Chapter 523 - 348: Muxue, Where is it Safer to Hide?

Qian Huabiao was meeting a girl for a date in the Xiaozhai area, and Gu Muxue’s place happened to be nearby, so Xue Rui didn’t have to make much of a detour.

"Thanks, Sister Xi." Qian Huabiao gently closed the car door. He walked up to the passenger’s side and muttered, "Old Xue, I’ve got to learn from you."

Qian Huabiao had figured it out. Xue Rui was a flirt, but he was also deeply devoted. Although Qian Huabiao felt there was a healthy dose of dumb luck involved, it didn’t change the fact that Xue Rui was doing way better than him now...

Qian Huabiao glanced in the direction of Jiao University, a smirk suddenly spreading across his face.

The memory of being dumped a month ago was still fresh in his mind. He had intentionally chosen a spot near Jiao University for his date, hoping he might run into his ex and get some glorious revenge.

’You think I can’t live without you?’

’There are plenty of girls out there prettier and more obedient than you.’

Watching Qian Huabiao and his triumphant, crooked smirk, Xue Rui had a pretty good idea of what his friend was up to...

"Apprentice, let’s go buy some groceries. Your master is cooking tonight," Xue Rui said.

Lin Ruoxi nodded vigorously. "Mhm! Master’s cooking is way better than mine."

"Of course," Xue Rui said smugly. He had grown up watching his dad cook, and his theoretical knowledge was rock-solid from years of observation.

He had recently asked his family’s private chef for some exclusive secret recipes and heat control techniques, even practicing for several days over a live video stream.

This was the cream of the crop—the kind of experience you couldn’t get without peeling ten thousand potatoes.

After all, old masters always held something back when teaching their apprentices to maintain their own competitive edge in the profession.

But Xue Rui was different. He was the boss’s son, heir to a large family business. He wasn’t in competition with the chef, and he even paid extra for overtime. On top of that, the chef knew what kind of people he and his father were, so of course, he taught him with genuine sincerity.

The only thing was, knife skills couldn’t be mastered overnight, so he still needed Lin Ruoxi to assist him...

’Sigh, it won’t be long before you graduate from my tutelage,’ Xue Rui sighed to himself.

Lin Ruoxi was a quick study. He was only slightly better than her at the moment because she had never systematically learned to cook. If his old man, Xie Jianfeng, were to nitpick, he’d find fault with every single dish...

Xue Rui hadn’t forgotten that while Lin Ruoxi was assisting, she had also asked the chef plenty of questions. And the chef, mindful of her potential status as the "boss’s daughter-in-law," had taught her quite a bit as well...

"Xixi, I’ll cook for you on your birthday from now on, too," Xue Rui said.

In the past, he had only ever made her dried noodles for her birthday—and the kind where he’d forgotten the salt, at that.

Even though the girl had eaten it happily, it was a stark contrast to the "imperial feast" he was planning for Gu Muxue...

He was worried she would feel hurt...

Lin Ruoxi slowly shook her head and said gently, "Rui, you don’t have to worry about everything being ’fair.’ That would be too exhausting for you."

"What I care about is eating with you. What we’re eating doesn’t matter."

Lin Ruoxi knew what Xue Rui was thinking, so she told him what was truly on her mind.

’It’s okay if Gu Muxue gets a little more. My heart aches for her, too...’

Xue Rui gazed deeply at Lin Ruoxi. ’After all my coaching, she’s gotten even better at flirting!’

Lin Ruoxi parked the car in front of a supermarket, then walked over to the passenger side and took Xue Rui’s hand, ready to lead him in to buy groceries.

Xue Rui smiled and patted Lin Ruoxi’s head. "Before all the tourists show up, how about I show you around the area? Want to go to the Great Wild Goose Pagoda?"

The truth was, it was still early. If he went over in broad daylight, the girl would have no trouble kicking him out. But if it were nighttime, he could use all sorts of excuses to stay over...

"Nope."

"The history museum?"

"Nope."

"Then where do you want to go?"

Lin Ruoxi blinked her big, dewy eyes, extended a slender finger, and finally pointed at a coin-operated kiddy ride.

"Rui, I want to ride it one more time..."

Xue Rui couldn’t help but laugh. "Is that really all you’re good for?"

"Mhm, this is all I’m good for," Lin Ruoxi said with a smile, planting a light kiss on Xue Rui’s cheek.

"Alright, how many coins should I put in?"

Lin Ruoxi held up two fingers and whispered, "Two, please?"

"Then why did you only give me one kiss?"

Xue Rui pointed to his other cheek. ’I wonder what it would feel like to get kissed on both cheeks at once?’ he thought.

...

At eight o’clock at night, the streets of downtown Chang’an City were still brightly lit. Xue Rui had spent the better part of the day out with the girl.

Normally, this would be the part of the date where they’d get a hotel room to "rest," but instead, Lin Ruoxi was taking Xue Rui to Gu Muxue’s apartment...

Lin Ruoxi expertly parked in the garage and led Xue Rui up to Gu Muxue’s floor.

"Help me get the mascot costume on," Xue Rui said, standing by the elevator doors. Even though Lin Ruoxi had already used it once, he had decided to wear the costume to see Gu Muxue today to give her a chance to vent her frustrations.

’If I don’t take a beating, I won’t be able to rest easy!’

Lin Ruoxi nodded, got the costume out of the trunk, and helped Xue Rui put it on. She was suddenly a little worried that Gu Muxue would be too rough...

’But should I try to stop her?’

Meanwhile, Gu Muxue was lying on the sofa, aimlessly flipping through channels with the remote, completely bored. Nothing on TV interested her.

She hadn’t called Xue Rui in the last few days, choosing instead to wait in anticipation for her birthday...

It was the National Day holiday. Lin Ruoxi had dropped her off at home, left her with enough food for two meals, and then gone to find Xue Rui.

’But Lin Ruoxi didn’t leave me my medicine. Does that mean she’ll be back tomorrow?’

Suddenly, she heard the sound of a key turning in the lock. The corners of her eyes lifted slightly. ’Lin Ruoxi is staying over tonight!’ She hurriedly turned off the TV, suddenly feeling like a kid caught secretly watching cartoons by her parents...

"You’re ba—" Gu Muxue turned her head, starting to greet Lin Ruoxi out of habit. But then she saw a giant teddy bear mascot standing beside her, waving a puffy arm in her direction.