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Chapter 20: Bathing? Together? (Subscription Red Packet)
“Big Brother, you…”
Pure, straightforward, gentle, loyal, and a romantic fool.
Ning Qingyan: o_O?
Unlike the online excitement, after a long day of being covered in red mud, the male guests rushed to the bathrooms as soon as they returned to the villa. The cleanliness-conscious female guests followed suit.
Ning Qingyan, concerned about Gu Si’s recurring stomach issues, told him to stay put in the living room while she retrieved her stomach medicine from her bedroom. She handed it to him when she returned.
Sitting lazily on the sofa with his long legs slightly bent due to his height, Gu Si’s eyes lit up with amusement the moment he saw the medicine. The corners of his lips curled into a playful smile, his almond-shaped eyes narrowing mischievously. He looked like a cheerful Akita dog.
Green Tea System: “Gu Si’s favorability +1.”
He coughed to hide his grin, raised an eyebrow, and shamelessly teased her:
“Good disciple, so this is your calm, unshaken heart? I knew you were just pretending—you do care about me after all.”
Ning Qingyan’s lips curled slightly. “Hurry up and take the medicine. Why so much nonsense?”
Gu Si laughed but didn’t retaliate. His almond-shaped eyes sparkled as he cheerfully swallowed the medicine, a stark contrast to his usual refusal to take any, no matter how bitter or mild.
Satisfied after seeing him take the medicine, Ning Qingyan turned to leave, only to have her wrist caught by Gu Si. His palm was hot, and though she tried to shake him off, his grip was firm. She looked back at him, confused.
“What now?”
“Where are you going?” Gu Si let go.
Pointing to her mud-stained pants, Ning Qingyan replied, “To shower. Aren’t you going to wash up?”
Gu Si’s eyes gleamed with a teasing smile. “Want to join me?”
Ning Qingyan rolled her eyes and walked off.
Gu Si’s voice called out arrogantly from behind her:
“What’s wrong? Afraid of feeling inferior when we’re… bare? Worried you’re too small compared to me?”
Ning Qingyan: “…”
Why do boys always like comparing sizes?
Stopping in her tracks, she turned back to him, her beautiful peach blossom eyes curving playfully. In a curious, innocent tone, she asked,
“So… how big are you, big brother?”
Gu Si raised his eyebrows, shamelessly replying, “Eighteen.”
Ning Qingyan’s eyes widened slightly. “Really? I don’t believe you. Unless, big brother…”
Her half-spoken words, combined with her soft voice and the slight pause before addressing him as “big brother,” were electrifying. Her fleeting, shy glance down before quickly looking away made Gu Si’s face turn red in an instant.
Green Tea System: “Gu Si’s favorability +1.”
The usually unflappable Gu Si, who could handle even the spiciest food without breaking a sweat, was left speechless and blushing furiously.
He stammered, “Ning Qingyan, can’t you be more reserved?”
“Oh, but wasn’t I just going along with what my master said?”
Her words reminded Gu Si of his earlier smug teasing.
Damn it, she has a point! Speechless and defeated, Gu Si couldn’t help but admit he was the one who got flustered first, all because of her innocent yet inexplicably alluring demeanor. He refused to accept it!
Seeing him flustered, Ning Qingyan felt a sense of satisfaction. Turning to her bedroom, she was about to close the door when Gu Si suddenly appeared, blocking it with his hand.
“Anything else?” Ning Qingyan blinked at him.
Leaning against the doorframe, Gu Si smirked, his almond eyes gleaming with mischief. “You said you don’t believe me, right? Let me prove it. Let me in.”
Ning Qingyan: “…”
Was she scared?
Of course not.
With a smirk, she opened the door wide. Gu Si, who had been bracing himself against the door, froze awkwardly, his hand still hovering mid-air.
Ning Qingyan’s peach blossom eyes curved playfully. “Sure. Come in. So, are you going to undress yourself, or do you need my help, little brother?”
Her shameless words and innocent expression left Gu Si blushing furiously. He turned on his heel and fled to his own room like an arrow, slamming the door shut behind him.
Ning Qingyan blinked and chuckled, stepping into her room and locking the door behind her. She took out a medical kit and entered the bathroom.
Removing her shoes and socks, she revealed her reddened, bandaged foot. The morning’s bandage had slipped due to strenuous activity, and the wound reopened. But to her, this level of pain was nothing.
After skillfully treating the wound, Ning Qingyan removed her makeup. As the contouring shadows and highlights washed away, her boyish features softened into those of a delicate girl.
She unwrapped her chest bindings, took a quick shower, applied skincare, and finally lay in bed.
The Green Tea System appeared in her consciousness.
Green Tea System:
Favorability Exchange Shop Unlocked:
Curious, she exchanged 10 points to heal her wound. Instantly, her injured foot was smooth and unblemished.
Although pleased with the effect, she regretted wasting 10 points on such a minor injury. Still, it was worth it to avoid complications.
Reflecting on the favorability scores, she found Gu Si’s reaction most surprising. Despite his flirtatious demeanor, he was unexpectedly innocent at heart.
Brushing off her thoughts, she called her father to reassure him, then ended the call quickly. Returning to social media, she was shocked to find her newly created account—initially with single-digit followers—had surged to 160,000 fans, with comments flooding her first post.
It seemed her journey was just beginning.
Ning Qingyan looked at the messages of concern and jokes from strangers—no, fans—and felt a small ripple in her heart.
Glancing at the late hour, she turned off her phone and closed her eyes.
…
In a bright yellow open kitchen, a rice cooker simmered with millet porridge. A young man, wearing an apron, moved between the kitchen and the dining table in the living room, quickly setting up breakfast.
Huo Qi, who always had a habit of morning runs, found the living room deserted when he left. Upon returning, he saw this lively and homey scene and was immediately reminded of yesterday morning—a nearly identical scene.
Their eyes met. Ning Qingyan looked at the cold and distant Huo Qi, curved her lips into a smile, and said softly:
“I made a lot. Do you want to try some?”
Her tone was as natural as if she were waiting for him to come home and eat.
Huo Qi hesitated. Remembering the dishes Ning Qingyan had made yesterday, his habitual refusal caught in his throat. Seeing the clean and sincere look in the young man’s eyes, he pressed his lips together and responded with a low “Okay.”
The Green Tea System chimed: “Huo Qi’s favorability +1.”
Ning Qingyan, who was prepared for rejection, paused in surprise. Then, a smile filled her eyes as she cheerfully said, “I’ll serve you a bowl of porridge to cool.”
Watching the smiling young man, Huo Qi’s heart stirred. He pursed his lips and said in a deep voice, “Thanks. I’ll take a quick shower first.”
“Alright,” Ning Qingyan replied. Only then did Huo Qi head upstairs quickly.
Once in his room, Huo Qi habitually checked his three laptops. His long, well-defined fingers danced across the keyboards as stock curves appeared on the screens, fluctuating up and down.
He was in the process of acquiring the last batch of Huo Corporation’s low-priced shares. After confirming the successful transactions, he unbuttoned his shirt with one hand while grabbing a change of clothes and heading to the bathroom.
Funds were still insufficient, and Huo Qi frowned slightly.
As the buttons came undone, revealing his defined abs and prominent Adam’s apple, he took a quick shower. After washing his hair, he dried it, tidied himself up, and shut down his laptops before heading back downstairs.
At the dining table, Ning Qingyan was savoring his food almost indulgently, making Huo Qi, who had just come downstairs and sat opposite him, momentarily dazed.
For Huo Qi, eating was merely a necessity to replenish energy. He wouldn’t waste time on meals if he could help it, preferring instead to spend that time manipulating the stock market.
Having grown up eating leftovers, he never understood the joy that good food could bring. Even when he became more capable and wealthy, his focus remained entirely on work.
Seeing him stare at the food in her hands, Ning Qingyan blinked, thinking he wanted to try it. She picked up a piece of her special egg-wrapped vegetable and placed it on his plate.
Huo Qi’s phoenix-shaped eyes froze momentarily. His gaze shifted to the egg-wrapped vegetable on his plate, the smell of charred egg wafting up to him. He glanced again at the young man enjoying his meal with visible delight, hesitated briefly, then picked it up and took a bite.
With just one bite, the crispy egg, the savory Lao Gan Ma sauce, and the refreshing, juicy pickled cucumber exploded in his mouth. The long-lost sensation of taste seemed to awaken as Ning Qingyan’s crisp voice reached his ears:
“Try it with some porridge.”
Huo Qi obediently complied. The fragrant, soft millet porridge paired with the egg-wrapped vegetable was so delicious it made his mouth water.
In the livestream, early-morning viewers groaned with envy. Some settled for instant noodles, others started cooking, while others simply ordered takeout.
The Green Tea System chimed again: “Huo Qi’s favorability +1.”
Hearing the system’s notification, Ning Qingyan’s charming peach-blossom eyes filled with laughter. She curved her lips and asked softly:
“Huo Qi, is it good?”
Huo Qi nodded, his typically indifferent expression softening slightly. Yet he found himself oddly bothered by the way Ning Qingyan called the other two male guests “brother” while addressing him by his full name.
Huo Qi ate quietly, his demeanor elegant yet fast. In a few swift bites, he was nearly done.
Noticing some chili seeds on Ning Qingyan’s lips from the spicy sauce, Huo Qi said in a low voice, “There’s something on your mouth.”
Ning Qingyan quickly grabbed a napkin and wiped her lips. Still worried, she leaned closer and asked, pouting slightly, “Is it clean now? Is there still anything left? I don’t want the female guests to see later.”
The boy’s delicate, fair face appeared larger in front of him, his slightly swollen lips from the spice inexplicably enticing. Paired with his clear peach-blossom eyes, Huo Qi momentarily lost himself but quickly regained composure.
He turned his head aside, his jawline taut and coldly refined, but his voice was husky. “It’s clean.”
The Green Tea System chimed again: “Huo Qi’s favorability +1.”
Ning Qingyan noticed his fully buttoned collar and subtly shifting Adam’s apple. With a teasing smile, she remarked, “Good thing you told me. It would’ve been embarrassing if everyone saw.”
As she spoke, Wen Shijin came downstairs, looking as pristine as ever in his white shirt and wearing a gentle expression.
“You’re up so early?” he asked softly, sitting next to Ning Qingyan.
“I’m used to waking up early. Brother, aren’t you the same?” she replied.
Hearing her address Wen Shijin as “Brother,” Huo Qi’s thin lips pressed tightly together. His usually indifferent eyes held a rare seriousness as he said:
“I’m older than him.”