Just Want to Be Someone Else's Mother

The young girl emerged like a lotus from the water, her skin tender and dewy after the hot bath.

The house was a bit chilly. Xia Yanchun immediately ran back to bed, gently wiggling her feet. After the water on her feet dried, she covered her lower body with a quilt, leaning comfortably against the headboard while scrolling through her phone.

A faint flush from the hot bath lingered on her face, taking a long time to fade. As the warmth from the hot water dissipated, her hands and feet gradually grew stiff.

Especially now during her period, the feeling of icy hands and feet was even more pronounced.

Xia Yanchun slid her index finger across the phone screen and ordered two earmuffs and a hot water bottle.

She could take the hot water bottle to school. At noon, she could unplug the water dispenser to charge it, which was quite convenient.

The school was too crowded; she couldn't possibly stick her hands into Shen Nian's pockets, let alone have him hold them to keep her warm.

She'd just have Shen Nian bring it back for her later.

Xia Yanchun giggled to herself. When it came to being an energy-saving master and utilizing resources efficiently, she was a pro.

Xia Yanchun suddenly thought of something and opened Shen Nian's QQ.

[Xia Yanchun]: If you're getting up early tomorrow too, I want brown sugar ginger water.

[You poked Shen Nian's butt and said "Nice buns."]

"..."

Weirdo.

If a guy poked him like that, he'd probably explode on the spot.

Not as good as her own "Call me Mama," which worked on anyone.

What girl doesn't have the desire to be a "mom"?

She didn't know about others, but she certainly did. Though, she currently didn't want her own child; she just wanted to be someone else's "mom."

Touching the hearts of 1.4 billion people, giving a thumbs-up for Chunbao's pure maternal love.

After a while, Shen Nian finally replied.

[Shen Nian]: Got it. How many times do I have to say it? Want me to fill my cup for you too or what?

[Xia Yanchun]: What kind of attitude is that?

[Shen Nian]: What other attitude could there be? You want me to fawn over a woman like you who takes advantage, loses, and then welches on the bet? I'll give you two punches till you burst.

[Xia Yanchun]: Pfft. If you can prove that ball went in after I left, then you win.

[Shen Nian]: Do I have a time machine or something?

[Shen Nian]: If I had a time machine, the first thing I'd do is train you to be a maid (Husky pointing at a person.jpg)

[Xia Yanchun]: (Deer, water pipe, alarm clock.jpg)

[Shen Nian]: Damn it, Xia Yanchun, are you done? Can't let it go, huh?

[Xia Yanchun]: (Jerry, getting angry.jpg)

Xia Yanchun's eyes curved into crescents as she held her phone, smiling softly.

Precision-guided teasing was just too overpowering.

Oh well. Some things, once seen, could never be forgotten no matter how hard you tried. If Shen Nian hadn't said weird stuff like "train you to be a maid," she wouldn't have brought this up either.

All in all, it's Shen Nian's fault! Xia Yanchun was certain.

Shen Nian didn't reply for quite a while on his end. Wondering if he was genuinely tilted, Xia Yanchun bared her teeth slightly. Considering the exam tomorrow, she plugged in her phone, bundled herself up in the quilt like a turtle, and prepared to rest early.

Once she decided to sleep, drowsiness surged over her like the Qiantang River tide. She couldn't help but yawn, her eyelids growing heavy.

Buzz—

Her phone lit up. Xia Yanchun's small hand shot out immediately.

Hmm, weather forecast. Blue gale warning for tomorrow.

With the screen still lit, Xia Yanchun opened Shen Nian's chat window again. He still hadn't replied.

Her small fingers lightly tapped the screen, typing out the words, "Are you coming over tonight?" Hesitating, she deleted all the characters and replaced them with the most ordinary two words.

[Xia Yanchun]: Good night.

[Shen Nian] replied instantly: How can you sleep at this age?

[Shen Nian] shared a video: (How High School Students Can Achieve a Breakthrough in a Short Time.mp4)

[Shen Nian] shared a video: (Students Who Sleep Before Midnight Are Destined for Mediocrity.mp4)

[Shen Nian] shared a video: (Three Traits of Top Students, The Last One is Key.mp4)

[Xia Yanchun]: ...

Incredible. So he wasn't replying earlier because he was looking for toxic motivational content.

That stuff might work in a parents' group chat, but sending it to her just made her want to laugh.

Breakthrough? Overtake who? Overtake into No.1 High School? How many people at No.1 High could outscore her anyway?

Better to just block him.

The next day.

Shen Nian got up early to brew brown sugar ginger water, filled both his and Xia Yanchun's water bottles, then reminded Shen Yue via WeChat to take a thermos to work as well.

This wasn't just any ordinary brown sugar ginger water. This was the brown sugar ginger water from Wang Wei's poetry, the brown sugar ginger water brewed by Shen Nian.

Brown sugar ginger water itself was quite wholesome. Enhanced by his [Cooking Mastery], it had now become a supercharged beverage, and drinking it wouldn't make your head pointy.

When it was time for school, Shen Nian had just opened his door when he ran into Xia Yanchun from across the hallway, and they reached the corridor together.

"Pretty early. Didn't even have to wait for you." Shen Nian grinned and ran ahead to press the elevator button.

"So sleepy..." Xia Yanchun mumbled softly.

"What's wrong? Didn't sleep well?"

"Mhm..."

Xia Yanchun blew on her hands and rubbed them together, then glanced up at Shen Nian.

The wind had picked up last night, sometimes rattling the windows. Sleeping with icy hands and feet, she had no choice but to turn on the heater.

If Shen Nian were here, she wouldn't have woken up cold in the middle of the night.

After sleeping with Shen Nian once, she didn't want to sleep alone anymore, all curled up in the quilt with cold limbs.

Stupid Shen Nian.

Xia Yanchun pulled a carton of plain milk from her pocket. "For you."

"Huh?" Shen Nian stroked his chin.

Last time he went to Xia Yanchun's place, he had wanted to sneak a couple of cartons, but couldn't find any. He had to settle for eating a peanut ice cream bar from the freezer in the middle of winter instead.

Wow, Haki Chun even had anti-theft awareness.

Must there always be calculation and scheming between sworn rivals?

Shen Nian felt a pang of sadness. "Why couldn't I find any milk at your place last time? You hid it, right? Do I look like someone who would steal your milk? I've been wrong about you, Xia Yanchun."

"You would not only steal my milk, but also my ice cream cones."

"Oh wow, you're absolutely right!" Shen Nian had an epiphany.

Xia Yanchun grabbed his large hand, stuffed the milk into it, and helped curl his fingers around it. "There, hold it."

"I'm moved to tears, Chunbao. Let me give you a kiss."

"Kiss my foot..." Xia Yanchun gave a strained smile. "If I let you kiss me whenever you wanted, what was the point of yesterday's bet? You didn't win anyway."

"Only because you cheated." Shen Nian tugged a strand of her hair. "Actually, I still think a win-win would be better for us."

"Can't be bothered with you. The elevator's here."

Xia Yanchun scampered into the elevator. After Shen Nian entered, she pressed the button for the first floor.

Shen Nian fell silent too, inserting the straw and taking a sip of the milk, sucking so hard the carton began to crumple with the first pull.

"Want a sip?" Shen Nian offered the milk to Xia Yanchun's lips.

Xia Yanchun brushed her hair aside, took the straw between her lips, and took a small sip. Shen Nian seemed to hear her swallowing, two soft gulps.

As her lips parted, a silvery strand stretched between the straw and the girl's mouth.

"Here, take your water bottle."

"Mhm..."

Yanxi reminds you: Due to Tomato's request for 3 million+ daily visits causing excessive server pressure, it is now recommended that you use sources from other big shots.