Chapter 511 - 343: Sharing Half Is Fine, Too

Gu Muxue quietly snuggled closer into Lin Ruoxi’s arms, her shoulder gently pressing against Lin Ruoxi’s...

Lin Ruoxi’s embraces were always so warm and selfless. There was no emotional burden in nestling into them, and she never asked what was wrong.

Take now, for example. The two of them had inexplicably ended up in an embrace in the bathtub, yet Lin Ruoxi hadn’t expressed the slightest confusion.

Gu Muxue stole a glance at the dazed Lin Ruoxi, her peach-blossom eyes curving up slightly. ’She loved this feeling of serenity.’

Lin Ruoxi stared at the ceiling, lost in thought. "Hmm... Do you think they sell three-person bathtubs?"

Gu Muxue clapped a hand over Lin Ruoxi’s mouth, her face an impossible shade of red. ’How could Lin Ruoxi ask such an outrageous question so nonchalantly?’

...

After their bath, they took turns blow-drying each other’s hair.

As Gu Muxue stroked Lin Ruoxi’s soft black hair, a flood of memories came back to her. She used to constantly check Xue Rui for Lin Ruoxi’s stray hairs. She never imagined that one day, she would be willingly blow-drying the hair for its owner...

’Fate really loves to play tricks on people. How did I end up here?’

’It was all Xue Rui’s fault. But it was also thanks to him...’

"Time for bed," Lin Ruoxi said, closing her bedroom door.

She had already secretly made up her mind. ’Once Gu Muxue is asleep, I’ll drive out and sneak away to sleep with Xue Rui. I’ll just have to drive back before dawn, and Gu Muxue will never know...’

Gu Muxue stared at Lin Ruoxi’s closed door, her lips parting as if to speak, but she stopped herself. ’Lin Ruoxi is acting strange today.’

’Doesn’t she usually stay in my room for a little while before going to bed?’

She sighed and turned back to her own room.

She glanced at the time on her phone. Every night, around midnight, Lin Ruoxi would sneak into her room to check if she’d kicked off her blanket...

The truth was, she was always awake for it, only falling asleep after Lin Ruoxi left. The reason was simple: Lin Ruoxi would occasionally whisper things to her as she supposedly slept.

Though they were mostly apologies and pleas on Xue Rui’s behalf, she had grown used to it.

Time ticked by. As midnight approached, she heard it, just as she’d expected: the sound of Lin Ruoxi’s door opening.

Gu Muxue squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for Lin Ruoxi to open her door.

But after waiting for a long time, she suddenly heard the front door opening.

’Lin Ruoxi is leaving?’

She ran barefoot to the living room to find Lin Ruoxi fully dressed, shoulder bag in hand, and already halfway out the door.

"Where are you going in the middle of the night?" Gu Muxue asked, her voice cold.

"I’ll be back tomorrow morning. I... I miss him." Lin Ruoxi didn’t dare to meet Gu Muxue’s eyes.

A sour feeling suddenly clenched Gu Muxue’s heart. ’Lin Ruoxi will always belong to Xue Rui. Nothing can change that.’

"Get back here. Do you think I wouldn’t be worried about you running around this late at night?" Gu Muxue said icily.

Lin Ruoxi shrank back. "I’m a good driver, you know that."

Then a thought occurred to Gu Muxue. "Won’t Xue Rui be upset with you?"

The moment she said it, Gu Muxue saw Lin Ruoxi’s expression falter, just as she’d expected...

Gu Muxue sighed. "You can go tomorrow. For now, come back to bed."

"Thank you! In that case, I’ll prep your meals for tomorrow and the day after." A flicker of joy lit up Lin Ruoxi’s eyes. ’Gu Muxue is letting me go!’

’Just one more night to get through...’

"I can handle it myself. You go to bed."

Gu Muxue pursed her lips. ’Lin Ruoxi said "tomorrow and the day after." Does that mean she plans to spend the whole weekend at Xue Rui’s?’

Lin Ruoxi turned and walked back to her bedroom door, only to hear Gu Muxue speak again from behind. "Sleep in my room. Otherwise, I won’t know if you run off in the middle of the night."

"Okay..." Like a child caught misbehaving, Lin Ruoxi didn’t dare meet her gaze. Head bowed, she walked into Gu Muxue’s room and obediently lay down on the bed.

Gu Muxue turned off the light and lay down on the bed, back-to-back with Lin Ruoxi.

Lin Ruoxi’s words had angered her, but when she saw Lin Ruoxi about to "escape," her heart had filled with panic and a sense of helplessness...

She rolled over. By the faint moonlight filtering through the window, she gazed at Lin Ruoxi’s back. She quietly wrapped her arms around her and bit her on the neck.

’She had wanted to keep Lin Ruoxi by her side to make Xue Rui anxious, but Lin Ruoxi couldn’t bear it and would even end up secretly weeping...’

Lin Ruoxi’s body went rigid. ’What did I do wrong this time?’ Gu Muxue had bitten her on the neck, and now she didn’t dare move a muscle.

But then, she suddenly remembered something Xue Rui had said: ’When Gu Muxue is willing to bite you, that’s when she’s truly starting to trust you...’

She slowly turned over and whispered, "Can I call you Muxue?"

Gu Muxue, her eyes still closed, said faintly, "You can."

"I don’t want Xue Rui to get beaten up. So... why don’t you beat me instead? And forgive him..." Lin Ruoxi said meekly.

Gu Muxue opened her eyes, her gaze locking with Lin Ruoxi’s. She suddenly found it rather fun to tease her. "When did I say I forgive you? You took something from me. I’m not going to forgive you for that."

"Please..." Lin Ruoxi pouted. ’Gu Muxue is so fickle,’ she thought. ’Just a moment ago she said she’d forgiven me.’

"Unless you give it back to me," Gu Muxue said, leaning in closer, their breaths mingling.

"I can give you half, but... but not all of it." Lin Ruoxi bit her lip hard. ’She would never agree to that.’

"You haven’t even asked what ’it’ is."

"But... I suppose half would be acceptable," Gu Muxue whispered.

"What is it?" Lin Ruoxi asked, her curiosity piqued.

Lin Ruoxi’s reflection was captured in Gu Muxue’s eyes. She slowly closed her own, leaned in, and said, "Xiaorui’s first kiss."

"Mmph!"

Lin Ruoxi’s eyes flew wide, her pupils trembling in shock...