Chapter 273 - 256: A Romance Unique to Lin Ruoxi

Gu Muxue puffed her cheeks in frustration. It was the first holiday since she and Xue Rui had made their relationship official, and he was actually saying they shouldn’t celebrate it?

’Does that mean he doesn’t acknowledge our relationship?’

Xue Rui: Look, Muxue. Niu Lang and Zhi Nv meet every year on the Qixi Festival. But one day in the Celestial Court is a year in the mortal realm. That means Niu Lang only gets to see Zhi Nv once a year, while Zhi Nv can see Niu Lang every single night.

This was just an excuse Xue Rui had made up on the spot. If one day in the heavens really was a year on earth, then Niu Lang would spend an entire year working out, all for a single night...

While Zhi Nv, on the other hand, would be living it up every night...

’This Niu Lang... is he really a respectable cowherd?’

Of course, he didn’t dare say something like that to Gu Muxue. An excuse like this would definitely earn him a beating.

Creditor: Hmm??

Xue Rui: See? It’s not fair.

Creditor: But we’re both in the mortal realm, you know. [pouts]

Xue Rui: Muxue, honestly, I think Niu Lang and Zhi Nv’s story is a tragedy. It’s just too unlucky, and I don’t want us to have an ending like that.

Creditor: Fine.

Xue Rui knew that single word was still laced with resentment. He thought for a moment, then replied: As long as we’re together, every day can be a holiday.

Creditor: Hmph! Go on and do your work.

Xue Rui: It’s fine. I can sneak in some chats with you while I’m working.

Creditor: Did your acceptance letter arrive yet? Don’t lose it.

Xue Rui: My aunt already picked it up for me.

...

Gu Muxue rested her chin in her hands, lost in thought. She knew Xue Rui was probably just busy, but that didn’t feel quite right. It seemed like he genuinely didn’t want to celebrate the Qixi Festival.

’Is Xue Rui really that superstitious? How come I never knew?’

’Perhaps,’ she mused. ’Some people aren’t superstitious, but they start praying for blessings more often as they get older. I went to temples with my mom, and I think I made a wish back then, too.’

’Now, it seems that wish has already come true...’

Xue Rui chatted with Gu Muxue for a while longer. ’The girl is definitely still holding a grudge,’ he thought. ’Tomorrow’s gift will be to make it up to her.’

He had already cut some of the holidays with the little lass, basically axing all the Gregorian ones with the excuse that they shouldn’t celebrate "foreign holidays."

With the little lass, he’d also found reasons to get rid of a few lunar holidays. Of course, Gu Muxue wasn’t as easy to fool as Lin Ruoxi; she would definitely grow resentful over time. He’d have to find other ways to make it up to her...

"Dinner’s ready," Lin Ruoxi called out, pulling a chair out for Xue Rui.

As the aroma of food filled the room, Xue Rui thought to himself, ’This is what it means to be alive.’ Sometimes, he really just wanted to stay by the little lass’s side, to live a simple life with her forever. He had even fantasized about the idyllic life of a farmer and his wife before.

’Unfortunately, people are always greedy.’

’If his childhood sweetheart were to marry someone else, he would never be able to accept it!’

’Was he supposed to watch Gu Muxue get married to someone else and just offer her a "Congratulations and be happy"?’

’He wasn’t that magnanimous. Thus, his "I want them all" mentality was born of desperation.’

And so, Xue Rui rationalized his own scumbag behavior.

’A man’s gotta lie to himself sometimes.’

The little lass stood obediently by the dining table, waiting as if she wouldn’t sit down until Xue Rui came over.

Lying on the sofa, Xue Rui stretched out an arm. The little lass immediately understood what game he wanted to play. She trotted over to his side, grabbed his arm with both hands, and forcefully pulled him up from the sofa.

Once he was up, Xue Rui deliberately leaned his weight on Lin Ruoxi’s shoulders. The corners of Lin Ruoxi’s eyes crinkled in a smile as she half-dragged, half-carried him to the dining table.

"You’ve reached peak laziness," Yu Minlan said, shaking her head. Xue Rui even needed someone to help him up from the sofa.

She felt like she couldn’t possibly eat with them, so she just picked up her bowl, sat down in a corner of the living room balcony, and shut herself away from the world.

Xue Rui, of course, heard Yu Minlan’s quiet complaint, but what could he do!

The little lass was so diligent, taking care of everything for him every day. He just found himself getting lazier and lazier whenever he was around her.

"If you keep this up, you’re going to spoil me into a useless bum," Xue Rui said seriously. The signs were already there. Whenever he was with Lin Ruoxi, he didn’t want to move a muscle; even the thought of standing up felt like a monumental effort.

He knew it was a kind of codependence. It wasn’t just that the little lass was attached to him; he felt the same way about her.

The little lass’s big eyes fluttered. She knew what Xue Rui meant. She gave him a tentative glance and whispered, "But I just want to do it."

"Mm, soon I’ll need you to feed me my food and water," Xue Rui said shamelessly.

"Mmm, okay," Lin Ruoxi said. She picked up a piece of celery and pork with her chopsticks, gently brought it to Xue Rui’s lips, and cupped her other hand under his chin to catch any dripping oil, just like she was feeding a small child.

Xue Rui’s expression went slack. He dazedly opened his mouth and ate the food the little lass offered, mumbling, "You don’t have to feed me today. We’ll talk about it in the future."

Yu Minlan, eating her noodles on the balcony, thought to herself, ’Why won’t this damn sliding door close all the way? I don’t want to hear this!’

Xue Rui slurped his noodles loudly. He only ever felt truly content when eating the little lass’s cooking; his stomach had probably gotten used to her food.

Xue Rui joked, "I think you’re quite the schemer. If you spoil me rotten, I’ll have no choice but to stay by your side forever."

Hearing this, Yu Minlan sucked her teeth in annoyance. ’He’s a complete freeloader, and he has the nerve to call *her* a schemer?’

When Lin Ruoxi heard this, a sudden glint appeared in her eyes. "You’re right! Why didn’t I think of that?"

"Huh?" Xue Rui murmured, surprised. He had only been joking. ’Did the little lass actually take me seriously?’

"I want to cook for you every day," Lin Ruoxi said softly.

Xue Rui gave a resigned smile. The little lass’s confessions were always so direct.