We Are Good Friends

Ye Shuang had been beaten so badly that his butt was practically flashing red lights. He lay sprawled across the bed, wincing in pain, his face full of bitterness. His mother really hadn’t held back—she hadn’t spared a thought for whether he’d even be able to get out of bed tomorrow. As long as she didn’t beat him to death, she was going to beat him half to death.

“Hee-hee, have you learned your lesson? That’s what you get for not telling Auntie where you were going.” Chen Qin sat on the bed as well. Seeing Ye Shuang lying there, she propped her chin in her hands and smiled gleefully. “Want this lady to rub some medicinal oil on you? Ooh~~~”

As she spoke, she teasingly reached out and poked him in the cheek.

“Then help me rub some on,” Ye Shuang said, lifting his shirt.

“Mm.” Chen Qin froze for a few seconds at the sight, then turned her head away. “Don’t get the wrong idea. I was only joking. Who wants to look at your body?”

“Uh…”

Despite saying that, Chen Qin still brought over the medicinal oil. She really was a textbook tsundere… Though, to be fair, all tsunderes seemed to have certain similarities. She reminded Ye Shuang of Alice, except for one small difference—

Even though Chen Qin was a tsundere, she would still actually help you with things.

Alice, on the other hand, was a genuine young lady, the sort who never lifted a finger herself. Though perhaps Bobo had simply spoiled her rotten.

As Chen Qin slowly rubbed the medicinal oil onto him, she studied his profile. “Ye, why did you go to Fugui’s place tonight?”

“It was nothing.”

“Fine, don’t tell me.” Chen Qin puffed out her cheeks and slapped Ye Shuang on the butt, making the corner of his mouth twitch. “It was just a meal.”

“Oh? Just a meal? Was it serious?”

“…”

“Have you fallen for Fu Yao?” Chen Qin asked with a grin. “Come on, Ye, tell me. We grew up together. You don’t have to hide things from me, right?”

Fallen for Fu Yao?

Considering Fu Yao’s age, Ye Shuang felt that if he really fell for her, it would be even more depraved than when he had liked Yu You. He sighed. “No. Stop asking.”

“Oh, come on, tell me. We’re practically brothers. What’s the harm in telling your bro the truth? At most, I’ll buy you milk tea tomorrow—five yuan, with every topping available.” Chen Qin leaned forward and asked with a bright smile.

Despite her overly familiar tone, Ye Shuang could still detect the tension beneath it. He also knew exactly what she was up to. Based on the memories he had inherited, this girl had liked him since childhood. She had simply disguised it all under the label of “being like brothers,” and because they had grown up together, Ye Shuang had never noticed.

Seeing her like this, Ye Shuang suddenly felt like teasing her. “Yeah. Actually, I’ve liked Fu Yao for a long time.”

Chen Qin’s expression instantly froze. Then she slowly sat upright.

“I—I knew it. But Fu Yao really is a good girl. She has a great figure, so of course guys like her. She’s gentle and knows how to cook. She’s a little timid, but she’s very considerate. Unlike me—I’m so violent… She really is wonderful, hehe. I’ll help you, Ye.”

“After all, we’re good friends. Of course I have to help you check her out.”

Chen Qin’s two little laughs sounded extremely forced. There was even a faint, barely perceptible tremor of tears in her voice. Seeing her stubbornly forcing a smile while tears began to well up in her eyes, Ye Shuang realized that he might have taken things a little too far. He immediately explained, “I was joking. I don’t feel that way about Fu Yao.”

“Really?”

“Really. I’m still young. I only want to study hard and build the nation.”

Only then did Chen Qin seem to relax. She quickly wiped her face, clenched her little fist, and punched Ye Shuang in the arm.

“You’re so annoying! Why would you lie to me?”

“Why are you so worked up? Don’t tell me you like me?” Ye Shuang asked with a smile.

“Ohohoho, listen to you! You’re so shameless. As if I’d like you. I’ve seen enough of you from the time we were kids.” Chen Qin folded her arms and snorted. “I’m just worried some bad woman will lure away my dog, so I’m helping you check her out. Besides, Daddy could never fall for his own son.”

Ye Shuang merely smiled without saying anything.

How many times were you planning to throw that boomerang? If Ye Shuang hadn’t only inherited part of his memories, he probably would have died laughing.

The marks left by his mother’s beating had faded somewhat. Ye Shuang looked at the pillow Chen Qin was hugging. “Come to think of it, why are you at my house?”

“What are you talking about? I’m staying at your place for a week.” Chen Qin looked at him as if he had said something ridiculous, then reached over and touched his forehead. “Oh no. Ye really did get beaten stupid.”

So that was how it was. Ye Shuang didn’t know the details, but he did know that Chen Qin had quite a few clothes at his house. Her parents were both busy building their careers and often left Chen Qin at his place overnight.

Ye Shuang didn’t dwell on it. He glanced at the clock. The hands still hadn’t moved, which meant that an event really did need to be triggered.

Apparently, it would happen within the next few days.

He’d better get some rest.

Ye Shuang thought this to himself. After all, his adorable mother had beaten him until he was practically spinning like a top, and he really did need time to recover.

“I’m going to sleep. Good night.”

“Oh?”

The night passed without a word or incident. The next morning…

At six ten, Ye Shuang was woken by his alarm.

When he opened his eyes, a faint white mist still drifted outside the window.

“Did I used to get up this early? This is earlier than going to work.” After being jolted awake by the ringing of the old-fashioned bell alarm clock, Ye Shuang sat dazedly at the head of the bed. But since he had arrived in this timeline, he had no choice but to follow its way of life.

“You’re up this early?” Mother Ye looked a little surprised when she saw him get out of bed.

Usually, her son was no stranger to sleeping in.

“Good morning,” Ye Shuang said.

His overly formal greeting made Mother Ye feel inexplicably uncomfortable. She even began to feel guilty that she had hit him too hard the night before and somehow beaten her son into a different person.

“Here, I’m giving you thirty yuan today. After lunch, you can spend it on whatever you want.” Mother Ye seemed to have taken out a little extra money for him as well.

Ye Shuang stared blankly at the money his mother handed him, but he still smiled and accepted it.

“Go wake Qin up.”

“Okay.”

Ye Shuang pushed open the door to Chen Qin’s room. It was still dark outside, so the room was gloomy as well.

Chen Qin was still fast asleep. Her thigh was draped over a pillow, and she wore a silly smile.

“Hee…”

What kind of dream was she having?

Ye Shuang couldn’t help wondering, but he simply flipped the light switch. The room was suddenly flooded with light. Chen Qin let out a sleepy groan and frowned. After writhing around on the bed a few times, she burrowed straight into the blankets.

“Time to get up,” Ye Shuang said.

“Mmmph…”