Damn it, I'm surrounded by childhood sweethearts

The mouth cannot be kissed, but the cheeks can be kissed, and while Xiao Ruawen was looking down and defenseless, the rascal man gently pecked her on the right cheek like a dragonfly touching water.

"You..." Xiao Ruawen was stunned. How dare Brother Fan do that!

"A brother kissing his sister is normal, right?" Xu Qingfan explained calmly.

"I..." Xiao Ruawen was at a loss for words.

"Didn't Ruan Wen say she sees me as her brother? From now on, I'll only see Ruan Wen as my sister. There will be no more overstepping of boundaries beyond brother and sister."

The rascal man raised both hands, blinking as he made a promise.

"Hmph... You'd better keep your word!" Xiao Ruawen pouted her lips, accepting his explanation.

"And, tonight's matter is not allowed... well, you know what I mean!"

Xiao Ruawen initially wanted to say that he wasn't allowed to tell Xiao Xiao, but she remembered what Brother Fan had just said about not wanting her to use Xiao Xiao's name when it was just the two of them. She decided to listen.

"Tonight's matter won't be told to anyone," the rascal man smiled.

He was actually hoping Xiao Ruawen wouldn't disclose tonight's events, as he had pulled off a slick move, making Xiao Ruawen mistakenly think she was his favorite.

Xu Qingfan had simply told her to ask if she was his favorite, but Xiao Ruawen hadn't asked!

As for who the rascal man's favorite person was, it would naturally be whoever was by his side!

"And about marrying five wives, don't think you can weasel out of that with sweet talk. I still remember!" Xiao Ruawen crossed her arms and climbed a few steps higher, avoiding getting too close to Brother Chou Fan.

"..."

Xu Qingfan was speechless. After saying so much, how could this silly Ruan Wen still be fixated on this!

[Ask, ask, what's there to ask? Of course, I want to marry all five of you as my wives!]

"Ask, ask, what's there to ask? Of course, it was just a joke with Auntie. It's not the ancient times with harems, you can't marry five wives."

His expression changed to one of being wronged, his face darkening as if he was ashamed and angry.

"Hmph~ But Brother Fan, you said you liked all five of us... a normal person doesn't like five people!" Xiao Ruawen wouldn't easily let this matter go until it was clarified.

"Well, a normal person wouldn't have five childhood friends like me either!"

"I just can't help liking you all, liking you, Xiao Ruawen! What can I do about it?"

Xu Qingfan shrugged his shoulders as if he had given up and spoke.

Xiao Ruawen fell silent instantly.

Indeed, whose childhood and youth would have five perfect childhood friends like Xu Qingfan!

[But, how dare you say such things to my face!]

[Where is your dignity, Brother Fan???]

"Ahem... cough, Brother Fan, don't be upset. I didn't say I was blaming you."

"I just... just want you to pay more attention in the future. Don't be a slave to your desires. Marrying five wives is a pipe dream. Whether it's me, Xiao Xiao, Wanning, Yiyi, or Yu, none of us would agree."

"What I mean is, Brother Fan, don't end up empty-handed. Make your choice early. No matter who you choose in the end, I will support you... because... because I will always be your sister!"

Xiao Ruawen spoke haltingly, and without realizing it, her stance had shifted from helping Xiao Xiao win over Brother Fan to "No matter who you choose in the end, I will support you."

For the first time, Xu Qingfan wanted to describe Xiao Ruawen as cute. The way she nervously tested the waters, afraid of saying the wrong thing, was extremely adorable.

"Choosing Ruan Wen is also an option?" he smiled and asked.

"Of course... Of course not!" Xiao Ruawen almost blurted out the answer in agreement.

She didn't know what to say, so she just glared at Brother Chou Fan angrily.

"Alright, just joking, little sister Ruan Wen." Xu Qingfan stopped smiling and turned his back to her.

Xiao Ruawen suddenly felt a faint pain in her heart, thinking Brother Fan must be extremely disappointed at that moment, and was turning his back so she wouldn't see it.

As expected, when Xu Qingfan turned back around, the fleeting look of disappointment was caught by Xiao Ruawen, but it was quickly replaced by his familiar smile.

[Brother Fan, you said you didn't want to ruin our friendships, but I don't want to ruin my friendship with Xiao Xiao either. You understand, right...]

"Let's go, the evening study session is almost over." Xu Qingfan extended his hand in invitation.

Xiao Ruawen gazed at him quietly, then suddenly smiled like the arrival of spring.

"Hmm!" She placed her hand in Xu Qingfan's, and once held, she refused to let go.

Everything that needed to be said had been spoken between them moments ago.

As for what couldn't or shouldn't be said, all the emotions were buried in a smile.

...

When they returned to the class, there were only a few minutes left before the end of the evening study session.

"Brother Fan, class monitor, what did the teacher want with you two? You were gone for so long?"

"Yeah, the homeroom teacher even came by once, saw you weren't at your seats, and asked where you two went."

Wu Shichong and Lai Chenglang asked, their curiosity insatiable as they chewed on the gossip.

Xiao Ruawen's heart skipped a beat, and before she could think of how to explain, Xu Qingfan had already spoken up.

He said: "Nothing much, the teacher wanted us to guide notable alumni during the school's centennial celebration. Later, Ruan Wen felt unwell, so I accompanied her to the infirmary."

"Holy shit?"

"Guiding notable alumni!"

As expected, the group's attention shifted to the first topic, and they didn't care anymore about why they were at the infirmary for so long.

"Our alma mater is older than the founding of the Party; of course, there are many notable alumni. But I have to run a hundred meters that day, so I declined."

Xu Qingfan spread his hands and continued speaking.

"No, Brother Fan, you're making a mistake!" Wu Shichong pounded the table in excitement.

"Yeah, if being a guide catches the eye of someone important, you could skip twenty years of hard work. Who cares about studying then!" Lai Chenglang also spoke excitedly.

Because Xu Qingfan usually kept a low profile, they didn't know the most important person at school was right in front of them.

"Forget twenty years; Brother Fan, with your looks, if a rich lady fancies you, you could skip an entire lifetime of hardship!"

"Huh?"

The three female students in the group instantly became displeased, glaring at Wu Shichong with murder in their eyes.

"Haha... Just joking, don't get worked up, just joking." Wu Shichong quickly became compliant.

"Students should behave like students. We should study for the rise of China; having a heavy materialistic mindset is not good... ouch!" Xu Qingfan waved and preached.

Xiao Ruawen's hand had somehow found its way to his waist, giving it a firm twist without reason.

Xu Qingfan didn't understand what he had done to upset this lady and turned his head to see only Xiao Ruawen baring her bottom teeth at him.

[Brother Fan is such a skilled liar, who knows if he was lying to me earlier...]

Thinking of this, Xiao Ruawen tightened her grip again after having relaxed it earlier.

"Ouch... You're doing it again!" Xu Qingfan slapped her hand away, rubbing his waist.

"Doing what again, Brother Fan? What are you talking about?" Lai Chenglang, unaware of their actions under the table, asked confusedly.

"Nothing, just a pesky mosquito bothering me, but I chased it away." Xu Qingfan explained.

"Oh, oh... Mosquitoes are bad in autumn... huh?" Wang Xuan, in the middle of agreeing, suddenly paused.

[Are there mosquitoes in autumn?]

...

They hadn't chatted for long when the bell for the end of class rang.

As soon as class was over, Xiao Ruawen grabbed Xu Qingfan and started to walk out. Xu Qingfan asked her what she was doing, but she didn't respond.

"Speak!"

"What you said upstairs just now, was any of it a lie?"

At the staircase landing, Xiao Ruawen let go of his hand and sternly questioned him.

Xu Qingfan couldn't have imagined Xiao Ruawen would suspect his proficient lying skills, and despite his puzzled expression, he raised three fingers and vowed:

"What I said just now was entirely true. If there was even half a lie, I'm a dog!"

"Pfft... you already are!" Xiao Ruawen rolled her eyes at him and turned to leave.

She was willing to believe Brother Chou Fan's sworn words, and moreover, Xu Qingfan hadn't lied to her just now.

[I only asked if you thought I liked you more, but I never said yes, so it doesn't count as lying, right!]

[As for the rest, I really do see Ruan Wen as my sister. Does a younger sister not count as a sister?]

Xu Qingfan carefully reviewed what he had said, confirming he hadn't lied, and let out a long breath.

After all, if you can be a person, who would want to be a dog!

The rascal man shook his head and quickly caught up with her.

...