Only then did Xia Liang head home, carrying dozens of bags while leading Xi Yiqian by the hand, with Luu Qi following. They brought in armfuls of bags, big and small.
As soon as they sat down, Xi Yiqian prepared to organize everyone’s clothes. Seeing her hand already reaching for the bags, Xia Liang hurriedly stopped her. "Wait!" Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on N0v3l.Fiɾe.net
Startled, Xi Yiqian seemed at a loss. "Wh-what’s wrong?"
Xia Liang smiled slightly and pinched her cheek. "I’m a little tired. Could you run me a bath?"
"Oh." Xi Yiqian obediently nodded but didn’t leave right away.
Xia Liang was curious. Why hasn’t she left yet? He knew there were several couple’s outfits for Qin Shiya inside those bags. She mustn’t see them.
So he asked, "Is there something else?"
Blushing, Xi Yiqian pointed to her cheek. "Nothing else. So... are you going to keep pinching it?"
Xia Liang was taken aback, glancing at his hand that was still on her cheek. He couldn’t help but chuckle as he let go. "No more pinching. Go on."
Xi Yiqian obediently nodded and turned to enter the bathroom. Watching her go, Xia Liang couldn’t help but sigh. "Silly girl."
"Mhm," Luu Qi, sitting beside him, nodded in agreement. She then turned to Xia Liang and whispered a warning, "Brother, I don’t care how many sisters-in-law you have in the future, but you must never make Sister Yiqian sad. She’s too kindhearted."
For once, Xia Liang nodded. "I know. I won’t."
Satisfied, Luu Qi nodded. However, Xia Liang pointed to the bags and whispered, "The bag on the far left is mine. The next five are yours, and the five after that are for Xi Yiqian. Oh, right, there’s an orange sweatshirt in my bag for Qingxue."
"Oh... I see." Luu Qi trailed off, then let out a sound of surprise. "Huh?"
She was clearly taken aback by this move. Xia Liang clearly understood her confusion. "I bought it while you girls were trying on clothes."
Hearing his explanation, Luu Qi glanced toward the bathroom and whispered, "No wonder you asked Sister Yiqian to go run a bath!"
"Heh!" Xia Liang just chuckled, offering no further explanation. "Help me deliver it tomorrow," he said.
As Luu Qi rifled through the bags, she asked, "Why don’t you deliver it yourself?"
Xia Liang rolled his eyes at her. "Isn’t that obvious? If I didn’t have something else going on, why would I ask you for help?"
Luu Qi looked at him in confusion. "What do you have going on tomorrow?"
Since he had nothing to hide from her, Xia Liang answered directly, "Tomorrow is your third sister-in-law’s birthday. I need to plan a surprise for her."
"Oh." Luu Qi nodded, then looked at Xia Liang with sparkling eyes. "Then do you remember my birthday?"
"Of course. January 1st, New Year’s Day," Xia Liang said, taking out his phone. "You used to pester me to buy you little cakes."
"Heh!" Luu Qi was thrilled that he still remembered her birthday after three years. "So, will I get a birthday surprise too?" she asked, looking at him expectantly.
Xia Liang replied nonchalantly, "A surprise? There will be no surprises. Not in this lifetime. But you did remind me of something. Yiqian and Shi Ya both know you, and New Year’s Day is a special holiday, so we’ll all be together. You better remember this!"
As he spoke, Xia Liang’s expression turned serious. "Tell Yiqian your birthday is December 30th, and tell Qingxue it’s January 2nd."
"Hmph!" Hearing that Xia Liang not only had no gift for her but was even telling her to lie about her own birthday, Luu Qi got angry. She snatched Qingxue’s clothes out of the bag and stormed into her room.
Although Luu Qi didn’t respond, Xia Liang knew she had tacitly agreed. Perfect. New Year’s Day is now free.
Luu Qi started taking out the clothes. Seeing all the things he’d bought for the other girls made a wave of jealousy wash over her. "Stinky cousin," she muttered, "you only ever think about other people. You won’t even get me a birthday surprise."
She glared at the Pink Panther doll on her bed and gave it two quick punches. After venting her frustration, her mind cleared. She remembered that it had always been in the past. On her birthday, she would always ask him, "Are you going to get me a gift?" Xia Liang would always act aloof, insisting that he absolutely would not buy her anything. But when the day came, he would inevitably pull out a gift he’d bought, coldly claiming he’d just found it on the street before handing it over to her with a haughty air.
At the memory, a smile returned to Luu Qi’s face. It’s been three years, and my cousin is still the same, always saying the opposite of what he means. The thought of the surprise he was surely preparing for her birthday made her happy. He’s all grown up, but he hasn’t changed one bit. Her mood lifted, and she began humming a tune as she organized the clothes.
Xi Yiqian came out after running the bath. She whispered to Xia Liang, "The bath is ready."
Xia Liang patted her head. "Thanks. You go take your bath first."
"Huh?" Xi Yiqian was clearly taken aback.
Xia Liang took out his phone. "I need to make a call. I’ll take my bath later. You go ahead." As he spoke, he dialed a number.
"Oh, okay," Xi Yiqian obediently nodded.
Xia Liang walked out to the balcony. Xi Yiqian went to her room to get her pajamas, then entered the bathroom to start her bath.
Xia Liang fiddled with a bottle of Gene Potion he had just bought for 100 Work Points. He had originally intended for Xi Yiqian to drink it to give her the ability to protect herself. But she was too kindhearted. If something unexpected were to happen, she would likely hesitate to act. So, Xia Liang decided to give the Gene Potion to Luu Qi instead. That way, when he wasn’t around, she could protect both Xi Yiqian and Qingxue.
As he was pondering this, Luu Qi came out, having finished organizing her clothes. Her eyes fell on the bottle in Xia Liang’s hands, and she asked curiously, "Brother, what’s that you’re holding?"
Xia Liang shook the bottle. "A miraculous potion that strengthens the body."
Hearing words that sounded like he was coaxing a child to take medicine, Luu Qi instantly lost interest. "Then you can keep it and drink it yourself."
"I’ve already had one," Xia Liang said, handing the Gene Potion to her. "This is for you. Drink it when you take your bath later. And remember, don’t break the vial."
Huh... Xia Liang’s serious demeanor reignited Luu Qi’s curiosity. "Are you serious?" she asked, looking at the Gene Potion in the test tube.