Chapter 35: Agreeing to the Request

Clearly, they were perceived as a couple, especially since they looked like they were arguing, with Lin Beixiu appearing as the bad guy and Qin Muxue seeming to be trying to hold onto him.

Lin Beixiu, who had a thin skin, couldn’t stand these perceptions and could only pull on her arm to leave.

“You’re hurting my hand, be gentler.”

Hearing Qin Muxue’s pitiful tone, his heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously loosened his grip.

“Sorry.”

They were now on the main street, with no acquaintances around, Lin Beixiu began walking home.

Qin Muxue, though regretful, still followed behind.

Back at home.

“Um, sorry.”

Qin Muxue stood at his room door, her hands crossed in front of her chest, speaking in a weak voice.

This was the first time Qin Muxue showed such vulnerability, a sight that would astonish anyone.

Truly upset, he had locked himself in his room upon returning, not even bothering to cook.

Lin Beixiu was sitting on his bed, pondering. He wasn’t very upset, as this was the first time a girl had declared him as her boyfriend.

He had received confessions from girls before, all of which he had rejected. He felt nothing for those girls. However, with Qin Muxue, he did not feel repulsed. He could even joke around with her, and sometimes his heart would race in certain situations.

Qin Muxue thought about knocking on the door, teasing, “If you don’t talk to me, I’ll come in.”

Suddenly, the door opened, and Lin Beixiu, with a blank face, walked past her towards the kitchen.

Seeing him come out, Qin Muxue breathed a sigh of relief, though she couldn’t quite grasp his thoughts.

Qin Muxue stood at the kitchen door, “Is there anything I can help with?”

“No, just wait for the meal.”

Qin Muxue stuck out her tongue, waving a fist at his back. When Lin Beixiu turned around, she had already reverted to her usual demeanor and turned to go to the living room.

Seeing her odd behavior, Lin Beixiu just shrugged and continued with his missions.

At the dining table.

Both were silent until Qin Muxue broke the silence, probing.

“Are you still mad?”

“What’s the use of being mad?” Lin Beixiu said helplessly. “It’s already like this, everyone thinks I’m your boyfriend.”

Qin Muxue pouted unhappily, “From your tone, it sounds like I’m not good enough for you?”

“Not at all, you’re beautiful.”

Even Lin Beixiu, the ultimate straight man, knew saying the wrong thing now would spell disaster.

“So, there you go. What’s the worry? Pretend to be my boyfriend for a bit, okay?”

Lin Beixiu: …….

“What’s in it for me?”

“A beautiful girlfriend.”

Lin Beixiu’s lips twitched, “Isn’t it fake?”

“To outsiders, it appears real.”

“………”

The air filled with silence, only the sound of eating remained.

Finally, Qin Muxue broke the silence again, pleading, “Please, just help me this once.”

Lin Beixiu: …….

That coquettish tone was indeed rare to hear.

“It’s going to be troublesome,” Lin Beixiu muttered.

Does he really feel nothing for me?

Qin Muxue, with a forced smile and clenched fists, startled Lin Beixiu.

“……”

“Mainly, Zhang Hao is indeed annoying. With you around, he might back off. We live so close; aside from you, I have no one else to turn to,” Qin Muxue switched tones, sounding pitiful.

Lin Beixiu sighed, “I’ll help you, just stop looking at me like that.”

Qin Muxue internally cheered, finally taking this step. Although their relationship was fake for now, she believed given some time, she could make it real.

Little brother Bei, you can’t escape.

“We agreed, it’s just a pretense. No crossing lines. I’ll help you out in public, but when it’s just us, we’re just ourselves.”

Qin Muxue sulkily pursed her lips but said nothing more.

“Okay, little brother Bei.”

Lin Beixiu: ……..

The next day, as they arrived at school, people looked their way. Unlike before, this time they walked hand in hand, closely knit.

This was Qin Muxue’s request, arguing that if they were going to pretend, they might as well do it convincingly. But Lin Beixiu always felt like she was taking advantage of him, though he couldn’t quite articulate it.

Upon reaching their class, Lin Beixiu was the first to break free and head inside, eventually sitting at the back.

Qin Muxue smiled and sat next to him, choosing the aisle seat.

During class, Qin Muxue admired him as he focused on the lesson, getting lost in her thoughts.

“Don’t look at me, aren’t you going to pay attention?”

“I already know this stuff,” Qin Muxue said nonchalantly.

Lin Beixiu: …….

“If you know it all, why are you even in your first year?”

“There are some things I haven’t learned yet, but I know all this early stuff,” Qin Muxue explained, then grinned mischievously.

“Little brother Bei, if you don’t understand something, you can ask me.”

“No need.”

Seeing her tease him again, Lin Beixiu glared at her before turning back to the lesson. Qin Muxue stopped teasing and took out her phone, checking the forums, indeed finding their “official announcement.”

Comments like “heartbroken” and “she’s taken” filled the page, including a photo of them holding hands, captured and posted.

The photo, taken from a side angle, appeared almost poetic.

Qin Muxue had to admit the photographer had some skills, saving the photo quietly, then putting away her phone with a pleased heart.

Finally, the morning classes ended, and it was time for a break.

“Little brother Bei, what’s for lunch?”

“Anything,” Lin Beixiu said indifferently.

“How can we just eat anything?”

“We’re out of groceries.”

“Let’s go shopping.”

“No.”

……..

A figure watched them bicker and leave from a distance, the image etched in his mind, his fists clenched unconsciously.

The days passed with routine classes until the weekend arrived. Qin Muxue thought to use this break from work to deepen their relationship.

“How about we go shopping tonight?”

Lin Beixiu considered it; indeed, they needed some household items, so he agreed.

Qin Muxue was thrilled, having looked forward to this opportunity for a long time. Though not their first shopping trip together, it held special significance for her.

That evening, skipping dinner, they wandered around the local snack street.

“This is for you.”

Qin Muxue handed him one of the two hand-grabbed cakes she had bought.

Lin Beixiu was incredulous but eventually blushed and accepted it, murmuring,

“Thanks.”

“Thank me

for what? We don’t need to say these things between us.”

Qin Muxue pulled on his hand and led him forward. Lin Beixiu thought of pulling away, surprised by her strength, which even took him aback.

“Stop touching me, let go.”

“Not at all. Remember, we’re near the school. If we’re going to play a part, let’s do it thoroughly,” Qin Muxue earnestly bluffed.

She nearly despised herself for this, but for the sake of chasing after Lin Beixiu, this silly younger brother, she had decided not to care about face anymore.

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