"Xinyu! Are you okay?! Are you alright?!"

Xia Xinyu, who was wrapping a towel around herself, was planning to cover herself up a bit more before opening the door. But Chen Yuan suddenly knocked excitedly, asking about her condition from outside.

Probably because she had been showering for too long, and because her reply had sounded a little weak, he was very worried.

"Yuan, I'll be right..."

Xia Xinyu had just raised her voice when the knocking and shouting stopped.

It sounded like he was moving away from the door?

Just as she was thinking this, a hard card suddenly slid in through the gap in the bathroom door. Then, with a clatter and a click, accompanied by the twisting of the doorknob, Chen Yuan pushed the door open and entered…

And then, Xia Xinyu stood frozen on the spot, looking in astonishment at Chen Yuan, who was standing in the doorway with a look of concern. Her rosy cheeks grew even more embarrassed. "Bao, you…"

Before she could finish speaking, Chen Yuan suddenly stepped forward and hugged Xia Xinyu, who was wrapped in a bath towel, tightly in his arms.

A close embrace.

A hug as if he had almost lost her.

The reason he did this was purely to patch up the loophole from when he paused time and used a meal card to unlock Xia Xinyu's locked door.

Just fixing a bug, nothing more profound than that.

It wasn't because Xia Xinyu, wrapped in a bath towel, was nice to hug, fragrant and soft, or anything like that.

"You scared me to death, Bao…"

Chen Yuan rested his face on her fragrant shoulder and said with lingering fear, "I almost thought you had fainted in there."

"...I'm sorry, Bao." Xia Xinyu also realized that she had made him worry too much. She raised her still-damp hands and wrapped them around his waist, saying apologetically, "I soaked in the bath for too long and made you worry."

Chen Yuan must have thought of her suicide attempt in the room at that time.

After all, the two things were too similar.

And the former was her helpless act.

If something happened now for such a silly reason, it would be the most painful thing for Chen Yuan.

"Bao, don't lock the door when you take a shower in the future, okay? I'm worried," Chen Yuan said in a very sincere tone.

"...Okay."

Xia Xinyu also knew that this time was too dangerous. If she had really fainted inside and Chen Yuan hadn't noticed, it would have been over. So, after some tangled thought, she nodded and said, "I won't lock it anymore."

But if she didn't lock it, Chen Yuan liked to barge in…

It was fine when she was in the bathtub.

But if she happened to be getting out of the bathtub, it would be very embarrassing…

Oh well, she would just have to endure the embarrassment.

It was impossible to restrain Chen Yuan; she could only gradually lower her moral standards.

Sooner or later, the two of them would become the kind of couple where one sat on the toilet while the other brushed their teeth next to them…

Of course, she definitely wouldn't be the one brushing her teeth.

"Then you go out first…"

"Just one more hug. I'm still a little scared."

Xia Xinyu originally wanted to get dressed, but since he said that, she had no choice but to comfort him with a hug. But she didn't understand one thing…

"Bao, my butt doesn't hurt."

Xia Xinyu reminded him when someone was giving her a massage through a towel.

"Oh, I thought you must have problems in that area from sitting for so long."

"...Then why don't you stop?"

"Tsk."

Chen Yuan clicked his tongue in disdain and had to stop.

"You're still reluctant…"

After he let go, Xia Xinyu also let go, and the two separated.

However, this action caused the fold of the bath towel pinned in front of her chest to naturally loosen, and then a pure white, moist expanse slid smoothly down from a place that wasn't exactly towering but had a slight elevation…

Just as Chen Yuan's gaze was about to follow it down, Xia Xinyu immediately moved forward and completely pressed herself against him.

Just like those lewd pictures forwarded in QQ groups.

Damn it, why didn't she go play professional games with such good vision blocking!

And Chen Yuan, perfectly feeling her softness, was just about to open his mouth to say something when Xia Xinyu suddenly said in a serious tone, "Listen to my command! Close your eyes and turn around!"

"I won't listen."

"Oh, dear!" Xia Xinyu's face turned red, and her voice was so delicate that it could make people's hearts turn into mush. "Close your eyes, turn around, don't take advantage of me like this."

"If I don't take advantage of you now, when else will I have the chance?"

Chen Yuan said this, but he didn't really think so.

Actually, he had already admired Xia Xinyu's figure for a long time.

Looking at it again now wouldn't make him feel bored.

It was just that the point of interest had changed from Xia Xinyu herself to Xia Xinyu's reaction.

And that was even more interesting than the thing itself.

"But, but…" Xia Xinyu could only hold Chen Yuan tightly, sticking to him like a suction cup, in order to avoid some degree of exposure.

But she realized that if he was looking from this perspective, he could also completely see her back…

So, she had no choice but to weakly put one hand behind her to block it.

"Okay!" Xia Xinyu finally couldn't help but say, "You've been looking for so long, that's enough. Go out, I really need to… Achoo!"

Just as Xia Xinyu was about to 'get angry', a chill made her sneeze uncontrollably.

And Chen Yuan, afraid that she would catch a cold, quickly let go and closed his eyes. "Okay, okay, I'll go out. You hurry up and get dressed."

"Okay, turn around."

Xia Xinyu turned Chen Yuan around, gently pushed him out, and closed the door.

When she was about to lock it, she suddenly remembered what he had said before, so she didn't lock it.

Then, she dried herself with a towel, so she wouldn't really catch a cold.

However, on the way, she suddenly thought of something. Half-covering her front with a bath towel, she slightly turned her body and imagined the scene that Chen Yuan's perspective could see from the bathroom mirror…

This angle seemed pretty good too?

No, why am I becoming so媚男 (meinv - trying to please men)?

Xia Xinyu's face turned completely red.

She quickly put on her clothes, walked out of the bathroom, put on cotton slippers, and said to Chen Yuan, who was watching TV on the sofa, "You should take a shower too. Put on a clean set of clothes. We're meeting people tomorrow."

"Okay, okay, I'll go in a bit," Chen Yuan responded with a gesture.

"Okay." Xia Xinyu stared at him and nodded.

And then, she waited for an opportunity.

Finally, after a while, he took his change of clothes and walked into the bathroom.

The showerhead was turned on.

The bathroom was filled with steam.

At the right time, Xia Xinyu directly pushed open the door and said with great concern, "Yuan, are you okay?!"

Hmph, I'll do a surprise attack too.

And choose the time when you're most helpless.

And then, bully you hard!

Just as Xia Xinyu was thinking this triumphantly, Chen Yuan looked at her very calmly. "I'm fine, what's wrong, Bao?"

"…"

Clearly, the scene that Xia Xinyu wanted to see didn't happen at all.

And what made Xia Xinyu's face instantly turn as red as a Fuji apple was that this guy not only didn't panic after being suddenly inspected, but even calmly lathered himself up…

………

The next day, the two finally boarded the bullet train back to Hexiang.

After Chen Yuan put the suitcase on the overhead rack, he sat with Xia Xinyu and unfolded the small table.

"Hey, I feel like I'll be a little restrained after going home," Chen Yuan said, complaining.

"But I feel like it's a kind of protection for me." Recalling what happened yesterday, Xia Xinyu muttered softly.

"You're joking. It was clearly you who pushed the door…"

Chen Yuan was halfway through his sentence when Xia Xinyu covered his mouth with her hand, telling him not to blurt it out on the train.

There were children running around; it wasn't appropriate.

"How long does it take to go back home for once?" Xia Xinyu asked.

"The bullet train is only forty minutes. After getting out of the station, it's only ten minutes to get home," Chen Yuan said.

"That feels so convenient. In Xiahai, going to a remote urban area is about the same, right?" Xia Xinyu said.

"Yeah, if they plan a little further south, our house will be worth more," Chen Yuan said with a sigh.

"Shaoxiang urban area won't reach my house even if it's planned dozens of kilometers further," Xia Xinyu joked optimistically.

"It's okay, I just like the beautiful scenery," Chen Yuan said, and then brought up, "But I just don't know if the snow is so heavy on your side now, will the bullet train be suspended?"

Xia Xinyu also became worried. "If it's suspended…"

Her aunts and uncles probably wouldn't be able to go back on the second day of the Lunar New Year either.

Then Grandpa could only spend this year alone.

She hoped that this heavy snow wouldn't block the road home.

"It'll be fine," Chen Yuan gently pinched Xia Xinyu's cheek and said comfortingly.

"Yeah, yeah." Xia Xinyu nodded, also hoping that things would develop in a good direction.

But if it really wasn't good…

Then she could only accept it.

"This time is just enough to watch two episodes of anime. I've downloaded them. Do you want to watch together?" Chen Yuan asked.

"Sure."

Xia Xinyu nodded.

And then, she leaned on Chen Yuan's shoulder, and the two of them shared a phone, wearing headphones, and watched a new anime of January (no name since no promotion fee was received)……

………

In their diagonally opposite seat, sat a middle-aged man wearing black-rimmed glasses, who was somewhat thin and whose expression was not exactly serious, but quite proper. He had been observing the two of them.

His gaze was constantly stealing glances.

He would play with his phone for a while, and then, in the gaps, he would cast his eyes over there.

All the way until the end of the train ride, until the Hexiang station, when Chen Yuan took his luggage, he also took his luggage.

And he even took the initiative to squeeze next to the two of them when getting off the train…

Until he got out of the train and was about to get off the platform, Chen Yuan was stunned and also looked at him.

The two made eye contact.

"Hey, Teacher Yan!"

Hearing Chen Yuan say this title, the middle-aged man revealed a very faint smile, raised his finger, and said, "Chen Yuan?"

"Teacher, it's me." Chen Yuan nodded.

Oh! It's the middle school teacher!

Xia Xinyu, realizing this, moved her body slightly to the side, opening up a two-centimeter distance from Chen Yuan.

After all, she was still a middle school student; it wasn't appropriate to have a puppy love in front of a middle school teacher.

"Why are you coming back to Hexiang from Xiahai, Teacher?" Chen Yuan asked curiously.

"Attending a high school classmate's wedding."

After Teacher Yan answered, he looked Chen Yuan up and down, who was looking quite talented, and said, "You went to high school in Xiahai, right?"

"You still remember me?" Chen Yuan felt quite surprised and a little honored.

After all, a teacher had to teach so many students, and he had already graduated almost two sessions ago. To still have his name remembered by the teacher showed his position in the other's heart.

"I'll definitely remember you, if not others."

Teacher Yan patted Chen Yuan's shoulder and said very approvingly, "Although your grades weren't the best in the class, and you weren't very compliant with school rules and regulations…"

Did he have to start praising people with 'although…' all the time?

Chen Yuan wanted to curse.

"But you're a very genuine kid."

Seriously, Old Yan, do you have no other words to praise people?

What the heck is genuine?

You don't think I'll be happy with that, do you?

Old Yan, you big idiot!

Seeing the girl next to Chen Yuan looking confused, Old Yan said, "Back then at school, I saw a small boy in the class being pulled by an older student. I was just about to go up and reprimand them when Chen Yuan went up and pushed the other person away, and even protected our class's boys behind him."

"There was such a thing?" Xia Xinyu's eyes lit up when she heard this and looked at Chen Yuan. She didn't expect him to be so kind.

More importantly, Chen Yuan's sense of justice in middle school didn't discriminate by gender; he would also help boys.

"…I don't remember. Teacher, you might have seen wrong." Chen Yuan's memory was not very clear.

"How could I have seen wrong? The little boy's name is Fang Jie, right?"

"There was indeed a little guy named Fang Jie in the class."

"Hey, I admired you a lot back then. A student can't just study hard; they must have a sense of justice." Teacher Yan spoke of this with undisguised praise in his words.

Perhaps it was because he had graduated, so he didn't have to hold back.

"And then, you got in touch with puppy love pretty early."

"?!" Teacher Yan's sudden words startled Chen Yuan. He glanced at Xia Xinyu, whose 'brows were furrowed, realizing that things were not right', and then said seriously to Old Yan, "Teacher, you have to be responsible for your words. You can't talk nonsense."

"No, no." Seeing the girl's eyes widen and her expression be very concerned, Old Yan quickly explained, "What I mean is, back then in the class, there were quite a few girls who were interested in Chen Yuan. Back then, it seemed like there was even a girl who blocked him at his doorstep. And then, his mother told me that Chen Yuan was so scared that he didn't dare to go out."

Old Yan seemed quite proper but was actually an old geezer who loved to chat.

When he said this, he was even very descriptive.

"See, isn't that what my mom said?" Chen Yuan said to Xia Xinyu.

And then, he completely breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.

Old geezer, you're playing it so close to the edge.

"Back then, I had an impression of Chen Yuan, his studies were just so-so, but he was quite righteous and also innocent. Even though many girls tried to flirt with him, he didn't have puppy love…"

Saying this, Old Yan looked at the two of them, and recalled how close they were on the train, and then said uncertainly, "How did people change in high school?"

"Pure, pure friendship…"

Just as Xia Xinyu was about to defend herself, she was held in Chen Yuan's arms, who smiled lightly and replied, "I couldn't find a suitable one in middle school."

"!" Xia Xinyu looked at Chen Yuan with a red face.

Crazy Little Yuan, what are you doing!

Why are you pretending in front of the teacher?

You naughty little thing!

"You know I can't control you now, so you start showing off in front of me, right?" Old Yan hummed.

"No, no, the teacher can control me. Among the middle school teachers, you're the most responsible. I've always remembered that deeply."

"Heh, this bold personality is also memorable."

The teacher said, and then walked with the two of them towards the exit. Then, he said earnestly to this student that he liked quite a bit, "Hexiang's educational resources are poor. It's difficult to produce a local Qinghua or Jida student even in a few years. When you get to Xiahai, you still have to be serious."

"Yes, yes," Chen Yuan nodded in agreement.

"Then you're from the same school, going back to Hexiang together?" Old Yan asked.

"We're going back to Hexiang together." Chen Yuan took the initiative before Xia Xinyu was embarrassed, "But we're not from the same school. Her school is much better than mine."

"Much better? What school?" Old Yan asked curiously.

Xia Xinyu smiled awkwardly and replied, "I go to Fourth High School."

"Fourth High School?" Hearing this, Old Yan's eyes lit up and he said in surprise, "Such a good school?"

"But I'm very ordinary." Xia Xinyu quickly waved her hand, saying humbly.

"Even the most ordinary student in such a good school isn't bad." Old Yan said very approvingly, "Any random student from Fourth High School would be above average if you pulled them to Hexiang First High School. Like my son, who studies in the first class of First High School, and only scored a little over 640."

Xia Xinyu nodded humbly in response, "Fourth High School mainly has a better source of students."

Actually, when Old Yan said this, there was a bit of a bragging meaning.

This time's score of 640 was considered one of his better ones.

This score, placed nationally, was at the level of a prodigy.

Most parents would feel very proud, including him.

But after he said it, the girl's reaction was particularly bland, a slight smile.

This made Old Yan know that he seemed to have kicked a steel plate…

Reacting so indifferently, as if 640 was really quite average.

But that's right, Xiahai Fourth High School had the best students in the province.

There were more than 300 people who were admitted to Haidong University.

And in Hexiang First High School, it would be good if the entire school had ten people who could get into Haidong University.

This girl looked like she had a high IQ. If she was also in the experimental class in Fourth High School, then he would really be showing off his axe in front of Lu Ban.

But it was fine for her to be calm, why was Chen Yuan being so calm?

Suddenly thinking of something, Old Yan brought up again, "Speaking of which, my son seems to have gone to Xiahai before. Wasn't the math competition held in Xiahai?"

After he said this, Chen Yuan corrected him casually, "Oh, that should have been Ningcheng."

(End of this chapter)