Editor: Atlas Studios
Once they entered the house, Qin’s Mom turned her head to greet He Fang, who then resumed her particularly well-behaved demeanor, sitting on the sofa and chatting with Qin’s Mom.
Qin’s Mom already liked He Fang quite a bit, and after knowing she was going to be a teacher, she found her even more pleasing to the eye. The conversation, deliberately or not, veered towards her own son, trying to give Qin Guanglin a nudge.
Noticing how close they were getting, Qin Guanglin was afraid Qin’s Mom might accidentally spill the beans about his confession from yesterday—telling her he wanted to marry He Fang. So, after sitting there awkwardly for a while, he quickly found an excuse to pull He Fang back to his room.
"What do you want to do by dragging me into your room?" He Fang asked him.
Qin Guanglin thought for a moment and said, "You didn’t come over just to chat with my mom."
"Exactly."
"..."
He Fang couldn’t help but laugh at his frustrated look. She looked around, picked up the snacks from the corner, and began eating them. "Actually, I’m here to eat snacks. The ones you bought me last time, I still haven’t finished them."
Qin Guanglin watched as He Fang started munching on the chips, feeling a bit disappointed. Clearly, the first one promised was supposed to be his.
"If you like them, I’ll buy more later and pack them for you to take home."
"Take home? Are you saying you don’t want me to come again?" He Fang replied, lying on the bed as if it were her own room.
"Why would I? Don’t purposely misconstrue my words."
Qin Guanglin thought eating on the bed wasn’t a good habit. However, since it was He Fang, he had no complaints and even wanted to join her.
"Mr. Qin, you forgot something again," He Fang said lazily, lying on the bed. "Earlier outside, you could’ve let it slide because of the umbrella, but don’t you plan to do it now?"
"Uh..." Qin Guanglin hesitated for a moment, then got up from his chair to approach her.
Was this development leading to hugs and kisses again?
"If you don’t like it, forget it. I won’t insist... ugh."
Qin Guanglin gave her a quick kiss and then returned to his desk. Who said he didn’t like it? He just didn’t want to be too... Well, you know.
He Fang popped a chip into her mouth with a crunch. "In the future, be more proactive. Don’t make me remind you every time."
"Shall I make it up to you again?" Qin Guanglin tried to be proactive, asking with forced composure.
"Are you trying to take advantage of me?" He Fang questioned.
???
Qin Guanglin was puzzled. Didn’t you ask for a kiss? How did it turn into me taking advantage of you?
"If you want to, just come over," He Fang added.
"..."
Qin Guanglin hesitated. Should he go over or not? Going over would mean he’d be taking advantage of her, but not going... He actually wanted to!
The door was knocked, and Qin’s Mom’s voice came in, "I cut up a watermelon, would He Fang like some?"
Seeing Qin Guanglin looking at her, He Fang thought for a moment, got up, and replied, "Sure."
"I’ll get it." Qin Guanglin stood up.
"I can only eat a little, so don’t bring too much."
Opening the door, Qin’s Mom held a half watermelon with two spoons stuck in it, handing it to Qin Guanglin, "Here you go."
The two of them eating like this would be more intimate than cutting it into pieces to eat piece by piece. Qin’s Mom thought she was really looking out for Qin Guanglin.
Whether he could marry her would depend on himself!
Qin Guanglin took the watermelon into the room. "It’s more than half a melon, eat a bit more."
"No way, only two bites, um... let’s say three." He Fang was very precise, strictly controlling even the number of bites.
Qin Guanglin didn’t know if she wanted to lose weight or what, so taking a spoon, he scooped out the sweetest and tastiest part from the center and handed it to her, "First bite."
He Fang opened her mouth wide and ate it in one go, nodding after a few chews, "Mm, so sweet."
"Right?" Qin Guanglin felt happy watching her enjoy it, reaching out to put his hand under her chin, "Spit out the seeds."
"Mm, Mr. Qin performed well. I’ll allow you to take advantage of me one more time."
Qin Guanglin felt like he was getting used to her teasing, almost like she was a female rascal. If their genders were swapped, she might be caught for harassment.
"Here, have the second bite."
"Don’t give such a big piece, make it smaller."
True to her word, He Fang didn’t take more than three bites. Qin Guanglin tried persuading her a few times to no avail—he took two bites himself, then put the watermelon aside, in case she changed her mind.
"Oh, right, let me show you something precious." After wiping his hands, Qin Guanglin ran to the desk, pulling out Teacher He’s cooking illustration for He Fang to see.
"How’s the drawing?"
"When did you draw this?!" He Fang’s face was full of surprise, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Qin Guanglin.
"Yesterday, I spent the whole afternoon drawing it."
Qin Guanglin was very satisfied with He Fang’s reaction, generously handing the drawing over to her. Then, seeing her delighted expression, he added, "Just to show you. I can’t give it to you. I want to keep it for myself."
If she really liked it, he could always draw another one for her.
"Look at you," He Fang was amused by his stinginess, glanced at the drawing twice, and returned it to him. "I didn’t say I’d take it. Here you go, keep it safe."
"I’m afraid you’ll ruin it." Qin Guanglin took it back and hurriedly placed it under the glass on his desk—it had to be well protected.
"Here, I’ll give you something too." He Fang kneeled on the bed, reached behind her head and pulled, letting her tied hair fall loose, then tossed the hair tie to Qin Guanglin.
"Just this?" Qin Guanglin caught it, "I gave you a new one, and you give me an old one."
After pondering for a moment, he decided to put the old hair tie in his pocket, just in case the panda one broke someday, and he needed a backup.
"Not enough? It’s been with me for so long." He Fang untied the panda hair tie from her wrist and tested its elasticity.
"Not enough." He wasn’t stupid.
He Fang thought for a moment and then put the panda hair tie back on her wrist, sitting on the bed, "Come here."
Qin Guanglin sat on the bed, looking at her, "I’m here."
It was the first time he had seen He Fang with her hair down. Compared to when her hair was tied up, she seemed less lively but more charming, with an irresistible allure—he couldn’t help but want to kiss her.
"A bit over here, sit still."
"You want to... Ugh!"
Before he could finish speaking, He Fang’s lips pressed against his. Qin Guanglin, having anticipated it, was about to withdraw contentedly to speak, then his eyes suddenly widened, his whole body tensing up.
Who knew how long had passed when He Fang slightly pulled away, her face a faint red, panting softly as she said, "Call me Teacher He."
"Teacher He," Qin Guanglin repeated instinctively.
"Close your eyes." The next moment, He Fang leaned back in, lips pressed against his, as she gently tightened her arms around Qin Guanglin.
Qin Guanglin obediently closed his eyes.