Chapter 468 - 327: If There Is No Future (3)

’It would have been better not to say anything.’

’Xiaorui, you’ll understand, right?’

"See? You’ve angered your little aunt to the point of speechlessness," Ren Qunfang said, pinching the bridge of her nose.

Xue Rui’s expression darkened. ’His little aunt went quiet?’

"He gets what he wants and still plays the victim," Xue Yao chimed in.

Ren Qunfang frowned. "Go downstairs and eat. This isn’t for kids to see."

Lin Ruoxi had a sudden realization. ’So this is why Aunt Ren is angry?’

Lin Ruoxi quickly explained, "Auntie, I was the one who snuck into Xue Rui’s room last night."

Xue Rui nodded emphatically. "Did you hear that? She admitted it herself."

"Xixi, don’t be afraid of him. Just tell Auntie the truth. I’ve got your back," Ren Qunfang said to Lin Ruoxi with a smile.

Lin Ruoxi glanced timidly at everyone, then stammered, "The truth is..."

Everyone instantly perked up their ears, eager to hear the "truth of the incident."

"I... I’m a pervert," Lin Ruoxi said weakly.

"Mm, you’re very self-aware," Xue Rui said with a satisfied nod.

Lin Ruoxi pouted. She thought about her past actions: sneaking out in the middle of the night just to see Xue Rui, to smell his scent, and just yesterday, secretly crawling into his bed...

’Xue Rui was right...’

"But... I’m Xue Rui’s girlfriend. Can’t we sleep together?" Lin Ruoxi asked in a small voice, her eyes timid.

Lin Ruoxi’s counter-question silenced everyone.

Ren Qunfang shot Xue Rui a harsh glare and said irritably, "Get up and eat!"

Lin Ruoxi frantically started picking up clothes from the head of the bed, reaching out to pull a shirt over Xue Rui’s head.

"Let him get dressed himself!"

...

「At the dinner table.」

"This is so unfair," Xue Rui said mournfully, voicing the frustration in his heart.

’Lin Ruoxi’s innocent cluelessness had really done a number on him today...’

Lin Ruoxi knew Xue Rui felt wronged, and she kept trying to comfort him in a low voice.

"I’ll make it up to you. You can do anything you want, okay?" Lin Ruoxi whispered, her lips close to Xue Rui’s ear.

"Alright, stop your whining. Drink this," Ren Qunfang said, handing Xue Rui a yogurt drink.

’Earlier, Xue Xiaying had told her that Lin Ruoxi was indeed the proactive one...’

’She really hadn’t expected that. In her eyes, Lin Ruoxi was a quiet and gentle girl, the traditional, reserved type...’

’But reality had proven that was just her stereotype.’

Xue Rui raised his cup and took a sip. "I accept your apology."

Lin Ruoxi blinked. ’When did Aunt Ren apologize?’

Seeing the utter confusion on Lin Ruoxi’s face, Xue Rui whispered, "You wouldn’t know, but when parents wrong their kids, serving them a meal is the apology."

"About last night, have you told Xiaorui yet?" Ren Qunfang asked, interrupting their whispering.

Xue Rui’s gaze swept across the table, and he noticed that only he and Xue Xiaying looked confused.

Lin Ruoxi swallowed. ’She’s made up her mind. She’s going to be Xue Rui’s sister...’

"Rui, do you want an older sister?" Lin Ruoxi asked, looking into Xue Rui’s eyes.

"I want to adopt Xixi as my daughter," Ren Qunfang said.

Xue Rui nearly sprayed out his yogurt drink. The news was certainly explosive. He turned his head to look at Lin Ruoxi. "Oh? So I’ll have to call you ’Older Sister’ from now on?"

"Mhm, I am older than you," Lin Ruoxi said with a smile.

’There were many possible reasons why his mom would want to adopt Lin Ruoxi. Xue Rui didn’t know what his mom’s motive was.’

He asked, "Why?"

Ren Qunfang said somberly, "If you and Xixi don’t end up together in the future, we can’t let it hold Xixi back. I’ll find a good family for her to marry into and get you a brother-in-law."

Xue Rui’s eyebrow twitched. ’Is she threatening me?’

’Wow, just wow. He had to admit, his mom really knew how to get to him.’

’A mother truly knows her son best!’

’What a ruthless move!’

"No... That’s not what I was thinking!"

Lin Ruoxi’s expression was frantic; she had never thought of leaving Xue Rui.

"Didn’t you just say you wanted to be my older sister?" Xue Rui chuckled. ’Why is the silly girl getting so flustered?’

"Mhm, an older sister, and also a girlfriend," Lin Ruoxi said in a low voice.

"Huh?" Xue Rui didn’t understand.

’Based on his understanding of Lin Ruoxi, she shouldn’t have been willing to agree. And yet, the silly girl had...’

Lin Ruoxi bit her lip and gestured for Xue Rui to lean in closer.

Xue Rui leaned his ear closer. Her warm breath tickled his skin, and Lin Ruoxi’s soft, sweet voice entered his ear:

"If... and I’m just saying if, if we don’t have a future together, I’ll still be your older sister. I want to stay by your side forever as your sister, to take care of you for your whole life..."

’Lin Ruoxi knew she wasn’t the only one in Xue Rui’s heart. If they really did end up separating, at least she’d have a role that allowed her to stick by his side.’

"C-Can I?"