Chapter 41: Jealous?

In the room one floor below Su Xiaoxiao’s, a girl in pajamas was diligently writing.

There was an important City Quality Inspection Exam next week, which would determine the basis for subject selection.

“Meow~ Meow~”

On the desk where she placed her homework, an orange and a gray kitten were lying, obediently resting as if waiting for their owner to finish so they could play together.

The orange one had just arrived today.

“Meow, meow, meow…”

Xia Bingrou was writing notes, but the constant meowing made it impossible for her to concentrate.

“You two, go out for now.”

She stretched out her slender hand and carried both of them outside the door.

“Be good, come back later.”

Let her finish reviewing properly; only math was left.

She really wanted to pet the cats, but she had to hold back.

“Right, about today’s person.”

With light steps, the girl walked to the desk and picked up her phone, which was pressed under a book.

When they met on Monday, Xia Bingrou had noticed this person especially liked to glance at girls, which made her uncomfortable, thinking it was similar to how boys behaved.

But after a little interaction today, she found out the person was kind.

She decided to put aside her earlier feelings for now and observe further.

“Di~”

[ Rourou ]: Thank you for today. If you like cats, you can come to my house to see them.

“Mm.”

After sending the message, Xia Bingrou set down her phone with satisfaction.

“Still need to summarize the wrong questions.”

She picked up her pen again, continuing her battle.

***

The hall was cleaned quickly today, so Su Xiaoxiao even tidied up the balcony.

“Di~”

After finishing up, she washed her hands and sat on the sofa to rest.

Suddenly, her pocket vibrated.

[ Rourou ]: Thank you for today. If you like cats, you can come to my house to see them.

Taking it out, she saw it was an invitation from the girl.

[ Xiaoxiao ]: No need to thank me. Hey, if I have time, I’ll come!

[ Rourou ]: Mm, okay.

They didn’t chat much—just a few sentences.

Though brief, Su Xiaoxiao felt a little unsettled inside.

Honestly, she wanted to go right now, but she wasn’t ready.

Was it really okay to enter a girl’s room so casually? It was clearly her…

“Di~”

This time, the message wasn’t from Bingbing but from the Big Sister from Outside.

[ Big Sister from Outside ]: There are some things I want to ask, little sister.

They’re all messaging at this hour? What a coincidence.

[ Xiaoxiao ]: Mm, ask away.

[ Big Sister from Outside ]: Wow, little sister replied instantly! So touched, much better than someone else…

Someone?

[ Big Sister from Outside ]: Hey, I’m just asking, little sister, do you have a boyfriend?

Su Xiaoxiao stared at the message on her phone screen, a strange sense of déjà vu rising.

[ Xiaoxiao ]: I don’t have a boyfriend, why?

[ Big Sister from Outside ]: Hehe, nothing, little sister is really cute.

“Ah?”

Su Xiaoxiao froze.

“You haven’t even seen me, how can you call me cute?”

“Little sister, really cute?”

Suddenly, a chillingly cold female voice came from behind.

“Yikes, who?!”

Su Xiaoxiao almost dropped her phone in fright.

The whole hall had been empty except for her, and now suddenly someone had snuck up behind her without a sound.

“Who? Heh, have you forgotten your own situation?”

Yu Xueqin crossed her arms.

“Cute little sister, don’t you think so?”

Hiss…

Why did it feel so weird?

“I-I know!”

Su Xiaoxiao slowly looked up.

“Right now, I’m working for you. Without you, I can’t survive…”

“Not just that.”

Yu Xueqin didn’t hear the answer she wanted.

Not just that…isn’t that what it is?

“Ugh.”

Su Xiaoxiao didn’t know how to respond and lowered her head again.

“….”

Yu Xueqin looked at this oblivious person, wanting to drag her to the room but held back.

“I said it before—you’re my girlfriend. Even if we’re pretending, you can’t…”

She gave Su Xiaoxiao a pointed look.

?

“Di~”

Just then, another message arrived.

[ Big Sister from Outside ]: Little sister isn’t replying. Did you go shower? Then this sister will go get busy too. Bye bye~

Not only was Su Xiaoxiao looking at it, but the black-haired girl standing beside the sofa was also staring down.

“You can’t, understand?”

Yu Xueqin continued to signal.

Su Xiaoxiao was slow to catch on, only realizing when she saw Big Sister looking displeased at her phone.

Jealous?

Weren’t they only girlfriends outside?

“Mm, I understand.”

Su Xiaoxiao nodded.

Let’s talk later.

“Good.”

Big Sister with loose hair approached.

“Now, tell me your address and family situation.”

Still investigating her? No comment.

Because she didn’t know herself.

“Don’t know.”

Su Xiaoxiao replied honestly.

“Don’t know??”

But this answer made the girl angry.

Don’t know anything?

How are you alive if you don’t know where you live, or your own circumstances?

So dumb—how did she even get into high school?

“Uh, it’s a small alleyway inside somewhere, I don’t know the exact location…”

Su Xiaoxiao lowered her voice.

“And as for family, it’s just me, and I have no money.”

She’d looked at her phone for a long time, found nothing.

The only clue was an empty number.

Orphan, for sure.

“Small alley, no money…”

Yu Xueqin muttered, a little worried.

“Just move in with me from now on.”

She blurted it out without thinking.

“Eh, no need, thank you, Elder Sister Yu.”

It was okay to visit sometimes, but living together would be inconvenient in many ways.

She herself didn’t mind, but…

Although she hadn’t seen Tuan Tuan for a day and missed her, she decided to let Big Sister exercise alone for her own happiness.

“Fine, but don’t you have money now too? Move somewhere a bit nicer.”

Yu Xueqin took out the money she’d prepared earlier.

“This is 1,100. Since you called me just now, I added another 100.”

1,100—a lot!

“Thank you, Elder Sister Yu!”

Su Xiaoxiao immediately bowed on the sofa.

“I’ll move after exams.”

That way, she wouldn’t have to live there anymore.

She didn’t mind—it wasn’t dangerous despite the distance, but living closer to school would save time.

“Mm, if you finish your work today, you can go.”

Yu Xueqin stood up slowly.

“Don’t reply randomly to people on your phone.”

The sharp gaze of the girl made Su Xiaoxiao a bit scared.

Don’t reply randomly, don’t reply randomly…

“Finished…then I’ll go.”

She said goodbye and slowly stepped out the door.

Including cleaning and playing games, she’d spent over two hours here.

Job done—she didn’t know what else she could do anyway.

Su Xiaoxiao left the building, tossed the plastic box she’d cleaned into the trash, and walked along the lively street.

After ten minutes, she returned to her home in the little alley.

Once home, the exhausted girl collapsed on the bed, replied to a few texts, then opened QQ to check.

That loli added her on QQ today.

Su Xiaoxiao instantly set her friend note to Crybaby.

But after thinking, she changed it to Little Crybaby.

Then, for someone else, she set it to Big Crybaby.