Damn it, I'm surrounded by childhood sweethearts

Sunday.

In Xu Qingfan's room, a young man's brows furrowed slightly as he was deep in slumber, followed by a super loud sneeze echoing in the bedroom.

"Haha... How embarrassing!"

Xu Qingfan suddenly opened his eyes, only to see Lin Wanning perched on top of him, with several loops of hair wrapped around her right index finger, evidently the source of his earlier annoyance.

"Hehe~ Good morning Brother Qing Fan... woopsie daisy!"

Lin Wanning was about to cheekily wish him a good morning, but before she could finish, she found herself wrapped under the covers by Xu Qingfan, roles reversed as the rogue man was now pressing on top of her.

Xu Qingfan first looked around the room, checking the situation: the door was locked from the inside, and there was no one in the bedroom or the bathroom.

It was time for some mischief!

He swiftly pulled the covers over them both, and quickly, all was plunged into darkness.

"Hee~ What are you doing, Brother Qing Fan?" Lin Wanning was still oblivious to the gravity of the situation, cheerfully supporting Xu Qingfan's cheeks with her hands.

The next second.

"Ah~"

"Don't... Brother Qing Fan, you haven't brushed your teeth, it stinks.... no kissing... mmm~"

The shameless man wasted no time and activated his skill: Evil Dog Pounce.

Five minutes later.

The blanket covering the two was carelessly kicked into a corner, and Xu Qingfan and Lin Wanning lay side by side on the bed, panting for breath.

Lin Wanning's face was flushed with color, her delicate camisole had slipped down her fragrant shoulders, revealing a slip of skin.

Droplets of sweat on her forehead slid down to her neck, eventually stopped by her pale collarbone, causing an itchy sensation which she tried to alleviate with a nuzzle.

Of course, all they had done was engage in simple lip friendship, with Lin Wanning appearing so delicately due more to being beneath the weight of the man and the stifling breaths under the covers.

"Brother Qing Fan, you stink!" Lin Wanning whined softly, then turned and buried her face into the pillow.

As for the part where she had taken the initiative to wrap her arms around Brother Qing Fan's neck, wriggling her tongue like a little dog, the girl chose to forget.

The rascal man reached in for a tactical adjustment, then used his other hand to pinch Lin Wanning's ear.

"I thought I was dreaming just now."

"Turns out it's really Wanning."

Lin Wanning hid her small face in the pillow, secretly delighted.

[Brother Qing Fan even thinks of Wanning in his dreams!]

"I'm not listening, I'm not listening, the babbling of a toad!" Yet she didn't show her face, her voice low like that of a child.

Xu Qingfan pinched Lin Wanning's ear again, thinking to himself: [Just a kiss should be okay, right?]

After breakfast, he didn't linger too long in bed due to worry about others coming up later; he quickly got up.

Sensing Xu Qingfan's movement out of bed, Lin Wanning sneakily peeked through a sliver of an opening, then just as quickly retreated her head back under the pillow.

Not much later, she once again revealed her eyes.

By the wardrobe, Xu Qingfan was bending over to put on a pair of red briefs, treating Lin Wanning too casually, without any pretense or concealment.

Once he was fully dressed, Lin Wanning's face was even redder than moments before.

"Everyone's downstairs already, Brother Qing Fan, go brush your teeth and wash up!" Having neatly folded the blanket, Lin Wanning checked her face in the mirror.

After ensuring everything was in order, she put on her slippers and slipped out.

Xu Qingfan watched Lin Wanning close the door as she left, nearly stumbling over her own feet as she went.

"Silly girl." He chuckled to himself at her retreating figure.

He checked the group chat on his phone, which had been buzzing since the early hours of the morning.

[At six twenty-eight, Wu Lingyu posted a picture of their arrival in Li City.

At six thirty-five, Wu Lingyu shared a photo of Xu Qingfan sound asleep.

At seven ten, Yao Jiping and Li Mei Juan were haggling at the vegetable market. (Photographer: Yu.)

At eight five, Xiao Ruawen messaged that she had just set off.

At eight twenty, Xiao Ruawen posted a photo with Yu making a victory sign.

At eight forty, Lin Wanning and Zhang Yiyi's families set off together.

...]

Xu Qingfan felt relieved that he had persuaded his parents to buy a duplex before—if they were still in their old house, waking up and walking out in briefs would have been a mortifying affair.

Pocketing his phone, he began to brush his teeth in earnest.

...

"Why has Wanning been gone for so long, she hasn't been upstairs doing something naughty, has she?"

"How come Wanning didn't come down with you, Brother Fan?" Seeing Lin Wanning's flushed face as she came down from upstairs, the moms sitting on the sofa chatted teasingly.

Lin Wanning's steps faltered, and whenever she was nervous, she couldn't help but scratch her temples.

"Ah... Brother Fan got up, he's brushing his teeth..."

"I... I'll go help Auntie!" She pointed towards the kitchen, avoiding her mother's gaze, and bolted.

"Hahaha..." The living room erupted into laughter from the mothers.

In the kitchen, Yao Jiping, Li Mei Juan and the four girls were busy at work.

Seeing Lin Wanning return, Zhang Yiyi shifted to make room on her small stool for her.

"Brother Fan woke up." Lin Wanning briefly explained, and then seated herself, tackling potato peeling with a peeler in one hand and potato in the other.

The others glanced at her, then continued with their tasks.