“Can I stay with you for a night?” Qiao Ci asked directly, showing no politeness.
???
Qi Che felt like he couldn't understand her words.
She wanted to stay at his place?
“Host, you’ve scared the cub silly. Before you arrived, the two of them hadn’t exchanged a single word. Wanting to stay overnight right off the bat, hehe, it’s quite frightening,” the little spoon also felt startled by Qiao Ci's directness and quickly reminded her.
Seeing Qi Che’s dazed expression, Qiao Ci couldn't help but laugh and explained, "I was just kidding. Can you treat me to a meal? I haven't eaten tonight."
Qi Che opened the door. "Come in."
They were classmates, so treating her to a meal was fine.
In the plot, Qi Che was an orphan. His parents had passed away very early, and he lived alone.
Qi Che settled Qiao Ci on the sofa in the living room and then went to the kitchen to cook for this strangely behaving girl.
Qiao Ci observed the three-bedroom, one-living-room apartment. Although Qi Che lived alone, it was cleaned very neatly and tidily.
Since Qi Che hadn't eaten himself, he made a bit extra. He handed Qiao Ci the chopsticks, and she thanked him before eating with gusto.
Indeed, only the cub's cooking tasted best to her. Delicious!
"Didn't I see you go home earlier? Why haven't you eaten yet?" Qi Che ate very politely, only speaking after swallowing the food in his mouth.
"My dad said he's not letting me go to school anymore and wants me to get married tomorrow. I don't agree, so I ran away," Qiao Ci replied while eating.
She hadn't eaten properly all day. Being able to eat the cub's warm meal was truly wonderful!
"Get married? Are you engaged?" For some reason, Qi Che felt a little uncomfortable hearing that the girl in front of him was going to get married.
"No, he just doesn't want me to go to school and wants to marry me off to anyone," Qiao Ci said with a nonchalant expression, as if she were talking about someone else.
"So, you've run away from home?" Qi Che’s gaze shifted to Qiao Ci’s bulging schoolbag, revealing a corner of her clothes. He asked again.
"Kind of." It's just that I have no money. If the cub didn't take me in, I'd have to find a way to get some."
Seeing the little girl’s cheeks puffed out as she ate, looking somewhat cute, Qi Che hesitated before finally asking, "So, what are your plans now?"
"I don't plan to go back. I'll take it one step at a time," Qiao Ci replied between bites, her eyes curving into a smile, making her appear very sweet.
"Do you have a place to stay?" Qi Che didn't want to meddle, but the thought of the little girl on the streets made him feel uneasy.
He attributed it all to the fact that Qiao Ci had just saved him. If it weren't for her, his legs might have been ruined.
"No," Qiao Ci shook her head honestly and added, "I don't have any money either."
Qi Che: ...
Was this a blatant request to move in?
After dinner, seeing Qiao Ci put on her bulging schoolbag again and prepare to leave, Qi Che, after much deliberation, spoke words of retention: "How about you stay at my place temporarily..."
"Okay!" Qiao Ci, who had already opened the door and was about to leave, closed it with a click. She turned around, looked at the three rooms, and asked cheerfully, "Which room should I stay in?"
Qi Che: ...
He suddenly felt like he had invited a wolf into his home.
"...You can stay in the room on the left. That room also has a balcony." https:/
Qiao Ci happily walked over and opened the door. As she closed it, she didn't forget to say to Qi Che, "Thank you. See you tomorrow."
Qi Che's lips curved upward unconsciously. Thinking that Qiao Ci might be staying here for the next few days, he picked up his phone, put on his shoes, and went out.
After making the bed, Qiao Ci felt a bit tired. She lay on the bed, rubbing her temples, and chatted with the little spoon in her mind: "The cub is too trusting. He just let me move in like this."
Even though she said that, her upturned lips betrayed her good mood.
"Hehe, isn't that because Host has boundless charm! The cub saw that you were homeless and invited you to stay. The little spoon thought it would be like the post-apocalyptic world again, where he wouldn't let you stay!" the little spoon fawned.
Qiao Ci clearly remembered the third small world and explained to the cub, "It's different. It was the post-apocalyptic era then, and being vigilant towards strangers helped one survive longer. Now, it's the modern era, and I'm his classmate. I also saved him not long ago. Considering all these factors, it's not unexpected that he kept me."
"Host's analysis is correct. The little spoon was too narrow-minded," the little spoon exclaimed dramatically, feigning sudden realization.
Not long after, there was a knock on the door.
Without needing to think, Qiao Ci knew it was Qi Che. Curious about what he needed, she put on her jacket and went to open the door for him.
A large, fully packed bag was thrust into her arms, accompanied by Qi Che's clear and pleasant voice: "These are toiletries."
"Thank you, classmate Qi Che." Who wouldn't love such a thoughtful cub?
If circumstances allowed, Qiao Ci would have gone up to give him an affectionate embrace!
However, both of them were students and should prioritize their studies. She shouldn't affect his studies because of herself.
"You're welcome. Let me know if you need anything." Hearing her call him "classmate Qi Che" made Qi Che feel a bit embarrassed. "Just call me Qi Che."
"Okay, Qi Che." Qiao Ci went along with his suggestion; whatever he asked her to call him, she would.
The next day, Qiao Ci overslept. Qi Che finished washing up, made breakfast, and went to wake her.
Qiao Ci woke up feeling groggy. She walked out in a daze. Qi Che gestured for her to wash up: "Wash up, then come eat. We'll be late."
Only then did Qiao Ci remember that she was a student now and had to attend class. She hurried to wash up.
The little spoon covered its mouth and chuckled in the space. The host could be so muddle-headed too. Did love truly make people foolish?
After eating, the two of them went to school together. Fearing they would be late, they specifically took a taxi.
Fortunately, they entered the classroom just as the preparatory bell rang.
In Class B, seeing Qi Che and Qiao Ci entering one after the other, Qiao Sisi's previously cheerful expression with her friends instantly darkened.
That female deskmate assigned to Qi Che was truly detestable. Was she intentionally timing her entry into the classroom with Qi Che's?
In her life, she rarely hated anyone, and this girl named Qiao Ci was definitely one of the few.
When class ended, she would go and ask classmates from Class A if Qiao Ci also had designs on Qi Che.
She absolutely would not allow any other girl to appear before Qi Che. Qi Che was her idol. He would either become her boyfriend or remain single forever!
Qiao Ci and Qi Che sat at their seats, acting as if they didn't know each other. During class, they didn't even exchange glances.