one? Which one do you prefer?" Yao Mingyue was like every girl in the world who gets jealous, always wanting to compare and exceed, even at times asking her boyfriend if he loves the cat or her more. What kind of silly question is that? Cats can''t transform into cat ladies to please, can they? What''s there to compare? Xu Musen turned back to look at her, "I still prefer someone a bit younger." Very subtle. After all, a young girl can slowly mature, but a mature woman can never turn back into a young girl. Yao Mingyue immediately smiled triumphantly, "Then you actually do like me after all. Ah, just be frank about it; I can take a compliment~" As she praised herself, she pinched another grape and brought it to his mouth. Then she asked in a whisper, "Then, tell me, between me and your little..." Before she could finish her sentence, Xu Musen picked up a piece of cut honeydew melon and stuffed it into her mouth. "Some questions just shouldn''t be asked; asking only causes upset." Sometimes girls are like that, incessantly asking questions they know will upset them, and after asking, they''ll hide under the quilt without speaking and sulk with their boyfriends, leaving him to guess... Yao Mingyue had already started to frown unhappily, biting into the honeydew melon, but she also bit Xu Musen''s finger. "What, are you a dog now?" "No, I belong to Xu Musen!" Yao Mingyue said triumphantly, feeling quite clever with her play on words! Xu Musen shook his head and carried the fruit over to the two big girls. Liu Rushuang and Bai Xin had already moved to another pool. "Xiao Sen, come over here! We can even play mahjong here!" Another hot spring pool was under a pavilion, with a mahjong table right in the middle, perfect for playing while soaking in the bath. Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue also walked over, initially intending to soak separately, but playing mahjong for a while didn''t sound bad either. Four people were just right. "What should we play?" Liu Rushuang started to get an idea, "How about whoever loses gets a flick on the forehead?" "Isn''t that just targeting me? How could I dare to flick you or Aunt Bai?" Xu Musen said with a wry smile. "Then how about the loser gives the winner a massage or washes their feet or something?" Liu Rushuang glanced at her daughter and, after uttering the words, Yao Mingyue also instinctively glanced at Xu Musen. "This, isn''t quite appropriate..." Xu Musen started to speak, and Bai Xin also felt a bit awkward. Bathing in a hot spring with one''s junior and student could already be considered detrimental to a teacher''s ethics if word were to get out. And if massages were to be added to the mix. Where would his dignity as a teacher be! "What''s the big deal about that? Doesn''t your school sometimes issue tasks for students to wash their parents'' feet? Let the children show some filial piety," Liu Rushuang said naturally, leaving Bai Xin momentarily unable to retort. If it''s about paying respect to elders, then it indeed didn''t seem that unacceptable. "Then it''s settled!" Liu Rushuang happily slapped the table and immediately started arranging the tiles. Mahjong is truly a national essence, with its seemingly simple set of tiles allowing for endless combinations and providing endless amusement over thousands of years. "East wind." "White dragon." "Pong!" "Haha, I''ve won!" In the first round, Liu Rushuang directly claimed victory, and the remaining three calculated their scores and remaining tiles. Bai Xin grimaced; she seldom played mahjong, didn''t dare to make confident plays when she had the tiles, and sure enough, she lost the first round. "Hahaha! Xiao Bai, give me a massage, quickly, quickly!" Liu Rushuang was delighted to exploit her best friend. She got out of the hot spring pool and lay down on a bench nearby, basking comfortably in anticipation of her best friend''s massage. Once she lay down, Liu Rushuang''s tall figure appeared even more prominent, her skin as smooth as a peeled egg after soaking in the hot spring for so long. The cotton swimsuit clung tightly to her body, exuding the unique charm of a mature woman. Xu Musen only glanced at her unconsciously but immediately felt waves of resentful and icy stares coming at him like knives. At the same time, under the mahjong table, a petite foot kicked over, stepping on his shin several times. Yao Mingyue bit her teeth and glared at him. Xu Musen smiled. Was this really necessary, getting jealous over everything? He picked up a plump peach and took a bite. Although Bai Xin felt a little disheartened by her loss, she couldn''t help but admire her best friend''s figure and skin condition. Could she maintain herself as well when she reached that age? Gently, she massaged Liu Rushuang''s shoulders, and Liu Rushuang, full of self-satisfaction, hummed, "The left shoulder too, and the waist. Where did all the food from those two bowls of rice you had go? Can''t you put a bit more strength into it?" Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire Bai Xin laughed it off in annoyance. Was she really treating her like a serving maid? sea??h th N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She turned her head to glance at Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue; the two of them were no longer watching. With that, she slapped her palm onto the peach... onto Liu Rushuang''s perky buttocks. A firm retribution indeed. The second round. "Three dots." "I''ll take it!" This round, Bai Xin clearly wanted to get even for her earlier defeat, and she also wanted her best friend to serve her for once, giving her a proper massage. Xu Musen was having a streak of bad luck, observing that his score was the lowest. Liu Rushuang intentionally created an opportunity for her daughter, sneakily peeking at her daughter''s tiles and figuring out how to play, plotting to help her daughter win. She discarded a West wind, which her daughter could claim to be ready to win on the next play. "West wind!" Liu Rushuang discarded it with full confidence, but before Yao Mingyue had a chance to speak, Bai Xin burst into laughter, her eyes bloodshot with competition. She swept her tiles away. "I Pong again, I''ve won!!" Bai Xin came out on top, while Liu Rushuang was filled with regret for not managing to sneak a peek at her best friend''s tiles! "Hurry up, who lost?" Bai Xin hummed, already thinking of ways to boss her best friend around! However, as everyone laid out their tiles, Xu Musen cleared his throat with a wry smile. "Well, I, it seems like I''ve got the lowest score." As soon as he finished speaking, suddenly, two pairs of phoenix eyes became somewhat sharp as they looked over. Liu Rushuang felt a bit of regret. Yao Mingyue was a bit sour with jealousy. And there was Bai Xin, who felt as if not the tiles, but her dignity as a teacher had been trumped... Xu Musen also felt a bit awkward as he looked at Bai Xin. So, I''m sorry, has it come to this? Chapter 252 Xiao Sickly Cuties Memory Awakening? ``` The rebellious disciple challenges the teacher. Xu Musen had never been a child who liked to talk back to his teachers since he was young. If there were a chance for revenge or rather, to repay his teacher, he wouldn''t let it slip by. "Massage, or should I wash your feet?" Liu Rushuang was stirring things up again, as if she were the River God tempting Xu Musen with the Golden Axe and the Silver Axe. Bai Xin always had a slightly unnatural feeling about her body at times like this. Even though she would be wearing a swimsuit during the massage, it would still involve a lot of touching. It wasn''t that she was shy, but it was just a little awkward and embarrassing for her. After all, no matter how you looked at it, being massaged by someone who was both a younger relative and a student, and in a swimsuit at that, was always a bit shameful. Compared to that, washing feet might be better. She could treat it as allowing him to show some filial piety. In any case, he was always causing trouble at school, and she was the one who always had to clean up after his truancy and the like. It was only right for him to show some filial piety! "Then let''s go with washing feet..." Bai Xin pretended to be calm. They say a woman''s feet are the first to age, but she still took great care of herself. Compared to Yao Mingyue''s fair and tender skin that seemed like it could be pinched out of water, she couldn''t compete. But her skin was still smooth and delicate, without noticeable flaws. Yao Mingyue bit her lip slightly. She wanted to interrupt directly, but if she did, perhaps this guy would act just as pettily if he lost later. Xu Musen brought over a foot-washing wooden basin. This place had prepared wormwood and other petals specifically for foot soaks. "Aunt Bai, please." Xu Musen had the same thought in his heart. He had given Bai Xin quite a lot of trouble at school. During the milk tea shop incident, she had also unhesitatingly defended him in front of a group of leaders. He had always wanted to properly thank her. Washing the feet of an elder was a pretty good opportunity. Xu Musen was also very confident in his massage techniques. Bai Xin looked at Xu Musen''s innocent and flawless smile, and she felt a bit of heat on her face. The young man didn''t think much of it, yet she was always having all sorts of wild thoughtsreally, it must be because her family kept pestering her about marriage recently. She even felt a little ashamed about it. While he considered her an elder, she was always overthinking things. She nodded and slowly placed her feet into the wooden basin. The water was a little hot, but for a foot soak, the water needed to be warm to be effective, and it wasn''t too hot to handle. One could say that only a professional foot spa masseuse could perfectly control such a suitable water temperature. Xu Musen sat down on a small stool with a hot towel and some petals in hand. "Aunt Bai, which kind of flower do you prefer?" Xu Musen asked with a salesman-like smile. "Lotus flowers." Bai Xin looked and felt that soaking feet with lotus flowers was like wading barefoot in a pond filled with lotus blossoms and leaves in summer. "Alright." Xu Musen nodded. He scattered some lotus flowers in the basin and the unique scent of the lotus quickly wafted through the air. Bai Xin''s fair feet under the pink lotus flowers looked quite charming. Just as Bai Xin was preparing to enjoy herself, Xu Musen reached out and gently held her feet. "Eh..." Bai Xin almost let out a subconscious moan. The specially textured touch from Xu Musen''s slightly rough hands felt quite distinctive, with a warmth seeming to be a few degrees hotter than the water. A woman''s foot is a particularly sensitive part after all, where many sensations are far more intense than those coming from the fingers. Liu Rushuang was watching with her cheeks in her hands, while glancing over at her daughter quietly. Yao Mingyue had already started to meditate and rest her eyes, not wanting to see, as it would only anger her. It was like feeling invisible right in front of her... Liu Rushuang couldn''t help but smile gently. The little girl was quite jealous. Xu Musen began to gently knead Bai Xin''s toes. While Bai Xin''s feet weren''t as soft and boneless as a young girl''s, they were still quite smooth and delicate. Bai Xin had that "slightly plump" standard figure. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire It really had nothing to do with being fat; it was a very healthy figure, with slimness where it should be, and no ambiguity in the areas that shouldn''t be slim. Little boys might prefer the pale and thin type, but once a man reaches a certain age, they all unconsciously prefer a healthier, more proportionate figure. Moreover, in terms of figure, thin girls tend to be more temperamental, while those with nicer figures are usually gentler. Having a full figure is significant; it''s not said in jest. Bai Xin''s feet had a nice plumpness, not like just bone when held in hand, akin to squeezing a very elastic slime. This was, without doubt, a foot shape ideal for massaging, and Xu Musen was quite enthusiastic about it. It felt like a worthy matchup, meeting one''s match. Bai Xin could also tell that Xu Musen''s massage technique was indeed professional. She initially thought to just go through the motions and be done with it. But now, she was so comfortable that she didn''t really want him to stop. "How is it, Aunt Bai? My technique isn''t bad, right?" Xu Musen boasted. "Yes, it''s quite good," Bai Xin had to admit. "I''m glad you like it. I''ve caused you a lot of trouble at school before and haven''t had a chance to properly thank you." Xu Musen spoke with a smile, seizing the opportunity to express his gratitude. Bai Xin really wanted to roll her eyes at him. Whenever you have time, you''re all lovey-dovey with your little girlfriend, and what time is there to care about an old maid like me? But as much as she complained internally, she was still pleased that Xu Musen put it so straightforwardly. "I am after all your elder; it''s what I should do. Just give me less trouble in the future... Hmm~ You''re so skilled at massage, did you go take classes specifically?" ``` Sarch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 252 Xiao Sickly Cuties Memory Awakening?_2 Bai Xin hummed contentedly, sometimes she even went to get a foot massage for no particular reason, but even the techniques of those veteran teachers didn''t compare to Xu Musen''s, the young man''s technique. As soon as she said this, Yao Mingyue also opened her eyes, she knew very well that Xu Musen had never learned how to massage feet. At his age, he is more likely to get foot massages rather than give them; he''s just been massaging... Sear?h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It might even be that he''s practicing on his little girlfriend every day now. Yao Mingyue felt a surge of jealousy, and Xu Musen also subconsciously glanced at Yao Mingyue. Indeed, he had practiced on girls, but not An Nuannuan, rather it had been with you, Xiao Sickly Cutie. He looked away. Xu Musen laughed and shook his head, "It''s probably just talent, I was born with a knack for taking care of people." "Oh, giving you a compliment and... hmm~" A pressure point was pressed, and Bai Xin hummed in comfort once again, her breath not quite controlled, making that moan sound somewhat seductive. Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire Next to her, Liu Rushuang clicked her tongue in amusement. With a blush on her face, Bai Xin still felt somewhat ashamed, retracting her foot, "Alright, that''s enough for now." She had never believed the massages in TV shows were that comfortable, but today she had started to believe it. Even though he was still a young boy, how could his palms be so warm and strong... Back to sitting at the mahjong table. In this round, Liu Rushuang and Bai Xin were so in tune that they intentionally lost, just to let Yao Mingyue win the game. As a result, accommodating others... Xu Musen cleared his throat and pushed forward the tiles in his hand. "Uh, I won." Xu Musen had a streak of good luck this round, but of course, it was also because Liu Rushuang and Bai Xin were purposely losing. His gaze swept over them one by one. All the cards were laid out. "Umm..." Liu Rushuang looked at her own dismal tiles, the corner of her mouth twitching slightly. She had intended to let her daughter win more, but inadvertently went overboard, and now she ended up with the lowest score. Liu Rushuang glanced at her daughter, grinning sheepishly, "Daughter, do you believe I did it all for you?" Yao Mingyue kept a calm exterior, but inside she was ready to flip the mahjong table! What the heck! Why did it feel like the women around Xu Musen, whoever they were, always managed to one-up her? Darn fate, you''re too biased! "Okay, but I haven''t given a massage for a long time. Don''t blame me if I accidentally hurt you later," said Liu Rushuang, determined to let her daughter win a round quickly. "What do you mean, no one has given you a massage for a long time? Am I not a person?" Bai Xin interjected, upset. "That thing you do can hardly be called a massage; it felt like a little puppy was scratching all over me," Liu Rushuang retorted, easily sparing no mercy on her friend. "You''re the one acting like a dog, I''ll scratch you to death next time!" Bai Xin bit back, yet her words inadvertently confirmed the scrabbling suspicion. Xu Musen smiled, feeling that nobody seemed to get the better of Liu Rushuang. Xu Musen obediently went to lie down on a lounge chair at the side. He wasn''t sure if it was his imagination, but the lounge chair seemed to still retain some warmth and lingering fragrance. "Here I go then!" Liu Rushuang looked at Xu Musen lying on the chair, realizing how tall he had grown, how broad his back had become, exuding the kind of security that a grown man could provide. She extended her hand and gently pressed it on Xu Musen''s back, feeling the well-defined muscles beneath. Just like men, women tend to go for a certain type of body as they age. No longer preferring slender and skinny figures, they start seeking the sense of security that comes with fullness and muscles. To Liu Rushuang, Xu Musen truly was the mother-in-law''s darling; the more she looked, the more she liked him. What she didn''t know was whether he could continue walking with Yao Mingyue in the future... "Is the pressure alright?" Liu Rushuang asked with a smile. Xu Musen dared not move at all, just nodding vigorously. "Mom, I think that''s enough..." "No way! You have to accept your losses; skimping is not my style." Liu Rushuang hummed, then gently pressed Xu Musen''s shoulder, stealing a glance at her daughter, who was lost in thought beside her. She whispered with a light chuckle, "Xiao Sen, can I trouble you with something?" "Is it to deliberately lose to Ming Yue later?" Xu Musen guessed without any prompting. "Heh, Xiao Sen, you''re so clever. Since you''ve guessed it, I won''t beat around the bush. Otherwise, you know how jealous Ming Yue can get, and I can''t stop her," Liu Rushuang admitted with a smile, her soft fingertips gently twisting his ear. Just like she would tease him when he was younger. Yao Mingyue''s jealousy started at a young age. Xu Musen actually used to love following Liu Rushuang around. Compared to his own mother, Auntie Liu was naturally more gentle and knew how to play with kids. Whatever Xu Musen wanted to eat or play with, she would buy it for him. That''s why Xu Musen loved to stick with Liu Rushuang, which made the little tail behind him rather unhappy. Even sometimes she would tell her mother seriously, "You go play with Dad, don''t fight with me over Brother Musen." Liu Rushuang and her dad would just laugh heartily and give the two kids some change to go out and buy some snacks. Xu Musen smiled, "I understand." "Hmm, that''s being good," Liu Rushuang nodded in satisfaction, starting to seriously massage Xu Musen. Liu Rushuang''s massage technique and strength were quite good; it felt really comfortable especially after soaking in the hot spring. Chapter 252 Xiao Sickly Cuties Memory Awakening?_3 He just always felt that there was an especially sorrowful pair of eyes staring at him. The massage was over. Another round began. This time, as all three began to tacitly go easy on him, Yao Mingyue finally won a round. Xu Musen naturally lost as well. "Ah, Xiao Sen''s luck isn''t very good today." Liu Rushuang said this with a smile. At this moment, both Xu Musen and Bai Xin rolled their eyes internally. Could she possibly not know whether it was bad luck or not? "Come on, come on, are you choosing a foot bath or a massage?" S~ea??h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Liu Rushuang smiled and leaned closer to her daughter. Yao Mingyue, however, became reserved again. She suppressed the curl of her lips and hummed, "I don''t mind, as long as certain people aren''t unhappy." At that moment, Liu Rushuang, Xu Musen, and Bai Xin couldn''t help but laugh inside. This girl, clearly looking forward to it so much, still had to act so proud and aloof. Xu Musen glanced at Yao Mingyue, whose swimsuit was now clinging to her body from being soaked in the hot spring. The beautiful contours of the young girl''s figure were faintly visible through the misty steam, her fair and lustrous skin now also carried a tint of pink, resembling peaches from heaven. Not to mention touching, even a whiff would be life-extending. Yao Mingyue waited for Xu Musen''s choice. At this time, any normal boy would definitely choose the massage, which allowed for more advantages. Foot massages, though they also have that certain something, are surely chosen by those with peculiar tastes... "Then let''s go with the foot bath," Xu Musen said. Yao Mingyue''s eyes suddenly widened. Weirdo! Xu Musen didn''t know why he was being glared at again. "Do you have an opinion?" "No!" Yao Mingyue snorted. Damn men, not knowing how to take advantage when it''s handed to them! Xu Musen was already used to her princess-like temperament. Xu Musen went to prepare the foot bath water. Yao Mingyue was ready, her bare feet on the ground. After soaking in the hot spring, her feet were soft and tender, her nails exceptionally clear and shiny. "Please." Xu Musen placed the basin in front of her. Serving Yao Mingyue had become an instinctive response for him. He deftly added her favorite rose petals to the water. Yao Mingyue watched him, initially wanting to ask if he''d prefer a massage, but seeing how adept Xu Musen was, She swallowed back her words. Forget it, this insensitive guy only deserves to wash the Princess''s feet! "Hmph!" Yao Mingyue slowly extended her foot into the basin. It was a bit hot, just the temperature she liked, the warm water mixed with the fragrance of roses made her feel particularly relaxed. "May I start?" Xu Musen asked, looking at her. "Mmhm." Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire Yao Mingyue nodded. Soaking her feet was comfortable, and she no longer wanted to quarrel with him. Xu Musen reached out, and in the warm water of the basin, he gently held Yao Mingyue''s small foot. Xu Musen''s slightly rough fingers and the warmth of his palm caused the delicate skin of the young girl to subconsciously react with a slight tremble. "Mmm..." Yao Mingyue couldn''t help but let out a lazy, indulgent sound from the tip of her nose. Her face turned red, realizing that it really felt so good she couldn''t help humming. Bai Xin knew the feeling all too well; this young man''s hands truly had a magical touch that easily allowed people to relax completely. She quietly glanced towards her mother, Liu Rushuang, who gave her a small wink before taking Bai Xin''s hand. "Let''s go, Xiao Bai, let''s soak in the red wine pool over there. I heard it can detoxify and nourish the skin," Liu Rushuang whispered. Saying this, Liu Rushuang took Bai Xin to the farthest pool. The entire hot spring was misty, and from a distance, it really was difficult to see what was happening here. To give her daughter a boost, she was really going to great lengths. Xu Musen smiled helplessly to himself, gently pinching Yao Mingyue''s foot, a foot he was all too familiar with. So familiar that he knew every pore, every pressure point, having played with them countless times. At this moment, Yao Mingyue felt her whole body warm, with waves of tingling sensations emanating from her soles, as if he had already memorized all of her sensitive spots. Xu Musen knew her, even better than Yao Mingyue knew herself. This feeling made Yao Mingyue''s heart warm and proud. Her eyes were soft, watching Xu Musen skillfully massage her, and she realized for the first time that this was the simplest form of happiness. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Xu Musen and suddenly asked, "Hey, how did you get so good at massaging? Who did you learn from?" Xu Musen looked up and met her eyes, "It comes naturally." "Comes naturally?" Yao Mingyue smiled and leaned closer to him with a meaningful tone, "I think you''ve been practicing on me, haven''t you?" Xu Musen''s hand paused, gazing into Yao Mingyue''s bright, deep, phoenix eyes, which held a natural noble cunningness that was a bit elusive. What did she mean by that... Xu Musen did not answer. Yao Mingyue chuckled and blinked, "I caught you, didn''t I? Don''t think I don''t know. Ever since we were little, you liked to touch my feet. When we played in the snow outside as kids and my shoes accidentally got wet, you would warm my icy cold feet against your belly. And every time we took a car ride home, whenever I took off my shoes, you would sneak peeks at my feet... Hmph, little foot fetishist, big pervert" Xu Musen was momentarily lost in thought. Indeed, when they were small, Yao Mingyue was always cold, with her hands and feet often icy, and he would warm them in his arms. "I did that to care for a disabled child, not for all these messed-up reasons you''re saying." Xu Musen flicked her head with his finger. "Who are you calling a disabled child?" "Brain-disabled counts too." "I... I''ll kick you to death!" But her foot was firmly held in Xu Musen''s grasp, not stirring up any waves. Whether he was perverted or not didn''t matter; the expression on Yao Mingyue''s face just now gave Xu Musen a terrifying illusion. As if she also knew about their past lives. The thought of a sickly cutie with awakened memories was frightening. He preferred the current foolish, haughty young girl. Xu Musen continued to knead her foot. Yao Mingyue hummed softly, having caught the momentary astonishment in Xu Musen''s eyes. She wiggled her toes gently, feeling the long-missed warmth in Xu Musen''s warm palm. With a light smile on her lips... Chapter 253 Yao Mingyue Takes the Initiative, Musen Suffers the Consequences. Warm Jade in hand. Xu Musen wasn''t adverse to giving Yao Mingyue a foot massage, after all, according to the theory that massage is reciprocal. As Xu Musen massaged her feet, in fact, Yao Mingyue was also massaging him with her dainty feet. With this in mind, it seemed like in the previous life Yao Mingyue was always oppressing him, but in reality, Xu Musen single-handedly had this tsundere CEO under control. Thinking about it that way, he was practically a heroic figure sacrificing himself for the greater good! A perfect example of a triumph of the spirit! Thinking along these lines, Xu Musen chuckled to himself, and the strength of his hands unconsciously increased. But he immediately perceived a somewhat disdainful gaze. "I say, do you really... like my feet that much?" Yao Mingyue watched as he was massaging her foot and then suddenly chuckled; he was the embodiment of the term "pervert." Shouldn''t she prefer legs or butts or bosoms and the like? How did it feel like it was getting more perverted... Hmph! It must be that buxom thief''s fault, look at what she turned my sunny and warm Brother Musen into. "I was just daydreaming." "You were drooling with that laugh." Yao Mingyue slightly raised the tips of her toes; at this moment, with both her mom and Aunt Bai absent, alone with him, Yao Mingyue dropped the act. She lifted one foot and gently pressed it against Xu Musen''s chin. The faint scent of rose petals lingered; girls were really amazing, how could their whole body be so fragrantly soft and tender. "I was just amused by something. Take your pig''s trotter back." Xu Musen reached out and grabbed her foot once again. Of course, Yao Mingyue''s small feet were definitely not pig''s trotters. It''s just that some 200-pound, slightly chubbier divas liked to show off their presence. Only people from Longjiang knew how good their foundation was; stew them in a pressure cooker for two hours and they''d stop talking nonsense... "Pig''s trotters? Hmph, as long as you want... I could let you sneak a lick, I won''t despise you as a pervert, how about that?" Yao Mingyue once again extended her foot, having soaked in the hot springs for so long and then massaged; a rosy fragrance wafted from her entire foot. Even her heels, which for many people often had hard yellow skin, were pink and tender, like freshly cooked, peeled eggs. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire According to Xu Musen''s experience from his past life, at this moment, Yao Mingyue''s feet were like newly made "rose-flavored coconut milk jelly." Upon first taste, it was incredibly smooth, like taking a mouthful of coconut milk with coconut jelly; the front part was refreshing, with a rich coconut milk fragrance, and as it reached the teeth, it was like chewing gum, soft and sticky with a pleasant chewiness. When it went down the throat, the aftertaste carried a faint rose scent that slowly rose from the taste buds, neutralizing the greasiness of the coconut and adding a touch of delicate and elegant nobility. Overall consumption rating: Five stars! But that was the Xu Musen of the past; could the Xu Musen of the present really be such a pervert? He directly covered her foot with a hot towel: "I''m the one who thinks you''re the pervert." Without another word, Xu Musen put down her foot, picked up a cup of coconut milk that was aside, and took a sip; alas, it felt like it lacked something. The consumption score could have only one star. While Xu Musen was sipping his coconut milk, Yao Mingyue suddenly tugged at his swimming trunks. "What are you doing?" Xu Musen instantly became alert; when men wore swimming trunks, they generally wouldn''t wear underwear, otherwise it would be uncomfortable sticking together. "You go lie down!" Yao Mingyue, seeing him holding up his trunks like an old maid, felt both frustrated and amused. "What for?" "What else, I... I''ll give you a massage." Yao Mingyue rose and pushed him onto a lounge chair to lie down. "A massage?" Xu Musen was taken aback: "You?" Do you, who have always been waited on hand and foot since childhood, know how to massage? "Yes, me! More nonsense, and see if I won''t rub you to death!" Yao Mingyue was not easily dismissed, and with a bit of force, she pushed Xu Musen onto the lounge chair, positioning his head properly. Xu Musen was actually a bit scared; according to the script of his previous life, the next line from Yao Mingyue would be "Husband, is there a thread on your trunks? Let me pull it off for you..." Then what followed would be a ferocious battle. But this time, Yao Mingyue did begin to massage his shoulders, and although her technique was rough, the spots she pressed were quite accurate. It felt like she had been practicing following a textbook, yet hadn''t had the chance to truly apply it. But how to put it, a young girl''s soft hands were the best massage tool. "Is it... okay?" Yao Mingyue asked with some anticipation. "While your skills are practically nonexistent, the method is quite correct. Who taught you?" Sarch* The ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yao Mingyue was not pleased with his tone; even if the massage wasn''t great, it was her first time massaging him, and the mere effort should have earned her some genuine praise, right? "TV Master!" She gritted her teeth, increasing the pressure. But for the tough-skinned Xu Musen, this level of pressure was quite pleasant. "TV Master? Pikachu?" "It''s the TV, duh!" Yao Mingyue huffed, and began to pinch the tender flesh along Xu Musen''s waist once more. "If I had a Pikachu, I''d electrocute you to death with a Thunderbolt first, you jerk!" Xu Musen chuckled, and since he was being forced to enjoy this massage, he decided to go along with it. In his last life, he used to massage Yao Mingyue every day and became a top massage master, yet this was his first time experiencing a massage from Yao Mingyue. It felt as if an item from his "Youth Regret Handbook" had been satisfyingly fulfilled. Chapter 253 Yao Mingyue Takes the Initiative, Musen Suffers the Consequences. _2 Xu Musen always had a special feeling in his heart. He quietly turned his head back to look at Yao Mingyue, who was giving him a serious massage. Although her technique was quite clumsy, she was indeed putting her heart into it, something that the Yao Mingyue of his past life would never have thought of doing, let alone actually do. As a man, how could he not have thought about having a wife who could be by his side everyday, acting coquettishly and giving him massages and the like. It''s just that President Yao of his past life clearly could never achieve this step. However, in the recent period of time, many of the things that Yao Mingyue had done seemed to be exactly what he had once wanted but never received. It was just that her change was too drastic. It was as if she, like himself, had been reborn... "Why are you looking at me?" Yao Mingyue also noticed his gaze, her cheeks feeling a bit warm. "How did you think of giving me a massage? You didn''t lose at cards." Xu Musen asked her. Yao Mingyue''s hands, massaging him, paused slightly, and as she looked into Xu Musen''s eyes, her own eyes sparkled with light. After a moment, she continued massaging his shoulders. "It''s not about losing cards, but I''ve lost to a person..." She spoke in a tone only she could hear. "What?" "Nothing, Boss Xu, are you satisfied?" "Pretty good, but if you could provide service with a smile, it would be even better." "A smile? I''ll give you enough smiles!" Yao Mingyue reached out and started tickling the ticklish flesh on Xu Musen''s body. "Behave yourself." "Tch, tough skin and strong flesh." "It''s that you''re too weak. If you worked at a massage parlor with that strength, you''d probably get fired." Xu Musen chuckled, Yao Mingyue seemingly still reluctant to exert force, but a massage without strength felt just like no massage at all. Enjoy new stories from My Virtual Library Empire Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Go hard?" Yao Mingyue narrowed her eyes. "Yes, go hard, don''t pity me because I''m a delicate flower." Xu Musen closed his eyes. Yao Mingyue''s lips curved into a slight arc. This was your request, she thought as she gazed at Xu Musen''s broad back. She slowly stood up, moved her long legs, and straddled his body, sitting on his waist. Even with his thick skin and strong flesh, Xu Musen could now feel the unusual sensation on his back. The thin swimsuit easily transmitted the sensory touch of the girl''s buttocks, and the familiar faint scent of roses wafted over, making Xu Musen a bit unsettled. "What are you doin" "Shh, I''m massaging you. Weren''t you complaining about my lack of strength? This way I can really put some muscle into it." Yao Mingyue hushed him naturally, but what Xu Musen couldn''t see was the girl''s cheeks growing warmer by the moment. The eighteen-year-old Yao Mingyue, like the most tender flower ready to bloom, had a familiarity in touch and scent that stirred something instinctive within Xu Musen. But similarly, for Yao Mingyue, the eighteen-year-old Xu Musen at this moment was also full of youthful vitality, the image she liked best in her memories. "Now, are you satisfied?" Yao Mingyue used her strength to massage his waist and shoulders. Xu Musen could not bring himself to say he was unsatisfied, because the tender hands of the girl, no matter how they massaged, felt good. But he still felt that this was perhaps a bit too much... "It''s pretty good, maybe we should stop here for now..." "No way, I haven''t finished yet." Yao Mingyue looked at him lying down, as she slightly shook her body, as if afraid of pressing down on something... Her cheeks slowly turned red. "Xu Musen, this seems like the first time I have given you a massage." "Yeah, I guess so. After all, I wouldn''t dare order Miss Yao around before." Xu Musen chuckled. As Yao Mingyue continued her massage, her voice seemed as soft as if it had been soaked in the hot springs: "You naturally wouldn''t dare with Miss Yao, but Sister Mingyue is very easy to speak with. From now on, shall I give you a good massage?" Xu Musen was silent for a moment, his heart felt a bit complicated. If this conversation had happened in the past, he definitely wouldn''t have hesitated to agree. But now... "I understand the sentiment, and I''m quite happy." Xu Musen knew that what mattered wasn''t the massage, but Yao Mingyue''s willingness to consider others and open up her heart to change. Such a Yao Mingyue was, of course, all the more likable. "Then, do you like me more now?" Yao Mingyue slowly bowed her body down, gathering a lock of hair to one side, her bright phoenix eyes sparkling. Xu Musen didn''t look back, but he also felt the girl''s faint trembling and anticipation. "Hmm, standing as a childhood friend, standing from a brother''s perspective." Xu Musen admitted, and made a mental note of it. Yao Mingyue''s heart, too, went on a roller coaster with that statement. She smiled, then pursed her lips, "Playing the proud and aloof act, huh... But you did give the correct answer." She looked at Xu Musen''s broad back, Yao Mingyue''s voice soft, "Then, may I... give you another massage?" Before Xu Musen could reply, he felt the girl press her entire body against his back suddenly. The swimsuit did little to block the sensation - so clear, so delicate, so moving. A faint scent of roses lingered. Xu Musen was finding it a bit overwhelming. "Yao Mingyue..." "Am I very heavy?" From behind, Yao Mingyue''s voice was timid, yet also carried confidence in herself. Of course, Yao Mingyue wasn''t heavy, her perfect figure barely over a hundred pounds. As the saying goes, a woman under a hundred pounds is either flat-chested or short. But Yao Mingyue''s figure was maintained too well, nearly devoid of any excess fat, which had Xu Musen often teasing her about being flat. It was also because of the contrast provided by Nuannuan and Liu Rushuang, but in reality, Yao Mingyue was already beating most girls hands down. And she still had room for further development. "That''s not the point, get up first, your aunt and the others..." "They won''t come over." How could Yao Mingyue not understand the assist her mother had handed them? As long as they didn''t leave this spot, their mothers certainly wouldn''t come over. Moreover, the surrounding mist blurred the view, and since they were both lying down, they couldn''t be seen from outside. "Yao Mingyue, you''ve done enough with the massage, but we still need to be mindful of propriety." Xu Musen couldn''t shake her off, but instead, she clung to him even tighter. "I know, I just want to lie here for a bit longer, just a bit..." Yao Mingyue''s voice even sounded pitiful. The close distance, along with their shared warmth, gave Yao Mingyue an exceptional sense of security. In the end, she still lacked a sense of safety, even though during this period, she had gradually begun to understand some things. But for Xu Musen, she still didn''t want to give up, and wouldn''t give up. Yao Mingyue couldn''t imagine a life without him. At least, just to hold him like this. Xu Musen also stayed still, but a young man of eighteen or nineteen, without a speck of restlessness, that was impossible. Especially with Yao Mingyue - the two were just too compatible. After enduring for a moment, Xu Musen slightly adjusted his breathing, "Is this enough?" "What''s the rush? People usually soak in the hot springs all day long." "I''m not a hot spring." "Then I want to soak in you!" At that moment, Yao Mingyue was like a hooligan, hugging Xu Musen''s neck and shaking it with a giggle. "Don''t move." Xu Musen''s face at that moment was like the second-in-command of the Axe Gang in "Kung Fu Hustle," kicked into the trash can, shouting, "Don''t move, it''s breaking!" Xu Musen''s own ''Ruyi Jingu Bang'' felt like it might break too. Yao Mingyue noticed that his face was getting red, and it seemed as though she finally understood something. She whispered into Xu Musen''s ear, "You...are you very uncomfortable?" "Wouldn''t anyone feel uncomfortable with a fat pig on top of them? Get off quickly." Xu Musen exhaled as he spoke. But Yao Mingyue, as if she hadn''t heard, slightly pursed her lips, her face red as blood, as if she had made a resolution. She leaned close to Xu Musen''s ear, whispering as she had countless times in a previous life, "Then... shall I help you out?" "Wha..." Xu Musen felt instinctively that something was amiss, and he just wanted to forcibly lift her off. But then he froze, as if struck by the Monkey King''s immobilizing spell. The Great Saint''s Ruyi Jingu Bang couldn''t move either...