Because of Mu Qingxue, Chen Xiaoyan decided to have dinner together in the small room.
Along the way, Qiuxue was asked to bring Hongchen Ru Meng and the others over as well.
San Yue Bu Xia Xue and Qian Renxue set up the small square table.
Then, one dish after another was brought out, filling the entire table.
It made Chong Chong’s mouth water.
“I thought I’d have to eat tonight’s dinner alone, hiding in this little room.”
Chen Xiaoyan chose to stay and keep her company, which made Mu Qingxue very happy.
“Qingxue, are you treating us like we’re not friends?” Chen Xiaoyan teased.
“That’s right, that’s right! Although I don’t really like you, Xiaoyan-jie is right. You’re acting like we’re not your friends at all.”
Chong Chong was obviously distracted as she said this, because her eyes kept darting toward the food on the little table.
Since morning, she’d only had two pieces of cake, and her stomach was growling.
Mu Qingxue and Chen Xiaoyan were both surprised she’d say such a thing.
Mu Qingxue’s opinion of Chong Chong improved a little.
“It’s not that I don’t treat you as friends. I’m just used to being alone—other than Lingling and the others, I’m used to it,” Mu Qingxue said, her expression turning somewhat forlorn.
Rarely stepping out, from a distinguished family—those two things together made it hard for her to find genuine friends.
Most people only cared about interests, not sincerity.
Seeing Mu Qingxue’s lonely look, Chen Xiaoyan felt a pang of sympathy.
She’d always thought someone like her—a proper young miss—must be well-educated, talented, and a social butterfly.
But only now did she realize that reality wasn’t what she’d imagined.
“You have us now, don’t you?”
Mu Qingxue quickly put on a smile, trying to cheer herself up.
“That’s right. I have you now. I definitely won’t be as lonely as before.”
Chong Chong crossed her arms arrogantly and shot Mu Qingxue a scornful glance: “Hmph, I don’t object to that, but Xiaoyan-jie, I’m not going to let you have her.”
Mu Qingxue’s lips curled in a smile.
“Fine, I’ll say it again: fair competition.”
“Tch. I’m with Xiaoyan-jie all the time. You think you have a chance? If I were you, I’d give up early and start looking for the next one.”
San Yue Bu Xia Xue and Qian Renxue sensed the shift in the atmosphere, and quickly left the room after finishing their preparations, feeling like a storm was about to break out.
Chen Xiaoyan shrank her head down, not daring to make a sound.
Mu Qingxue almost burst out laughing at Chong Chong’s words.
“Oh, already giving a victor’s speech before the time has come? Who knows who’ll win in the end? Maybe Xiaoyan will choose me.”
“Miss Mu, one must face reality. Why deceive yourself?”
“Funny, and who’s really lying to herself here?”
“Enough!”
Chen Xiaoyan couldn’t stand the two of them bickering anymore, and cut them off with a shout.
She frowned and swept her eyes over them, her voice stern: “What’s going on? You were just fine a moment ago, and now you’re arguing again?”
“Really now, are we eating or not? Are none of you hungry?”
“And besides, you keep fighting over me—has anyone bothered to ask what I think?”
Mu Qingxue and Chong Chong exchanged glances, threw cold stares at each other, and looked away.
“So, Xiaoyan-jie, which of us do you like more?”
“Yeah, Xiaoyan, I want to know too.”
Chong Chong immediately shot her a disdainful look: “Copycat, always repeating whatever I say?”
Mu Qingxue countered with a sarcastic tone: “Zhou Xiaochong, you’re using your own nickname? At least you’re self-aware.”
“You…” Chong Chong glared back in anger.
Mu Qingxue, lips still curved in a smile, didn’t care about her look.
If a dog glares at you, do you glare back?
Impossible.
How could this young miss stoop to a dog’s level?
“Qingxue, Chong Chong, if I’m in the way of you two bonding, I’ll just go home,” Chen Xiaoyan said, putting on a stern face and standing up, pretending to leave.
“Don’t!” ×2
Both Mu Qingxue and Chong Chong grabbed Chen Xiaoyan’s arms at the same time.
“Xiaoyan, we’ll stop, we’ll stop.”
Mu Qingxue looked up and smiled sweetly, but then her face chilled as she glanced down at Chong Chong across the table.
She kept shooting her warning looks.
Chong Chong ignored her.
Still clutching Chen Xiaoyan’s hand, she gave it a gentle shake.
“Xiaoyan-jie, don’t go. I won’t talk to her anymore, okay?”
Mu Qingxue was a little annoyed at being ignored, but hearing what Chong Chong said, she found it quite agreeable and held her tongue.
Seeing that she couldn’t get away, Chen Xiaoyan sat down again.
Her expression carried a hint of regret.
She’d really wanted to leave just now. That way, she wouldn’t have to meet Mu Qingxue’s parents.
“Qingxue, Chong Chong, I feel honored and happy that you both like me. But this isn’t a normal relationship between a man and a woman. I can’t adjust so quickly. Give me some time. If you want an answer now, I can only say, for the moment, I’m not ready to accept either of you.”
“To put it bluntly, you two arguing in front of me doesn’t help your case—if anything, it just lowers my impression of you both.”
“So I hope the two of you can get along better in the future, at least not quarreling all the time.”
After Chen Xiaoyan finished, both Mu Qingxue and Chong Chong fell silent.
This made her anxious.
Had her heartfelt speech failed to move them?
Had it made things worse instead?
No way~
Chen Xiaoyan sneaked a few glances at them, but still saw no reaction.
Just as she opened her mouth to explain—
Mu Qingxue and Chong Chong suddenly spoke up, startling her.
“I agree.”
“I agree too.”
They met each other’s eyes again, their gazes clashing.
“…………”
Chen Xiaoyan exhaled in relief, speechless at the two, unable to help but complain in her heart.
Agree to what?
Aren’t you going to say it?
Why are you staring at each other? Do I have flowers on my face or something?
Seeing the two lost in a staring contest that didn’t seem like it would end anytime soon, Chen Xiaoyan couldn’t help but ask, “What are you agreeing to? Can you say it out loud?”
At this, Mu Qingxue and Chong Chong finally broke eye contact.
“We won’t argue in front of you, no matter what happens.”
This was Mu Qingxue’s line, but Chong Chong nodded in agreement.
After thinking about it, they realized Chen Xiaoyan had a point.
If they put themselves in her place, they’d find the bickering annoying too.
After all, emotions are contagious sometimes.
And acting like a shrew, quarreling all the time, really was unsightly.
“Really?” Chen Xiaoyan’s eyes lit up, full of joy.
“It’s true, Xiaoyan-jie. I’ve decided too, I promise I won’t argue with Mu Qingxue in front of you.”
As for when you’re not around—well, who knows.