"Mmm... Huh?" Yao Jiping was about to turn and head to the restroom when a sidelong glance revealed two pairs of feet visible beneath the last stall’s door.
She lowered her voice in nervous excitement, "Jingjing, look quickly, the last stall, take a look!"
Following her gaze, Lin Jing soon noticed the feet as well.
She frowned slightly, and as a people’s teacher, she clearly disapproved of such behavior, whispering, "Let’s use a different restroom."
Lin Jing clearly had a mental aversion to using a restroom if a strange man was in the stall, no matter the circumstance.
Yao Jiping, on the other hand, was more motivated by a gossiper’s curiosity, whispering excitedly as she pulled on the departing Lin Jing, "The people inside must be young, maybe even students—look at their shoes. My rascal has a pair just like those. Do you think it could be my stinker in there?"
Despite their soft conversations, the restroom was quiet, and Xu Qingfan and Zhang Yiyi, holding their breath and concentrating, could hear everything clearly—not just the whispering, but even if a pin dropped to the floor.
Xu Qingfan went limp. He and Zhang Yiyi exchanged a glance, guilt written all over their faces.
The thought of being caught by his own mother was unimaginably dreadful—Xu Qingfan dared not even think about it.
"With your level of gossip, let’s get moving. If Qingfan knew how you’re talking about him, he’d definitely roll his eyes again." Although Lin Jing said this, she took a careful look at that pair of shoes, and somehow the more she looked, the more they resembled Qingfan’s feet.
"You think so? These fifteen or sixteen-year-old high schoolers can be wild, you know. Remember the girl from Lianhua Courtyard? Got pregnant in junior high—no sense of self-love at all."
As Yao Jiping shared gossip about other families, her voice unconsciously grew louder, "If my little brat dared to take a girl and do such things, I guarantee I’d break his legs!"
Xu Qingfan’s heart felt as though it was about to leap out. He swore that once he got home, he’d burn these Air Force shoes and only support domestic brands from now on!
Zhang Yiyi was also scared into a cold sweat. If Aunt knew she was the one who brought her brother here, she certainly wouldn’t like her anymore.
"If you’re so suspicious, just make a phone call," Lin Jing shook her head. She still didn’t believe that Qingfan would do something so indiscreet; in her mind, Xu Qingfan had always been a well-behaved, academically excellent kid.
Xu Qingfan inside the restroom nearly lost his balance and ended up bumping into the wooden door with Zhang Yiyi, making a dull sound.
Fortunately, reality wasn’t like the movies, and the restroom doors of Time Square were sturdy enough that even with such force, they didn’t fall out along with the door.
"Phone, phone!" Zhang Yiyi suddenly felt a surge of strength, stood firmly, and made hand gestures as if speaking in sign language.
Xu Qingfan nodded frantically, fumbling for his phone and then setting it to silent mode.
Lin Jing and Yao Jiping were similarly startled—if a brawny man really burst out of that stall, the two frail women would be quite frightened.
The two shared a glance and quickly scampered off.
Listening to the gradually fading footsteps, Xu Qingfan and Zhang Yiyi exhaled deeply.
Both faces were covered in beads of sweat, feeling the relief of having survived a close call.
No wonder so many photographers from Ancient and Modern, East and West, love to choose restrooms. It’s truly thrilling!
The eyes of Xu Qingfan and Zhang Yiyi met unconsciously, staring at each other and then breaking into relieved grins.
Zhang Yiyi extended her sleeve and, taking it in her hand, helped wipe the sweat from Qingfan’s forehead.
Xu Qingfan quietly watched her do so. Though the rocket hadn’t launched, his "Wise Mode" had already prematurely arrived due to the abrupt interruption by his mother.
Looking at the tranquil girl in front of him, if not having experienced it firsthand, it would be hard to imagine that his lips had been swollen from her kisses.
Zhang Yiyi couldn’t help but focus on Xu Qingfan’s swollen lips. She had only seen half of the last kissing guide—there was an advanced level to learn, and she had to master it all!
[I must also teach Wanning.] She added in her mind.
Soon after, the girl withdrew her hand and let Xu Qingfan tidy her damp locks.
He attentively straightened Zhang Yiyi’s hair, cautious about when his mother had left and not daring to leave the stall just yet.
Whenever Wise Mode kicked in, one could not help but indulge in self-criticism.
Xu Qingfan was truly vexed now, as his growing affection for the five girls conflicted with the modern societal norm of marrying only one wife.
Wanting to possess all good things is human nature, and Xu Qingfan was no exception.
He viewed the five girls as treasures and naturally hoped they could stay with him forever.
Morally, he condemned himself, but spiritually, he yearned for it.
[First, to resolve the issue of the five living together peacefully, and then their parents...]
Xu Qingfan knew it was impossible; the Qing dynasty had fallen over a hundred years ago—did he still think he was living in an era of imperial harems!
[Forget it, don’t think about it. I’m just in my first year of high school, let’s wait until college...]
Similarly faint of heart, Xu Qingfan quickly chose to let things slide.
Yao Jinping didn’t call him after she left, which relieved them both.
Although the aunt seemed not to behavior, Zhang Yiyi did not regret it because it was her brother!
[Yiyi is not an immodest girl, it’s only okay with brother because he’s different!]
Even though Xu Qingfan was just basking in happiness, Zhang Yiyi still feared he might be angry. The girl timidly poked his belly with her finger and muttered, "Would brother dislike Yiyi doing this?"
Xu Qingfan was taken aback, then immediately said, "I know what kind of person Yiyi is, I will never blame Yiyi."
Zhang Yiyi felt joy in her heart. Although she didn’t hear words like "I also like Yiyi," she was already very happy.
Zhang Yiyi nodded very seriously, and then shyly added, "Because it’s brother... It’s because it’s brother that I... did that."
Xu Qingfan ruffled the girl’s hair, saying nothing more.
Of course, he also wanted to say "I also like Yiyi," but the dogged man’s survival instinct told him that for now, it was best not to initiate or decline anything.
Wait until the day when the raw rice was cooked, and then take full responsibility!
Another five minutes passed.
Xu Qingfan took out his phone to check the time; it was nearly one in the afternoon. They had been buying groceries for an entire hour.
More accurately, they had spent half an hour in the restroom.
"Let’s go out," Xu Qingfan whispered.
Since there were no footsteps outside the door, there was no need for Zhang Yiyi to go out first as a scout. After they opened the door, they briskly left the women’s restroom.
When they re-emerged into the mall, without even time to catch their breath, Xu Qingfan immediately pulled Zhang Yiyi down the fire escape to the first floor.
Luckily, they didn’t encounter Lin Jing or Yao Jinping along the way, and the pair made it back to the dessert shop on the first floor without incident.
Six bowls of ice jelly were already prepared and placed on the table. Since there were many claw machines in the mall, the shop staff didn’t find it strange that they had been gone for half an hour.
After gathering their purchases, the two once again made their hasty, furtive escape from Time Square.
Perhaps Lin Jing and Yao Jinping were still inside, or maybe they had already left, but either way, all they could do was pray they hadn’t been seen.
Zhang Yiyi put on her helmet, and with one last look at the third floor of the plaza, the corners of her mouth curled into a sly smile—this place would remain etched in her memory for a lifetime.
The pink electric bike was back on the road again, the sun overhead still unforgiving, but with the wind in their faces, both felt an indescribable sense of exhilaration in their hearts.
"Yiyi, check my phone for me, it might be them hurrying us," Xu Qingfan said as his cell phone buzzed in his pocket.