This meal, Liu Xingyan ate unusually quietly. Throughout the entire meal, he only heard Pei Yue and Aunt Zhou chatting, while Shen Xingruo spoke little, occasionally chiming in.
As they were about to finish eating, Pei Yue glanced at Liu Xingyan, a bit puzzled. “What’s wrong, did someone give you a mute potion?”
Liu Xingyan: …
Maybe he had been given a love potion.
Seeing him silent, Pei Yue became even more curious. She asked while picking up food, “Did you get into trouble? You’re unusually quiet today. This isn’t like you. Why am I feeling so uneasy?”
What a freaking mother.
Liu Xingyan was speechless. He quickly finished a few bites, put down his chopsticks, and stood up, saying hastily, “I haven’t fully woken up yet. Alright, I’ll go back to my room first.”
Pei Yue watched his lazy figure with a pensive expression, her chewing slowed down considerably.
Once he disappeared around the corner of the stairs, Pei Yue suddenly put down her chopsticks, leaned forward, and lowered her voice to instruct Shen Xingruo, “Ruo Ruo, Aunt Pei will be out in the afternoon. Stay at home and keep an eye on him for me. If anything happens, call Aunt Pei.”
Shen Xingruo paused for a moment, then nodded.
Pei Yue had already made plans to go shopping and play cards with her friends after lunch. After finishing her meal and a brief makeover, she grabbed her bag and left.
Aunt Zhou cleaned up the dining table and made a shopping list. After Uncle Liu returned Pei Yue home, they went to the supermarket together.
Shen Xingruo originally wanted to go to the supermarket with them, but after receiving Aunt Pei’s “task,” she stayed behind.
The afternoon sun was warm and gentle, not scorching at all. Shen Xingruo, with some leisure time after lunch, watered the flowers in the small garden, as a way to digest her meal.
After watering a patch of unknown white flowers in front, she turned around and happened to glance at the window on the third floor. There was a head peeking out sneakily.
She squinted, sizing up—
It seemed like the head was checking if Uncle Liu’s car had gone far, and once confirmed, it quickly withdrew.
Setting down the watering can, she went back inside.
As Shen Xingruo went upstairs, Liu Xingyan happened to come down from upstairs. One was acting guilty and distracted, while the other was stealthy and silent.
The two collided at the corner of the stairs on the second floor, startling each other.
Shen Xingruo scrutinized Liu Xingyan up and down, seeing him carrying a bamboo basket. She directly asked, “Liu Xingyan, what sneaky business are you up to?”
Liu Xingyan was first taken aback, then awkwardly averted his gaze, subconsciously touched his neck, and his eyes wandered around.
“What sneaky business… Watch your words. I, I came down to wash some clothes.”
He was so nervous he couldn’t even speak properly.
Shen Xingruo’s attention was once again drawn to the bamboo basket. On top was a school uniform jacket, and there seemed to be something else underneath.
Without saying a word, she paused for a moment, then stepped aside to let Liu Xingyan pass.
Liu Xingyan didn’t expect her to be so easygoing. He hesitated for a few seconds before continuing down the stairs.
After a few steps, he turned back. “Why are you following me?”
Shen Xingruo replied calmly, “Who’s following you? Can’t I go downstairs?”
Liu Xingyan: …
Yes, she could.
Ruo-jie can do anything.
As Liu Xingyan descended to the first floor, he kept glancing back while heading towards the washing machine. Shen Xingruo didn’t follow him all the way; instead, she went to the refrigerator to get some milk.
He breathed a sigh of relief and opened the washing machine, throwing in some dirty clothes as a cover-up. Just as he picked up the bedsheets, he had a bad feeling and turned his head—
There was Shen Xingruo, casually drinking milk, standing leisurely less than two meters behind him. There was a bit of milk on her lips.
Thinking of last night’s dream, Liu Xingyan felt completely trapped, and his movements became stiff.
Shen Xingruo glanced at the things under his basket and immediately recognized the bedsheets. They had the same pattern as the ones in her room, just a different color. What was he hiding under bedsheets?
Under Shen Xingruo’s scrutinizing gaze, Liu Xingyan felt like he was under a spotlight.
In reality, only a small area was dirty, and it wouldn’t be noticeable if he just took it out and threw it in the washing machine. He kept trying to convince himself to act casual—
“I… I mean,” Liu Xingyan closed his eyes, feeling defeated, and resigned, “Miss, I beg you, could you stop staring at me?”
Shen Xingruo didn’t say anything and stood there for a while. Suddenly, unexpectedly, she turned and left.
Liu Xingyan was still waiting to be humiliated by her, but she just left like that. He hadn’t recovered from the shock yet.
Through the French window, he saw Shen Xingruo watering the plants. It was then that he hastily stuffed the bedsheets into the washing machine.
But the next moment, he fell silent.
How the hell did he use this thing?
This washing machine was too advanced now. The buttons were more complicated than solving a math equation. He studied it for a while but didn’t know where to start.
Five minutes later, he knocked on the French window.
Shen Xingruo looked up.
Liu Xingyan gestured for her to come in.
She thought for a moment and then entered.