[Feng Qingyi: I understand. Keep an eye on things at home and don't let her mess with my stuff.]
[Feng Qingci: Alright, I got it.]
After the morning classes finished, Feng Qingyi packed two meals and returned to the villa.
Feng Qingci and Nan Yue were sitting on the sofa playing with their phones. Feng Qingyi handed one of the meals to Feng Qingci, "Let's go to the dining room to have lunch!"
Feng Qingci took the food, "Let's go!"
Nan Yue: "What about mine?"
"What do you mean 'yours'? How was I supposed to know you'd be here? If you want to eat, go buy your own. We don't owe you anything!" Feng Qingyi carried her food to the dining room.
Feng Qingci followed her, while Nan Yue took out her phone to order takeout, "You want to drive me away? It won't be that easy."
In the dining room, Feng Qingci looked at Feng Qingyi sitting across from him, "What should we do now?"
"Once someone loses all sense of shame, there's no telling what they might do. We have two options now: either make her so uncomfortable that she leaves on her own, or we throw her out together. Which do you prefer?" Feng Qingyi asked.
Feng Qingci: "I'll go back to my dorm for the next few days. I have bedding there. I'll leave her to you."
"...No way, I don't agree!" She didn't want to face such an annoying person alone.
Feng Qingci: "I don't want to either, but as a man, it's not appropriate for me to do anything to her. I'll leave soon, so she'll be your responsibility."
"If you dare move back to the dorm, don't even think about moving back here!"
After lunch, Feng Qingyi returned to her room and put all her valuables in the safe, then locked all the rooms upstairs.
Because of past experiences, she didn't trust leaving Nan Yue alone here. She was worried that when she came back in the evening, all her things would be ruined.
After doing this, she and Feng Qingci left together, ignoring Nan Yue who was eating takeout in the living room.
Just an afternoon later, when Feng Qingyi returned to the villa, she almost thought she had entered the wrong house.
The floor was covered with fruit peels and scraps of paper. The coffee table was filled with all kinds of snacks and drinks, several of which had clearly been taken from the refrigerator.
The living room reeked of a strong spicy smell. Unfinished takeout boxes were left directly on the table. Plastic packaging was strewn across the sofa, coffee table, and floor. It was a complete mess.
"Nan Yue, please clean this place up, or I'll throw you out immediately!"
"This isn't my house. Why should I clean it?" Nan Yue said, not moving an inch as she played with her phone.
Feng Qingyi snatched the phone from Nan Yue's hand, "Since you're unwilling, don't blame me for what happens next."
Nan Yue leaned back on the sofa, completely motionless. "What can you do to me? Hurry up and give me back my phone. If you damage it, you'll have to pay for it in full!"
Feng Qingyi grabbed her by the collar and started dragging her towards the door.
Just as they reached the doorway, the doorbell rang. Feng Qingyi opened the door to see Lou Xi holding a bag.
Lou Xi looked at Feng Qingyi's actions, "Qingyi, what are you doing?"
"Nothing, help me throw her out!"
Lou Xi said, "Qingyi, isn't she your cousin?"
"She's just a cousin, not someone important. Besides, she's not welcome here," Feng Qingyi said.
Nan Yue: "Feng Qingyi, do you want me to tell my parents that you kicked me out?"
"What do your parents have to do with me? This is my house, and I have the right to not let you stay. Get out!"
Feng Qingyi pulled Lou Xi into the room and quickly closed the door.
Lou Xi looked at the state of the living room, "Qingyi, what's going on here?"
"The handiwork of our recent guest."
Lou Xi handed the bag to Feng Qingyi, "These are the clothes you lent me the other day. I came to return them. Let me help you clean up the living room."
"No need, my brother will be back soon. We'll clean it ourselves."
This Nan Yue really had some talent, creating so much garbage in just one afternoon.
Lou Xi: "It's no problem, I have nothing to do right now."
When Feng Qingci arrived at the villa's entrance, he found Nan Yue sitting on the steps outside.
Seeing Feng Qingci, Nan Yue quickly walked over to him, "Cousin, aren't you going to do something about Feng Qingyi? She actually kicked me out. Hurry up and take me back inside."
"Are you incapable of understanding human speech? You're not welcome in our home. Go back to wherever you came from!" Feng Qingci didn't give Nan Yue any kindness.
Seeing this, Nan Yue immediately dialed home, entering tattling mode.
Feng Qingci took advantage of this opportunity to quickly enter the house and close the door.
Just as they finished cleaning up the garbage on the coffee table, Feng Qingyi's phone rang. Seeing it was Nan Hao calling, she quickly blocked the number.
She knew exactly what he wanted to say without even answering. If Nan Yue had been more sensible, she wouldn't have kicked her out.
After Feng Qingyi's phone stopped ringing, Feng Qingci's phone started to ring.
Feng Qingci tossed his phone onto the sofa, showing no intention of answering. "Xi Xi, don't bother yourself. Sit down for a bit, I'll clean up."
Lou Xi: "It's no trouble, I'm almost done here. Do you not get along well with this cousin?"
"It's not that we don't get along well, it's that our relationship is extremely bad. She's a nuisance, and her whole family are leeches. It would be strange if we got along!" Feng Qingyi said.
Lou Xi: "She seems to still be waiting outside. Isn't that a bit harsh?"
"Yesterday I took her to book a hotel, the one just outside the school gates. It's only a few minutes away from here."
Just as Feng Qingyi finished speaking, her phone rang again.
"Mom, what's wrong?"
Nan Yin: "Your uncle just called me saying that you've locked Nan Yue out. Is that true?"
"Yes, I don't want to live with her," Feng Qingyi said.
Nan Yin: "Qingyi, I know you and Qingci don't like her, but since she's here, you should take care of her a bit. Let her stay for a few days, give her some money to send her off."
Feng Qingyi: "Why should we give her money? We don't owe her anything."
Nan Yin: "I'll transfer the money to her. You just need to look after her for a few days, provide meals, and arrange a room for her. Don't worry about anything else."
"Alright, I understand. Bye."
Feng Qingyi put down her phone and looked at Feng Qingci, "Go open the door and call her in."
"Why can't they just take her back themselves? Why do we have to look after her?"
Feng Qingci complained a bit but reluctantly went to open the door.
Nan Yue strutted in arrogantly and plopped herself down on the sofa. "Did you really think you could drive me away so easily?"
Lou Xi looked at the group, "I have some things to attend to, so I'll be leaving now."
"Xi Xi, I'll walk you back to your dorm," Feng Qingci said, leaving with Lou Xi.
After cleaning up the garbage, Feng Qingyi prepared a room for Nan Yue, said a few words to her, and then returned to her own room.
...
In the middle of the night, Feng Qingyi was awakened by loud music from outside her door. She opened the door to find Nan Yue singing along to music in the hallway.
She had no talent for singing whatsoever. Apart from the volume, there was nothing remotely appealing about it.
"It's the middle of the night, can you stop this caterwauling?"
Nan Yue: "I'll do as I please. If you have the guts, throw me out again!"
Feng Qingyi angrily slammed the door shut, but the noise from outside made it impossible to sleep.
Feng Qingyi took out her phone and messaged Feng Qingci.
[Qingyi: Are you asleep?]
[Feng Qingci: Wide awake!!!]
[Qingyi: This is so annoying. It's already 1 AM, can't we get any sleep?]
[Feng Qingci: I'm going back to the dorm to sleep tomorrow night. Why don't you find a hotel?]
[Qingyi: We'll see tomorrow.]
[Feng Qingci: For tonight, just use headphones to get by.]
[Qingyi: Okay.]
As Feng Qingyi was about to look for her headphones, she noticed a message from Qin Yuchuan.
Ever since she had asked him to send her daily messages to report his safety, he had been briefly updating her on his schedule every night.
[Yuchuan: Had a meeting with military personnel today. Got back late. All is well.]
[Qingyi: Mm.]
[Yuchuan: It's so late, why aren't you asleep yet?]
Qin Yuchuan had gotten used to sending her messages daily. If he sent them early, they would chat a bit on WeChat.
If it was too late, she would reply the next morning. It seemed unusual for her to still be awake at this hour.
[Qingyi: I was woken up by noise.]
[Yuchuan: What happened?]
[Feng Qingyi: Remember that super annoying cousin I told you about? She's here now, staying right next door. I don't know what's gotten into her, but she's singing in the hallway in the middle of the night. It sounds like ghosts wailing and wolves howling. I was woken up by the noise.]
[Feng Qingyi: I told her to stop singing, but she wouldn't listen. I wish I hadn't followed my mom's advice. I shouldn't have let her stay here.]
[Qin Yuchuan: Then come over.]
[Feng Qingyi: ?]
[Qin Yuchuan: You have class tomorrow. Come rest at my place.]
[Feng Qingyi: Okay.]
Feng Qingyi arrived at Qin Yuchuan's tent, bringing her blanket with her. Inside the tent, there was only a faint candlelight.
Qin Yuchuan carried Feng Qingyi to the bed. "Go to sleep!"
"Aren't you going to sleep?" Feng Qingyi asked, noticing that he didn't seem to be planning to sleep.
"I still have some matters to attend to. You sleep first. It's colder here, so make sure you're well covered to avoid catching a chill." Qin Yuchuan tucked Feng Qingyi in.
Feng Qingyi: "But it's already very late..."
"Just sleep. I'll be back soon. There are soldiers standing guard outside, so don't worry."
Feng Qingyi nodded and obediently closed her eyes. Qin Yuchuan extinguished the candle and left the tent.
Having just been woken up earlier, Feng Qingyi now found herself unable to sleep. She lay under the covers, waiting for Qin Yuchuan to return.
This wait lasted for an hour before Qin Yuchuan finally came back to the tent.
Feeling the cold air next to her, Feng Qingyi moved a bit closer.
"Did I wake you?"
Feng Qingyi shook her head. "No, I couldn't sleep. Why are you back so late? It's almost dawn."
"Things will get better once we get through this busy period. I'll sleep with you now." Qin Yuchuan held Feng Qingyi in his arms.
Whether it was because she had grown accustomed to Qin Yuchuan's scent or because his embrace was so warm, Feng Qingyi gradually drifted off to sleep.
