Looking at the pool in front of him, Xia Yu asked Xu Youxiang, “Why are you washing your face late at night?”
“None of your business!” In the past, Xu Youxiang would have said this with some anger, but now, she said it with a hint of relaxation.
Xia Yu understood the reason. By pretending not to notice that Xu Youxiang had been crying, she had felt relieved.
In reality, he knew better—after all, who washes their face and ends up with only two streaks of water on their face?
To protect Xu Youxiang’s dignity, Xia Yu chose to act as if nothing had happened.
He scooped up some water and washed his face carefully.
Pushing the wheelchair back to the bedroom, Xia Yu glanced around the room, wanting to find out what had caused Xu Youxiang to cry by the pool in the middle of the night.
He noticed the laptop left open on the desk. On the screen was an unfinished string of code, and beside it lay the mouse, turned upside down.
Picking up the laptop, Xia Yu glanced at it and asked Xu Youxiang, “What were you trying to write?”
Xu Youxiang explained what she had been working on.
Xia Yu now understood the situation. This type of programming was something Xu Youxiang wasn’t good at, and her frustration had built up.
Xu Youxiang’s talent was already quite good, but talent was still just talent—not actual skill. Pressured by An Siyao, she had been pushing herself too hard.
Xia Yu wanted to tell her to relax, but the words stuck in his throat.
Those would just be comforting words—defeatist sayings that told someone to give up where they fell.
Because of limited abilities, many people liked to use such words to console themselves and others.
In reality, a better solution was to achieve the desired goal. Once that was done, people naturally felt relieved.
Xu Youxiang couldn’t accomplish it all at once, but Xia Yu could help her.
He sat down at the desk and began typing.
When Xia Yu worked on related tasks, the original owner of the body could also gain experience through the shared body. However, unlike Xia Yu—who could gain experience in an entire skill by practicing just a small part—only the specific part’s experience would transfer to the body’s owner.
As Xia Yu worked and thought, Xu Youxiang’s understanding of this programming rapidly deepened.
After finishing this section of code, Xia Yu created another problem for himself to solve, giving Xu Youxiang more opportunities to gain experience.
He kept typing until midnight. After humming a lullaby to help Xu Youxiang fall asleep, Xia Yu returned to his own body.
At this moment, he was eating at the dining table.
Seeing his body stiffen for a moment, Youxue hesitantly called out, “You’re back?”
“Mm.” Xia Yu replied.
The girl immediately brightened up—she was somewhat afraid of Tuo Guan Yu.
“Oh, by the way, on the seventh of next month, Weiwei’s grandmother is celebrating her birthday. We’ll go together then,” Xia Yu suddenly remembered.
“Okay!” Youxue quite liked Yan Wei, especially her cooking and pastries.
Although she wasn’t someone like Xia Yu who passionately loved food, no one could resist delicious dishes.
“Mom also said she wants us to come during National Day. So should we go to Mom’s place first, then come back to Weiwei’s?” Youxue suggested.
Kong Hanyue had already set her sights on their National Day holiday, hoping the couple would visit her.
Xia Yu glanced at his fingertips. He felt a slight chill in his index and middle fingers.
It was the coldness he had felt when he touched Xu Youxiang’s face while in her body.
The coldness of tears.
“I won’t go. I have to go to Nanming during National Day,” Xia Yu said.
“Then I’ll go to Nanming too.” Youxue was determined to follow Xia Yu.
“Okay.” Xia Yu agreed.
Seeing that Xia Yu hadn’t abandoned her, Youxue relaxed and finally had the mind to ask something else: “What are we going to Nanming for?”
“To see Xu Youxiang. I’m going to visit her,” Xia Yu replied.
“Oh.” Youxue nodded in understanding. It was normal for her older brother and his girlfriend to visit the girlfriend’s best friend.
Thinking about traveling with An Siyao, Youxue became excited again and asked, “How are we going? Did Sister Yao say when we’re leaving?”
Her question left Xia Yu puzzled: “What does An Siyao have to do with this? Did she say she’s going too?”
“Mm?” Youxue tilted her head. “Isn’t Sister Yao going with us?”
“Just the two of us,” Xia Yu replied.
His purpose in going to Nanming was to comfort Xu Youxiang. Since Xu had gone to Nanming because of An Siyao, bringing An Siyao along wouldn’t be comforting—it would only stir things up.
“I see.” Picking up her chopsticks, Youxue pretended nothing was wrong and continued eating.
But in her heart, a storm was brewing.
Why was her brother going alone to visit his girlfriend’s best friend?
Was this action really okay?
As both her older brother’s younger sister and An Siyao’s close friend, what should she do?
Frowning slightly, she pondered deeply for a while before sighing.
Sorry, Sister Yao.
Xia Yu noticed Youxue’s strange behavior. He knew his actions might seem inappropriate, but he didn’t try to hide anything.
All he could do was keep everything open and transparent.
After lunch, Xia Yu went to An Siyao’s villa to discuss this with her.
At the entrance of the villa, Yu Ningmeng was waiting for him.
Leading Xia Yu inside, Yu Ningmeng said to him, “I have some business to attend to for the next few days, so I’ve instructed other maids. If Yao Yao doesn’t arrive at the villa before 9 PM or if her legs suddenly become inconvenient, I’ll bring a group of tough guys to your place.”
“…Am I that kind of person?” Xia Yu was quite confused by Yu Ningmeng’s suspicious look—as if regarding him as a suspect.
“I don’t know about you young people these days, always eager to charge ahead,” Yu Ningmeng said disdainfully, curling her lip.
Since it was impossible to explain, Xia Yu stopped trying. Besides, he wasn’t entirely innocent in thought either.
It was only natural.
Entering An Siyao’s bedroom, Xia Yu saw An Siyao practicing the dizi on the balcony.
Seeing Xia Yu, An Siyao happily put down her dizi and walked toward him.
She stretched out her hand and blinked at him.
Xia Yu also extended his hand and held her slender palm.
An Siyao’s face lit up with a bright smile.
Yu Ningmeng, dazzled by their intimacy, immediately left the room and closed the door.
After making sure the door was shut, Xia Yu turned his gaze back to An Siyao.
The girl was too innocent—just holding hands made her so happy.
He felt it was his duty to let An Siyao experience deeper forms of happiness.
He let go of her hand. As An Siyao looked at him in confusion, he took a step forward and wrapped his arms around her waist.
An Siyao’s face suddenly turned red.
It was the first time Xia Yu had seen the girl blush like that.
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