Damn it, I'm surrounded by childhood sweethearts

"Going to your grandparents' house? Sure." Xu Qingfan paused for a moment and finally understood where Xia Xiaoxiao meant by "going back."

Lin Wanning's eyes darted around, and seeing Xia Xiaoxiao's indifferent expression, she gave up the idea of going together.

"Qingfan brother is going to Xiaoxiao's grandparents' house, is it just for one day?"

For a three-day holiday, Qingfan brother being completely occupied by Xiaoxiao was simply unacceptable!

"Yes, I'll be back after having dinner." Xu Qingfan suddenly glared at Xia Xiaoxiao.

He remembered one year when Xia Xiaoxiao pulled him away without saying goodbye before dinner. As a result, when they returned, some gossipmonger said it must have been instigated by the mother, which eventually reached Lin Jing's ears, leaving Auntie secretly upset for quite a while.

How did Xu Qingfan know about this? Because he got nagged by Yao Jinping for it, how could he not know?

Xia Xiaoxiao found Xu Qingfan quite inexplicable, glaring at her?

She glared back defiantly.

Xu Qingfan gave her a sidelong glance, then turned to Lin Wanning: "Wanning is going to the hospital to change your dressing tomorrow. Do you need me to accompany you, or will your mom and dad be with you?"

Lin Wanning tilted her head and thought for a moment, then said without hesitation: "Qingfan brother should accompany!"

Xu Qingfan patted her head, having guessed that the young girl would say this.

As to why he even asked, it was merely to find an excuse to sneak out and have a private chat with Wanning alone.

"Alright then, I'll come to your house tomorrow morning, Wanning, and you'll tell your parents tonight."

He looked at Zhang Yiyi; the young girl smiled sweetly and said, "I'll accompany Wanning tomorrow."

"What time are you guys going, Bro Fan? I... never mind, just forget I said anything." Xiao Ruawen recalled the last time Xu Qingfan mentioned them going to the hospital as group therapy, and she awkwardly closed her mouth.

Xu Qingfan nodded in a knowing manner and said, "There's no need to go to the hospital if it's unnecessary, lots of germs and viruses there."

Wu Lingyu sat quietly behind, watching Bro Fan show off.

[Bro Fan's pulling people's legs again, clearly just wants to chat privately with Wanning!]

But truly, Xu Qingfan hadn't spoken a single lie from start to finish.

...

The driver first dropped Lin Wanning and Zhang Yiyi at Bijui Garden. Xu Qingfan wanted to get off and walk with them for a bit, but Zhang Yiyi refused.

He guessed the two girls had private things to talk about, so he didn't insist.

In fact, the two had finished their private chat during recess exercises.

The car resumed driving, and the delay from the opening and closing of the door had caused the interior temperature to drop again.

Xiao Ruawen put on a coat beside her, huddled her arms, and said, "It's so cold, it'd be great if we could go to a hot spring."

"Hey, by the way, Bro Fan, can Wanning go to a hot spring? I saw on Baidu that going to a hot spring is beneficial for promoting blood circulation."

The scoundrel's eyes suddenly lit up—going to a hot spring would mean wearing sexy swimsuits. It seemed like a pretty good idea.

"Not this week for sure, but next week should be possible." He thought briefly and replied.

"Oh wow~ Next week is the New Year holiday with three days off. How about we do our own thing on the first day and go to the hot spring on the second or third day?"

"How about it? How about it?"

Xiao Ruawen asked full of surprise, looking genuinely eager for the hot spring, imagining holding skewers while soaking in the spring—one of life's top enjoyments.

"I'm fine with it." Xia Xiaoxiao nodded.

"Me too." Wu Lingyu echoed.

"We'll see, don't know if I'll have time next week. Let's talk about it next Friday." Xu Qingfan, seeing Xiao Ruawen looking hopefully at him, wanted to agree immediately but spoke honestly.

"Alright then, Bro Fan, if you have time, let me know early; I'll check with my mom if she's going." Xiao Ruawen knew Xu Qingfan had serious matters to attend to, so she didn't pout or try to act cute.

"Ahem... if Auntie is going, then even if I don't have time, I'll have to make time for it. Going to the hot spring in Conghua next week, just wait for my arrangements!" Xu Qingfan wouldn't miss the opportunity to please the mother-in-law.

Among all the parents, he found Xiao Jianbiao the hardest to deal with. If brother Biao decided to act rashly, it wouldn't be a joke to switch one for one.

So he had to go the indirect route, win over Zhao YueMin, and Xiao Jianbiao would naturally be less of a concern.

"Yay!"

"I'll tell my mom when I get home later!"

Xiao Ruawen's face showed two deep dimples, very charming.

...

Back home, Xu Qingfan mentioned the hot spring idea to the three elders.

Xu Aiguo was uninterested, but Lin Jing and Yao Jinping showed keen interest.

"Xiao Fan, where do you guys plan to go for the hot spring, the nearby Jinyezi, or?" Lin Jing inquired curiously.

"Not going to Jinyezi, it'll definitely be crowded for New Year's. I... Aunt Zhang has a hot spring villa in Conghua, it's pretty spacious, with three natural pools."

Xu Qingfan almost let it slip just now, but the villa really does belong to Zhang Chunxue. That lousy man subconsciously thinks that Auntie's house is his house.

"Zhang Jie actually has a hot spring villa in Conghua? I've never heard her mention it." Lin Jing was slightly surprised, but considering it's Zhang Chunxue, it's understandable.

"Yeah, yeah, I heard Auntie bought it as an investment, since housing prices keep going up." Xu Qingfan nodded.

"That's true. Lucky for us, we bought pre-sale properties at the time. Now the prices in Donghui City have shot up to seven thousand, doubling at least."

Yao Jiping said with great relief.

"That's right, luckily Qingfan earned money from comics, otherwise Auntie wouldn't have thought about buying a house together with you guys." Lin Jing gave him a gentle smile.

Xu Qingfan returned her smile, knowing there was no need to explain to them. In this prime location, it's not surprising if prices reach twenty thousand per square meter in five or six years.

The group chatted casually for a while about getting ready to soak in the hot springs, and dinner soon ended in this cheerful atmosphere.

Xia Xiaoxiao was called back home by Lin Jing, who had something to say. Coincidentally, Xu Qingfan also had something he wanted to tell Wu Lingyu, and he eagerly pulled Lingyu upstairs to the second floor.

"Lingyu, Lingyu, big news, big news!" He pinned Wu Lingyu down on the bed, locked the door behind him, then returned to speak.

Wu Lingyu was quietly amused inside, but pretended she didn't know on the surface, asking, "What is it, Brother Fan?"

"It's Wanning and Yiyi, Wanning and Yiyi found out I've been keeping secrets from them!" The lousy man sat down, holding Lingyu's hand as he spoke.

"Huh?"

"How could that be?"

"Brother Fan, did something happen?"

Wu Lingyu's pupils widened in shock, looking incredulous.

Xu Qingfan immediately recounted the day's events for Lingyu succinctly.

"I was half an hour late that day... and this is what happened."

"Yiyi wasn't mad at me, she told me to come clean to Wanning about us, so I did. Wanning said she wants to be with Yiyi and me too."

Wu Lingyu said nothing, only stared at him without blinking.

"Ugh... that's all." Xu Qingfan awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

"Isn't this good? Brother Fan has always wanted this." Wu Lingyu said.

"Uh, it's not that it's bad, it's just that it feels kind of like a dream, like it's unreal. Every day lately I've been pinching my face hard when I wake up, afraid I'm in the dream world."

The lousy man said, feeling embarrassed as he spoke.

Wu Lingyu looked as if she wanted to laugh, but remained serious, saying, "I don't think it's unreal at all. On the contrary, I think Wanning and Yiyi having these thoughts is totally normal, because Brother Fan is the most important person to everyone."

"Then...."

Before the lousy man could finish, Wu Lingyu interrupted like she knew what he was thinking: "Don't even think about it, Xiaoxiao would never agree."

"No, that's not what I mean, I meant you, Lingyu."

"Hmm?"

"What about me?"

Suddenly being cut off, Wu Lingyu was momentarily caught off guard.

The lousy man wrapped his arms around her slender waist, resting his head on her shoulder, gently saying, "I was wondering if tomorrow I should come clean to Wanning and Yiyi about us."

Wu Lingyu instantly froze upon hearing that.

A moment later, she suddenly exclaimed emotionally, "Absolutely not!"

"Hmm?"

"Why not?"

Although Xu Qingfan was just speaking casually, seeing Wu Lingyu's strong reaction, he couldn't help but become curious.

"Because... because Brother Fan, you just got caught, if, if you confess to Wanning and Yiyi about us so soon, they're bound... bound to think, is Brother Fan, besides being with Lingyu, isn't he also with Xiaoxiao, with Ruan Wen and... and others?"

"Exactly, that's why!"

Wu Lingyu's mind worked rapidly, quickly coming up with a reason that made sense.

Xu Qingfan thought it over and realized Lingyu was right. Lingyu has sacrificed so much for him!

"Thank you, Lingyu."

"You're so kind."

"Hmm..... hmm~"

Before Wu Lingyu could finish speaking her words, her lips were already sealed.

...