Damn it, I'm surrounded by childhood sweethearts

Xu Qingfan broke into a cold sweat; he really did practice with someone else, but that wasn't the main reason for his proficiency.

"What are you thinking? I gave my first kiss to you. Boys pick up these things naturally, didn't you know?" Xu Qingfan slapped the back of her head.

Xia Xiaoxiao pouted, wanting to say: It's not like my first kiss wasn't given to you!

"I'm not a boy, how would I know?" She was actually quite happy, because that jerk admitted with his own mouth that his first kiss was given to her.

[Well, not counting the times Wanning sneaked kisses, those don't count if there's no tongue!]

...

When they returned to the square, their classmates had already begun moving chairs to wrap things up.

Xu Qingfan let go of Xia Xiaoxiao's hand and, once back in the group, took the lead in chatting: "Is anyone hungry? Want to go for a late-night snack?"

After Xia Xiaoxiao called "Auntie," she took off the down jacket and silently put on her own.

"?"

The four girls and the three moms all had a big question mark above their heads.

[What, it's like nothing happened between you two?!]

"Why aren't you wearing your coat, what are you up to?" Yao Jinping, losing track of the sentence she had prepared, glanced at the down jacket in his hand and said.

Xu Qingfan obediently put on the down jacket, which still carried the scent and warmth of Xia Xiaoxiao. His mind drifted again to the recent scenes before the climbing frame, making him feel all mushy.

Everyone was scrutinizing their facial expressions, trying to detect a clue, but with their faces as blank slates and bundled up in down jackets, it was even harder to find anything.

Xia Xiaoxiao felt a bit uncomfortable under Lin Jing's stare and casually ran off to chat with Xiao Ruawen.

Yao Jinping wanted to ask where the two had just run off to, but since she hadn't started strong, she now forgot to ask.

"Did Xiaofan and Xiaoxiao just run off to secretly date?" Zhao Yuelin giggled and joked.

Xia Xiaoxiao held her breath, not daring to show a hint of expression on her face.

"Ah, we...." Xu Qingfan was about to use the excuse they had agreed on for their return when Wu Shichong and Lai Chenglang suddenly ran over.

"Fang Ge, we're heading back first, need help carrying anything?"

"Yeah, want us to carry yours and the class monitor's chairs back?"

Xu Qingfan, for once, found the two to be quite pleasing, nodding with a smile: "Thanks, I'll treat you to sodas tomorrow."

"Ah, just don't forget the dinner we planned for tomorrow, Fang Ge."

"Yeah, don't forget what you promised last week, we're leaving now, see you Auntie."

"See you Auntie."

The two took Xu Qingfan and Xiao Ruawen's chairs and left, as for Xia Xiaoxiao and the others, their classmates naturally helped with theirs.

"Since the event's over, let's go home first and talk there." Xu Qingfan pretended to have forgotten Zhao Yue Lin's earlier question and turned to the group.

It was nearing 11 p.m., and as the staff put away the valuable equipment, they left the steel frame to be dismantled tomorrow. Once the stage lights were off, the only sources of light in the square were the street lamps.

Zhao Yue Lin, momentarily choked, decided it would be too eager to ask again immediately, so she waited to bring it up later.

"Qingfan got the first prize!" Lin Wanning looked expectantly at Xu Qingfan, carefully probing to see if his attitude toward her had changed.

"I heard, Wanning and Yiyi got the third prize, and Xiaoxiao got second." Xu Qingfan bent down to pinch her cheek, smiling.

Lin Wanning pursed her lips and smiled, her worries instantly vanished, "Mm-hmm!"

"Let's go, Wanning, hold on tight." Xu Qingfan pushed her wheelchair from behind and rushed out with Lin Wanning,

"Charge!" Lin Wanning puffed up her cheeks and blew out, as if trying to blow away the headwind to help Brother Qingfan.

The rest exchanged smiles and quickly followed along.

...

It only took five minutes to walk from school to home, and as they opened the door, Xiaobai, sensing a familiar yet unfamiliar scent, peeked its head out from its doghouse.

Recognizing the three moms, Xiaobai excitedly approached, wagging its tail.

Not for any other reason, every time the moms brought supplies, they would feed it a little, and though Xiaobai was a dog, it certainly recognized kindness.

"Won't tying it up in the yard in such cold weather make it catch a cold?" Yao Jinping asked, petting the dog's head.

"Auntie, there's heating in Xiaobai's doghouse, it's warmer than the house!" Lin Wanning giggled as she explained.

No matter what happened between Brother Qingfan and Xiaoxiao earlier, as long as Brother Qingfan's attitude towards her hadn't changed, she was happy.

"Warmer than the house, has Wanning stayed in it before?" Zhao Yue Lin teased with a smile.

"Yeah, Brother Qingfan said it, Brother Qingfan stayed in it!" Lin Wanning proudly said.

Everyone looked at him with skeptical eyes, and Xu Qingfan tapped Wanning's head and explained helplessly: "I tried it to see if it was warm enough."

To be honest, the doghouse was warm in winter and cool in summer; if he were ten years younger, he'd really compete with Xiaobai for a secret base.

The yard was still too cold, so after playing with the dog briefly, they quickly went inside.

The moms were entertained by the five girls, while Xu Qingfan went to the kitchen to brew tea and soon came out with freshly brewed tea. Though drinking tea before bed isn't good, a little chrysanthemum tea is fine.

He filled everyone's cups with hot tea and, once seated, continued to lead the conversation, "It's late and cold outside. Mom, Aunties, why don't you stay overnight? I'll sleep in the room on the second floor, and you can use two rooms on the third floor."

After braving the wind all night, Yao Jinping also felt a bit reluctant to move once seated, "It's up to you all; I have nothing to do tomorrow."

Zhao Yue Lin glanced at her daughter, "Let's see what Jingjing says, I have nothing to do tomorrow either. But Xiao Fan, don't fuss about switching rooms, you'd have trouble sleeping in a different place, and you have class tomorrow."

She knew there was a folding bed unused on the second floor just in case.

"Yeah, Xiao Fan should sleep in his own room. We three can squeeze into one bed." Lin Jing obviously agreed, also saying.

"Xiaoxiao and Ruan Wen, go take off your makeup and shower, stinky brat you too, has Wanning, Yiyi, and Xiaoyu showered?" Yao Jinping asked, and the three shook their heads simultaneously, "Get going, we'll cook a late-night snack for everyone to eat after their showers."

"Alright!"

"Thank you, Auntie!"

Once Yao Jinping gave her orders, the six immediately dispersed, and Lin Wanning was carried by Xu Qingfan up to the third floor.

When only the three moms remained in the living room, Zhao Yue Lin asked, "Ah Ping, why didn't you ask what the kids were up to tonight?"

"Oh, I knew I forgot something; I'll ask during the late-night snack." Yao Jinping had a flash of realization and tapped her forehead.

Lin Jing laughed softly with pursed lips, "I'll check what ingredients we have in the kitchen."

...

Xu Qingfan carried Lin Wanning into the bathroom and then was the last to take a shower in the washroom.

As the hot mist and water hit his head, he stretched gently, and his joints crackled noisily.

The hair wax washed away instantly, and he stood quietly under the showerhead, his mind more active now than ever.

Everything that happened tonight was so sudden. Now with some time, he needed to sort out his thoughts.

[Xiaoyu already knows about me and Xiaoxiao, so no worries there. Ruan Wen knows a little, I'll keep finding ways to keep her distracted.]

[But Wanning and Yiyi... should I tell them the truth?]

Xu Qingfan pondered the consequences of being honest. Truth be told, if Lin Wanning and Zhang Yiyi were able to accept each other, it gave him great confidence, at least avoiding the worst-case scenario.

It's obvious to anyone that Xia Xiaoxiao likes her, so of course, Lin Wanning and Zhang Yiyi would see that. This might be a good opportunity to prepare them.

[I should say it, but need to control the narrative...]

...