Chapter Six

  Early in the morning, the birds outside the window were chirping away.

  Ming Xiao Xi pushed open the bedroom door and stood there blankly, unsure whether or not to call Mu Ye Liu Bing to get up.

  Since that night, she and he fell into an awkward situation, as if everything became unnatural. Looking at Makino Fuyu, she would always start blushing involuntarily, then remember the kiss between her and him, and then become flustered.

  Especially now, Maki no Kōji was lying on the bed sleeping with only a pair of shorts on, and the quilt was all pressed under his body. His skin emitted a white and rosy glow like fine porcelain in the morning sunlight. It's really shameful that a man can have even more beautiful skin than a woman, but... why did her heart start beating wildly?

  Makino Ryu woke up with a start, his face, which was even purer than an angel's, gradually clearing up.

  He saw Ming Xiaoxi standing at the door in a daze and coldly snorted: "Seductress."

  Ming Xiao Xi's face turned bright red with anxiety: "I didn't... I haven't..."

  "Why are you drooling at me."

  She hastily wiped her mouth, oh god, she actually drooled! How embarrassing, she wished there was a crack in the ground to crawl into.

  Makino Ryuu lazily put on his clothes and walked up to her, tilting his face to the side: "Here, it's yours."

  Ming Xiao Xi's face turned bright red with embarrassment: "Y...you want to do what..."

  Makino Ryū Ice sneered at her: "Aren't you drooling over me? I'm delivering myself to your doorstep, come and kiss me."

  Ming Xiao Xi stared at him with a look of panic, her eyes fixed on the delicate right cheek that was close to her face. She swallowed hard and stuttered: "I... I didn't..."

  "Useless woman, you have the nerve to drool over me, but don't have the guts to do what you really want to..."

  "Tweet!"

  What a loud voice!

  Ming Xiao Xi rushed up and pulled down Mu Ye's neck, giving him a fierce kiss on the face!

  I didn't expect her voice to be so loud.

  "There's... what's so great about it, not... isn't it just a light touch anyway? I... am not afraid..." Ming Xiao Xi was still desperately holding on, but under Muyang Liu Bing's increasingly intense gaze, she finally abandoned her defenses and chose to - "run away"!

  She vanished into thin air behind the door...

  Makino Ryu's icy gaze softened as he touched her cheek, which had been kissed by her, and he whispered in a low voice: "Coward..."

  *

  Ming Xiao Xi handed a cup of milk to Maki Nozomi: "Drink up, we have to hurry to school after finishing."

  Makino Ryū was quietly drinking milk.

  Ming Xiao Xi suddenly knocked her own head, oh god, was she really a flower idiot? Why did she think it looked so good when Mu Ye Liu Bing drank milk?

  Makino Ryūhi glanced at her, having already become quite accustomed to her strange behavior.

  "He suddenly thought of a question: 'Xiaoxi, your parents aren't particularly wealthy, are they?'"

  Ming Xiao Xi nodded.

  "Then does the living allowance they give you support the expenses of both of us?"

  "Hey, don't worry about it, I'm very capable, and living expenses are not a problem." Ming Xiaoxi smiled stiffly. How could Mu Ye Liubing, who didn't eat human food or smoke, think of this?

  "I'll give you some money."

  Ming Xiao Xi hastily shook her head: "Your relationship with your dad has always been like that, where would you get the money from? You can't go borrow from others, can you?"

  Makino Ryu thought for a moment: "Or else, I'll go get a job."

  "Get a job!" Ming Xiaoxi exclaimed, "You go get a job! Stop joking around! What can you do, lazy and incompetent..."

  Makino Ryu's eyes blazed with anger.

  "Sorry, I made a mistake. What I mean is... you see, now Akane is determined to get you, and your dad might not let you off the hook either. If you go out to work, what if they run into you? Won't that cause a lot of unnecessary trouble?"

  "If I don't go to work, won't I just not run into them?"

  "Ah……this……oh dear, it'll be fine anyway!" Ming Xiaoxi smiled and patted him on the back, "I'm already surprised that you can think of living expenses, this shows that you've made a big step forward from being out of touch with reality! However, don't worry about living expenses, who am I? I'm the invincible Ming Xiaoxi! What can be difficult for me? Don't worry!"

  Makino Ryūhi couldn't bear to look at her, she was rambling on and on about something, confusing him completely.

  *

  Ming Xiao Xi was fretfully holding a pencil and scribbling randomly on her notebook, she really didn't know what had been wrong with her lately. Why did she start to uncontrollably daydream whenever she saw Makino Fuyu?

  "Koizumi, I'd like to ask you something," said Ming Xiaoxi with a furrowed brow.

  Koizumi was taken aback: "Ah, are you talking to me? I'll definitely tell you everything, without holding anything back!"

  "Can't you be serious for once."

  Koizumi put on her most serious face: "Min Xiao Xi, you can start now."

  "Do little birds really always take the first mother bird they see as their mom?"

  "Ah, this......" Koizumi almost fell onto her desk, was she really asking that question? "It shouldn't be all small birds, but I've heard some birds are indeed like what you just said."

  "Why does it take the first mother bird it sees as its mom?"

  The question was too profound, and Koizumi thought carefully: "Maybe it's because that bird is very stupid."

  Ming Xiao Xi's eyebrows furrowed even deeper: "Oh, is that the reason? Because it's too stupid."

  Koizumi waited for half a day, but Ming Xiaoxi didn't respond anymore.

  "Hey, is this all you want to ask me?"

  "That's right."

  "Are you kidding me?! What's with the bird thing, you must have an ulterior motive." Koizumi bit her finger and started "deducing", "You're asking me why a young bird would think the first mother bird it sees is its mom, which means you're asking why you thought your first love was... no, not love... based on your current situation, your real question should be... why did you think the first man you saw was... your soulmate!! Ah!!"

  Ming Xiao Xi covered her mouth with one hand and smiled apologetically at the other curious classmates, indicating "it's nothing", "it's nothing".

  Koizumi was still desperately struggling. Ming Xiaoxi leaned in close to her ear: "If you don't want me to cut ties with you, then shut your mouth."

  Koizumi suddenly closed her mouth tightly, finally getting a free breath. After panting for a few breaths, she poked Ming Xiaoxi: "Sister, I guessed it right, didn't I?"

  Ming Xiao Xi gave her a sideways glance: "Are you trustworthy?"

  Koizumi raised her palm: "Excellent products, quality guaranteed. Sister, I'm a bit curious, but you've known me for so long, shouldn't you have at least some understanding of me?"

  Ming Xiao Xi let out a sigh: "You guessed it."

  "Huh," Koizumi's eyes lit up, "Have you guys progressed to that stage? Kissing? Cuddling? Sleeping together?"

  "It was just a small kiss...” Ming Xiao Xi leaned on the table, “But my heart has been in turmoil all day.”

  "No wonder you've been distracted these past few days, turns out you've fallen captive to love."

  "Love?... Is this love?"

  "Are you excited and flustered, wanting to see him but also wanting to avoid him, with your heart racing when you see him, and feeling lost when you don't?"

  Ming Xiao Xi stared at Zhang Da Zui: "Xiao Quan, you're so fierce..."

  Koizumi smiled humbly: "Oh no, it's all like that in the introduction, according to the book, you should be in love with the man who kissed you."

  "But why is it like this? Just overnight, why does it feel like there's such a big change?" Ming Xiaoxi looked at the "expert" with a bewildered gaze.

  "The expert thought for a moment: 'Love... should be like this, right? I remember someone saying that love is like an epidemic, it comes suddenly and uncontrollably, but when it leaves, it's not that simple. It always leaves behind a trail of corpses..."

  "It's so scary... I'd better not then..."

  "Fool! If love can be controlled by you, it's not true love."

  "Ah...... I see......"

  Koizumi suddenly felt something was off: "No, that's not right, Xiaoxi. You should be fully immersed in happiness now, why do you look so down?"

  Ming Xiao Xi cried with a sad face: "Because... because I'm very hungry now... I don't have a single penny left... I didn't even eat lunch... how can I buy vegetables for dinner..."

  "What?! You haven't eaten?! Why didn't you tell me?!" Koizumi was furious, "Come on, let's go eat now!!"

  Ming Xiao Xi hastily pulled her back: "Are you crazy, we're still in self-study class, if the instructor sees us, we'll all be dead! ... Besides... you can't support me for a lifetime, I have to think of a way out myself..."

  She thought and thought, but in the end there was only one way: "Koizumi, do you know where there is a shortage of workers?"

  "Do you want to work and earn money?"

  "Don't many people do it this way? I should be able to too. You're more familiar with this place, help me think of where is hiring..."

  "This...," Koizumi's eyes suddenly lit up, "I know a place..."

  *

  Makino Ryu looked at the dish in front of him with a skeptical expression.

  Braised pork ribs, sweet and sour carp, fragrant mushroom celery, and silver ear lotus seed soup.

  "Today's dishes are so sumptuous." Normally it's just some vegetables and tofu.

  "Hehe, I think you're too skinny, boys should be strong and handsome. And you're still growing, so nutrition is absolutely important. So from now on, I'll make more dishes for you."

  Makiyo Ryūhi stared at Ming Xiaoxi with a smile: "Is the money enough?"

  "Enough! My dad is worried about me. He said he will send me more money from now on, as long as I can study hard and do my homework well, he will be the happiest."

  "Really?"

  "Uh, but... in order to study well... I signed up for the school's tutoring class... so... from now on, every afternoon and evening, I'll be going to tutoring classes... you don't have to wait for me anymore... I'll cook dinner first..."

  Ming Xiao Xi.

  His icy tone made her shudder.

  "What...what..."

  "Are you going to work?"

  "What...how could it be!!" Ming Xiao Xi nervously explained, "I...I really have to go to supplementary lessons...don't believe me, you can ask Xia Quan!"

  Makino Ryuichi stared at her in silence.

  His eyes were as beautiful as crystals, sparkling and shining, making her heart start beating rapidly again, blood slowly rushing to her face...

  "Cough!" Ming Xiao Xi coughed with effort, "You'd better eat quickly, it's not as good when it gets cold. And eating cold food will make your stomach uncomfortable... Come on, try some of the braised pork ribs I made... Doesn't it smell great? ...It smells great, right?"

  Finally got rid of him...

  *

  "Ming Xiao Xi, table number 10!"

  "Alright!"

  Ming Xiao Xi held the dinner plate with one hand, briskly walking to table 10, and placed the sizzling steak in front of the elegant couple. With courtesy, she said to the lady, "This is the small steak you ordered, please enjoy it, and I wish you a wonderful night."

  "Her mouth is so sweet," said the lady with delight, "I really like her."

  The man saw his girlfriend so happy and couldn't help but feel proud of himself, calmly taking out a bill: "Thank you for your service, this is your tip."

  Going back to the kitchen, waitress Satō Mikako looked at her with envy: "Akaki, you're so amazing! Why do you always get a lot of tips whenever you serve dishes?"

  Ming Xiao Xi smiled complacently: "There's a trick to everything, actually you just need to say a few nice words to make the customer happy, and that's it."

  "I've used this trick of yours before, so why didn't I get much out of it?"

  "Expression!" Ming Xiao Xi told her patiently, "Your smile is not sincere enough. If people feel that your smile is for their money, they will certainly be unhappy. So your smile must come from the heart and make customers feel..."

  "Ming Xiao Xi, order number 6!"

  "Alright!" She picked up the menu and walked towards table 6 with a full spirit.

  She has been working in this restaurant for nearly a month and is very satisfied with the environment here.

  This is a high-end French restaurant, and the customers who come and go are all dressed up and have a lot of style. The tips they give are also very generous, which has made her financial situation much more comfortable. With money, she can make more delicious meals for Ryota Mizuki, and recently he seems to have gained some weight, not looking as thin as before. Ah, I must thank Koizumi properly, it was her who introduced this great place.

  However, the only drawback is that the restaurant's business is too good, and sometimes it takes until one or two o'clock in the morning to get off work. Makino Fuyu would probably be suspicious of this. Alas, who allows things in the world to be perfect? If the restaurant's business was slow, where would she have so much cash to take?

  Forget it, table 6 has arrived.

  There is one man and one woman at table 6.

  The girl's bright eyes and white teeth, her smile as beautiful as a flower; the boy behind her, his back to her, can't see his face, but just his figure already makes people feel extraordinary temperament, proud and not in harmony with others, should be a handsome young man.

  "Sir, miss, please order." Ming Xiaoxi showed her brightest smile and elegantly handed the menu to the girl and...

  Good heavens! Who is that?

  Ming Xiao Xi's head went boom...

  Arrogant and unruly eyebrows, sharp and clear facial features, skin with a hint of ancient copper color, eyes full of vigor...

  She sighed and wondered how she had run into Terauchi Hiroshi. Out of all the restaurants in town, why did he have to pick this one where she worked?

  "What are you doing here!"

  Higashi's signature loud yell drew the attention of the entire French restaurant.

  "Temple University student, please keep your voice down, the manager will think I'm causing trouble!" Ming Xiaoxi pleaded with him in a low voice. The restaurant's business philosophy was that customers were gods, and she didn't want Tōji Hiroo's loud shouting to ruin her work.

  Tōji Hiroto glared at her for a few moments before finally sitting back down in his seat at her request.

  "Hey, Dongsi senior is in a good mood today and wants to go out for dinner..."

  Toji Hiroshi ignored her nonsense: "What are you doing here."

  "I work here." Ming Xiaoxi replied truthfully.

  "Working?! You're actually out working?!"

  "Is it strange to work part-time? As far as I know, many students in Japan will use their spare time to work part-time."

  "Do you need money badly?"

  "This..."

  "You can't be telling me that working is for interest, right?"

  "This... I want to know more deeply about the Japanese people..."

  "Mei Akane!" Terao Hiro's blazing eyes warned her that his patience had reached its limit.

  "Yes, there is a bit of reason in this aspect..."

  "Aren't you living with Makino Ryūichi? Didn't he give you any money?"

  "This..."

  "Are you going to have to work to support him?!"

  "Shut up, Toji Hiro!" Ming Xiaoxi angrily shouted.

  She couldn't care less about many things now, even if it meant being fired by the restaurant, she wouldn't allow anyone to insult Makino Fuyu!

  Tōji Hiroo also stood up with a "huff", glaring at her intensely!

  "Hao Nan...... Hao Nan......"

  The beautiful girl beside him gently pulled his sleeve: "Hao Nan... what's wrong with you? ... Who is she? ..."

  "Get out!"

  Tōji Hiroo turned around and vented his pent-up anger on the innocent girl!

  "Ah...... Ah Meng......" The girl's face turned from white to red, from red to green, and finally from green to white before she couldn't help but burst into loud sobs, getting up and rushing out of the dining hall.

  "Barbarian!" Ming Xiao Xi criticized his behavior.

  "Ah! —— Dawn! —— Brook!"

  Tōji Hiroo exploded in anger like a lion.

  The manager of the French restaurant rushed over and was shocked when he saw him: "Young Master Dong, you've come to inspect the business yourself today?"

  Oh, Ming Xiao almost fainted. Is this his family's store?

  "Is this servant girl not satisfactory to you, Master of Dong Temple? Don't worry, we will surely teach her a good lesson!"

  "Get out!!" Tōji Hiroo bellowed again, scaring the manager into a cold sweat.

  "Get out of here, all of you! Only she and I can be here!"

  "The boss's son" is indeed a golden signboard. In just five minutes, the large restaurant became spotless, leaving only Dong Si Hao Nan and Ming Xiao Xi facing each other.

  They glared at each other, and after a while, Ming Xiaoxi was the first to give up.

  She sat in the comfortable guest seat, rubbing her eyes which were almost puffy, and sighed: "Tōji Hiroo, didn't you dislike me? I worked at your family's restaurant, you could have let the manager scold me and torment me to avenge that one arrow from before. You should be happy about it, why are you so agitated? Be careful, I might misunderstand that you care about me..."

  Tōji Hiroo furrowed his brow: "You've always thought I disliked you?"

  "Isn't it? I was so fierce with you at first, but you still haven't taken revenge..."

  His voice dropped low: "If I hated you, why would I have intervened when Akane was bullying you..."

  His voice was very small, but Ming Xiao Xi still heard it. She thought for a moment and smiled: "Right! How could I forget?!... So you don't dislike me that much either?!... Then why do you always look so fierce when you see me? I thought you didn't like me..."

  "You... are working here because you're short on money?" Tōji Hiromu didn't give up on his previous question, only his tone had softened considerably.

  "Uh...yes."

  Akira looked at Tōji earnestly, "Tōji-senpai, if you don't mind me asking, could I ask for your help with something?"

  Her bright eyes stared straight at him, filled with expectation and longing.

  "You... you said..."

  "I've been working here in secret, and Morinaga Ryuu doesn't know a thing about it. I hope you can keep this secret for me, Toudou... please..."

  "Why? The flowing ice he..."

  "This has nothing to do with Makino Fuyu at all! It's purely for personal reasons." Ming Xiaoxi immediately cut him off.

  "Sorry, I don't want to tell you the reason yet. Can I ask for your help without asking for a reason, Toudou-senpai?"

  She gazed intently at Tōji Hiroo, her small face radiating a resolute light...

  *

  Ming Xiao Xi glanced at her watch and gasped, it was already 2 o'clock in the morning.

  She quietly turned the key in the lock, today was an unknown day, and there were so many guests coming to the restaurant. Although the tip income was very impressive, her muscles had become stiff and almost immobile.

  I hope Makino Ryuichi is already asleep...

  She quietly pushed open the door, muttering to herself, "Mukoyoshi no ice, don't wake up, don't wake up..."

  Ah! Why is the living room so brightly lit?!

  A sense of foreboding settled over her...

  There were only two people in the living room. One was Makino Ruki, and the other was Kazama Chikage.

  Makino Ryu gazed at her coldly, while Kazama Akane's eyes were filled with deep concern.

  "You're back." Fūin Kazuki stood up and took the bag from her hand, "Why are you coming home so late? You've got everyone worried about you."

  Ming Xiao Xi was at a loss for words: "I... I..."

  Feng Jian Cheng made her sit down on a chair: "Liu Bing came to school looking for you today..."

  He went to school to find her?

  It's done.

  Then Liang Bing called Dong Si's house and mine again, but there was no sign of you anywhere, he is very anxious...

  "Stop it, don't say any more." Makino Ruka stopped him, her eyes coldly staring at Ming Xiaoxi: "Where did you go?"

  "I... I went... to... to... to Koizumi's house... Ah, I remembered! This afternoon Koizumi asked me to accompany her shopping... We strolled and strolled..."

  "Xiao Xi!" Feng Jian Cheng cut her off disapprovingly, his eyes seemingly filled with worry.

  "Ming, Xiao, Xi, you really disappointed me." Mu Ye Liu Bing looked at her with disdain, the contemptuous light in his eyes deeply piercing her heart.

  "Today we met Koizumi and she was speaking ambiguously, saying that she didn't know where you went." Kaze explained with a sigh.

  Ming Xiao Xi felt a chill run down her spine, what should she do?

  She looked at Fūin Kazuki with pleading eyes, save her, that omnipotent boy who was like a god...

  Feng Jian Zhen patted her head: "It's so late, aren't you hungry?"

  "Not hungry."

  "You must be tired, your dark circles are showing."

  "Uh-huh."

  "Go wash up and go to bed quickly, we can talk about it tomorrow."

  "Oh." Ming Xiao Xi shrunk her neck and walked towards the bathroom, Fēng Jiān Xué Zhǎng was truly the best person in the world.

  "Ming Xiao Xi." Mu Ye Liu Bing called out to her.

  Ming Xiao Xi was startled: "I... I'm very tired, I want to sleep."

  "Am I disturbing you?"

  "You... what do you mean..."

  "It's been a while since you've been coming back so late. Is it because of me that you feel inconvenient?"

  "What... what does it mean..." She couldn't understand what he was saying.

  "Are you dating a boyfriend?" Makino Ryuusuke gazed at her deeply and asked.

  "Hah...hahahaha!!" Ming Xiaoxi laughed so hard she was doubled over, "How did you think I had a boyfriend? Haha, you actually thought I had a boyfriend..."

  "Shut up!" Makino Rieko's face turned slightly red from her laughter. "So tell me, what are you doing?!"

  "Me......" Ming Xiao Xi was stunned again, how should she respond?

  "You didn't say anything, did you."

  "I..."

  Makino Ryuhyo's endurance had finally run out. He closed his eyes: "Alright, I'm going."

  "What did you say?!" She looked at him tensely.

  "You come home so late every day, isn't it because you don't want to see me? If I leave here, you won't have to work so hard."

  "Where are you going?" Ming Xiaoxi asked in a fluster.

  "It's none of your business." The indifference in his tone hurt her.

  "What does it have to do with me?" A wave of resentment surged up in Ming Xiao Xi's heart, "Since getting to know you, so many things have happened, and now you say it has nothing to do with me?!" She glared at Mu Ye Liu Bing furiously, "Right! You're absolutely right! It has nothing to do with me! I'm just bored out of my mind and that's why I got entangled with a big trouble like you! Everything is my own doing! Just leave! If you leave, I won't have any more worries! If you leave, I won't have to come home so late every day!"

  Makino Ryūhi's face turned pale, he glared at her fiercely and suddenly stormed into his room, grabbing a bag to start packing his things.

  Ming Xiao Xi watched as his belongings were stuffed into the bag one by one, and she felt a desperate urge to shout: "Leave! From now on, I don't know you anymore. I hate you! I hate Mu Ye Liu Bing this big scoundrel the most!"

  Makino Ayumu finally stuffed the last item into her bag and returned to the living room.

  "I'm leaving." His tone was as cold as when she first met him.

  Ming Xiao Xi's eyes were blurry with tears: "You can leave, who cares about you, the farther you go the better, best if we never see each other again..."

  "Thank you for taking care of me these days."

  "Wow......" Ming Xiao Xi's tears began to flow, "You heartless bastard still remember how I took care of you? I cooked for you every day, washed your clothes, cleaned up after you, and even fought for you... I was so good to you, yet you just left without a word... You left... I was only late coming home by a little bit... You scolded me... What did I do wrong?"

  "Don't cry!"

  "You're still being mean to me!... What did I do wrong?... You want to leave... Ignore me... Go ahead and leave... I don't want to know a bad person like you... I won't miss you when you're gone... What's so good about you?... So lazy... So mean... I won't miss you at all... Just go!"

  "Ming Xiaoxi!" Mu Ye Liubing hugged her tightly, "Don't cry anymore! Otherwise... otherwise... I won't leave... I'll stay and be mean to you forever..."

  "Waaahhh..." Ming Xiao Xi cried even louder, "I didn't do anything wrong... why are you being so mean to me... I just don't want you to leave... I didn't do anything wrong..."

  Makino Ryuusei finally kissed her lips.

  It's still cool... salty... making Ming Xiao Xi's entire head spin...

  Ming Xiao Xi leaned against Mu Ye's chest, slowly catching her breath.

  When she came to, she found that Kazehaya had left at some point and the only ones in the room were her and Akane Minagawa.

  "This time I can be sure you did it on purpose."

  "What's wrong?"

  "Deliberately seducing me into kissing you, you slut."

  "What's wrong with me?"

  "You know I hate seeing you cry the most, yet you still insist on doing this, if it's not intentional then what is it."

  Was she being deliberate? Ming Xiaoxi secretly asked herself. Hmm... maybe just a little bit...

  Makino Ayumu lifted her chin and scrutinized her swollen eyes: "Why won't you let me go?"

  Ming Xiao Xi stuttered: "Be...because..."

  "Don't tell lies."

  Ming Xiao Xi's face turned red: "Because......because......"

  "Hurry up and say it!"

  "Because I like you!"

  Ming Xiao Xi stared at Mu Ye Liu Bing in shock, did she really say those words?! Was she really that shameless?! Good heavens, after living for seventeen years, she actually didn't know that she was such a shameless girl?! How embarrassing to death!!

  Makino Ryu's kiss once again interrupted her thoughts.

  This kiss...

  Not salty at all...

  It seems sweet...

  Soft...

  "This time it's not my fault, I didn't cry..."

  "Shut up! Pay attention!"

  Her heart was racing like a deer...

  Is this what Koizumi meant by love?...

  *

  The next day at five o'clock in the afternoon.

  Ming Xiao Xi brought out a plate of sliced watermelon from the kitchen. She smiled and handed a piece to Maki Nozomi: "Try some, the fruit vendor said today's watermelon is especially sweet."

  Makino Ryu grabbed her hand and took a bite: "It's sweet."

  Ming Xiao Xi's face turned red as she looked at him: "Let go of my hand."

  Makino didn't let go of her, instead he pulled her into his arms with all his might.

  Ming Xiao Xi's heart began to beat irregularly again, and she couldn't help but steal glances at Mu Ye Liu Bing from under her eyelashes. At such a close distance, his handsome face made it even harder for her to look away. His refreshing body scent, perfect skin, straight nose bridge, soft thin lips, and those crystal-clear bright eyes... His breathing was so close to hers, as if every breath wrapped around her cheeks, making every cell in her body extremely sensitive...

  Makino Ayumu smiled lightly: "You know? You're really strange."

  His smile was so pure that it captivated her: "Huh?......"

  "You're sometimes as fierce as a little tiger, sometimes as clumsy as a little dog, sometimes as timid as a little mouse, and sometimes as shy as a little cat." He said softly, brushing the stray hairs from her forehead.

  His low voice made her heart itch so much that for a moment she didn't understand what he was saying: "Little dog... little mouse... little cat..."

  "What?! You're insulting me?!" She suddenly reacted, "I'm not!"

  Makino Ryuichi glared at her with a cold smile, holding his head in his hands: "Idiot, reacting so slowly..."

  "I...I didn't..." Ming Xiao Xi looked at his lips getting closer and closer to her in a daze, yet she had no power to resist, "You...what are you going to do..."

  "But I like..." He kissed her lips, "I like you, silly..."

  Good heavens, Ming Xiao Xi's last thought before she spun around was, could kissing this thing be addictive?...

  Makino's lips, as delicate as a snowflake, finally let go of Ming Xiao Xi's cool lips.

  Ming Xiao Xi blinked her eyes, trying to regain her dizzy consciousness: "Mu Ye Liu Bing, you're also very strange."

  "Huh?......"

  "You used to be so cold and distant, making people feel uncomfortable; now you're being weird and it's hard for people to get used to."

  "What's wrong with me?"

  "You... you always like to use violence against others..."

  Makino laughed like a spring breeze: "Because you're delicious."

  "Huh?......"

  "Sweeter than a watermelon."

  Ming Xiao Xi's face flushed like a drunk: "You're so weird, from being cold as ice to suddenly becoming like you have a lot of things to say... others really aren't used to it..."

  Makino's icy breath caressed her eyelashes: "Do you like it?"

  "I... I..."

  I hope you will always be like this and never go back to being that cold and icy Makoto Minagawa, Akane Mino said quietly in her heart.

  "Ah! That's right!" Ming Xiaoxi suddenly popped up from Pastor Ye's arms, "I want..."

  It's already past five, if she doesn't hurry up and leave now, she'll definitely be late today, and the perfect attendance award from the restaurant will be gone! No way, her movements have to be faster and faster! She rushed to the door, grabbed her bag and was about to run out...

  "Where are you going?" Makino Rieko's icy eyes stared at her coldly.

  Ah...... His expression changed from gentle to icy so quickly......

  "Ah... Ah..." Ming Xiao Xi's mind quickly scanned through several alternative answers, but she was disappointed to realize that none of them could deceive Mu Ye Liu Bing.

  "You're going to come back at 2 or 3 in the morning and then tell me that you went shopping with Koizumi?"

  "I... I..."

  Makino Ryoko walked over, lifting her chin: "Yesterday's matter, I can let it go. But don't think that I will let the same thing happen again."

  Ming Xiao Xi wanted to cry but had no tears, what to do? Who can save her...

  "Ming Xiaoxi, can you tell me where are you going?" Muyexiaoliu Bing gazed at her, not allowing her to evade.

  Her mind was a complete mess, and the first words that jumped out of the chaos were: "Watch a movie! I want to watch a movie!"

  "Watch a movie?" he asked her in surprise.

  Ming Xiao Xi was so frustrated that she wanted to bang her head, how could she have thought of such an absurd answer?! But now that things had come to this point, she also had no way to retreat: "Hehe, yeah, I've come to Japan and it seems like I haven't watched a movie yet...... Koizumi said Japan's cinemas are very good...... so I think..."

  "Shall... we go on a date?" Makino Ruka suggested with an unnatural expression.

  Dating?

  Ming Xiao Xi's first date with a boy...

  It would be with Makino Fuyu...

  *

  So this is what dating is like.

  Ming Xiaoxi quietly turned her head to look at Muye Liu Bing sitting beside her. He was leaning lazily against the high back of his seat, peacefully "asleep". She couldn't help but admire him - with such deafening sound effects and intense plot, he could actually enter a sweet dreamland within five minutes of the movie starting.

  Ming Xiao Xi pushed him: "Liu Bing, Liu Bing, wake up."

  Makino's long eyelashes blinked: "Huh?......"

  "The movie is over, we have to go."

  "So soon..."

  Ming Xiao Xi rolled her eyes and said, "What's so fast? You're the one who falls asleep quickly."

  There are so many people watching the movie today, Ming Xiaoxi was squeezed back and forth in the crowd of dispersing people, she desperately followed Mu Ye Liu Bing, not wanting to become a "lost child".

  Makino Ryu stood still, stretching out his right hand: "Here."

  “……？”

  "Be careful not to trip and fall with your clumsy hands and feet."

  "I'm not going anywhere, I'm Ming Xiao Xi." She muttered to herself, yet still gently held onto his hand. Hehe, holding his hand felt so good, as if in the midst of the bustling crowd, they were closely connected, Ming Xiao Xi thought with a red face and racing heart.

  But her joy was soon disrupted ——

  "Oh! Handsome guy!"

  "My goodness, there's actually such a beautiful young man in this world!"

  "He's so handsome it breaks my heart!"

  Makino Fuyuichi walked through the crowd like a dazzling flash of lightning, attracting countless girls around him...

  "Ah, I must get to know him..."

  "It seems like I've already fallen in love with him..."

  "Who is the girl next to him? Can't be his girlfriend..."

  "It shouldn't be her, she looks so ordinary..."

  "It must be his sister!"

  "Right! It's absolutely his sister! Ah, isn't the beautiful and filial young man who appears in my dreams day and night my destined lover?"

  ……

  A large group of girls with dreamy eyes chattered away.

  Ming Xiao Xi secretly prays, you discuss and discuss, but whatever you do, don't come over...

  But however

  "Hello, I'm Akiko Yamaguchi!"

  "I am Sanpei Friend Love!"

  "I am Akagi Rie!"

  "I am..."

  "I am..."

  Then they gazed dreamily at Ryōichi Miyazawa and said in unison: "Can we be friends?"

  Makino Ryu gazed at them coldly and suddenly pulled Ming Xiao Xi into his chest:

  "Ask her."

  Akane smiled stiffly at the girls around her who were full of longing and nodded: "Heh heh, hi."

  "You're so cute!"

  "You must be my sister!"

  "We will definitely be good to you!"

  "Please agree with us, we really like him..."

  Ming Xiaoxi struggled to break free from the "devil's claws" of the crowd of girls pulling her arm, touching her face and shaking her body. After failing in her efforts, she desperately let out a loud cry:

  "Sorry! He's my boyfriend!"

  "Bang!" The girls all fell down...

  Ming Xiao walked along the creek and turned back to look at those fallen girls. Are they okay? Won't they get hurt from falling?

  "Am I your boyfriend?" Makino Rui's voice called back her attention.

  "This......this......" Ming Xiao Xi was shocked, how could she have said that just now.

  "So you're my girlfriend now?" He seemed to be smiling.

  "This... this... might be it..." Ming Xiao Xi's head drooped down to her chest, "We've already... so..."

  "Haha," Ryūga Kawara laughed loudly, "You're really interesting!"

  Ming Xiao Xi pouted in dissatisfaction. What's so funny? She laughed as if everything was going her way, which made him unhappy...

  Makino stroked her head with his icy fingers and pulled her into his arms: "Stinky girl, what's wrong with making me smile?"

  "Oh..."

  Also, as long as he can keep laughing so happily, she is willing to do whatever it takes...

  "Where are you going now?"

  "You tell me," asked Ryūichi Makino.

  "Why don't we just take a walk?"

  "Uh-huh."

  Two people walked hand in hand on the city streets. The sky gradually darkened, street lamps lit up one by one, and the moonlight grew brighter. Japan's streets began to quiet down, as if this was a world that only belonged to these two people...