Xi Xinxin glanced at the alarm clock on the wall and noted down the time.

Two brand-new gift boxes were placed in the entryway.

My parents came out of the kitchen. They had cooked several extra dishes tonight. The aroma filled the air.

"Look who's here."

Just then, Mu Xue came out carrying a plate of food. She placed the food on the table, a little embarrassed, and said, "I wanted to thank you. I just didn't know what to do. I happened to know that your parents live here, so I came to bring some gifts."

“How can you say that? Stay and have dinner with us. Xinxin is here today too. You young people should have a good chat.” The foster mother, Fan Yijing, was very welcoming. Then she went back to the kitchen to get busy.

Xi Guo followed her into the kitchen. A hint of envy flashed in Mu Xue's eyes.

“Your parents live downstairs. Aren’t you afraid they’ll bother you if you run into them?” Xi Xinxin took out some dessert and gave it to Mu Xue: “Take this back for Xiao Xue.”

Mu Xue took the bag with both hands and said, "Legally severing ties is impossible. So even if I don't like my parents and they don't acknowledge me, we are still legally related. However, since I'm here, I'm prepared to meet them."

Xi Xinxin glanced at her, waiting for her to continue.

"Just pretend to ignore them. If things really escalate, I might lose face, but they will."

Xi Xinxin chuckled: "You've become a bit more assertive, haven't you?"

She fetched four bowls of rice and placed them on the table: "Here you go. I'll get you more if it's not enough."

The dishes were served quickly, and Fan Yijing slapped her forehead: "Look at my memory! What's your sister having for dinner? Should we bring her over?"

"Auntie, don't worry. My sister is in high school now and eats her meals at school."

Later, it was once a week or once a month. Mu Xue would come to their house to bring something. This made Xi Guo and Fan Yijing feel better and better about her. They would occasionally scold the family downstairs for being blind, not wanting such a good daughter.

Xu Chacha and Mei Qing had become familiar with Xi Xinxin and Chu Quanyi's teaching methods. Today, they would have them produce some results on their own in the lab. The two of them would then come and check on them.

Chu Quanyi whispered to Li Chuanyu for a while before sitting down next to Xi Xinxin, who was reading a book.

"Cough cough!"

Xi Xinxin glanced at Chu Quanyi, then continued reading.

"Cough cough!"

Xi Xinxin put the book away and suspiciously poured a glass of water, placing it in front of Chu Quanyi.

Chu Quanyi took a sip and then coughed.

"If you're sick, I'll give you an injection."

"No, no, no," Chu Quanyi said with an embarrassed laugh, waving her hands hastily. "I have a question for you."

"Go ahead and speak," Xi Xinxin said, putting down her book.

"I have a friend. She's a girl, but she's a little gay. But she's fallen for a straight girl..."

Xi Xinxin interrupted her: "I'm really not good at these kinds of relationship problems. Why don't you talk to Li Chuanyu again?"

Chu Quanyi solemnly grasped Xi Xinxin's hands: "Only you can solve this problem."

Xi Xinxin really had no choice but to say to Chu Quanyi, "Let me make this clear: don't laugh at me if your suggestions are bad."

Chu Quanyi nodded and began to talk about... one of her friends.

Her friend fell in love with another friend. However, the person she liked was rather straightforward and always felt that the feelings were just friendship, not something deeper.

No matter how you approach it, this straightforward friend simply doesn't think about that aspect, so there's absolutely no progress in the pursuit.

"So, how do you think we should make that person realize that the other person actually likes her, not just as a friend?"

Chu Quanyi stared intently at Xi Xinxin, as if trying to see through her to her entire heart.

“Saying some inappropriate things and doing some inappropriate things.” Xi Xinxin then denied her answer: “Not something too outrageous. It’s about creating an ambiguous atmosphere for the other person.”

Chu Quanyi tapped the table with his finger with interest. He picked up the book that Xi Xinxin was reading and said, "Go get another one~ I'll look at this one."

After saying that, he took the book and headed towards the direction of the laboratory.

Both of them performed very well today. Xi Xinxin didn't linger in the store and went straight back to school.

That evening, Chu Quanyi suddenly became possessed. As soon as the dormitory inspection was completed, she started clamoring for Xi Xinxin to come to her dormitory.

Xi Xinxin thought there were some bugs she needed help catching, but it turned out that Chu Quanyi patted his bed and said in a lighthearted tone, "Sleep with me."

The beds in the dorm room can fit two people, but it's always a bit crowded. Xi Xinxin couldn't understand Chu Quanyi's actions: "Why don't you sleep alone?"

Chu Quanyi said sadly, "That's true. Young girls are always more attractive to you. What about Xi Dai? What about Xu Chacha? What about Mei Qing? I'm just a passerby you've already grown tired of. I've even lost the chance to sleep with you."

"How old are you to still be doing this?" That's what she said. But Xi Xinxin still obediently got into bed: "Let's make it clear first. I want to sleep against the wall."

The lights were turned off. Only the moonlight from outside shone in through the window, which was too thin to block out much light.

When vision is reduced, a person's sense of touch increases. Xi Xinxin suddenly felt a little awkward and turned to face the wall. She could hear Chu Quanyi's breathing very close behind her.

The bed wasn't big. There was almost no space between the two people.

Chu Quanyi hugged Xi Xinxin and rested his head on her back: "I really missed you during the time you didn't contact me."

Feeling Xi Xinxin's back stiffen, Chu Quanyi continued, "Actually, I had my own selfish reasons for bringing you in."

Xi Xinxin remained facing the wall. She felt a little awkward seeing Chu Quanyi's hand on her waist: "What? I haven't heard you tell me that yet."

“I feel like you don’t have any genuine feelings. I’m wondering if bringing you in can solve this problem.”

So, what do you think now?

Chu Quanyi chuckled: "Xinxin, why don't you turn around and look at me? It's not like we haven't slept together before."

Xi Xinxin let out a breath and turned around. She met Chu Quanyi's bright eyes. Chu Quanyi snuggled into her arms. She instinctively hugged her back.

"Hehe. Is it true that you've only ever slept in the same bed with me?"

"It was the same with Bai Tianrao before."

"!?" Chu Quanyi raised his head, somewhat indignant.

She hadn't said a word. Xi Xinxin didn't know why she felt a little guilty.

The two chatted about this and that. Chu Quanyi's voice grew softer and softer. His breathing gradually became steady. He fell asleep in Xi Xinxin's arms. Xi Xinxin smiled wryly. Now it really wasn't easy to turn around.

"So, how do you think we should make that person realize that the other person actually likes her, not just as a friend?"

"Saying some outrageous things, doing some outrageous things... an ambiguous atmosphere."

Just as she was about to fall asleep, Xi Xinxin suddenly recalled their conversation in the store.

Before I could even think about it carefully, I was overcome by sleepiness. I leaned my head slightly closer to Chu Quanyi and drifted off to sleep.

Xi Xinxin was woken up by the blinding sunlight. When she got up, Chu Quanyi had just finished washing his face and came out of the bathroom.

Good morning! I have class this afternoon. Let's go together then.

She sat by the bed for a while. Xi Xinxin became much more awake, and after hesitating, she finally spoke: "Do you feel the same way about me?"

Chu Quanyi felt a surge of joy. She even felt an urge to cry: "How come you only found out now?"

"I'm sorry. I don't know how to respond." Xi Xinxin subconsciously avoided the question: "I've always considered you a friend."

"If we deepen our relationship, we'll become girlfriends." Chu Quanyi's hand reached out to try and wrap around Xi Xinxin's slender waist. She stopped him with a slap.

This actually shows that it was Xi Xinxin who was shy afterwards.

"Let me think about it myself."

During class today, Xi Xinxin and Chu Quanyi sat far apart. But Chu Quanyi, shameless as ever, switched seats with Sasha, who was sitting next to Xi Xinxin.

"Do you want to be with me?" Chu Quanyi asked, not quietly. Xi Dai, who was standing next to her, heard her too. But she didn't say anything, only glanced at Chu Quanyi.

Xi Xinxin's face tightened: "Listen to the lesson properly."

While mopping the floor, Yang Li heard her boss sigh several times: "Boss, it's late. Aren't you going back to school?"

Instead, she said this. Her boss slumped dejectedly onto the table and sighed heavily again: "I'm not going home tonight. I've asked them to cover for me."

Time passed by, minute by minute. Everyone said goodbye to Xi Xinxin and went to their nearby dormitories. Li Chuanyu was the last to leave today; he was responsible for closing the door.

As he looked around, he saw his boss, Xi Xinxin, slumped limply on the table. He checked the time: "Boss, what happened?"

"A friend of mine told me today that he likes me. I'm a little troubled now."

"Oh, is that Chu Quanyi?"

Xi Xinxin stood up in surprise: "How did you know?"

Li Chuanyu rolled his eyes, then sat down in front of Xi Xinxin: "Go ahead and tell me. Let me solve this for you."

“I’ve always genuinely considered her a friend. I had absolutely no romantic feelings for her.”

Did you directly refuse?

Xi Xinxin paused for a moment. She scratched her hair in frustration. "I don't want to refuse. I'm afraid that if I refuse, we won't even be able to be friends."

"Boss, aren't you being a jerk? You're just stringing her along. Do you expect her to keep fawning over you forever?"

Xi Xinxin thought Li Chuanyu's words made a lot of sense: "You're right. Then I'll go and reject her tomorrow."

"Sigh!" Now it was Li Chuanyu's turn to panic. He was there to help, not to sabotage the other person. He patiently explained a lot: "Look at the boss. If someone you have no feelings for confessed to you, wouldn't you immediately reject them? So why did you hesitate for so long with Quan Yi? Think about it. Don't you actually have some feelings for her?"

Seeing that Xi Xinxin was lost in thought, Li Chuanyu felt hopeful: "Think about it. You're actually reluctant to let go, and you still have feelings for her. Why don't you two give it a try?"

Meanwhile, Chu Quanyi was confronting Xi Dai. Xi Dai rubbed her temples: "You were with her last night. What methods did you use, and why did you say those things today?"

"What? Are you going to confess too?" Chu Quanyi was just joking. She didn't think Xi Dai would actually have the guts. But she never expected Xi Dai to actually take it to heart.

Xi Xinxin tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. But she knew that some things were useless to avoid. After making up her mind, sleepiness gradually crept in.

She got up very early in the morning. To make it to her morning classes, she opened the door early, unlocked a small electric scooter, and drove to school.

There weren't many people in the classroom when she entered. She had arrived quite early. Xi Xinxin yawned and continued resting on her desk.

Xinxin, Xi Dai, went for a morning run. Her face is still slightly flushed. She's trying to catch her breath: "I came very early today."

Xi Xinxin looked behind her: "Chu Quanyi and the others haven't arrived yet?"

Xi Dai said she came early because she was going for a morning run: "Xin Xin. I want to talk to you about something."

"Huh?" For some reason, Xi Xinxin suddenly felt a little flustered. She felt that some things were beyond her expectations.

“I know we’re sisters now, but we’re not actually blood relatives. Sometimes I might say things that aren’t very nice or sound awkward. But what Chu Quanyi said to you yesterday... I feel... a little strange.” Xi Dai took a deep breath: “Since she can do it, so can I. Who do you like more?”

Xi Xinxin was frozen in place, like a wooden doll. She was completely at a loss. To refuse or to accept? Just like Li Chuanyu said, she couldn't bear to reject them. Did she really have feelings for both of them? Was she really such a scumbag?

"I'm not in a hurry for an answer right now, Xinxin. I won't make things difficult for you. I can accept any answer. But I hope you won't distance yourself from me."

Xi Dai spoke very seriously. She didn't stop. Xi Xinxin really wanted to get her old arrogant older sister persona back. What's wrong with this world?

Xi Xinxin said with a hint of self-deprecation, "Luckily, you two said that. I'll think about it carefully."

When Xi Xinxin finished speaking, she noticed that Xi Dai's eyes were darting away. She shook Xi Dai's shoulders in a state of near collapse: "What do you mean? Tell me, who else? Where do I get such great charm?"

Many more students arrived. Xi Xinxin couldn't get the answers she wanted. She could only keep looking at Xi Dai.

Xi Dai turned her head away from Xi Xinxin. To be honest, she herself was trembling a little as she spoke so many words.

My heart is pounding. If only I could get a good answer.

After Chu Quanyi arrived, the atmosphere among the three became even more awkward. They stared at each other, neither looking at the other.

That night, Xi Xinxin still went to the shop to stay. Fortunately, Mei Qing, who had been checking the students' dormitories these past few days, was able to slip through the cracks and get some extra breathing time.

Li Chuanyu was still a little confused: "Boss, you didn't explain it clearly to Chu Quanyi."

Xi Xinxin found it difficult to speak: "Xi Dai has also been..."

Even without saying anything further, Li Chuanyu understood. He was somewhat angry at her lack of self-control. Chu Quanyi hadn't even found a secluded place to ask Xi Xinxin again. This allowed someone to overhear and seize half the advantage!

They might have already started dating. Damn it, if word got out! What kind of relationship guru is he?!