Chapter 57: Sparks of Jealousy

After ending the call with Ning Xi, Lin Xiao didn’t ponder over it much and carried on with his plans. He took a leisurely stroll around, acquainting himself with the surroundings.

Having spent almost the entire morning wandering, he grabbed a quick bite to eat and paid a visit to the hospital in the afternoon. He spent some time with Yuan Yu’s mother, chatting and providing company.

By this time, Auntie Yuan’s emotional state had steadied, and she was delighted to see Lin Xiao, so his visit stretched on until past five in the afternoon.

When Lin Xiao returned home, Yuan Yu had already returned from school and was prepping to cook dinner. Much to his surprise, Huang Caixing was also there.

Unlike Yuan Yu, Huang Caixing was visibly pampered, a young lady clearly accustomed to the finer things in life, with little knowledge of household chores or the nuances of hardship. While Yuan Yu busied herself with cooking, Huang Caixing was comfortably seated on the living room sofa, munching on snacks and watching television.

However, the moment Huang Caixing saw Lin Xiao enter, she immediately sprang up from the couch, rushing over to greet him.

“Big Brother Lin, you’re back,” she exclaimed.

Without waiting for his response, she grabbed his arm, ushering him inside.

Lin Xiao could only helplessly follow Huang Caixing’s lead, somewhat overwhelmed by her relentless enthusiasm. He didn’t anticipate that even after two days, Huang Caixing’s fervor towards him would remain undiminished.

“Why are you at little Yu’s house so late? How will you get back tonight?” Lin Xiao asked, a hint of puzzlement in his voice.

Although he wasn’t sure where Huang Caixing’s home was, he remembered the bus route from last time. When he had alighted, Huang Caixing was still onboard. Considering it was a further twenty-minute walk to Yuan Yu’s house from the bus stop, Huang Caixing’s residence was presumably a significant distance away.

“She—” Yuan Yu, hearing the commotion from the kitchen, began to respond.

“Don’t say it,” blurted out Huang Caixing, a touch of panic and irritation in her voice.

“What’s going on, exactly?” Lin Xiao found himself rather baffled by the situation.

“Big Brother Lin, it’s really nothing,” Huang Caixing reassured him, her hand wrapped around his own and a sweet smile adorning her face. “YuYu and I are good friends. She was falsely accused yesterday. It’s only right that I keep her company.”

“By the way,” she continued, “YuYu’s house is so small. It mustn’t be very comfortable, right? What if you moved into my house? It’s much larger. You wouldn’t have to cram yourself into this tiny space.”

Just then, the shattering of a ceramic bowl echoed from the kitchen. It seemed Yuan Yu had accidentally dropped it.

The smile on Huang Caixing’s face widened, her joy resembling that of a child who had sneakily grabbed a lollipop.

Unable to resist, Lin Xiao flicked his finger against Huang Caixing’s snowy forehead, asking, “Be honest, what are you really up to?”

Despite Lin Xiao’s light touch, a faint red mark appeared on Huang Caixing’s smooth skin. Holding her forehead, she defended, “Big Brother Lin, how could you think like that? I just missed you, so I came to see you. What can I possibly be up to?”

Lin Xiao studied Huang Caixing’s eyes as she stared back at him, her gaze wide and innocent.

“Why do I have the feeling you’re lying to me?” Lin Xiao asked, suspicion still lingering.

Huang Caixing was earnest. “I swear I’m not lying. If I lie to you, then I’m a dog.”

“Alright, I believe you,” Lin Xiao conceded.

“So,” Huang Caixing proposed, her big eyes sparkling,. “Why don’t you stay at my house tonight? I’ve prepared a room and bedding for you.”

Yuan Yu, filled with indignation, emerged from the kitchen. “Why on earth would Big Brother Lin need to sleep at your house?” She shot at Huang Caixing. “If you continue this nonsense, I won’t bother cooking for you.”

“So don’t cook,” Huang Caixing retorted. “Big Brother Lin isn’t your exclusive property. I just wanted to express my gratitude for his help. But you disagree. Are you trying to monopolize him?”

“In that case, I won’t cook,” Yuan Yu snapped. “Go home. You’re not welcome here anymore.”

“Fine. As long as Big Brother Lin stays at my place, I’ll leave immediately,” Huang Caixing said.

Standing to the side, Lin Xiao watched in speechless disbelief as Yuan Yu and Huang Caixing, two young girls, bickered incessantly. To his astonishment, they seemed to be arguing about him, almost as if they were jealously competing for his attention.

“Enough, enough, stop your squabbling,” he interjected as their argument escalated.

With no other choice, Lin Xiao had to step in and mediate.

His intervention was effective. At his words, Yuan Yu and Huang Caixing ceased their quarreling, though they still looked at each other defiantly.

“You don’t need to concern yourselves with where I’m staying. You’re both in your final year of high school, about to face your college entrance exams. Shouldn’t you be focusing on that instead?”

Assuming a stern expression, Lin Xiao lectured from the couch, “Your top priority should be studying hard and striving to get into a good university. Everything else is secondary.”

“Alright, we got it,” they both responded reluctantly.

“Good. Don’t let petty issues like this lead to arguments in the future.” Lin Xiao decided not to prolong the lecture.

Having a wealth of experience in training soldiers, he was at a loss when it came to dealing with teenage girls. He had wracked his brains to come up with this response.

“This isn’t a minor issue, Big Brother Lin,” Huang Caixing shot back. “And besides, you’ve been sharing a room with YuYu for such a long time now. Shouldn’t it be my turn? It’s only fair.”

Lin Xiao was taken aback. What did she mean by ‘sharing a room with Yuan Yu’ and ‘my turn’? If overheard, others might misconstrue.

However, Huang Caixing’s words stirred something within Lin Xiao. His gaze involuntarily drifted toward Yuan Yu, who was also looking his way. Their eyes met, and Yuan Yu’s cheeks flushed a deep red. Like an ostrich burying its head in the sand, she looked down, choosing silence.

“I’ll stay over at your place when the opportunity arises,” he assured, eager to prevent Huang Caixing from uttering anything more scandalous.

“Remember, you can’t go back on your word,” she warned.

“Don’t worry, I won’t.”

With a triumphant look towards Yuan Yu, an excited Huang Caixing smirked, causing Yuan Yu to roll her eyes and dismiss her.

Their argument had ended as abruptly as it started, and they were back to their amiable selves in no time. Huang Caixing and Yuan Yu, back in the kitchen, chatted away about something.

After dinner, the girls romped around for a bit before retiring to their room.

Lin Xiao, having watched them go to their room, freshened up himself. By the time he came out of the shower and re-entered his room, the sounds of the girls’ peaceful breathing signaled they were sound asleep.

“Perhaps this is how life should be,” he mused, “Ordinary, yet filled with warmth.”

As their gentle breathing filled the silence, a sense of tranquility washed over Lin Xiao. He made a silent vow not to let anyone disrupt this peace.