What’s wrong with me?
On the other end of the phone, Huo Xinya murmured to herself, but naturally dared not say it aloud. She hurriedly said, "No... nothing. I mean, I also don’t know how to advise her."
Chen Nan was a little puzzled. He couldn’t guess the meaning of the unfinished sentence from Huo Xinya, but he would never have dreamed that his gentle and beautiful sister-in-law could like him, her brother-in-law.
"Why are you stammering when you speak?" Chen Nan asked.
Upon hearing this, Huo Xinya instantly became nervous, "I... where am I?"
"Still saying no, look, you’re stammering again." Chen Nan said with some confusion, "Do you have something on your mind?"
"I don’t, I... what could I possibly have?"
Although Huo Xinya tried hard to calm herself, perhaps due to being too guilty and nervous, her mouth wasn’t quite cooperating, and she kept stammering.
"Now I’m even more puzzled. If nothing’s wrong, why are you stammering then?" Chen Nan said, "You never talked before!"
Huo Xinya hesitated for a while, then said, "Don’t ask anymore, there are some things that are better kept to myself, and I won’t speak of them."
This girl surely has something on her mind!
Chen Nan quickly asked, "Can’t you even tell me? If there’s a problem, maybe I can help you out."
It’s because of you that I especially can’t tell. Telling you would be like undermining my sister!
Huo Xinya thought to herself, and hastily said, "Don’t ask anymore, it’s just a little thing."
Chen Nan took a puff of his cigarette and smiled, "Alright then, since you don’t want to talk about it, I won’t pry. But if you need any help, just tell me."
"Don’t worry, if there’s something I need help with, I definitely won’t be courteous with you."
"I expect you wouldn’t be." Chen Nan smiled, "If you were polite to me, when Yiyi comes back, I’ll complain to her, saying that you’re treating me like an outsider, not like a brother-in-law."
"Go away." Huo Xinya laughed and said, "With such a good brother-in-law, there is hardly a second one like you in this whole world."
Upon hearing this, Chen Nan felt proud, "Really?"
"Have I ever lied to you?" Huo Xinya said, then sighed, "But, concerning Qingqing’s matter, I really can’t help you."
"No worries, I’ll figure it out slowly!"
The next morning, in the classroom of Senior Year Class 9.
Chen Nan arrived at school early in the morning and leaned on his desk, his face full of worry.
Yesterday morning, Han Yuting had invited him to her house for dinner tonight because it was her birthday; what Chen Nan was considering now was what birthday gift to give her?
If they were a couple, it would be easy, just gifts like chocolates or roses would do, and if bold enough, even a box of condoms could work. But between platonic friends, what would be a good gift?
Too cheap and it’s embarrassing to give, too expensive and people might not accept, and the ordinary ones fail to make an impression, the greatest sadness in the world lies here.
"Why the long face, dummy? Thinking about your junior sister again?"
Su Qingqing nudged Chen Nan, jealousy pouring from her gaze.
Chen Nan laughed and shook his head, "Not at all. Today is Han Yuting’s birthday, and she has invited me to have dinner at her place tonight. I’m wondering what kind of gift I should give her."
Upon hearing this, Su Qingqing immediately felt a surge of jealousy.
She pointed at Chen Nan’s nose, fuming, "Are you trying to woo her?"
"What are you talking about?" Chen Nan said somewhat speechlessly, "She and I are just pure friends, nothing more."
Su Qingqing pouted, "Then she must be trying to hit on you!"
"Are you feverish?" Chen Nan touched her forehead, "Can’t you think a bit more normally? Can’t there be a pure friendship between men and women?"
"Why doesn’t she invite others, why only you?" Su Qingqing looked like a detective, "Based on my deductions, her series of behaviors has only one purpose, that is she likes you and wants to hit on you."
Chen Nan tapped her on the head and chuckled, "I saved her once, so it’s normal for her to invite me to dinner out of gratitude. What’s there not to understand?"
Su Qingqing widened her eyes and said excitedly, "A hero saving a beauty? No wonder! I’m sure, she definitely wants to hit on you. You have to trust me, a girl’s intuition is very accurate."
Chen Nan shook his head with a wry smile, "Stop talking nonsense, seriously, what should I give her as a present?"
Su Qingqing blinked and suggested playfully, "How about roses?"
"I’m dizzy, I’m not confessing my love!"
Su Qingqing giggled, "Then how about a diamond ring? She’ll definitely like it!"
"Ring your head, do you think I’m proposing?" Chen Nan knew she was teasing on purpose and threw a book at her, "All these rotten ideas, just focus on your book."
Su Qingqing stuck out her tongue and chuckled, "Are you really not going to hit on her?"
Chen Nan shook his head firmly.
"Alright, then I’ll give you a tip," Su Qingqing moved closer and whispered, "I heard she loves painting, why don’t you start from there?"
Chen Nan fell silent for a long moment.
This little girl’s jealousy is too strong, isn’t it? She had to make sure I wasn’t going to hit on Han Yuting before she would give a suggestion.
"Do you mean, I should paint a picture for her?"
Su Qingqing rolled her eyes, "Can you even do it? I think you’d better buy a painting for her instead!"
Chen Nan widened his eyes, "Are you looking down on me?"
Su Qingqing sighed and shook her head, "You’re good at fighting, but as for painting, it might be wiser to spend some money and buy one."
"Cousin, today I’ll show you what being an artist is all about!"
Being looked down upon by Su Qingqing, Chen Nan was quite upset!
"Does our school sell rolls of white paper?" Chen Nan asked.
"Yes, the supermarket has it. Why don’t we go buy it now?"
Su Qingqing clearly didn’t believe Chen Nan could paint, after all, this guy was human, not a god, it was impossible to be good at everything. Good at fighting, unbeatable in basketball, great calligraphy, if he could also paint, then this guy’s skills would be heaven-defying!
"What are you waiting for then, let’s go!"
Chen Nan grabbed Su Qingqing and rushed out, leaving their classmates in the classroom bewildered, not knowing what antics the cousins were up to this time.
After buying the roll of paper, Chen Nan took a pencil in his hand and began to draw.
Su Qingqing initially watched with the intention of seeing a joke, but as Chen Nan’s pencil stroked after stroke, her facial expression slowly turned serious, then surprised, and finally utterly shocked, "This... You freak, how is this even possible?"
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