Indulging You, the Best in the World Day by Day

Xia Yanchun was tickled until she was breathless, tears nearly springing to her eyes.

Fortunately, Shen Nian stopped in time.

Her mouth slightly agape, Xia Yanchun whimpered and pulled her clothes together, a little scared. She was no match for Shen Nian now. If Shen Nian wanted to do something like this to her and didn't want to stop, she had absolutely no way to resist.

She could only find a time later to sulk and make Shen Nian guess why.

She was starting to understand how Shen Nian used to feel. The old Shen Nian was exactly the one she used to bully—bullied, unable to fight back, taking the blame for her, and unable to explain himself even when he did.

Just thinking about it felt utterly hopeless.

She really was a bad woman.

And now Shen Nian was getting his revenge!

Xia Yanchun straightened her disheveled clothes.

Her jacket hadn't been zipped up to begin with, and the bottom button of her pajama top had somehow come undone—or maybe she never fastened it in the first place. A sliver of her belly was exposed, catching a chill that felt distinctly uncomfortable.

Her face flushed pink, she pulled the covers back over herself. "That already counts as harassment, you know."

"What are you mumbling about?" Shen Nian tidied the messy bedsheet, sat cross-legged, grabbed a plush toy, and hugged it. "Still feeling cocky?"

"Get out of my room, right now. You're not allowed to stay here anymore. Go wherever you like. Have you even worked out or showered yet? Don't get my plush toy dirty."

As she spoke, she reached out to grab it, wanting to take the toy back. Her hand had just touched it when Shen Nian, acting silly, gave a tug and pushed her hand away.

Xia Yanchun bit her lower lip. Noticing the faint red tinge on Shen Nian's ears, her fingertips felt suddenly hot, and she immediately withdrew her hand, guiltily scooting further into the bed.

He actually, actually got like that because of her...

Shen Nian, you big pervert!

Having cursed him a hundred times in her heart, Xia Yanchun felt a mischievous idea stir. She slowly sat up, raised a fist in front of Shen Nian, then slowly extended her index finger, humming with a sly curve of her eyes.

She knew everything and wasn't saying a word, but she wanted to salvage some pride. The more flustered Shen Nian was, the more it proved she was right.

"..." Shen Nian bared his teeth in a grimace, pretending to be scared. "Haha, what are you doing? I don't get it at all. Weren't you going to read?"

"Give me a break. How can I read with you here?"

"Ahem, my bad, my bad."

Xia Yanchun felt a hint of smugness. She loved seeing Shen Nian's embarrassed expression way too much; it was actually kind of cute.

But she wasn't some truly wicked woman. Letting Shen Nian squirm for a bit was punishment enough for his reckless tickling.

She soon lay back down comfortably. After a moment of silence, she pulled the covers over half her face, turning towards the wall to give Shen Nian some time.

She really wanted to laugh at him loudly, but she was a girl too. After standing her ground in this situation, what remained was simply awkwardness to face.

A flurry of pink bubbles seemed to float up in her mind, a bit chaotic, and memories from childhood began sprouting like bamboo shoots after rain.

They'd done every ambiguous thing imaginable at an age when they understood nothing; now, at an age when they understood everything, they were treading carefully. That was the difference between their two life stages.

As much as she hated to admit it, Shen Nian had indeed grown up alongside her. Being with Shen Nian did feel easier—she talked more, her steps felt lighter.

Would her ten-years-ago self have ever imagined a day like this?

Would Shen Nian from ten years ago have imagined a day like this?

Shen Nian was really something. Couldn't even control himself, yet still went and tickled her. Just as clueless as he used to be.

The atmosphere was a bit strange. Shen Nian only felt a suffocating sensation, as if constricted by a python.

Folks, I think I've come down with a severe case of corn.

In the weird atmosphere, time seemed to lose meaning. Shen Nian sat for a good while, relying on his own strong mental fortitude to suppress the severe corn back down.

Shen Nian wasn't sure whether to put the pillow back in its original spot. It felt odd.

Hearing Shen Nian's slight movements, Xia Yanchun slowly turned over. Not daring to look around, she went straight to looking at Shen Nian's face. Confirming he was more or less back to normal, her hanging heart settled back down.

"You, you... tsk tsk..." She wagged a finger at him, everything conveyed without words.

"Me what?"

"Playing dumb."

"..." Shen Nian stammered. Besides playing dumb, he really couldn't think of anything else to say.

He could see it now. Xia Yanchun's pure bad woman persona had logged on, just wanting to see him make a fool of himself. And judging by the looks of it, she'd succeeded.

Tragic.

"Don't tickle me next time. It's so gross every time." Xia Yanchun chattered, then suddenly remembered during the National Day holiday, when Shen Nian had that weird look on his face after tickling her too. Her expression grew even more disdainful.

"Can't let it go?"

"I... I'm going to watch videos. Can't be bothered with you."

"Let's watch together. Show me your algorithm."

"Wanting to see everything, how annoying..."

Shen Nian was no longer in severe corn mode. He slipped into Xia Yanchun's blanket, squeezing her towards the wall without a hint of guilt.

Before Xia Yanchun could say anything, he greedily pulled her soft, warm form into his arms, gently holding her as he sat them both up, letting her lean some of her weight on him. Then he reached over to pull the blanket up properly, and they both half-reclined against the headboard.

A folded pillow under their lower backs made it very comfortable.

Xia Yanchun didn't really mind that much. She hadn't closed her bedroom door because she knew Shen Nian would definitely come in. Even if she had closed it, Shen Nian would have used his key.

On weekends, besides studying, she didn't have much to do. Having Shen Nian around was actually pretty nice. It was just like how she would go to Shen Nian's house on her own during the week—whether to find Shen Yue or Shen Nian, the essence was simply wanting someone to pass the time with.

Leaning on Shen Nian was quite comfortable. Her hand rested on Shen Nian's abdomen as she scrolled through short videos on her phone.

The algorithm had everything. Xia Yanchun swiped her thumb: cooking tutorials, travel vlogs, cute pet videos—just no gaming content.

The video she watched the longest was of an elementary school teacher checking students' homework on the first day back after the National Day holiday. The students lined up one by one; only those who had done it were allowed into the classroom, scaring some of them pale.

"You were exactly like that as a kid. Not doing your homework, getting caught by the teacher, then going home to get a scolding from your mom."

"Damn it, how come you never mentioned that when you were asking me, you dog, to do your homework for you?"

Xia Yanchun dodged the question. "Shh, when was that? I don't remember."

"You know, the fact that I haven't gone dark side yet is a testament to my kindness."

"Mhm-hmm, it's all in the past. I just made a mistake that every older sister makes."

"You get to say everything. What's left for me to say?"

Shen Nian pinched her soft cheek. Feeling guilty, Xia Yanchun just shrunk her neck a little, letting him do as he pleased. Consider it atonement!

Once he's done pinching my cheek, he can't think about revenge anymore, okay?

"Don't say anything. Keep watching. You scroll." Xia Yanchun shoved the phone into his hand, so Shen Nian would have one less hand to bother her with.

Her hands and feet seemed to be getting cold. She rested her foot on Shen Nian's leg, stealing some of his radiating warmth. Curling her toes, she could even pinch his leg hair.

And she actually did it.

Shen Nian frowned, shooting her a puzzled glance.

Xia Yanchun covered her mouth with a light laugh, stopping her playful tug at his leg hair. Like a little bird, she nestled her feet against him for warmth.

"Why are your feet so cold...?"

"I don't know, they were quite warm this morning..."

Shen Nian pulled the quilt tighter around them. "I told you the lean meat porridge would warm you up."

"Mmm... it did help a bit."

Feeling cozy, Xia Yanchun stealthily pulled out the hand Shen Nian was leaning against and gently grasped two of his fingers.

Her hand was cool. Shen Nian knew she was just seeking warmth and didn't mind, until her little paw began to lightly stroke along his fingers. Shen Nian started to feel a bit unsettled.

He glanced at Haki Chun, and Haki Chun looked up at him too.

Her eyes held a trace of innocent confusion, unsure why he was looking at her.

Hmm...

Shen Nian concluded it was just Chun Bao's subconscious reaction to holding something—some people always have these unconscious little movements when they're fiddling with an object...

It just wasn't a great situation.

Shen Nian withdrew his hand, thinking it was better to just envelop hers instead.

"Aren't we the best in the world already, being like this?"

"......"

Xia Yanchun's lips parted slightly, then pressed into a thin line. Hidden beneath the covers, her small enveloped hand quietly opened, intertwining with his larger one, their ten fingers lacing together.

"For today, we are."

I'll indulge you for one day—the best in the world.

·

Nine points! Thank you, dear readers!

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