Serenade

Chapter 39

Other people might not have noticed, but Qu Xuanxuan immediately sensed something was off. After asking Xu Chaoyang, she added Jin Xi's WeChat and caring asked: "Younger sister, is it your time of the month?"

Jin Xi: "Mhm."

Qu Xuanxuan: "Oh dear, you should have told me. I'm also to blame for not adding you earlier. With these kinds of things, it's always inconvenient to have guys help. "

Jin Xi felt a warmth in her heart and quickly replied: "Thank you older sister, I'm fine now."

Qu Xuanxuan: "You and Bo Yan seem to get along very well."

Jin Xi: "We're 'neighbors', so of course we look out for each other when away from home. [Giggles]"

Qu Xuanxuan: "Anyway, if anything comes up later, you can come to me. I'm two grades above you all, so I should be taking care of you."

Jin Xi: "Ok, older sister."

**

The travel destination was the Grand Canyon not far from City B. It was April spring now, and the flowers in the canyon and Cangnan Mountain had all bloomed, making it perfect for an outing.

The hotel was located in the scenic area. The mountain breeze carried a refreshing air that gently shook the leaves, making a rustling sound. Everyone felt invigorated and their moods lifted considerably.

That night, everyone had agreed to go into the city for dinner, but Jin Xi said she wouldn't go because she wasn't feeling well.

Bo Yan was just about to speak when Qu Xuanxuan quickly said: "How about this - I'll stay behind and keep our younger sister company."

With Qu Xuanxuan not going, Xu Chaoyang immediately said: "Then I...I won't go either. I'm not even hungry yet."

Chu Zhao's expression darkened: "I should be the one to stay and accompany Xi Xi."

Jin Xi was speechless. How did she become such a coveted treasure? She had never seen these guys care so much before.

Of course, only Jing Chi saw the situation clearly - the only person who truly wanted to stay with Jin Xi was Bo Yan.

Jing Chi had noticed how many times Qu Xuanxuan had looked at Bo Yan on the way here. She guessed that Qu Xuanxuan had taken a liking to him and didn't want him staying behind with Jin Xi, which was why she volunteered first.

As for Xu Chaoyang, Cupid must have possessed him. Usually the fastest to gobble down food in the cafeteria, yet now he was willing to skip dinner just to stay with Qu Xuanxuan.

Chu Zhao was unhappy with Xu Chaoyang's behavior, so he readily volunteered himself.

...What a mess of relationships!

In the end, Jin Xi kicked them all out, wanting peace and quiet.

She lay comfortably on the soft big bed by herself, idly watching some TV. Her tummy rumbled with hunger so she took out her phone and ordered some light takeout.

Ten minutes later, the doorbell rang. Jin Xi was surprised - the delivery here was rocket speed!

Curious, she opened the door a crack.

Bo Yan was leaning lazily against the doorframe wearing a black panda T-shirt, holding a bowl of light vegetable porridge and some side dishes. "Ding dong, delivery is here."

She blinked in surprise and asked: "Senior, why did you come back?"

He quirked his lips in a smile and silently laughed. "Shen Pingchuan and I have a gentleman's agreement. You're my person now so I'm obligated to feed you."

...

At the restaurant, everyone was seated around the table with some local specialty dishes laid out.

Bo Yan didn't even bother eating. He asked the server straight for porridge and side dishes to go. He packed up and called a taxi to hurry back to the hotel.

Qu Xuanxuan got up to stop him, saying he should at least eat something to line his stomach first before going back.

Bo Yan said not to worry about him. As soon as he got the takeout box, he called a taxi and rushed back to the hotel posthaste.

Qu Xuanxuan concealed the disappointment in her expression and laughed, "Bo Yan is so caring towards our younger sister, he's so loving."

Xu Chaoyang immediately chimed in: "You got that right, he's the most loving. There was once a stray dog that got sick in the small garden behind our school. He didn't even stop to eat, just carried the dog and rushed to the pet hospital." He might look cold on the outside, but he's actually the kindest."

Qu Xuanxuan's eyes softened, "Guys like that are so nice."

Chu Zhao sneered.

Any observant person could see Qu Xuanxuan's unrestrained admiration for Bo Yan, yet the oaf Xu Chaoyang was as oblivious as ever.

"How can you compare a stray dog to Xi Xi?" Chu Zhao said to Xu Chaoyang. "Bo Yan isn't this nice to just anyone."

Xu Chaoyang chuckled, "Well that's true. Bo Yan has never cared so much for any girl as he does our little Xi Xi."

Chu Zhao glanced at Qu Xuanxuan and said, "So you see, senior sister Qu, Bo Yan has a secret crush on Xi Xi. Anyone can tell."

Under the table, Jing Chi tugged Chu Zhao's sleeve.

Her hostility towards Qu Xuanxuan was too overt and intense. This was very improper. If Qu Xuanxuan realized the context behind it, Chu Zhao would be at a disadvantage.

As perceptive as Qu Xuanxuan was, she naturally sensed the resentful thoughts of this young girl the whole trip.

She looked at Xu Chaoyang, then at the somber-faced Jing Chi, and suddenly understood somewhat.

She said nothing, just chatted and laughed with everyone as she finished this not-so-enjoyable dinner.

**

Jin Xi wore a cartoon print nightgown and sat on the soft white couch, one leg curled up while the other dangled off the edge.

Bo Yan sat directly across from her at the coffee table, slowly and steadily eating his dinner. First he finished the vegetable porridge he bought back, then also ate Jin Xi's takeout claypot rice.

Jin Xi had only drank a bottle of warm milk and ate a few spoonfuls of porridge before she couldn't eat anymore. She just hugged her knees as she sat on the couch watching Bo Yan eat.

He ate very slowly, using his slender fingertips to hold the chopsticks. One mouthful of rice, one mouthful of dishes, chewing carefully and swallowing gently. His table manners were elegant, completely unlike Xu Chaoyang and the others who ate ravenously like starving ghosts.

More so than filling his stomach, he seemed to be savoring the food, taking it mouthful by mouthful steadily. It smelled incredibly appetizing.

Because of his high daily exercise expenditure, although refined in appearance, his appetite was still formidable.

As Jin Xi watched him eat, it made her feel hungrier too. So she picked up her chopsticks again and ate a few more bites with him.

Bo Yan looked up at Jin Xi as she took tiny nibbles while spacing out. He laughed, "Do you also space out when eating at home?"

"What do you mean?"

"You're spacing out even as you eat?"

Jin Xi mumbled, "I'm watching you eat, but as I watch I end up spacing out."

"What are you watching me for?"

"You eat so slowly!" Jin Xi exclaimed. "Are you this slow when eating at school too?"

"No." Bo Yan said. "Training is very packed so after dismissal, meal times and breaks are fixed. There's not a lot of time for me to while away."

Jin Xi was curious now: "Then why are you eating so slowly now, Senior?"

Bo Yan stirred the white rice in his bowl with his chopsticks. "I like eating with you. It feels just like...eating with mom and dad."

Jin Xi was taken aback. This was the first time she had heard Bo Yan mention "mom and dad".

She had heard from Jing Chi that Bo Yan's parents died heroically on an anti-drug mission at the border when he was only eight years old.

He must miss them so much.

Jin Xi sat up straight and picked up the chopsticks on the table, busily putting meat in his bowl. "Eat more."

Bo Yan looked at her and she smiled sweetly at him -

"Son, if you want to eat with mom in the future, remember to message mom in advance."

Bo Yan reached out and pinched her little cheek. "You little rascal, now you want to be a mom already."

"Ow ow!" Jin Xi hurriedly pulled away, "Why can't I... Can't I be a mom? I'm a girl too. I'll have to be a mom sooner or later."

"Fine, fine." Bo Yan laughed. "I'll reluctantly agree to let you be the mother of my child."

Jin Xi thought for a moment before realizing his meaning, and gave him a kick. "You wish!"

The two joked around as they ate dinner. Afterwards, they idly watched some TV on the couch and bantered some more.

She hugged a pillow as she sat on the couch wearing her light cartoon pajamas. The neckline was open, faintly revealing the pale blue strap of her bra and a section of fair collarbones.

Bo Yan's dark eyes crinkled slightly. "Little Xi Xi, let's play a game."

Seeing his mischievous look, Jin Xi knew he was brewing some nonsense.

"What game?"

Bo Yan took out a go game set from under the table. "Do you know how to play?"

"Anyone can play this well!" Qu Xuanxuan rolled up her sleeves and squatted down next to the sofa: "I'm pretty good at this!"

"Really?"

"Of course."

Qu Xuanxuan helped him set up the chessboard, and they played a few games. Every time, Qu Xuanxuan was blocked by Xu Chaoyang and had nowhere to go, but every time she managed to get out of desperate situations. Xu Chaoyang's chess skills were indeed good, but compared to her... they were still lacking.

After several intense battles, Xu Chaoyang lost every time. Finally, he said, "This is boring. Let's make it more interesting with some stakes."

Qu Xuanxuan had won several games and was overjoyed. She happily said, "However you want to play, I'll go along to the end."

Xu Chaoyang's eyes curved slightly, carrying a hint of frivolousness and suggestiveness: "How about... the loser removes an article of clothing each game."

Qu Xuanxuan: ...

What a rogue way to play!

"Scared?"

Scared! When was she ever scared? Five in a row was her best game. Xu Chaoyang was clearly not her match. What did she have to be afraid of?

"I'm only wearing this one outfit. Can I put on more layers before we start?"

Qu Xuanxuan hesitated and said, "Although, although you're definitely not my match, still..."

Better safe than sorry.

Xu Chaoyang readily agreed: "Go ahead, wear as much as you want."

Qu Xuanxuan leapt up from the sofa and rummaged through her suitcase. She put on every piece of clothing she had brought, and even put on a hat. Finally, she wrapped herself in a blanket.

"To be fair, you can go put on more layers too." Qu Xuanxuan said.

Xu Chaoyang smiled calmly: "No need."

"Hmph, what's with the defeated general's arrogance?"

Xu Chaoyang had already tidied up the black and white pieces: "This defeated general will strip you bare tonight."

"Let's see who strips who!"

Qu Xuanxuan was wrapped up like a beggar clan master, sitting across from Xu Chaoyang, on high alert and carefully considering each move.

However, in the first game, after only a few moves, she lost.

Qu Xuanxuan looked at the row of five pieces incredulously. She thought she had underestimated him and was definitely careless!

"Again!"

"Wait." Xu Chaoyang looked at her: "Take something off first, then we'll play again."

Qu Xuanxuan took off her duck bill cap: "The hat counts, right?"

"It counts." He nodded and indulged her little trickery: "Again?"

What Qu Xuanxuan didn't expect was that in the second, third, fourth games... she lost them all miserably.

She looked at the black and white checkerboard incredulously, then raised her head to look at Xu Chaoyang. Xu Chaoyang's slender white fingers held a black piece, smiling brightly and cleanly: "Little sister, time to strip."

"What cheat did you use? You clearly weren't my match before..."

Xu Chaoyang shrugged: "Your senior here is the cheat. Sorry about that."

All of Qu Xuanxuan's gear had been stripped off, and she looked down. All that was left was a nightgown. Finally, she thought about it and pulled off her socks.

"You... that counts too."

"You didn't say socks didn't count."

"Alright then." He nodded and indulged her little trickery: "Again?"

Qu Xuanxuan had the mindset of a gambler staking her last chip in a final do-or-die round: "Again! I'll definitely win this round!"

Xu Chaoyang played with the pieces in his beautiful fingers, glancing at her flimsy nightgown that outlined her exquisite figure, faintly visible and tempting—

"Little sister, I advise you to stop now. If you lose this round, you'll really... have to take it off."

Qu Xuanxuan was absolutely not a gambler with good psychological composure, but she was certainly the kind most welcomed by casinos. She was blinded by loss and stubbornly refused to believe—

"Again!"

Xu Chaoyang tidied up the board again. This round, Qu Xuanxuan was careful, fully focused, and pondered each piece over and over.

Unexpectedly, she actually managed to turn the game around and win this final round.

When Qu Xuanxuan got five in a row, she was so happy she could jump up: "I won! Your turn to strip!"

Xu Chaoyang's mouth curved in a smile. Letting her win this round made her so happy. She really was blinded by loss.

He was only wearing a t-shirt, and took it off without hesitation, revealing his smooth arms, bulging pectorals, and gorgeous chocolate bar-like abdominal muscles.

A red rope pendant hung around his chest, a piece of jade Guanyin.

Qu Xuanxuan stared wide-eyed at his body for a long time, and even gave him a coy thumbs up, smiling: "Senior, awesome bod."

Xu Chaoyang tidied up the board again: "I wonder if junior sister's figure is also worth looking forward to."

Qu Xuanxuan was a little nervous inside. If she lost the next round, taking off her clothes would be inevitable, but if Xu Chaoyang lost, he would have to take off his pants!

"Senior, shall we... keep playing?"

Xu Chaoyang casually said, "Up to you."

Qu Xuanxuan swallowed and said with difficulty, "Then... let's not play anymore. Let's not go too far."

Xu Chaoyang raised his brows at her: "You're pretty good at quitting while you're ahead and stopping after seeing me shirtless."

Qu Xuanxuan giggled: "No hard feelings in gambling, right?"

Xu Chaoyang sat down next to her and casually picked up a cigarette from the table: "I still feel like I'm the one at a loss here. What to do."

"You tell me what to do."

Xu Chaoyang handed her the lighter: "Help your senior light a cigarette. We'll call it game over."

"Okay." Qu Xuanxuan readily agreed and moved closer to Xu Chaoyang.

With a "click", the flame leapt up. Qu Xuanxuan cupped the flame carefully and brought it to the cigarette.

The end of the cigarette glowed orange, slowly catching fire.

Qu Xuanxuan closed the lighter, about to get up, when she realized Xu Chaoyang's hand was gripping her wrist tightly. He took a drag of the cigarette, pinching it in his hand as wisps of smoke rose up.

In the rich peppermint smoke, Xu Chaoyang's narrow eyes curved slightly, curving a hint of dashing charm.

He reached out and lifted her chin: "Little fart, what do you think of your senior?"

His voice had a certain sandy texture that sounded especially sexy in the swirling smoke.

Qu Xuanxuan's gaze fell to his solid chest. If she really had to answer, she would say: I think senior's chest is bigger than mine.

Of course, she didn't actually say something so shameful out loud.

"Senior has a good body."

Yes, that was the truth.

Xu Chaoyang smiled faintly and reached out to brush back a strand of her bangs: "When will you finally get a clue?"

Qu Xuanxuan's gaze lowered to the burning cigarette between his fingers. The ash looked like it was about to fall off, strangely making her nervous.

Xu Chaoyang leaned in, stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray, and when he came back, moved closer to her and lightly sniffed.

She had a faint fragrance on her, soft and comfortable, that belonged to a girl.

"Little fart, you should know my feelings."

This position was somewhat ambiguous. Qu Xuanxuan's face turned red and she instinctively wanted to shrink back, but Xu Chaoyang grasped her wrist and pulled her closer instead.

Qu Xuanxuan lost her balance and braced her hand on Xu Chaoyang's hard abs.

Hot.

The sound of the door opening was heard, and Chu Zhao walked in: "Little Qu Xuanxuan, I brought you skewers—"

The surroundings were extremely messy with clothes strewn about, and on the sofa, Qu Xuanxuan was sprawled over a shirtless Xu Chaoyang in an extremely suggestive position.

Chu Zhao covered her mouth, stunned: "S-Sorry for interrupting!"

She repeatedly backed out and hastily closed the door. Standing outside, she calmed herself down but didn't forget to yell into the room—

"Xu Chaoyang, I advise you to behave yourself!"