Chapter 49
Wen Xihan wasn’t foolish—she naturally understood that Ruan Xinyi was subtly mocking her. She hadn’t thought much of it before, but now, she felt that Qi Jingning was absolutely right—this little troublemaker had completely abandoned any sense of propriety.
If this continued, she might actually become immune to Ruan Xinyi’s antics!
Her breathing grew slightly heavier as she clenched her fingertips, pretending as if nothing had happened. She asked again, “What else needs washing?”
After removing the vein from the last shrimp, Ruan Xinyi lifted her chin slightly and glanced toward the cupboard. “Chopsticks and soup spoons.”
“And the pot I left on the dining table could use a wash too.”
“Alright.” Wen Xihan casually popped two grapes into her mouth, her beautiful almond-shaped eyes narrowing slightly as she savored the lingering sweetness on her lips.
Then, twisting open a bottle of yogurt, she took a sip before setting to work. She first washed the chopsticks and spoons she’d be using, then headed to the living room to fetch the pot. With careful effort, she scrubbed it several times until it was spotless.
By the time Wen Xihan finished cleaning, Ruan Xinyi had nearly completed preparing the ingredients. There weren’t many, but they were varied, and once plated, they filled most of the table.
“Do you like spicy food?” Ruan Xinyi asked as she pulled open a cabinet, taking out several packs of different hot pot base flavors.
Wen Xihan was wiping the pot dry when she replied in a neutral tone, “Anything’s fine.”
Anything?
That was hardly any easier to deal with than “whatever.”
To play it safe, Ruan Xinyi chose two types of broth—one mildly spicy and one mushroom-based—to make a divided hot pot.
While waiting for the broth to boil, she washed some fruit, drizzled it with yogurt, and prepared two simple fruit salads as a refreshing dessert.
Placing the fruit salad and a tall-stemmed glass in front of Wen Xihan, Ruan Xinyi walked toward the bar counter and asked in a gentle tone, “Would you like something to drink?”
“Alcohol or a soft drink?”
Wen Xihan speared a piece of cantaloupe with her fork and glanced at the clock on the wall. It was just past seven. She lowered her gaze in thought before asking, “Do you have beer?”
“Beer?” Ruan Xinyi opened the fridge, pulled out a bottle, and shook it slightly in Wen Xihan’s direction. “How about milk beer?”
These were leftovers from the last time Jiang Yun and Cheng Yue had come over for hot pot.
Wen Xihan gave Ruan Xinyi a meaningful look, her delicate brows arching slightly. “Isn’t milk beer just a soft drink?”
“…”
“If you say so.” Unfazed, Ruan Xinyi pulled out all the chilled bottles of milk beer at once. Sitting down beside Wen Xihan, she pointed at the alcohol percentage printed on the can with great seriousness. “Look, it has alcohol content.”
“It might taste like a soft drink, but soft drinks don’t have this.”
“Oh.” Wen Xihan continued eating her cantaloupe elegantly. The warm lighting of the living room cast a soft glow on her features, reflecting in her captivating almond eyes. She didn’t spare the milk beer a single glance, clearly uninterested in something she had already classified as a mere “soft drink.”
Resting her delicate hand against her chin, her white sleeve slid down slightly, revealing the slender bones of her wrist, pale and almost dazzling under the light. She looked at Ruan Xinyi, her light brown pupils gradually focusing—her gaze clear yet carrying a hint of willfulness—as she spoke softly, “I don’t want to drink this.”
“Hm? Then what does Sister want to drink?” Ruan Xinyi had just been about to pop open a can but immediately set it down, adopting an obedient, attentive posture.
It was as if, should Wen Xihan ask for the stars in the sky, Ruan Xinyi would find a way to bring it to her.
Wen Xihan’s adam’s apple moved slightly, though her expression remained unchanged. Her eyes were bright, and her voice softened noticeably.
“I want to drink what you make.”
After a slight pause, she added indifferently, “Not the 'true love'.”
If it wasn’t 'true love', then the only thing left was that glass of milk spiked with baijiu she had mixed that night.
“Alright.” Ruan Xinyi responded with a smile, the amusement in her eyes not diminishing but rather deepening. Unconsciously, her tone carried a hint of coaxing. “Then wait for me, sister. I’ll mix it for you. It’ll be ready in no time.”
“Mm.” Wen Xihan lowered her head, using a small fork to poke at the kiwi soaking in yogurt. The tips of her ears, hidden beneath her dark hair, had already turned red and warm.
Young love is always direct and sincere—making it the hardest to resist.
Not long after, Ruan Xinyi brought over two glasses of milk liquor, inserted straws, and placed one gently in front of Wen Xihan. “Sister, try it. I added a little more baijiu than last time, so the alcohol taste is slightly stronger.”
Wen Xihan took a small sip. A trace of milk-white remained at the corner of her lips, which she unconsciously licked away. Red lips, white teeth, dark hair, and snow-pale skin—her naturally alluring peach blossom eyes had, at this moment, lost a bit of their usual cold aloofness.
Even though Wen Xihan didn’t say a word, Ruan Xinyi knew she liked it. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have taken so many sips.
Loving someone means loving everything about them. If Wen Xihan liked it, she liked it too. If Wen Xihan was happy, she was happy.
The hotpot dinner lasted until ten-thirty.
Most of the dishes on the plates were gone, and the drink in their glasses was already the fourth one Ruan Xinyi had mixed.
Scooping out a prawn from the mushroom broth, Ruan Xinyi peeled off the shell with ease and naturally placed it into Wen Xihan’s bowl.
Wen Xihan reacted quickly, covering her bowl with her hand and turning slightly to block Ruan Xinyi’s movement. “I already have plenty in my bowl. You should eat.”
The reason she had so much left in her bowl was largely thanks to Ruan Xinyi. Every time the food was cooked, this little rascal barely ate any herself and instead delighted in placing food into Wen Xihan’s bowl tirelessly.
And judging by how skillfully she did it, she must have done this for many people before.
“This is the last prawn,” Ruan Xinyi insisted, determined to have Wen Xihan accept it. She even softened her tone, coaxing, “Look, I’ve already peeled it for you. Just this one, and I won’t put anything else in your bowl tonight.”
Wen Xihan eyed her suspiciously. “Really?”
“As true as gold.” Sensing Wen Xihan was about to give in, Ruan Xinyi seized the opportunity to drop the prawn into her bowl and made a solemn promise. “I won’t give you any more for the rest of the night.”
“…” Wen Xihan glanced at her bowl, then at the nearly empty hotpot and plates. The corner of her lips twitched. “There’s nothing left, so where would you even get more?”
“Then should we cook some more?” Ruan Xinyi pretended to get up, as if she were about to head to the kitchen for more ingredients.
Her temple throbbed. Wen Xihan quickly grabbed her. “No need. If you want more, eat it yourself.”
Ruan Xinyi put on a well-behaved expression, looking innocent and sincere. “I was just worried you hadn’t eaten enough, sister.”
For a moment, Wen Xihan’s expression turned complicated. She took a deep breath and said, “I’m full.”
“Alright then.” Ruan Xinyi finally relented, but with a swift movement of her wrist, she naturally took Wen Xihan’s hand in hers.
Instinctively, Wen Xihan tried to pull her hand away.
“Don’t move.” Ruan Xinyi gently held her palm, turning it slightly to reveal all the lines.
Using the excuse of palm reading, Ruan Xinyi traced the delicate patterns on Wen Xihan’s palm with her fingertips.
Although Wen Xihan felt a little awkward, she didn’t withdraw her hand. Her wrist stiffened slightly, allowing Ruan Xinyi to examine it.
Meanwhile, as Wen Xihan gazed at the crown of Ruan Xinyi’s soft, fine hair, a hint of warmth flickered deep in her eyes—so subtle that even she hadn’t noticed. It wasn’t visible on her face, yet it carried an undeniable, quiet intensity, slowly creeping into her heart.
“You can actually read this?” Wen Xihan slightly lifted her wrist, shifting her gaze from the whorl of Ruan Xinyi’s hair to somewhere else.
Her eyelashes were long and dense, casting faint shadows. From this angle, Ruan Xinyi appeared even more gentle and composed—almost resembling the woman in the photograph.
“I know a little.” The hand in hers was soft, each finger slender and cool to the touch. Ruan Xinyi found it impossible to let go.
“Sister’s palm lines are many, with varying depths. They may seem complex at first glance, but each one is actually very clear.” Ruan Xinyi spoke with an air of seriousness. “One look, and I can tell you were born into comfort, destined for wealth and prosperity.”
Her cool fingertips lightly traced over Wen Xihan’s palm, sending faint tingles in their wake.
“Mm, and then?” Wen Xihan listened with interest, curious about how far Ruan Xinyi could take her nonsense.
“This one is the life line.” Ruan Xinyi traced the most prominent horizontal line on Wen Xihan’s palm, her voice carrying a convincing rhythm. “And this one in the middle is the wisdom line. Both are very distinct and extend far—proof that you’re meant to live a long and prosperous life.”
“And this one here is the love line.” As she spoke, Ruan Xinyi looked up, her gaze locking onto Wen Xihan’s. Her light brown eyes were deep and clear. In them, she saw her own reflection.
Caught under Wen Xihan’s unwavering gaze, Ruan Xinyi faltered briefly before lowering her head to continue. “This line starts off faint, blending in with the surrounding fine lines. But right here, it suddenly deepens, becoming clear and distinct, running all the way to the bottom. That means…”
“What does it mean?” Wen Xihan was curious to hear what conclusion Ruan Xinyi would spin.
“It means,” Ruan Xinyi paused, then half-jokingly said, “it means you’ll meet someone here who will stay with you until the end.”
The implication was not subtle.
Wen Xihan withdrew her hand, her gaze shifting as she arched a brow with playful skepticism. “Superstition.”
Ruan Xinyi chuckled softly, responding with deliberate meaning: “Better to believe it than not.”
Wen Xihan ignored her, lowering her gaze as she picked up the prawn from her bowl and ate it gracefully.
After finishing, she put down her chopsticks, wiped the corners of her lips with a napkin, and said with composure, “It’s late. I should head home.”
It was indeed time to head back. There was an early flight to catch tomorrow, and it was already getting late. She still had packing to do.
Ruan Xinyi nodded, tilting her slender neck back as she downed the remaining wine in her glass. Then, she stood up and said, “Alright, I’ll walk you out.”
Wen Xihan didn’t move. Instead, she glanced at the mess on the dining table and began gathering the empty bowls and plates in front of her.
Seeing Wen Xihan helping out, Ruan Xinyi naturally didn’t stop her. The two worked together to clean the table. Just as Wen Xihan was rolling up her sleeves, ready to wash the dishes, Ruan Xinyi stopped her.
“Sister, go ahead and rest. I’ll take care of this.”
Wen Xihan gave her a skeptical look.
It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Ruan Xinyi—it was just that if she really left all the work behind, she’d feel a little guilty.
But Ruan Xinyi didn’t think much of it. She simply bent down, pulled open the dishwasher, and, in one swift motion, loaded all the dishes, utensils, and pots inside. Clapping her hands together, she said with complete sincerity, “See? Now we just wait for it to finish.”
The more Wen Xihan looked at her, the more she felt Ruan Xinyi was a bit dense. Taking a deep breath, she gritted her teeth and said, “Fine. Then I’m leaving.”
Ruan Xinyi beamed as she walked Wen Xihan to the door, completely oblivious, and asked, “Sister, do you want me to wake you up tomorrow morning?”
“Do whatever you want.” Wen Xihan’s brows were slightly furrowed, her voice light and airy, as if she were sulking.
Ruan Xinyi held back a laugh and said softly, “Then get some rest early, Sister. Good night.”
For some reason, Wen Xihan felt even more annoyed at that moment, finding Ruan Xinyi particularly irritating.
She blamed it entirely on the dishwasher. So the first thing she did after getting inside was place an urgent order for one online.
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Translator's Note:
If you like my translation, you can buy me a coffee on Ko-fi. One coffee is equivalent to one extra chapter. I hope you enjoy reading!
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