Chapter 110: Bonus – When We Were Young Part Nine
Zuo Bian had noticed that Qin Ai had been acting strangely lately. She started being late for class and would sometimes skip class, disappearing without a trace.
When Zuo Bian asked her what she was up to, Qin Ai wouldn’t answer, just saying that girls were troublesome.
Zuo Bian, feeling wronged, tried to recall if she had done anything to annoy Qin Ai, but she couldn’t figure out what she had done wrong.
Unable to get an answer from Qin Ai, she went to ask Jiang Yuandong and Liu Liu, who were close to Qin Ai.
Jiang Yuandong shook her head frantically, claiming she didn’t know anything.
Liu Liu, however, smirked mysteriously. “Sister-in-law, it’s a surprise, you shouldn’t ask.”
Seeing their reactions, Zuo Bian was certain that Qin Ai was hiding something from her, but it wasn’t anything bad.
Reassured, she stopped trying to pry.
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Two weeks before Zuo Bian’s birthday, Qin Ai finally finished knitting the first three characters of her nine-character message. She had gotten the hang of it now, and it wouldn’t be difficult to finish the remaining six characters in the next two weeks.
To knit a special scarf for her beloved girlfriend, Qin Ai had put in a lot of effort.
She had to keep it a secret from Zuo Bian to make it a surprise, and it was her first time doing such delicate work. If Zuo Bian didn’t give her a kiss after receiving the gift, it would be unacceptable.
Another week passed, and Zuo Bian’s birthday was approaching. She finally realized that Qin Ai might be preparing a birthday gift for her.
She tugged at Qin Ai’s sleeve, her eyes filled with anticipation. “Qin Ai, my birthday is next week. Have you prepared a gift for me?”
Qin Ai’s heart skipped a beat, but she kept her expression neutral. She feigned surprise.
“Your birthday is next week? A gift? You don’t need anything, so I’m not getting you anything.”
Qin Ai’s thoughts were easy to read. Zuo Bian knew that Qin Ai at this age was a tsundere, so she didn’t take her words seriously.
But she wanted to tease Qin Ai. She lowered her head, her expression dejected. “So your girlfriend doesn’t get a birthday gift? Why do other girlfriends get gifts…”
Qin Ai immediately panicked. She coughed and added, “I’m not prepared now, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to prepare anything. Don’t cry, I can’t stand seeing girls cry.”
“Really?” Zuo Bian looked up, her eyes glistening with tears.
Qin Ai’s heart melted. She raised three fingers. “Really, I swear.”
Zuo Bian finally smiled. “Then I’ll be waiting for your gift.”
Qin Ai sighed in relief, then realized she had been trying to tease Zuo Bian, but she ended up comforting her instead.
She pinched Zuo Bian’s nose. “Tell me, are you messing with me again?”
Zuo Bian couldn’t hold back her laughter, exposing herself.
“I knew you weren’t as innocent as you look. I have to punish you. Kiss me, or I’ll kiss you.” Qin Ai held Zuo Bian’s chin, her eyes predatory.
They were sitting in a corner at the back of the classroom, and no one was paying attention to them. Except for their deskmates.
The same scene replayed. Zuo Bian pushed Qin Ai’s arm away. “Qin Ai, there are other people here.”
Qin Ai felt frustrated. She clicked her tongue and glared at Jiang Yuandong and Liu Liu.
Jiang Yuandong and Liu Liu shivered. This time, they weren’t intentionally trying to be third wheels, they were studying.
They hadn’t done well in the midterm exams, and if they didn’t work hard, they would be punished after the next monthly exam.
They felt wronged, being glared at by Qin Ai.
Even though their deskmates weren’t talking, the romantic atmosphere was ruined.
Qin Ai took out a math worksheet and started working on the problems furiously.
Ever since she started dating Zuo Bian, she had developed a habit of doing math problems whenever she was in a bad mood. Her position as the top student in their grade was even more secure now, even Zuo Bian’s hard work couldn’t shake her.
Seeing Qin Ai doing math problems, Liu Liu, emboldened, asked her for help with a problem. Qin Ai, still in a bad mood, glared at him, and he quickly retreated.
Qin Ai had a bad temper, while Zuo Bian was gentle. “It’s okay, you can ask me,” she said to Liu Liu.
“Really? You’re so nice, sister-in-law.” Liu Liu’s eyes lit up, and he moved closer to Zuo Bian.
Jiang Yuandong, adjusting her glasses, looked at him enviously.
However, before Zuo Bian could even see the problem Liu Liu wanted to ask about, Qin Ai snatched the worksheet from his hand.
“If you have any questions, just ask me.” She pulled Liu Liu closer by his collar.
Liu Liu looked at Zuo Bian and Qin Ai, then nodded knowingly.
However, his smile quickly disappeared as Qin Ai started scolding him while explaining the problem.
“Why are you so stupid? You’re wasting air sitting here! You’re making the air around you stupid! If you can’t solve this problem within five minutes, jump out the window! And if you’re lucky enough to survive, don’t tell anyone you know me. Even a guinea pig is smarter than you. I’m embarrassed to be associated with you.”
Because Zuo Bian was present, Qin Ai’s words were slightly toned down, but she still scolded Liu Liu mercilessly.
This was the legendary preferential treatment. Liu Liu felt that every word Qin Ai said was from the heart. When she had taught Zuo Bian how to solve problems before, she had also scolded her, but there was a difference between yelling “idiot” in an angry voice and saying “silly girl” in an exasperated but affectionate tone.
After this incident, not only did Liu Liu give up on asking them for help, but Jiang Yuandong also abandoned the idea.
Asking either of them for help would only end badly. Asking Qin Ai would result in being scolded, and asking Zuo Bian would make Qin Ai even angrier.
So they went to ask the class representative for help. The class representative was the nicest.
With the two human light bulbs gone, Qin Ai went back to whispering in Zuo Bian’s ear.
An ordinary, innocent girl would have blushed and shyly told her to stop.
But Zuo Bian wasn’t an ordinary girl. She was extraordinary.
“Qin Ai, don’t get too close, you’re blocking my view.” She pushed Qin Ai’s arm away while looking at her textbook.
Qin Ai’s face darkened, and she reluctantly moved back.
Bad mood? Time to do more math problems!
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Zuo Bian left for school a bit later than usual today. Her mother had wrapped a thick scarf around her neck before letting her leave.
Zuo Bian wasn’t actually that afraid of the cold. She might look delicate, but she was healthy. But to reassure her mother, she didn’t refuse.
She got out of the car. The school gate was crowded with students eating breakfast. The dean of students, standing guard by the gate, scanned the students with hawk-like eyes.
Five minutes before the bell, some students started eating their breakfast quickly, taking large bites of steaming hot buns, their mouths burning, and fanning themselves frantically.
It was officially winter now, and the temperature had dropped to around zero degrees Celsius. Most students were wearing winter clothes, except for a few fashion-conscious individuals who were still walking around in thin clothes.
Qin Ai was one of them. She wasn’t afraid of the cold and was only wearing two layers. She was beautiful, her figure tall and slender, and her black pants and leather jacket made her stand out in the crowd.
Zuo Bian spotted Qin Ai among the sea of students, her eyes lighting up. She ran towards her. “Qin Ai!”
Qin Ai turned around, hearing her voice. Zuo Bian was running too fast and bumped into Qin Ai’s arms.
“So happy to see me?” Qin Ai pinched Zuo Bian’s cheek, but it was more like a gentle caress.
Zuo Bian smiled brightly, then she noticed that Qin Ai wasn’t wearing much.
She had a base layer and a thin black jacket that offered little warmth. She looked cool and stylish, but her exposed hands were cold, indicating that she wasn’t as immune to the cold as she seemed.
Zuo Bian took Qin Ai’s hand in hers, trying to warm it up with her own body heat.
“Qin Ai, your hands are so cold.”
Qin Ai felt a warmth spreading from her fingertips and palm to her heart. She could barely contain her smile.
“It’s not that my hands are cold, it’s that yours are too warm.” She tried to pull her hand back.
However, she wasn’t using much force. She just wanted to act tough.
To her surprise, Zuo Bian actually let go.
“I am a bit warm. Qin Ai, let me put my scarf on you.” Zuo Bian took off her scarf, stood on her tiptoes, and wrapped it around Qin Ai’s neck.
Qin Ai instinctively grabbed the end of the scarf. It was still warm from Zuo Bian’s body, carrying her scent.
It was soft, fluffy, and had a faint, sweet fragrance.
Qin Ai wanted to bury her nose in it and inhale Zuo Bian’s scent, but she held back, remembering her pride.
“Why are you giving it to me? I’m not cold at all.”
Zuo Bian smiled. “But I’m warm. The scarf is making me hot, and my bag is full of books, there’s no space for it. Qin Ai, can you keep it for me?”
Her voice was soft and alluring, making Qin Ai’s heart melt. She mumbled in agreement.
They walked towards the school building, their shoulders brushing against each other. Qin Ai saw a couple in front of them, clinging to each other like conjoined twins. She scoffed, then grabbed Zuo Bian’s hand.
“Hold my hand. You’re my girlfriend, it’s only natural for me to hold your hand.” She swung their intertwined hands.
Zuo Bian smiled and said, “Okay.”
Qin Ai, who usually dressed in a cool and rebellious style, suddenly wearing a beige scarf, looked incredibly out of place. But she was in a good mood.
Who else could make Qin Ai so happy? Everyone wondered. The Qin Ai who had vowed to stay single forever was gone, replaced by a love-struck girl who couldn’t stop showing off her affection.
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