Chapter 14: The Doubts of Qin Muxue’s Mother

Qin Muxue thought about it and, since she had no classes in the morning, decided to join her for the training.

“It’s perfect; you can be my punching bag.”

Zhang Tingting: ……

“Sister, isn’t that a bit much?”

She felt like crying but had no tears.

…….

At noon, after leaving the taekwondo club’s venue, Zhang Tingting rubbed her sore muscles, casting a resentful look at Qin Muxue ahead of her.

In her view, Qin Muxue was just taking out her frustration, hitting so hard.

Qin Muxue didn’t even look at her, casually waving her hand, planning to go back and eat the meal Lin Beixiu made.

Watching her leave, Zhang Tingting smirked, “If you won’t tell me, I’ll find out myself. Such a handsome junior should be on the forum.”

Qin Muxue returned home, took out her keys to open the door, and saw Lin Beixiu lying on the sofa, idly playing with his phone.

“Is this all you do?” Qin Muxue asked.

“Mm.”

Lin Beixiu got up, “I’ll start cooking in a bit.”

Qin Muxue sat on another sofa, looking at him, “Don’t you have any hobbies or interests? The teacher also said we could join clubs to enrich our college life.”

Hearing her lecture, Lin Beixiu paused, then helplessly said, “I’m the class president, you know. I’m busy enough as it is, plus…”

Lin Beixiu hesitated before adding, “I don’t really have any hobbies.”

His personality was like this, independent from a young age, not having many friends in class. After school, he would go home to help his grandfather, which kept him from getting bored.

Of course, his rebellious younger self would sometimes look for trouble, often returning home with injuries.

Now, when bored, he’d play with his phone, and his life was passable.

Qin Muxue fell silent, not knowing what to say. She could sense the loneliness in Lin Beixiu, reminiscent of his demeanor during military training, very similar.

She recalled that Lin Beixiu seldom spoke at school, responding only when male classmates approached him, speaking most to her.

“Let’s cook.” Lin Beixiu stood up and headed to the kitchen.

Qin Muxue watched him busy himself, a smile unknowingly forming on her lips.

In the short month since school started, living together made them more familiar with each other, occasionally joking about trivial things, and Qin Muxue had gotten used to his cooking.

It was just that Lin Beixiu’s sense of masculinity prevented her from washing the dishes, taking on all such missions himself, leaving Qin Muxue feeling somewhat helpless.

“Dinner’s ready.”

“Coming.”

…..

In the afternoon, Lin Beixiu still sat in the back row near the corridor, leaving the window seat to Qin Muxue.

They both liked the spot, but Lin Beixiu didn’t want to move to the second-to-last row, so he sat next to her.

It was purely for asking academic questions, nothing more.

Returning from the restroom, Qin Muxue didn’t say anything, just walked past him to her seat, which she had asked Lin Beixiu to save for her.

The class had grown accustomed to their dynamic, with some even starting to ship them.

But the two of them were still oblivious.

Qin Muxue put on her headphones and started listening to music.

Lin Beixiu was used to it by now, sometimes covering for her when she listened to music during class.

Wasn’t this what college was about?

After class, Lin Beixiu nudged Qin Muxue.

“Class is over.”

“Let’s go.” Qin Muxue packed up and headed out.

Lin Beixiu walked beside her on the path, as both their workplaces were in the same area.

Due to work, Qin Muxue rarely ate Lin Beixiu’s cooking at night anymore, both settling for a simple boxed meal.

On the street, a black business car stopped by the roadside, its window rolling down slowly. The person inside frowned at the sight of Qin Muxue and Lin Beixiu walking away.

That silhouette seemed like her daughter.

The person was Qin Han, who had finally found time from her busy schedule to visit her daughter in Tianxing City, only to see her and Lin Beixiu heading to their part-time jobs after class.

Especially Lin Beixiu, close to her daughter, caused Qin Han’s brows to furrow.

She had never seen her daughter so close to a boy before and instructed the driver to follow them, intending to clarify things. She then saw them enter separate stores.

Qin Han understood her daughter was working part-time, feeling heartache and guilt, especially seeing Qin Muxue working seriously at the front desk.

She wanted to meet her daughter but, remembering their strained relationship, sighed and told the driver to leave.

“Shouldn’t we visit little Xue?” the driver asked.

Qin Han shook her head, “You know how she is. Meeting now would only worsen our relationship, and we don’t have enough time anyway. Let’s go back.”

Suyun sighed, knowing the tense relationship between them after years as Qin Han’s secretary, and drove away without further questions.

Qin Han’s gaze lingered on the convenience store, watching her daughter through the glass before instructing.

“Investigate that boy.”

She was curious about the man who could get close to her daughter.

Meanwhile, Qin Muxue, unaware of her mother’s visit, was focused on her work, though she felt a familiar gaze and looked outside, seeing nothing, and dismissed the thought.

Then, she received a message, a red packet from her mother, advising her to enjoy school and eat well.

Qin Muxue’s feelings were mixed, but she accepted the red packet, thanking her mother.

……

When it was time to leave work, Qin Muxue greeted her boss, ready to leave, only to be surprised by Lin Beixiu entering the store.

“Are you not off yet?”

Lin Beixiu shrugged, “It’s Friday, so it’s busy.”

He then picked up two cans of beer.

Behind them, the proprietress teased, “Your boyfriend is here to see you again.”

Qin Muxue blushed, “Auntie, please, we’re just classmates.”

The proprietress laughed and shook her head, understanding the subtle dynamics between them. Lin Beixiu, who recommended Qin Muxue for the job, often came to buy things for the milk tea shop from here.

Lin Beixiu brought the beer to the counter to pay, and Qin Muxue, regaining her composure, began to ring him up.

Lin Beixiu noticed her blush but didn’t think much of it, took his purchase, and casually asked.

“Have you finished work?”

“Just finished, go on ahead,” the proprietress teased.

Qin Muxue, still blushing, quickly packed up and left, while Lin Beixiu, indifferent to the proprietress’s remarks, shrugged and left.

———- Support the Translation! 🌐✨ Your donations not only show appreciation but also keep the translator motivated! Every contribution helps continue bringing you more of what you love. Thank you for being a part of this journey! 💖

https://www.ko-fi.com/maxoofie