How could you only think about your own pleasure

Xia Yanchun didn't speak, burying half her face, and quietly leaned against him for a moment.

"Not speaking means you agree, Chunbao. Leave the door unlocked tonight, okay?"

"I didn't say anything. Don't go imagining things."

"Alright, alright, you little rascal."

Shen Nian grinned, the large hand around her rubbing against her delicate, smooth, cool little face.

God knows how Xia Yanchun managed to take such good care of her skin, which is why he mentioned it when he saw she had a pimple.

It seems Xia Yanchun doesn't often eat snacks either. After three meals a day, she basically just drinks water, and her routine is very regular. Is that the reason for her good skin?

I heard staying up late and eating venison can easily cause breakouts.

Shen Nian touched his own face. He had quit what needed quitting, and with his current vigor, he didn't even have the concept of staying up late. His skin was indeed better than before—no pimples, not even the old acne scars remained.

Hmm.

Shen Nian touched his face again.

Is it possible that acne scars count as skin damage, and as long as 'Miraculous Healing' is triggered, even scars like those can be repaired?

Genius-level skincare master, absolutely brilliant.

Arriving home, Shen Yue was still lying on the sofa watching TV.

"Not asleep yet, so late?" Shen Nian took off his shoes, somewhat puzzled.

"I'll sleep after this episode. The house feels a bit dirty, remember to clean it this weekend." Shen Yue lazily cracked melon seeds, missing the trash can, a few shells scattered around it.

"Damn, I'll flick my booger at you, believe it?"

"Isn't your mom my mom too?"

"..."

And there's also 'Cannot Be Targeted'—way too overpowered.

Shen Nian was speechless. Ah, family of origin. Ah, origin. Ah, Genshin.

Grabbing his clothes, he went to shower. Hot water pouring over him felt incredibly refreshing.

The system task completed while he was showering.

[Side Quest: Widely Renowned (Completed)

Reward: 1000 Gold Coins, Survival Skill: Cooking Mastery]

Shen Nian was a bit baffled. Buddy's just taking a shower, system, how did you settle the quest for him?

The previous 'Fishing Master' quest was the same, completed inexplicably. Are these survival skills just bundled freebies?

If you want to give rewards, just say so. Having to issue a quest just for show, system, you really... don't make your crush so obvious, okay?

Shen Nian really wanted to try out this Cooking Mastery, but it was too late. A high school student leaving early and returning late has no time to cook; he'd have to wait until the weekend to test it.

Maid cafes have maids who can use magic to make omelet rice delicious. I, Shen Nian, might just be able to do the same.

Trying not to laugh.jpg

Coming out of the bathroom, Shen Nian's hair was still damp. Shen Yue was no longer in the living room, but the light in her room was still on.

Shen Nian casually dried his hair, stayed in his room until 11:30, and only after Shen Yue's room light went out did he take the keys to someone's house and tiptoe out the door.

This kind of late-night rendezvous was better kept from Shen Yue. Otherwise, she'd ask if he was coming back tonight, which would be awkward.

Some things just have to be done secretly. Caution preserves a long life—Shen Nian deeply understood this.

Click.

He easily opened the door to Xia Yanchun's home. The main light inside was bright, the air filled with the scent of flowers. The girl, wearing simple printed pajamas, was sitting on the sofa drying her hair, watching intently as he slipped in.

"What are you doing at my house in the middle of the night? No sense of propriety," Xia Yanchun muttered, her hair loose.

Shen Nian closed the door. "I think you should say that to yourself."

"Hmph, always talking back."

"You're already a third of the way to being like my mom."

"I wouldn't mind you calling me Mommy either."

Shen Nian: ...

Hopeless. Wants to be both a big sister and a mommy—how absurd is that?

Not engaging with her, Shen Nian headed straight for her room. Compared to the floral scent of shower gel and shampoo in the main room, the fragrance in the girl's bedroom was much lighter.

Of course, Shen Nian wasn't a creep. Who goes into someone's room sniffing around? He usually preferred to hug Xia Yanchun and smell her.

There were still clothes on the bed that the girl hadn't had time to tidy up. Shen Nian folded them and placed them on the desk.

The sounds outside the door finally stopped. Xia Yanchun walked in with her hair down, giving him a sharp look. "You came over without even drying your hair properly."

"Hehe." Shen Nian patted the edge of the bed. "Come sit."

"I still want to read for a bit. I'm not sleeping that early."

"Early? It's almost midnight. Stop grinding, Chunbao. How am I supposed to surpass you in the mock exams if you keep this up?"

"You!" Xia Yanchun shot him a flustered glare.

Pouting, she let out a light hum, turned off the main light outside, closed the bedroom door, and pulled out the chair to sit at the desk. "Just because you said that, I'm studying until 1 AM tonight."

"Ah, are you trying to kill yourself? Planning to sleep in class tomorrow?"

"So what if I do? Listening to the teacher go over the test isn't as good as reviewing on my own."

"Damn, that's true."

Shen Nian was also someone who didn't pay much attention in class. People who could score that high had their own study methods. Plus, with Xia Yanchun's self-discipline to study even on weekends, even if she took leave to study at home, her grades wouldn't slip.

He was like that now too. That's why he dared to say it: Xia Yanchun's high scores were due to her own efforts; the teacher was secondary.

Before gaining his current vigor, Shen Nian spent his free time gaming, thinking his grades were just average, and getting into a decent university elsewhere was fine. He even often sacrificed sleep to play games.

The gap was widened by repeated indulgences.

Seeing Xia Yanchun really open a book, Shen Nian immediately scooted over. He squeezed the petite her to one side of the chair, sat half on it himself, pressing against her. "It's too late today. Staying up late causes pimples."

"This is my usual sleep time. I read every day." Xia Yanchun shook off his reaching hand. "Whether I sleep or not is none of your business. Play for a bit and then hurry back. Let me sleep. It's not like you're going to bed either."

"Not going back tonight."

"Not going back? To sleep on the sofa?"

"Guess." Shen Nian narrowed his eyes and pinched her tender ear. "No studying tonight. I came to warm your bed."

"..." Xia Yanchun's big eyes blinked. She held up one finger. "Ten minutes."

Shen Nian pushed her finger down.

"You... what do you want? Planning to stubbornly stay, huh?"

"Not telling."

"You... have such thick skin."

Unbothered, Shen Nian nuzzled against Xia Yanchun's fluffy hair and then stopped disturbing her. He sat back on the bed and slipped under the girl's blanket.

"If my skin weren't thick, I'm afraid I couldn't become the number one best. If you want to read, go ahead. Buddy's gonna play on his phone for a bit."

"If you really want to get along so well with me, I'll give you a shortcut."

Shen Nian was taken aback. "The kind where the rice is already cooked?"

"Get lost!" Xia Yanchun rolled her eyes, annoyed. "You must address me respectfully as 'Sister Chun' once every day. Then we'll definitely get along."

"I don't even want to expose you."

This little rascal only wants her own satisfaction and still says she's not a bad woman.

"The shortcut is right here. Take it or leave it." Xia Yanchun shrugged. "Anyway, I don't care. You don't really think I want to get along with you, do you?"

"Alright, alright, it's our fault. Come on, the bed is just about warmed up for you."

Yanxi reminds you: Due to Tomato's request for over three million daily visits causing excessive server pressure, it is now recommended that you use sources from other major providers.