Qin Xiangyi was stunned for a moment, recalling everything from that day, including the words she used to coax Zhou Muning in the bathroom.
She never expected that all of this would be the reason Zhou Muning was so happy.
Could it be that Qin Xiangyi and Zhou Muning had already fallen for each other, so the original Qin Xiangyi risked everything to save Zhou Muning, only to be killed by Qin Wangzi? Qin Xiangyi started to imagine things in her head, while Zhou Muning had already finished grilling the meat and put it in her bowl.
“Eat up, I think my grilling skills are pretty decent.”
“Mm… okay, you eat too.”
Qin Xiangyi quickly replied, but when she put the grilled meat in her mouth, she couldn’t taste anything at all.
She wanted to give some to Shaoyao, that little glutton, but realized Shaoyao hadn’t shown up at all, probably still mad.
Qin Xiangyi had no choice but to keep eating.
Zhou Muning kept grilling, and maybe because of what she’d just said, she seemed really embarrassed and didn’t say anything else.
Qin Xiangyi’s plan to eat barbecue worked, and they spent a quiet time together.
Over an hour later, when the two went to pay, the staff member who’d grilled for them yesterday recognized Qin Xiangyi.
“Hey beautiful, weren’t you here yesterday with another pretty girl? You left an umbrella behind, right?” As he spoke, the staff pulled a sun umbrella out from under the counter.
“Yeah, that’s ours.” Qin Xiangyi confirmed it was Jing Shuxuan’s umbrella.
But since it wasn’t hot after they left yesterday, both of them forgot about it, and neither remembered when they got home.
“Xiangyi, you came here with someone yesterday?” But this question made Zhou Muning suspicious, as if she couldn’t figure out how Qin Xiangyi, who’d just been released from Bai Chi Sanatorium, could be out having fun with someone so soon.
“Oh, it was an older sister I know.” Qin Xiangyi answered vaguely.
She wasn’t sure if Zhou Muning knew Jing Shuxuan, and worried she’d slip up if she said too much.
“An older sister you know? That’s the first I’ve heard of it.” Zhou Muning looked curious, unconsciously straightening her back, like she was on guard.
That body language struck Qin Xiangyi as odd, but she didn’t dwell on it and explained.
“We don’t see each other much, so I never really mentioned her.”
Zhou Muning nodded, her tense posture relaxing again.
As they left the barbecue place, she instinctively grabbed Qin Xiangyi’s arm.
Qin Xiangyi looked up and saw a man coming toward them.
Even though they could’ve just walked straight, they deliberately took a detour.
That unconscious move made Zhou Muning relax even more, and a smile spread across her face again.
“So, where are we going next?”
According to what they’d said yesterday, Qin Xiangyi was in charge of today’s plans, and Zhou Muning just had to tag along.
“Of course, the movie theater.
I heard there’s a really good romance film out.” Qin Xiangyi took the initiative, so eager that even she felt like she was actually dating.
“A romance film?” Zhou Muning looked a bit dazed, like she couldn’t believe Qin Xiangyi would suggest that.
“What’s wrong?” Qin Xiangyi looked puzzled.
Zhou Muning shook her head and said, “It’s just surprising.
You’re always reading those mystery and suspense novels, so I thought you’d pick a horror movie.
But it’s fine, if it’s a romance, I think I can handle it.”
Qin Xiangyi once again broke the mold of the original Qin Xiangyi, but this choice clearly made Zhou Muning like her even more.
In the end, Qin Xiangyi made the right call, even though she hadn’t really considered Zhou Muning’s feelings—she just picked a romance to get what she wanted.
“I just didn’t want to scare you, so I picked a love story.
I heard this movie is super sweet.” Qin Xiangyi grinned.
Actually, she chose it because it was famous for having the most kisses in movie history, hoping to drop a massive hint to Zhou Muning about wanting to kiss her.
“Really? I’m looking forward to it.” Zhou Muning looked interested, and both of them were excited for the movie.
But…
In the theater, couples were scattered around, and whenever the kissing scenes started, those couples would start showing off their affection, making Zhou Muning go from awkward to downright embarrassed—every time there was a kiss, she’d close her eyes and cover her ears.
Even so, her face was still red, clearly not used to this adult world.
Qin Xiangyi was a bit better off.
After all, she’d watched all sorts of weird stuff for her wrestling novel, so this kind of childish stuff didn’t faze her at all.
Even with all the PDA around her, she was unfazed and enjoyed the movie to the end.
When the movie ended, Zhou Muning practically bolted out of the theater.
Her face was even redder, like a tempting apple just begging to be bitten.
She looked even shyer, the scenes from the movie replaying in her mind, overlapping with her memories of kissing Qin Xiangyi.
In the end, she covered her face, so flustered she didn’t even know how to look at Qin Xiangyi.
Qin Xiangyi couldn’t help but laugh at Zhou Muning’s reaction.
Only in a novel world could there be a girl as pure as Zhou Muning.
Qin Xiangyi laughed brightly, making Zhou Muning even more bashful.
Seeing Qin Xiangyi still laughing at her, she complained, “Why are you still laughing? That was so embarrassing just now.”
“Isn’t it normal? Everyone meets someone they just click with eventually.” Qin Xiangyi made a little innuendo, and Zhou Muning seemed to catch the hint, looking a bit unhappy.
“But we’re still young.”
“It’s fine, this is a 17+ movie, so kissing is totally within reason.” Qin Xiangyi started to coax her, trying to make Zhou Muning feel like this was all normal.
If we’re talking about dating experience, Qin Xiangyi was definitely at zero.
But when it came to writing romance in novels, she was a pro—and surprisingly, it actually worked a little.
Zhou Muning seemed to believe her, and even asked, “Does that mean I’m not normal?”
“No, it just means you know how to love better than most people.”
“What do you mean?”
“Only people who know how to love others know how to cherish themselves.”
Qin Xiangyi replied with a smile, but Zhou Muning still didn’t get it.
Qin Xiangyi didn’t explain further, instead taking the initiative to grab Zhou Muning’s hand and change the subject.
“It’s already past four.
Shouldn’t we head back to meet the parents?”
Zhou Muning’s face turned bright red, and she hit Qin Xiangyi in protest.
Qin Xiangyi was a bit confused, but soon realized she’d overlooked something.
Zhou Muning only had an older brother, Ye Fan, who wasn’t related by blood, and an elderly grandmother.
So, maybe she’d touched a nerve.
But if Zhou Muning was supposed to feel sad, why was she blushing? Qin Xiangyi was more and more confused by Zhou Muning’s thoughts, but Zhou Muning seemed to realize her own odd reaction and quickly explained, “Don’t say weird stuff like that, it makes it sound like something’s going on between us.”
Hearing that, Qin Xiangyi immediately promised, “Sorry, I won’t say that again.”
But when she said that, Zhou Muning seemed a little unhappy, making Qin Xiangyi even more confused about what Zhou Muning was feeling now.
