<p>18 – Qin Xue’s Family Matters</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>At 2 AM, the noisy city quieted down.</p>
<p>Qin Xue was not asleep; she sat on her bed, hugging her legs with her hands, her eyes feeling hot as tears trickled down her cheeks.</p>
<p>She thought, if only she were an ordinary person, not needing any so-called high official power, wealth, and glory.</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>In the afternoon, in the lavishly decorated hall, a middle-aged woman, though not young, still exuded charm, sat on the sofa.</p>
<p>“Your grades are poor, you’re not ambitious, why are you even studying?”</p>
<p>“The son of the chairman of Sush Group just returned from abroad; he’s capable and handsome. What more do you want?”</p>
<p>“…”</p>
<p>“Last time he waited for you for hours, and you didn’t go. What a big ego! Because you didn’t show him respect, they almost refused to renew our contract.”</p>
<p>Standing next to her was the middle-aged woman’s daughter.</p>
<p>“I don’t like it.” Facing the aggressive woman, her tone was calm and dismissive.</p>
<p>“You don’t like it? What grounds do you have to not like it? He’s much better than you. Don’t think just because you’re pretty, you have everything.”</p>
<p>“I’m doing this for your own good… uh,” the middle-aged woman exclaimed with wide eyes, looking at her disappointing daughter, her anger almost bursting out.</p>
<p>“So if I can be in the top few in the final exam, then you won’t worry about me anymore? For my own good, I should at least be allowed to study, right?” Qin Xue seemed to have thought of something and began to rebut with logic.</p>
<p>“You, who spend all day goofing off at school, can actually study well?”</p>
<p>“I said I can, right?”</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>Qin Xue argued with her “mother” from the afternoon until evening, and in the end, the other party agreed to not interfere if she could perform well, although it was unclear if it was genuine.</p>
<p>In fact, she didn’t believe she could do well, because there was only about a month left before the final exam. No matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t possibly make up for a year and a half of gaps in just one month.</p>
<p>Moreover, Qin Xue didn’t really want to study; she had already been tortured enough during the last decade.</p>
<p>A month later, she would just run away…</p>
<p>“Ugh, sister.” At that moment, the door to the room opened, and a small head peeked in.</p>
<p>Then a little thing rushed in and pounced onto Qin Xue.</p>
<p>She was also holding a small white rabbit.</p>
<p>“Don’t run so fast; you’ll fall.” Qin Xue wiped the corners of her eyes with her sleeve and reached out to embrace her sister’s soft body.</p>
<p>“How can I fall at home? What are you talking about, hum.” Qin Yuan Yuan puffed her cheeks, looking at Qin Xue with fierce yet adorable eyes.</p>
<p>“Okay, okay, you won’t fall; you won’t fall.” Looking at her innocent sister, Qin Xue didn’t intend to mention what had just happened.</p>
<p>“Are you unable to sleep? Let me hold you to sleep.”</p>
<p>“No… what did you and mom talk about? Why do you always argue whenever I come? Tell me, maybe I can help.”</p>
<p>“Sister, don’t cry…” Qin Yuan Yuan pulled several tissues from the bedside cabinet to wipe the tear stains off Qin Xue’s face.</p>
<p>“It’s nothing; just focus on studying well.” Qin Xue gently patted her sister’s head.</p>
<p>“Ugh, you won’t tell me again… I’m already 18; why still calling me little?”</p>
<p>Qin Yuan Yuan looked a bit disappointed, her small mouth puffed up with grievance, but she quickly lifted her head to look at her sister.</p>
<p>“Then I’ll call that ‘ghost’ to come; can you talk to her?”</p>
<p>“?”</p>
<p>Qin Xue was stunned when she heard her sister’s words.</p>
<p>“No need.” She quickly refused.</p>
<p>Time passed, and the two sisters finally fell asleep in each other’s arms.</p>
<p>Qin Xue tightly held onto her sister, not wanting to let go.</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>On Thursday morning, Suyun had no classes and ran around obtaining a lot of documentation for off-campus housing.</p>
<p>These things were just too cumbersome.</p>
<p>What seemed like a simple matter required so many processes; Suyun spent several hours running to at least five places that morning.</p>
<p>It wasn’t until almost noon that Suyun finally finished getting all the stamps.</p>
<p>“Phew, I’m exhausted.” Sitting on the familiar steps of the playground, she looked contentedly at the stamped documents in her hands.</p>
<p>Next, she just needed to hand this material to her advisor in the afternoon, and after moving in the evening, she could live off-campus.</p>
<p>“11:37.” Suyun placed the documents down and took out her phone to check the time.</p>
<p>It was almost noon.</p>
<p>She planned to visit Qin Xue’s house.</p>
<p>That morning, as soon as she woke up, Suyun saw several messages on her phone.</p>
<p>They were from Qin Yuan Yuan, saying that Qin Xue had taken a leave today and wanted her to check on her.</p>
<p>Actually, even if the other party hadn’t said anything, Suyun had planned to visit around noon. Although she still felt frightened at the thought of Qin Xue’s condition from yesterday afternoon, Suyun didn’t plan to give up on this rare friend.</p>
<p>Taking a leave, it seemed that something significant happened yesterday.</p>
<p>Having stayed at home all the time, she probably hadn’t eaten anything, right?</p>
<p>Then Suyun went to the same Beijing Zhajiang Noodles restaurant as last time, packed a serving of noodles, and even added an egg and a chicken leg on top.</p>
<p>A meal for twenty, which was quite lavish for Suyun, who could only eat such a nice meal once a week.</p>
<p>“Since she ate well last time, she should like it, right?” Afraid it might get cold, she grabbed an extra bag to secure it and carefully held it with both hands.</p>
<p>But then Suyun suddenly realized her hands were cold, so she let go again.</p>
<p>Qin Xue seemed to particularly enjoy the eggplant stir-fried meat from yesterday’s place, but it was too far to go there, so Suyun could only bring this.</p>
<p>Hopefully, she wouldn’t dislike it; if she did, she’d just eat it herself.</p>
<p>Just as she reached the north gate of the campus, Suyun suddenly stopped in her tracks.</p>
<p>Qin Xue had a maid at home, so even if she didn’t go out, they should have prepared meals already, and surely what was made at home would taste better than what she was holding.</p>
<p>So she should probably eat it herself.</p>
<p>Suyun stood at the bus station waiting for the bus, starting to wonder what might have happened to Qin Xue.</p>
<p>Not getting along with her mother, taking a leave this morning.</p>
<p>Why did it feel like she had gotten into a fight and got hurt?</p>
<p>Suyun’s expression was not good as she got on the bus, and upon arriving at the stop, she immediately ran to Qin Xue’s house.</p>
<p>“Click.” As usual, she opened the door, but today this spacious villa seemed a bit dim and silent.</p>
<p>Suyun was not too fazed; she could see clearly.</p>
<p>Eventually, she thought to find the direction where Qin Xue had come out last time and located her room.</p>
<p>In the dark room, black curtains blocked the sunlight.</p>
<p>This was Suyun’s first time entering a girl’s room, and her heartbeat quickened. She didn’t know if it was psychological, but she could smell a faint fragrance coming from the room.</p>
<p>The room was simply decorated: there was a closet, a desk, and a chair, but not much else. However, there was a small white rabbit left on the bed where Qin Xue slept.</p>
<p>She had expected the young lady’s room to be filled with decorative items and cosmetics, yet this turned out to be quite similar to her own.</p>
<p>Suyun was a little surprised but didn’t say anything, carefully bringing her lunch closer.</p>
<p>The blanket on the bed rose and fell steadily with the girl’s breathing.</p>
<p>Qin Xue was only wearing a thin nightgown today.</p>
<p>At that moment, Suyun suddenly recalled something she had heard before: girls generally don’t wear those things to bed.</p>
<p>“…”</p>
<p>The blanket rose and fell slightly due to the girl’s attractive figure.</p>
<p>Looking at Qin Xue’s delicate face and her snow-white shoulders exposed by the sliding nightgown, Suyun swallowed hard.</p>
<p>Though Suyun used to admire beautiful girls, it didn’t mean she was a pervert.</p>
<p>She needed to eat at noon for the sake of her physical development.</p>
<p>Alright, Qin Xue had already developed quite well.</p>
<p>After placing the Zhajiang noodles aside, Suyun sat at the edge of the bed.</p>
<p>“Xuejie, Xuejie…” she called softly, hoping this would wake her up gently without fright.</p>
<p>But the effect was poor; Qin Xue showed no signs of waking up at all.</p>
<p>Suyun frowned.</p>
<p>She was sleeping so soundly, like a pig.</p>
<p>She had no choice but to lean in closer to call again.</p>
<p>“Xuejie, it’s noon; come eat something.” Suyun leaned in a little closer.</p>
<p>This time, as soon as she spoke, Qin Xue moved her body and turned to face her.</p>
<p>Finally, it had some effect.</p>
<p>“Xuejie, ah.”</p>
<p>“Why are you so annoying?” Qin Xue said impatiently, reaching out to grab the ‘alarm clock’ beside her.</p>
<p>“Xuejie, what are you doing…” Suyun didn’t react in time before suddenly being hugged around the waist and pulled under the covers.</p>
<p>“Let me sleep a bit more; don’t make noise.” Qin Xue didn’t open her eyes; she just groggily held onto this soft thing and continued to sleep.</p>
<p>Perhaps because holding it was too comfortable, Qin Xue quickly dozed off again.</p>
<p>“Ugh…” Feeling the large pressure behind her, Suyun didn’t dare to move at all.</p>
<p>Was she treating her like a pillow?</p>
<p>Thinking about it, Suyun noticed the little white rabbit beside her.</p>
<p>If Qin Xue mistakenly thought she was the rabbit, then when she woke up, she’d most likely get scolded.</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>At 2 AM, the noisy city quieted down.</p>
<p>Qin Xue was not asleep; she sat on her bed, hugging her legs with her hands, her eyes feeling hot as tears trickled down her cheeks.</p>
<p>She thought, if only she were an ordinary person, not needing any so-called high official power, wealth, and glory.</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>In the afternoon, in the lavishly decorated hall, a middle-aged woman, though not young, still exuded charm, sat on the sofa.</p>
<p>“Your grades are poor, you’re not ambitious, why are you even studying?”</p>
<p>“The son of the chairman of Sush Group just returned from abroad; he’s capable and handsome. What more do you want?”</p>
<p>“…”</p>
<p>“Last time he waited for you for hours, and you didn’t go. What a big ego! Because you didn’t show him respect, they almost refused to renew our contract.”</p>
<p>Standing next to her was the middle-aged woman’s daughter.</p>
<p>“I don’t like it.” Facing the aggressive woman, her tone was calm and dismissive.</p>
<p>“You don’t like it? What grounds do you have to not like it? He’s much better than you. Don’t think just because you’re pretty, you have everything.”</p>
<p>“I’m doing this for your own good… uh,” the middle-aged woman exclaimed with wide eyes, looking at her disappointing daughter, her anger almost bursting out.</p>
<p>“So if I can be in the top few in the final exam, then you won’t worry about me anymore? For my own good, I should at least be allowed to study, right?” Qin Xue seemed to have thought of something and began to rebut with logic.</p>
<p>“You, who spend all day goofing off at school, can actually study well?”</p>
<p>“I said I can, right?”</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>Qin Xue argued with her “mother” from the afternoon until evening, and in the end, the other party agreed to not interfere if she could perform well, although it was unclear if it was genuine.</p>
<p>In fact, she didn’t believe she could do well, because there was only about a month left before the final exam. No matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t possibly make up for a year and a half of gaps in just one month.</p>
<p>Moreover, Qin Xue didn’t really want to study; she had already been tortured enough during the last decade.</p>
<p>A month later, she would just run away…</p>
<p>“Ugh, sister.” At that moment, the door to the room opened, and a small head peeked in.</p>
<p>Then a little thing rushed in and pounced onto Qin Xue.</p>
<p>She was also holding a small white rabbit.</p>
<p>“Don’t run so fast; you’ll fall.” Qin Xue wiped the corners of her eyes with her sleeve and reached out to embrace her sister’s soft body.</p>
<p>“How can I fall at home? What are you talking about, hum.” Qin Yuan Yuan puffed her cheeks, looking at Qin Xue with fierce yet adorable eyes.</p>
<p>“Okay, okay, you won’t fall; you won’t fall.” Looking at her innocent sister, Qin Xue didn’t intend to mention what had just happened.</p>
<p>“Are you unable to sleep? Let me hold you to sleep.”</p>
<p>“No… what did you and mom talk about? Why do you always argue whenever I come? Tell me, maybe I can help.”</p>
<p>“Sister, don’t cry…” Qin Yuan Yuan pulled several tissues from the bedside cabinet to wipe the tear stains off Qin Xue’s face.</p>
<p>“It’s nothing; just focus on studying well.” Qin Xue gently patted her sister’s head.</p>
<p>“Ugh, you won’t tell me again… I’m already 18; why still calling me little?”</p>
<p>Qin Yuan Yuan looked a bit disappointed, her small mouth puffed up with grievance, but she quickly lifted her head to look at her sister.</p>
<p>“Then I’ll call that ‘ghost’ to come; can you talk to her?”</p>
<p>“?”</p>
<p>Qin Xue was stunned when she heard her sister’s words.</p>
<p>“No need.” She quickly refused.</p>
<p>Time passed, and the two sisters finally fell asleep in each other’s arms.</p>
<p>Qin Xue tightly held onto her sister, not wanting to let go.</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>On Thursday morning, Suyun had no classes and ran around obtaining a lot of documentation for off-campus housing.</p>
<p>These things were just too cumbersome.</p>
<p>What seemed like a simple matter required so many processes; Suyun spent several hours running to at least five places that morning.</p>
<p>It wasn’t until almost noon that Suyun finally finished getting all the stamps.</p>
<p>“Phew, I’m exhausted.” Sitting on the familiar steps of the playground, she looked contentedly at the stamped documents in her hands.</p>
<p>Next, she just needed to hand this material to her advisor in the afternoon, and after moving in the evening, she could live off-campus.</p>
<p>“11:37.” Suyun placed the documents down and took out her phone to check the time.</p>
<p>It was almost noon.</p>
<p>She planned to visit Qin Xue’s house.</p>
<p>That morning, as soon as she woke up, Suyun saw several messages on her phone.</p>
<p>They were from Qin Yuan Yuan, saying that Qin Xue had taken a leave today and wanted her to check on her.</p>
<p>Actually, even if the other party hadn’t said anything, Suyun had planned to visit around noon. Although she still felt frightened at the thought of Qin Xue’s condition from yesterday afternoon, Suyun didn’t plan to give up on this rare friend.</p>
<p>Taking a leave, it seemed that something significant happened yesterday.</p>
<p>Having stayed at home all the time, she probably hadn’t eaten anything, right?</p>
<p>Then Suyun went to the same Beijing Zhajiang Noodles restaurant as last time, packed a serving of noodles, and even added an egg and a chicken leg on top.</p>
<p>A meal for twenty, which was quite lavish for Suyun, who could only eat such a nice meal once a week.</p>
<p>“Since she ate well last time, she should like it, right?” Afraid it might get cold, she grabbed an extra bag to secure it and carefully held it with both hands.</p>
<p>But then Suyun suddenly realized her hands were cold, so she let go again.</p>
<p>Qin Xue seemed to particularly enjoy the eggplant stir-fried meat from yesterday’s place, but it was too far to go there, so Suyun could only bring this.</p>
<p>Hopefully, she wouldn’t dislike it; if she did, she’d just eat it herself.</p>
<p>Just as she reached the north gate of the campus, Suyun suddenly stopped in her tracks.</p>
<p>Qin Xue had a maid at home, so even if she didn’t go out, they should have prepared meals already, and surely what was made at home would taste better than what she was holding.</p>
<p>So she should probably eat it herself.</p>
<p>Suyun stood at the bus station waiting for the bus, starting to wonder what might have happened to Qin Xue.</p>
<p>Not getting along with her mother, taking a leave this morning.</p>
<p>Why did it feel like she had gotten into a fight and got hurt?</p>
<p>Suyun’s expression was not good as she got on the bus, and upon arriving at the stop, she immediately ran to Qin Xue’s house.</p>
<p>“Click.” As usual, she opened the door, but today this spacious villa seemed a bit dim and silent.</p>
<p>Suyun was not too fazed; she could see clearly.</p>
<p>Eventually, she thought to find the direction where Qin Xue had come out last time and located her room.</p>
<p>In the dark room, black curtains blocked the sunlight.</p>
<p>This was Suyun’s first time entering a girl’s room, and her heartbeat quickened. She didn’t know if it was psychological, but she could smell a faint fragrance coming from the room.</p>
<p>The room was simply decorated: there was a closet, a desk, and a chair, but not much else. However, there was a small white rabbit left on the bed where Qin Xue slept.</p>
<p>She had expected the young lady’s room to be filled with decorative items and cosmetics, yet this turned out to be quite similar to her own.</p>
<p>Suyun was a little surprised but didn’t say anything, carefully bringing her lunch closer.</p>
<p>The blanket on the bed rose and fell steadily with the girl’s breathing.</p>
<p>Qin Xue was only wearing a thin nightgown today.</p>
<p>At that moment, Suyun suddenly recalled something she had heard before: girls generally don’t wear those things to bed.</p>
<p>“…”</p>
<p>The blanket rose and fell slightly due to the girl’s attractive figure.</p>
<p>Looking at Qin Xue’s delicate face and her snow-white shoulders exposed by the sliding nightgown, Suyun swallowed hard.</p>
<p>Though Suyun used to admire beautiful girls, it didn’t mean she was a pervert.</p>
<p>She needed to eat at noon for the sake of her physical development.</p>
<p>Alright, Qin Xue had already developed quite well.</p>
<p>After placing the Zhajiang noodles aside, Suyun sat at the edge of the bed.</p>
<p>“Xuejie, Xuejie…” she called softly, hoping this would wake her up gently without fright.</p>
<p>But the effect was poor; Qin Xue showed no signs of waking up at all.</p>
<p>Suyun frowned.</p>
<p>She was sleeping so soundly, like a pig.</p>
<p>She had no choice but to lean in closer to call again.</p>
<p>“Xuejie, it’s noon; come eat something.” Suyun leaned in a little closer.</p>
<p>This time, as soon as she spoke, Qin Xue moved her body and turned to face her.</p>
<p>Finally, it had some effect.</p>
<p>“Xuejie, ah.”</p>
<p>“Why are you so annoying?” Qin Xue said impatiently, reaching out to grab the ‘alarm clock’ beside her.</p>
<p>“Xuejie, what are you doing…” Suyun didn’t react in time before suddenly being hugged around the waist and pulled under the covers.</p>
<p>“Let me sleep a bit more; don’t make noise.” Qin Xue didn’t open her eyes; she just groggily held onto this soft thing and continued to sleep.</p>
<p>Perhaps because holding it was too comfortable, Qin Xue quickly dozed off again.</p>
<p>“Ugh…” Feeling the large pressure behind her, Suyun didn’t dare to move at all.</p>
<p>Was she treating her like a pillow?</p>
<p>Thinking about it, Suyun noticed the little white rabbit beside her.</p>
<p>If Qin Xue mistakenly thought she was the rabbit, then when she woke up, she’d most likely get scolded.</p>
