Chapter 58 - What Should I Do if My Younger Brother’s Crush Has Taken a Liking to Me?

Chapter 58 "What... what did you say?" Jiang Yuan was astonished, her mouth agape. She never expected Xi Ning, who always appeared cold and aloof, to say such words. She was momentarily speechless. "You can't understand the literal meaning?" Xi Ning still had a polite smile on her face, but her words were devoid of any warmth. After a pause of two or three seconds, she glanced indifferently at Jiang Yuan, who was still speechless, and said nothing more before turning and walking into the classroom. The classroom on Sunday afternoon was usually relaxed. At this time, only about a third of the students were present, sparsely scattered across the room. The open windows at the back let in a chilly breeze that made the place feel especially desolate. Xi Ning sat down at her desk with an expression that was not very pleasant. Although she usually appeared cold and expressionless, there was a noticeable difference when she was angry or unhappy. Xi Ning's demeanor naturally carried some coldness, making her appear aloof and distant. However, upon closer interaction, one would find that she was not difficult to get along with despite her reserved nature. Nevertheless, being amiable did not mean she lacked sharpness. It seemed like it had been a long time since she had last felt angry, but just now... she did not seem like herself. Xi Ning tapped the tip of her pen with her fingertips, and the noise of chatter filled the surroundings. A male classmate walked up to Kong Nian Xi's desk with a bag of bread, only to be intercepted by another male classmate. "Hey, the bread shop on the first floor of the cafeteria made garlic-flavored bread again!" "Yeah, I waited in line for so long and only managed to get the last three." "I'm craving it! Give me one." "I can only give you one. There are only three left. I'll have one myself, and I'll save one for Xi Xi." "..." After the two male students walked away, Xi Ning slowly raised her head and cast a sidelong glance at the table next to hers. During the time immediately following their return to school on Sunday, besides the bag of bread on Kong Nian Xi's desk, there was also a lollipop and a piece of chocolate. If Xi Ning was on the periphery of social circles in the class, then Kong Nian Xi was definitely an indispensable focal point. Whether it was among boys or girls, and regardless of the type of attraction, she was never lacking in popularity. How many "friends" like Jiang Yuan did Kong Nian Xi have around her? From the moment Xi Ning clearly expressed her intentions, she had considered this question. "Hey, someone close the window. It's freezing in here." Suddenly, someone called out in the classroom, and a classmate near the window closed it partially. As the evening approached, and with the recent sharp drop in temperature, the wind blowing in through the window had become even colder. The wind even knocked over the empty cup on Kong Nian Xi's desk, and Xi Ning reached out to pick it back up. As she leaned over, she inadvertently caught sight of Kong Nian Xi's student ID card placed on the edge of the table, with a tiny pink rabbit sticker on the back, just like the one that had been "acquired" last time – except the previous one had been blue. It looked suspiciously like a couple's sticker. After pausing for a moment, Xi Ning curved her lips into a slight smile and, as she turned back, she flipped the card over and placed it closer to the edge. ...If indeed there was a sense of anxiety, it was better to bring it to the forefront and firmly grasp it herself. * Evening self-study began at 7 p.m., and Xi Ning arrived early. It was quite some time before about half of the students trickled into the classroom, and the surroundings gradually became lively. Her phone, placed in her desk pocket, rang, and at this time, Kong Nian Xi video-called her. Xi Ning picked up her phone, moved her books to the side to block her surroundings, and answered the call. The outside was gradually getting dark, and behind Kong Nian Xi were rows of bustling food stalls. She stood by the street, her slender figure appearing fragile. Her long hair was blown by the wind, and the glint in her dark eyes reflected a faint light. She smiled sweetly, "What do you want for dinner? I will bring it for you." Xi Ning was taken aback for a moment. "Are you... coming back already?" It was only a little after six o'clock. Kong Nian Xi leaned closer, watching her with a smile, "Can you move closer to the camera? I can hardly see your face clearly." "..." Xi Ning had no choice but to bring the chair closer and raise the phone slightly. Kong Nian Xi was satisfied. "Good, very obedient. Quickly tell me what you want to eat, and big or small, I will get it for you." The cafeteria rarely opened its windows in the evening, and the food was mostly unappetizing. Therefore, after entering school in the afternoon, Xi Ning usually did not go out again. So, for dinner, besides occasionally ordering takeout with Tu Xiaoyuan and the others, she mostly just had some bread to fill her stomach. Xi Ning felt a bit shy at the unexpected "sister" from Kong Nian Xi, and since she wasn't really hungry, she said, "No need... Are you done so soon?" "What do you mean, no need?" Kong Nian Xi pouted, "Are you not satisfied with the food I bring for you?" Xi Ning hastened to explain, "No... I just don't have much appetite tonight." "Even if you're not hungry, you still need to eat," Kong Nian Xi raised her chin, "Quickly tell me what you want. This is the first time I've condescended to bring food for someone. Otherwise, I will bring whatever you eat." "..." Anyone would indulge Kong Nian Xi when she had such a temper, and Xi Ning also indulged her in a unique way. Unavoidably, with a glance at the food stalls behind Kong Nian Xi, Xi Ning thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll have pan-fried dumplings." "Okay, a big serving or a small one?" "A small one is fine." The screen wobbled a bit, and Xi Ning heard Kong Nian Xi ordering from the vendor, then standing by and waiting. The video call was not ended, and the two kept the connection without either of them hanging up. After a moment of quietness, Xi Ning somewhat awkwardly averted her gaze and propped up her phone on the book, lowering her head to pick up a pen and flip open her notebook. Kong Nian Xi blinked, "Are you studying?" Xi Ning's pen slid across the papers, and she had nothing else to do at the moment. "It could be considered so." Kong Nian Xi's voice carried a smile, "I won't disturb you, will I?" "...No," Xi Ning replied without a trace of emotion, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips, and her clear eyes and cold voice made her seem extraordinary. Kong Nian Xi's voice contained a hint of laughter, "Then I will watch you study." The atmosphere suddenly turned sticky through the screen. In the past, Xi Ning would never have thought she would find herself in this state, but even now, she wasn't aware of it. "In a while, after I buy some pan-fried tofu, I can go back. Do you want bubble tea?" Kong Nian Xi straightened out her hair, which had been windblown. "No," Xi Ning shook her head, not wanting her to be running back and forth. After a moment, she added, "Didn't you have hot pot for dinner tonight?" "Of course, we have to save space in our stomachs so that it's more enjoyable to eat together with you." Kong Nian Xi's voice was low and gentle, sounding as if she was whispering into Xi Ning's ear through the earphones, as if it carried a tingling warmth. Xi Ning's heart could not help but beat faster, and she held the pen handle without speaking. There were quite a few students waiting for their meals in front of the snack cart. Xi Ning noticed someone, a girl in front, who glanced back at Kong Nian Xi a few times. Xi Ning thought of something, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Are you... wearing earphones?" "No, I'm using the loudspeaker," Kong Nian Xi replied. "..." Xi Ning froze. "Ha," Kong Nian Xi chuckled at her expression, "I lied to you. With so many people around, how could I possibly use the loudspeaker. However..." The camera zoomed closer, and Kong Nian Xi whispered, "Are you so cautious when you're in a relationship too?" Xi Ning's increasingly evident blush made her squirm, but she remained silent for several seconds. She was about to speak when she saw Kong Nian Xi straighten her clothes and seemingly shiver, followed by a small sneeze. Kong Nian Xi's school uniform jacket was open, and she was wearing only a thin short-sleeved shirt. With the wind blowing outside at this time, her slender figure seemed even more fragile. Xi Ning couldn't help but frown. "Put on your jacket properly." "Oh..." Kong Nian Xi responded, obediently pulling her jacket up to the highest point around her neck. Xi Ning still seemed concerned. "Will you have to wait for a long time? Why don't you stop waiting? You might catch a cold." As she finished speaking, Kong Nian Xi took the meal box handed over by the vendor and said with a smile, "Are you so concerned about me?" "..." Xi Ning said, "Take this pan-fried dumplings, and come back." "Then, when I return, you have to feed me," Kong Nian Xi negotiated. "Alright." "Hmm?" The response came so quickly that Kong Nian Xi thought she had misheard. "What did you just say?" With her right hand holding the pen, Xi Ning sat in front of her desk, her fair face tinged with an inexplicable blush. Her expression was very serious, and her clear eyes, on the verge of turning pink, carried a somewhat suspicious air. Her cold voice, conveyed through the earphones, now had a hint of magnetism, "I will feed you." "..." After standing in place for a while, Kong Nian Xi suddenly tilted her head and rubbed her ear, "Okay, deal~"