Qiao Rui stopped writing and picked up his workbook. "Then I'm going, I'll turn in my self-criticism tomorrow morning."
After he left, Yu Na hurriedly took out a mirror and looked at herself.
Sure enough, there were traces of the concealer having come off, but they weren't obvious either, not noticeable unless looking closely.
She didn't know if that boy had exceptionally good vision, or if he was deliberately trying to draw her into conversation.
...
In August, after entering the third year of high school, there were no more weekends, only single days off.
Full weekends were probably once a month.
Since the start of the school year until now, Yu Na's free time had also greatly decreased.
She didn't force anyone to take extra lessons, but every night, she was in the office, which made it convenient for students to come to her with questions.
This week, she finally made it through to the weekend.
On Friday night, after taking a bath, Yu Na was watching TV on the sofa.
Xiao Chen was lying with his head in Yu Na's lap while playing games with Han Chengxun.
The way they played games wasn't normal, they cursed and yelled, hurting people's ears.
Yu Na didn't say anything, she just silently turned up the TV volume.
She freed up one hand to prop under Xiao Chen's head, and the other hand stroked his face and hair every now and then like petting a puppy.
Just then, her phone screen lit up. It was a WeChat message from Lin Shu'an.
Lin Shu'an: [[Frustrated/][Frustrated/] They're really annoying!!]
N: [[Sad/] It is a bit annoying, I can't even hear the TV]
Lin Shu'an: [[Angry/] I already chased Han Chengxun to the living room, but I can still hear them]
Seeing this message, Yu Na couldn't help but glance down at the man lying in her lap.
He didn't feel annoying at all. While playing games, he was directing and commanding. The problem was the other side on the phone was complaining. When two men play games, it's like they're really on a battlefield.
While he was gaming, Yu Na suddenly covered his mouth and said with exasperation and amusement: "Be good, keep your voice down."
Her voice was very gentle, with absolutely no complaints.
Right at this moment, a game had just ended.
They had voice chat on, so Han Chengxun on the other end of the phone heard Yu Na's words clearly.
Han Chengxun sent Xiao Chen a text message: [OMG, she called you 'be good'...]
Xiao Chen's ears turned a little red.
C: [What about it, jealous?]
Han Chengxun: [That term of address is too different from your image in my mind]
C: [What's my image in your mind? [Smile/]]
Han Chengxun: [Stupid dog]
C: [1]
Han Chengxun: [I wasn't as loud as you, yet Lin Shu'an not only didn't call me 'be good', she even chased me out]
C: [? Serves you right for laughing]
C: [Speaking of which, let's go out and have fun tomorrow, us four? My wife has been working too hard recently, I want to take her to relax]
Han Chengxun: [Sure, since the main character is Na Na, you're paying [Grin/][Cute/]]
C: [1]
Han Chengxun: [I've been tired recently too, I hope you can charter a yacht and make me happy]
Xiao Chen ignored him and put down his phone. He was about to ask Yu Na about going out to play tomorrow, but suddenly remembered what Han Chengxun had just said about being chased out by Lin Shu'an.
So he couldn't help asking Yu Na: "Was I really that loud just now?"
Yu Na wasn't looking at his chat contents, her attention was fully on the TV. She glanced at Xiao Chen and gently laughed: "It was fine."
"I thought you wanted to chase me out too."
"Silly," Yu Na leaned down and kissed his forehead, speaking good-naturedly, "I would only pamper you."
Sweet words flowed smoothly from her mouth, giving Xiao Chen no mental preparation at all. So each of her sweet words could strike his heart.
Xiao Chen felt a surge of emotion.
He sat up and pulled Yu Na into his arms. "Let's go out and have fun tomorrow, us four? I want to take you to relax, you've been too tired lately."
Yu Na was encircled in his embrace, she rested her hands on his shoulders, "Okay, where to?"
"I'll charter a yacht and we can go out to sea, how about it? No outsiders, just us four."
"...Don't want to, boring."
"Then let's go stay at a mountain resort?"
"Also pretty boring, just looking at scenery."
"Then what do you want to do? I'll accompany you to anything."
Yu Na leaned against his chest, her hand unconsciously playing with his Adam's apple, "Or let's just forget it, places I want to go, you're probably quite scared of."
"..."
This hit him straight in the heart.
"Look down on who? As long as you don't go watch horror movies at the theater, I'm not afraid."
"Then I want to go to a haunted house."
Xiao Chen: ?
His mind buzzed, the corners of his mouth twitched. "Wait, can your hobbies be just a little more normal?"
"Normal is boring. Eating, drinking, looking at nature, I'm tired of all that."
...
That night, Xiao Chen sent Han Chengxun a WeChat message: [Going to a haunted house tomorrow]
Han Chengxun: [No way]
C: [Come on, don't be scared, I'll protect you]
Han Chengxun: [Not going]
C: [Dad]
Han Chengxun: [What time?]
"..."
When Lin Shu'an heard they were going to a haunted house, she was thrilled.
The two men felt their preferences were really bizarre, but didn't dare say that, afraid of showing cowardice.
They decided the ladies would go into the haunted house tomorrow, and they'd decide later.
The next day, Xiao Chen went back to Cloud Bay Estate to get some things.
It was 2pm, when he opened the door, he happened to run into Qiao Rui who had just finished changing and was about to head out.
"..."
The atmosphere froze right here.
Ever since Xiao Chen moved to Huating One to live with Yu Na, he rarely came back here.
Qiao Rui normally lived on campus. During breaks, Xiao Chen would transfer him money to take care of himself.
Qiao Rui was grown up now, he didn't like people fussing over him either, so the two brothers had always been like this, and got along harmoniously.
Right now, Xiao Chen coming back suddenly gave him a fright.
Qiao Rui grabbed his small heart, "Bro, you're back, how come you didn't say anything first?"
Xiao Chen expressionlessly said: "This seems to be my home."
He saw Qiao Rui holding workbooks and test papers, looking like he was going to study, but oddly, his demeanor seemed sneaky, not like he was going to do good things.
He asked suspiciously: "Where are you going?"
Qiao Rui hemmed and hawed, answering: "...I'm going to study."
"Oh?" He clearly didn't believe it, "To study?"
"Yeah," Qiao Rui showed him the workbooks in hand, "See for yourself if you don't believe me."
"You go study if you're studying," his eyes narrowed slightly, "Why so nervous? Don't tell me you're using studying as an excuse to do something else, hmm?"
"...How could that be, I'm in 12th grade now, you know? 12th grade." He opened his phone to show Xiao Chen the screen, "Now you should believe me, right?"
Xiao Chen took a look. On Qiao Rui's phone screen was his booking for a study room at a library APP.
The booking time was half an hour later.
Only then did he reluctantly nod in agreement. Before Qiao Rui left, Xiao Chen didn't forget to remind this troublemaker, "I have a date with your sister-in-law today, so please don't cause trouble and ruin my plans, otherwise," he patted Qiao Rui's shoulder, warning him word for word, "you bear the consequences."
"Rest assured, I don't have time to make trouble for you now. I'm going."
"Wait."
"What is it?"
"Need money?"
Qiao Rui fawned up to Xiao Chen again, "Heehee~~~"
Xiao Chen transferred him some money, and exhorted him: "Study hard for me."
"You got it!"
...
After getting his things, Xiao Chen went to the haunted house with Yu Na.
He and Han Chengxun arrived at the same time.
Right by the haunted house was a game arcade, which was simply a lifesaving heaven for Xiao Chen and Han Chengxun.
After sending the ladies to the haunted house, Yu Na and Lin Shu'an happily went to buy tickets.
The two men were searching for the game arcade's exact location.
While searching, they heard some exclamations not far away.
"Look at those two guys looking at their phones, so handsome!"
"Do you think I should go ask for their WeChat? Which one do you think would be better to ask?"
"My suggestion is...ask neither."
"Why?"
"Because those two both have girlfriends, I saw."
"Damn!"
The girl exclaimed again: "I'd be so happy if I could find a guy this good-looking, then I could hide in his arms if I got scared in the haunted house."
Another girl scoffed a bit, "What if he turns out more cowardly than you?"
"Ah, that won't do. Guys being so timid, that would really deduct points in girls' eyes."
"..."
Xiao Chen's finger stopped on the screen, he didn't continue searching.
Maybe it was a guilty conscience, but he felt those two girls were practically pointing fingers and talking about them.
Han Chengxun snatched his phone away and said, “The game hall is over here, let’s go. This is not a good place to stay for long.”
“Let’s go!”
Just then, another couple who looked like college students walked by.
The girl was holding tickets and said excitedly, “I’m so thrilled! I heard this haunted house is super scary, it has even frightened people to death before.”
The boy said: “Really? I don’t believe it.”
The girl said: “Tsk, don’t cry when you get too scared later.”
The boy said: “You kidding me? I’m a grown man, why would I be afraid of a haunted house? That would be embarrassing, how could I go on living?”
Xiao Chen: “...”
Han Chengxun: “...”
Just then, someone behind them tapped both of their shoulders.
Han Chengxun and Xiao Chen turned around at the same time, only to come face to face with two extremely horrifying, bloodied zombie faces.
