Chapter 469 - 328: Who’s Prettier, Me or Gu Muxue?

"You..."

Xue Rui stared at Lin Ruoxi, his eyes filled with astonishment.

’What did she mean, "Is that okay?"’

It was as if she were asking if she was even qualified to be by his side...

The little minx always had a way of unexpectedly saying the most humble words of love, dealing a heavy blow to his heart.

When Lin Ruoxi had said they had "no future," it seemed like she lacked a sense of security;

But she hadn’t pressed him for answers. She had even refuted her own mother’s words, which in turn gave him plenty of security.

If they couldn’t be together in the end, Lin Ruoxi would become his sister and stay by his side forever.

’Lovers finally become brother and sister?’ Xue Rui mused. ’What kind of weirdness is this?’

But right now, everyone was staring at him. Lin Ruoxi’s anticipation, Xue Xiaying’s surprise, Xue Yao’s confusion...

And, of course, his mother’s blatant threats.

’How could he possibly refuse?’

He leaned close to Lin Ruoxi’s ear and said, "I like being the older one."

"Oh, I can be the younger sister, too," Lin Ruoxi said, flustered. ’Is he saying no?’

"Honestly, I don’t have much say in this house. If you agree to it, that’s all that matters," Xue Rui sighed, leaving the decision to Lin Ruoxi.

He really couldn’t refuse, but he didn’t want to be the one to take the fall, either.

Lin Ruoxi fidgeted with the corner of Xue Rui’s shirt. ’She wanted to say yes.’

’If she agreed, would she have to call Xue Rui’s mother ’Mom’?’

’She had never called anyone that before...’

’If her classmate Gu Muxue found out, it would only hurt Gu Muxue even more.’

’Is Xue Rui worried about his classmate Gu Muxue right now?’

Ren Qunfang couldn’t hear their quiet discussion. She tapped the table and urged, "Xiaorui, so is it a yes or a no?"

Lin Ruoxi spoke up, "Aunt Ren, I still prefer ’girlfriend.’"

She knew she had put Xue Rui in a difficult position, so she shouldn’t agree to it right now.

"Xixi, did he just threaten you?"

Ren Qunfang slammed her chopsticks on the table, stood up, and snatched the yogurt from Xue Rui’s hand.

The corner of Xue Rui’s mouth twitched. ’His mom had just retracted her apology...’

"N-no," Lin Ruoxi said, slowly shaking her head. She poured Xue Rui a cup of yogurt.

Xue Yao said with dissatisfaction, "Bro, you’re being so shameless."

Xue Rui was speechless. In the end, he was still the one taking the blame.

"Xixi, you can agree whenever you’re ready," Ren Qunfang said, not pushing the matter further. After all, it had all happened too suddenly.

"Okay, thank you, Aunt Ren." Lin Ruoxi smiled in satisfaction. She then explained to Xue Yao, "Yaoyao, I will be the older sister in the future."

"Eat, eat," Xue Rui interrupted.

He ate the rest of the meal distractedly. ’Has Lin Ruoxi gotten smarter?’

’She only says half of what she means, leaving plenty of room for imagination.’

’Did she learn that from him?’

...

After breakfast, Lin Ruoxi held Da Huang’s leash as she and Xue Rui went out to walk the dog.

Xue Rui took a deep breath. "Xixi, you’ve become a bad girl."

He had always thought of Lin Ruoxi as a silly little girl who let him control everything.

But after that breakfast, he realized Lin Ruoxi had a mind of her own—and a strong one at that.

Even though the results were always extremely favorable to him...

If he were to ever abandon Lin Ruoxi, she would become his sister.

’And what kind of sister would that be?’

’The kind of big sister who eats with you and sleeps with you, of course...’

’So cunning! What girl could ever accept her man having a "sister" like that?’

’And when the time came, would he be the one to reject Lin Ruoxi?’

’He knew he didn’t have it in him. The little minx had too many tricks to seduce him. He couldn’t possibly resist every time; he was bound to slip up eventually.’

’In the end, Lin Ruoxi would scare away any other girl by his side, and then she would continue to have him all to herself...’

He thought he was the hunter in this relationship, but reality had dealt him a harsh blow. Lin Ruoxi was the true "top-tier predator" hiding behind the scenes.

"A bad girl?" Lin Ruoxi blinked, then gently wrapped her arms around Xue Rui’s arm. "Mhm, I’m a bad girl."

She had indeed been making a lot of her own decisions lately. Gu Muxue had taught her that: never give up on matters concerning your own vital interests.

Lin Ruoxi felt it was selfish, but she did it anyway...

She felt she had let Gu Muxue down, and listening to Gu Muxue’s advice was one of the few ways she could make it up to her.

Gu Muxue’s method was working. Lin Ruoxi could feel that Aunt Ren’s affection for her was independent of Xue Rui. It was as if she now had a pillar of support and a way out.

Imperceptibly, Lin Ruoxi’s mindset had undergone a slight shift, one she herself hadn’t even noticed...

"Xixi, let me see your phone for a bit." As Xue Rui spoke, he reached for the pocket of Lin Ruoxi’s jeans, giving her no chance to refuse.

Lin Ruoxi twisted away. A sudden fear gripped her heart—she had just rejected Xue Rui.

’But why should she be afraid?’

"Oh, what did you want to say? I’ll say it for you," Lin Ruoxi said, blinking.

"It’s nothing, just wanted to say good morning."

Xue Rui sullenly withdrew his hand. ’It’s over,’ he thought. ’The little minx’s IQ and EQ are skyrocketing. He had barely even reached for her phone, and she’d already guessed he wanted to message Gu Muxue.’

Lin Ruoxi nodded, took out her phone, and sent "Good morning" to Gu Muxue.

Two minutes later, Gu Muxue replied with a "Morning" of her own.

Xue Rui glanced at the long string of green bubbles on his own WeChat, none of which had received a reply from Gu Muxue...

After re-evaluating Lin Ruoxi, Xue Rui tentatively asked, "Xixi, do you really not mind about me and Muxue, or..."

Now that Lin Ruoxi was becoming more independent, he felt a new kind of pressure.

To be precise, this was the first time he was communicating with Lin Ruoxi as an equal.

He wanted to ask her many of his old questions again, wondering if he might get different answers this time.

For instance, the matter with Gu Muxue. When Lin Ruoxi had found out, she was heartbroken. But not only did she not blame him, she had even given him her first time.