383. I Want It All!
Xiao Xi, could it be that you really like me?
Ning Yuan stared at Xiao Xi’s expressionless face, resembling someone who just overturned a vinegar jar, feeling rather bewildered for a moment.
No way, right? Just a guy’s delusion?
This not-so-cute girl with a bit of a violent streak?
Since they met in university, he realized he had always been bullied by Xiao Xi. Although those little punches didn’t hurt much, after a while, he completely lost any romantic illusions about her.
Actually, their relationship was pretty good; otherwise, they wouldn’t be working at the same company after graduation and living in the same apartment building. But their dynamic was more like that of best buddies, and deep down, he never saw Xiao Xi as a woman.
As he watched Xiao Xi walk toward him, he instinctively flexed his arm muscles, ready to brace for a punch.
But Xiao Xi just placed some ribs on the dining table, didn’t say a word, and lowered her head, eating in silence, her eyes flickering as if she was lost in thought.
It was indeed just a delusion.
How could this girl possibly like him…
Ning Yuan sighed in relief and turned to glare at his provoking sister, only to realize he was being too cowardly, risking his image of a mighty older brother in front of her.
He straightened up, observing Xiao Xi’s expression secretly while boldly saying, “It should be about a week later, right? I’ll take some time off to send you to school.”
Ning Chu was engrossed in her phone, sharing the latest gossip with Lily, trying to keep Lily from being robbed without her knowing.
But if we follow the timeline, it’s clearly Lily who’s the thief.
“Great, I’ll pull Lily out then.”
Suddenly, Xiao Xi coughed twice from across the table, causing Ning Yuan to tense up like a coiled spring, fearing an impending fist.
Though it didn’t hurt much, too many punches leave residual reflexes.
“Blind date? With your sister’s classmate?” Xiao Xi looked up, grinning.
“Uh… more or less?”
Under that gaze, Ning Yuan felt a little guilty but didn’t want to look bad in front of his sister.
He quickly added, “My mom and granddad have both been pushing me to date. I’m practically twenty-six, after all.”
“Old bull eats tender grass.”
“No way, it’s not like she’s too much younger than me!”
“With your rotten luck, what girl could possibly like you? I have to help you sort the trash every morning!”
“I’m just lazy about sorting… You’re not that much better; next time, I’ll whip up something delicious! Let me show you what cooking really is; what you make is just slop!”
“So you’re a pig eating slop? No need to insult yourself!”
Ning Chu watched as the two exchanged verbal blows, clearly realizing her brother was losing ground.
Hmm, can’t quite grasp what’s going on…
Though she’d become a girl, she hadn’t dated any girls herself—God knows what other girls are thinking.
Amidst the bickering between her brother and Xiao Xi, she glanced at her phone screen to see Lily had texted her.
“Is your brother really that soft?”
“Not really? Seems like he’s only soft with Xiao Xi?”
“Got it, he’s a masochist! I’ve never had that much fun!”
“???”
You’re just afraid someone at home will notice those marks, right?
“No way! Your brother’s a masochist, and I’m also a masochist—totally incompatible~”
Online, this girl always spoke her mind, without shame or limits, and Ning Chu was already used to it.
It seemed Lily didn’t care about Ning Yuan’s situation— to her, it probably felt like just another day chatting with strangers online for fun?
After all, they hadn’t even met in person yet.
Ning Chu lifted her head, and the duo was still squabbling. Suddenly, she felt like a total third wheel, hesitating briefly before standing up.
“Are you full?” Xiao Xi immediately noticed her movement.
“Yeah, and I should head back, bye~”
“Add me as a friend? Let’s play games together when we have time.”
“Sure~”
Watching Ning Chu leave the door, Ning Yuan suddenly had the urge to escape too, but just as he was about to speak, he saw Xiao Xi grab a bottle of white wine from the cupboard, racing toward him with excitement.
“Come on! It’s been ages since we drank together! Share a drink with me!”
“What are you drinking for in broad daylight?”
Ning Yuan sighed.
“Have I not kept you company when you were feeling down?”
Xiao Xi hurriedly filled her shot glass, pulled out some peanuts and sunflower seeds to snack on, and sat in Ning Chu’s spot, throwing her arm around Ning Yuan’s neck, “Come on! Let’s do this!”
“Fine, fine.” Ning Yuan reluctantly accepted the shot glass, taking a tiny sip. He glanced at the girl beside him, unable to resist a tease, “My sis said you might like me?”
“Impossible!”
“I thought so too.”
Xiao Xi laughed and downed her shot of white liquor in one go.
“You’ve got fish to attend to? Hurry up!”
Ning Yuan, grimacing, gulped down his drink quickly and ended up choking a bit, coughing a few times.
“I’ll go use the bathroom.” He stood up and walked toward the bathroom, his cheeks already tinted faintly pink from the alcohol.
Watching him disappear from view, Xiao Xi froze, grabbed the liquor bottle, and took several big swigs, then hurriedly swapped Ning Yuan’s shot for a larger cup, filling it to the brim.
Her once-proud drinking skills now felt like a burden.
When Ning Yuan returned from the bathroom, he noticed Xiao Xi staring at him intently and clarified, “I just sat while using the bathroom; I didn’t dirty your toilet.”
“I’m not that picky at home…”
He mumbled as he sat back at the dining table, having drunk only a few shots, he was already feeling tipsy, his eyes slightly glazed over.
For some reason, the tomboy next to him suddenly looked way more attractive than usual.
A little head gently rested on his shoulder.
“Don’t you usually hold your liquor pretty well?” Ning Yuan turned to look at Xiao Xi leaning on him, her fair face was flushed red, and her full lips were slightly parted as she breathed heavily, the fragrance of her youth seemed to grow more intoxicating, causing his heart to race.
“Ning Yuan~ Help me up to my room.”
“Don’t take advantage of me now!”
Xiao Xi hugged his arm, softly pressing against him.
At this moment, it should be a guy taking advantage of the girl, but Ning Yuan felt like he was the one getting taken for a ride.
Well, he’s a normal guy, and with a bit of drunkenness, he lacked self-control. Just a little stimulus and his body reacted, causing him to awkwardly chuckle as he cautiously helped Xiao Xi up, leading her to the second floor.
As soon as they got upstairs and saw the bed, Xiao Xi instantly went limp but clung tightly to Ning Yuan’s arm, using her weight to pull him down onto the bed with her.
“What…”
With Xiao Xi pinned beneath him, Ning Yuan panicked, trying to scramble away, but the drunken Xiao Xi seemed to have more strength than usual, holding onto him tightly.
Those beautiful big eyes had lost focus, staring blankly at the guy on top of her.
Xiao Xi nervously bit her lip, “Ning Yuan, I like you.”
“!!!”
No way!
Ning Yuan froze in his attempts to get up, feeling his mind turn completely blank.
Is this for real?
This is way too sudden!
He had scheduled a meeting with Lily, and now this happens?
Wanting it all… I’m going to get killed.
