Chapter 74.2

Xu Heran tilted her head up slightly, looking at Xin Nuo’s silent expression, and exclaimed loudly, “Sister Cui! Nuo Nuo doesn’t want to do sports!”

“At my place, there’s no ‘not wanting’!” Cui Qi heartlessly declared, “After the Idol Festival ends, your album will be released. Your signing event will be held at the Beijing Music Note Impression Mall, followed by participating in the Beijing TV music show. Then you’ll return to Haicheng. It’s a schedule similar to the past.”

“After all this, it’ll probably be November, and there’s one more mini-album, then it’s the Chinese New Year.”

Sister Cui slapped the table, her tone stern.

“You two, our time is tight and precious!”

“Just listening gives me a headache!” Xu Heran immediately said, “No wonder you gave us a break these past two days! You told us it was because we finished recording the album and needed to rest, but in reality, it’s just a cutthroat schedule!”

Xin Nuo said in a deep voice, “If I had rejected your request, I should be at the beach right now, enjoying the last bit of vacation with everyone.”

Xu Heran looked at Xin Nuo in shock, feeling wronged. “So, you don’t like me anymore?”

A certain Pearl lowered her eyelids, her blue-purple eyes watery.

“Don’t you want to be with me?”

Sister Cui on the other end of the phone felt that something was off with this conversation, “???”

Xin Nuo: “…Okay.”

“Hehe.” Xu Heran blew a kiss towards Xin Nuo, immediately sat up straight, and said, “Tonight, would you like to join me for a relaxing two-person bath?””

“Xu Heran!” Cui Qi suddenly stood up, “Speak properly!”

“Now everyone knows you and Xin Nuo are in Beijing, behave yourselves!”

“If you keep messing around, I’ll separate you and Nuo Nuo for the rest of the schedule!” Cui Qi threatened, “With so many people around, no nonsense allowed! No pearl talk!”

There was no more effective threat than this. Xu Heran immediately promised to be honest, law-abiding, dedicated to her work, and not to actively let Xin Nuo get involved in any rumors.

After hanging up the phone, both Sister Cui and Xin Nuo in the car were puzzled, and they simultaneously asked, “What does ‘not actively’ mean?”

Xu Heran bit her tongue, shrugged her shoulders innocently, and had a helpless expression.

Xin Nuo looked at her suspiciously and sat down beside her.

On social media platforms, the entertainment news section was filled with a string of trending topics.

#XuHeranReportsAtBeijingUniversity#

#XuHeranAtBeijingUniversityFinanceDepartment#

#XuHeranTheAcademicGenius#

#XuHeranLittlePearlBoyfriendAppears#

#LittlePearlCheatingShockstheInternet#

“Cheating?” Jiang Qiong turned her head, holding a broccoli, and made a shocked face just like the trending topics. “I’d rather believe, ‘coming out of the closet!'”

“Who is Little Pearl’s rumored boyfriend?” Lin Weining, next to her, was digging into her jelly while holding a silver spoon. She had just asked the question and then exclaimed, “Ah,” remembering Xu Junran in Beijing, “Is it her little brother?”

Jiang Qiong nodded, her eyes falling on Lin Weining’s jelly. The dog woofed in dissatisfaction.

“Why can you eat jelly?”

“Because I’ve been busy and lost a lot of weight.” Lin Weining finished her words, raised her hand, and pinched Jiang Qiong’s arm. Jiang Qiong had a small frame with a bit of soft flesh. Recently, everyone had been busy recording songs until late at night, adding midnight snacks. Some dogs couldn’t control their appetites and gained a lot of weight.

Unable to refute Lin Weining’s words, the silent dog woofed and pursed her lips, “Then give me a bite quietly.”

“No, you can’t,” Lin Weining said, “If you take a bite, you’ll end up crying and going for a run.”

“I won’t cry!” Jiang Qiong tried to widen her eyes, “I’ll run with a smile!”

Lin Weining turned her head, looked at Jiang Qiong seriously, and said, “Although I’m easy to fool, I can still tell. You’re lying to me!”

Lin Weining said it loudly.

“You never run with a smile!”

Jiang Qiong: “… I thought you were saying I wouldn’t go for a run! Damn it, even my expression looks so innocent!”

The dog woofed at Lin Weining, “Upgraded, Lin Weining little friend.”

Lin Weining, with the drooling dog woofing in front of her, put the fruit into her mouth, chewed slowly, and smiled, “I can’t be fooled by you all the time!”

“Really? Hey, Laurel, how can you eat chicken legs!” Jiang Qiong looked behind Lin Weining.

Lin Weining subconsciously turned around and met Haya’s gaze.

“She’s tricking you,” the girl sitting on the couch with her chin propped up laughed, not knowing how long she had been watching.

Lin Weining: “… Jiang Xiaoqiong!”

“Hehe, can’t be fooled by you all the time~” Jiang Qiong imitated Lin Weining’s proud tone.

Angrily, Lin Weining scooped up a large spoonful of jelly and stuffed it into her mouth.

“Can’t you really give me a bite?” Jiang Qiong whispered, “Just one bite, I promise next time we’re recording a show together, I’ll help you win and won’t lie to you! I swear!”

“No!” Lin Weining strongly refused.

Haya laughed, leaned back, and said with a smile, “Ning Ning baby, I’m not lying to you, give me a bite.”

Lin Weining and Jiang Qiong turned their heads at the same time, looking at Haya.

The tallest girl in the team had finished her afternoon training, taken a shower, and come to the living room to watch TV. She lay on the couch, patted the empty space in front of her, and said, “Come.”

“I’m not dieting.”

Lin Weining half-believed, holding her favorite flavor of large jelly that she specially bought from the supermarket and walked to Haya’s side.

“What flavor is it?” Haya asked her.

“It’s lychee flavor,” Lin Weining said, “I’ll find a clean spoon.”

“No need, I don’t mind you,” Haya said, lifting her head, “Ah,” and opened her mouth wide.

Lin Weining pursed her lips, scooped up a spoonful of jelly. The transparent jelly trembled on the silver spoon and was carefully fed into Haya’s mouth.

The tall girl comfortably lifted her legs and squinted her eyes.

“Mmm, delicious.”

“Exactly!” Lin Weining said happily.

“Just couldn’t taste the flavor,” Haya said playfully.

Lin Weining: “…?”

Jiang Qiong, who couldn’t partake, sneered from behind, “You didn’t even taste the flavor and yet you know it’s delicious!”

“Give me another bite.” Haya ignored the dog’s woofing and said to Lin Weining.

“Okay.”

Lin Weining scooped jelly for her. This time, she deliberately chose a large piece of fruit, but someone was directing from there, “Not this piece, a bit to the left… No, right a bit, that’s not right, let me do it myself.”

Haya sat up suddenly and beckoned Lin Weining. Lin Weining obediently placed the jelly in her palm.

She had only scooped two spoonfuls from this jelly, one for herself and the other for Haya.

“Hey, there’s quite a bit left.” Haya whispered, a hint of laughter in her eyes. She didn’t take the spoon Lin Weining handed her. Instead, she tilted her head back, opened her mouth, and raised her hand.

“A kiss,” a soft sound, and the soft transparent jelly dropped into Haya’s mouth.

“Gulp.”

Haya patted her chest and struggled to swallow it.

She returned the empty jelly shell to Lin Weining, licked her lips.

“Tasted it, not bad, it really is delicious!”

Lin Weining: “…”

Onlooker Jiang Qiong: “Hahaha!”

Lin Weining looked at the empty jelly shell in her hand, looked at Haya’s smiling expression, and slowly opened her mouth wide.

“My jelly…”

“Hahaha, got tricked! Haya, you’re so mischievous! You actually bullied Ning Ning like this!”

“My jelly…” Lin Weining was both angry and aggrieved, “I ran to two supermarkets and only found this one in the corner! It’s the last one! It’s a new product, so hard to find!”

Haya nodded approvingly, “No wonder it tastes so good!”

“You—” Lin Weining became even more furious!

“You didn’t leave me a single bite!”

Haya sighed in regret, “What do we do now?”

Jiang Qiong scolded from the side, “You’re so bad~”

“Ugh, my jelly.” Lin Weining held the jelly, squatting in front of Haya, sobbing, “Ugh, ugh, ugh,” she cried, getting angrier as she thought about it. Unable to bear it any longer, she extended a hand and “firmly” hit Haya’s leg.

Her hand made contact with Haya’s pajamas, producing a gentle patting sound.

“How can you bully me like this!” Lin Weining said angrily, “I won’t trust you anymore!”

“Don’t, baby, can I give it back to you?” Haya smiled, raised her index finger, and touched the corner of Lin Weining’s eye. “Really crying?”

“It’s making me so mad!”

Jiang Qiong immediately turned her head and loudly reported.

“Sister Yueyin!! Haya ate Ning Ning’s jelly and made Ning Ning cry!”

“I didn’t cry!” Lin Weining sniffled, pitifully looking at Haya with a glimmer of hope. “How will you make it up to me? If you give me one of these jellies, I’ll forgive you.”

The kind fairy gave Haya a way out.

Haya thought for a moment, pouting.

“Here, the flavor hasn’t dissipated yet.”

Lin Weining: “…”

Lin Weining: QAQ

“Sister Yueyin…” Lin Weining cried as she tried to get up to find Jian Yueyin for justice. “Haya isn’t being fair!”

“It’s really wrong, baby, no tattling.” Haya sat up, her hands encircling Lin Weining’s waist, guiding her to sit back, and the two of them fell onto the couch together.

“What’s going on?” Jian Yueyin came out of the kitchen, holding a piece of leaf in her mouth.

Jiang Qiong laughed, “Haya stole Lin Weining’s jelly.”

Jian Yueyin, who had been on a diet for five days, immediately declared, “Punishment!”

She walked behind Jiang Qiong, leaning against the back of a chair, watching the two wrestling on the couch.

Mainly, it was Lin Weining who took action.

After half a year of bustling about and losing quite a bit of weight, the girl with reddened eyes wrestled in Haya’s arms. No matter how she struggled, she couldn’t break free from Haya’s embrace. In the end, Haya locked her legs around hers and pinned her arms, restraining her in her embrace.

“Let go of me!” Lin Weining was both angry and anxious. Her ears were bright red, and when her eyes met Haya’s gaze, she immediately looked away and turned to the side. “If you let go of me, I won’t make you compensate.”

“Don’t want to let go.” Haya’s voice was very soft. “How about this? Cry for me, show me your tears, and I’ll let go of you. How does that sound?”

Lin Weining: “…!!”

“You took my jelly, and you want me to cry!” Lin Weining was truly on the verge of tears. “Why are you like this? I can’t believe that, I thought…”

“What did you think?” Haya whispered by her ear.

Lin Weining’s eyes were slightly red, and she turned her head with a grievance, avoiding eye contact.

Thought that you’re a big troublemaker!

Looking at her appearance, Haya laughed even more joyfully. Her chest trembled against Lin Weining’s back, and Lin Weining’s eyelashes were wet, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“I actually think… that Ning Ning baby’s eyes are so pretty. I’m sure you’d look even more beautiful when you cry.”

Haya’s tone was heavy and deep.

“What would it be like, I really want to see.”

Lin Weining bit her lip, feeling that Haya’s words were a little off. She had seen her cry before, so this person was just teasing her.

“I’m not going to be nice to you anymore.”

“Then just be nice to me in the future.” Haya swayed her back and forth.

“I’ll squash you!”

Lin Weining intentionally moved downward, but unexpectedly, the person behind her hugged her even tighter.

“You feel how heavy it is now!”

“Baby, you can’t just press down randomly.” Haya’s voice was low. “It could be dangerous.”

A big liar with no integrity, hoping something goes wrong!

…Tsk tsk tsk!

Lin Weining shook her head.

You can’t think like that.

“The person who stole my jelly can’t be forgiven.” Lin Weining whispered.

Haya asked with a smile, “I’ll compensate you.”

Lin Weining thought about how Haya had playfully pouted earlier as if she wanted to kiss her, and her face turned red. She was shy, but also angry.

“Really.”

Haya hooked her toe around the bag placed beside the coffee table. The bag was white, with the logo of a certain snack store printed on it. Lin Weining knew this snack store was quite far from the Forest Villa. It would take about an hour by car without traffic. Their family was the distributor for her favorite brand of jelly, but because it was too far away and the store was very popular, she never had a chance to go there.

After hooking the bag over, Haya bent over and placed the large white bag into Lin Weining’s lap.

“It’s quite heavy…”

Lin Weining lowered her head in pleasant surprise and took a look.

The lychee-flavored jelly that Haya had swallowed in one bite, along with the newly released flavors and various popular snacks from both domestic and international markets, were all packed together. Aside from snacks, there were also cute blind box plushies.

“Still angry?”

Lin Weining: “…Hmph.”

The girl awkwardly touched her head, feeling a bit embarrassed and childish for getting angry over a jelly. She whispered, “I forgive you.”

“You ran quite far to buy this.”

“Not that far, I went for a walk in the evening, it was on the way,” Haya said.

On the way…

Lin Weining’s face grew even redder. She whispered, “Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. If it’s for the sake of snacks, I’m willing to go out and buy for you every day if you cry for me,” Haya released her grip, letting go of Lin Weining. She leaned against the back of the sofa, grinning.

“Feel free to cry for me anytime~”

Lin Weining: “…Ugh!”

With the bag in hand, the blushing girl walked out. When she turned out of the living room, she saw two girls huddled together with bowls of food, pretending to eat grass.

“Are you two done being lovey-dovey?” Jiang Qiong, like a rabbit, deliberately exaggeratedly chewed her greens and spoke cheekily, “Shouldn’t you thank us for giving you some private space?”

Jian Yueyin speared a piece of broccoli and held it under her eyelids to examine.

“Weird, when did broccoli turn pink?”

“Hahaha, you’ve mistaken it, Yueyin. It’s some people, all blushing red like peach blossoms, reflecting the red!” Jiang Qiong said with a fake tone.

“Oh, I see.” Jian Yueyin stuffed the broccoli into her mouth and looked at Lin Weining, who was holding the snack bag and blushing. She teased, “How about inviting Laurel, the head chef?”

The usually slow girl suddenly understood the implication in Jian Yueyin’s words. Her face, already pink, turned even redder. She took two steps back and pursed her lips.

“I was actually planning to share with you all, but not anymore!”

“You can eat grass then!”

“Whatever! Pfft!”

Watching someone’s hurried departure, Jiang Qiong and Jian Yueyin exchanged a glance and burst into fits of laughter.

Haya walked out slowly, hands still in her pockets.

“Pretty good.”

She praised Jian Yueyin and looked at her, “Chef Laurel.”

Jian Yueyin raised an eyebrow and spoke melodiously, “Youth is truly wonderful~”

…

“A beautiful youth, pulsating with miracles! Young lives aren’t afraid to sweat, with strong bodies creating wonders on the sports field! Hello everyone, welcome to the 15th Star Sports Games. The star athletes are currently entering the venue. As you can see, many stars who have received warm welcomes on stage and screen have come to this event! They will use their passion and efforts to contribute to the promotion of sports for all, strengthening their bodies and making a difference!”

“It sounds like this place is some international sports arena. They’ve really elevated us,” Xu Heran said, hands on her hips.

Xin Nuo glanced at the people entering the venue around her, turned her head, and smiled at Xu Heran, “It’s probably because everyone has a lot of fans and can take the lead.”

“Life is about being still!” Jiang Qiong squatted on the ground, sighed deeply to the sky, “Sports and math, the two unbearable burdens of my life!”

“What about Mane?” Song Fenghua asked her.

“That’s my darling!” Jiang Qiong’s eyes lit up at the mention of Mane.

“Jiang Qiong isn’t poor.” Laurel remarked.

Jiang Qiong immediately raised her fist and shouted her slogan, “Jiang Qiong isn’t poor!”

“…”

The onlookers took a step back.

“Oh dear,” Xin Nuo stepped on her shoelace and almost tripped. Thanks to Xu Heran hugging her, she didn’t fall on the grass.

“Why is it so loose?” Xin Nuo sighed softly, touched Xu Heran’s face in gratitude.

“I’ll take care of it.” Xu Heran’s voice was gentle. She half-squatted down to tie Xin Nuo’s shoelaces.

Xin Nuo bent down, her fingers slipping into Xu Heran’s hair, patting her head.

Xu Heran was now a beautiful black pearl, her hair, nurtured for so long, soft and supple. It felt incredibly comfortable to touch.

“Thanks, Zhuzhu.”

To show her gratitude for tying her shoelaces, Xin Nuo walked behind Xu Heran, prompting her to turn around so she could tie her hair up.

A green hairband with a cartoon girl holding a lotus leaf was worn around her hair, with the connecting part embedded into it. To make it easier for Xin Nuo to work, Xu Heran simply sat cross-legged on the grass.

Feeling Xin Nuo’s gentle movements, Xu Heran closed her eyes in comfort. The happy expression on her fair face couldn’t be hidden.

At that moment, a sweet and melodious voice sounded from the side.

“Hello, Xu Heran.” A shadow cast over the space in front of her, and Xu Heran caught a whiff of a sweet perfume scent.

The girl who came to find Xu Heran was wearing tight black sports pants and an additional skirt tied around her waist. She was petite, with an oval face and a pointed chin. Her eyes were large, her cheeks rosy, radiating cuteness and sweetness. Her not-too-long brown hair was tied up in a bun, giving her a lively appearance.

“I really like you. Can I take a photo with you?”

Everyone on the field were idols and it was a break time shortly after they entered the venue, so everyone was socializing.

Xu Heran didn’t mind and politely smiled, “Sure.”

The girl’s eyes lit up immediately. She quickly sat next to Xu Heran and raised her phone, “Look this way.”

Puffing her cheeks, the girl made a cute expression and extended her hand, gesturing for Xu Heran to rest her chin in her palm. Xu Heran, feeling the grip on her hair was a bit tight, apologized and made a scissor-hand sign on her face.

The girl didn’t mind, taking three consecutive photos and then turning around excitedly, saying, “Oh my goodness, you’re really beautiful! You’re so tall. I’ve been your fan since 《Starlight Girls》 I really like you!”

“Your skin is amazing too! You’re not wearing makeup and your face is so fair. I can’t see any pores. I’m so jealous of you. You’re even three years younger than me!” The girl was very familiar, constantly moving in Xu Heran’s direction as she spoke.

Xu Heran leaned back, bumping into Xin Nuo’s body. She heard Xin Nuo’s indifferent tone and after hearing her say “that’s enough,” she placed both hands on Xu Heran’s shoulders.

“Oh, by the way, you might not recognize me. I debuted a year before you. Everyone calls me Taotao. Don’t be fooled by my height; I’m your older sister!” The girl named Taotao tilted her head, suddenly raised her hand, and pinched Xu Heran’s face.

“I really like you a lot. I want to be friends with you. If you don’t mind, can I call you Zhuzhu and you call me Big Sister Taotao?”

Xu Heran: “Uh… hello!”

Taotao chuckled softly, “You’re so cute!”

Feeling the increasing weight on her shoulders, Xu Heran made an effort to curve her lips upward.

Xinuo’s expression was quite calm. Her gaze shifted from the girl’s sweet smile and landed on Xu Heran’s hair that had been tied up neatly.

The lotus leaf held by the doll in the girl’s hand, covering the doll’s head, suddenly became extremely glaring.

Author’s Note:

Thanks for Yun Chen’s deep support! Tomorrow will have an extra update~ Thanks to all my dear ones who’ve given me their lightning and thunder~ Love you all~ It’s been a while since we had the customary message~ Give the author’s column a little nudge~ Various pre-orders~ Save this author~ And the dishes the author has prepared can all be put into the basket~ Heart~

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Sinensis
Proofreader: Ruu

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