Serenade
Chapter 45

In the cafe of the library, Bo Yan tore open the bamboo straw of his milk tea and was about to poke it in for Jin Xi, but Jin Xi took it herself.

She gave Bo Yan a meaningful look, the implication in her eyes was very obvious.

Shen Pingchuan sat opposite them with his brows knitted: "You two..."

"Bo Yan has been tutoring me for the CET-4 exam." Jin Xi took the initiative to explain: "He helped me predict the CET-4 writing topic, and it was spot on this time! I wrote down all the sample essays he gave me."

"So amazing that you can pass 425?"

Jin Xi held her warm milk tea cup and sighed lightly: "Well...let's see how it goes."

Shen Pingchuan rolled his eyes: "You little rascal, usually when you're playing around I don't see you leaving things to chance."

Jin Xi said with a smile: "We won't know the results until they come out. No one can guarantee now. Anyway, my chances of passing this year are definitely higher than last year. With my Bo Yan looking out for me this year, it will definitely be much more effective."

"I've been chasing after you to give you CET-4 tutoring, but you run away whenever you see me. How come when he looks after you, you snuggle up to him so willingly?" Shen Pingchuan felt a little sour: "Someone else's rice is always more fragrant, right?"

Jin Xi's pitch-black almond eyes curved into a smile. She said, "It's more convenient for me and my senior."

Shen Pingchuan looked at Jin Xi, then glanced at Bo Yan: "I feel like you two are up to something."

Jin Xi: "Absolutely not."

Bo Yan, who had been sitting quietly on a high stool all this time, now sat up slightly, just about to say something, when Jin Xi suddenly grabbed his hand. Her soft fingertips squeezed the flesh of his palm.

Don't say it!

That was the message conveyed in her eyes.

In fact, Bo Yan didn't really want to hide it either. He and Jin Xi were together fair and square. Why couldn't he say so, even if Shen Pingchuan objected? How would that matter?

In the past, Shen Pingchuan always said he didn't have the standing, but now he did. And it seemed his boyfriend's standing was even more solid than Shen Pingchuan's standing as a stepbrother. So why couldn't he say it?

Jin Xi nibbled on the straw, shooting Bo Yan a pleading look.

Her eyes were like glass beads, seeming to speak to him. He simply couldn't refuse. With such a little girlfriend, he always had to cater to her every whim.

Bo Yan's relaxed brows knotted briefly as he turned to face Shen Pingchuan: "You were the one who asked me to look after her originally. And now you're the one harboring baseless suspicions. Shen Pingchuan, if you keep on like this, I'll give Jin Xi back to you and stop meddling from now on. Do as you please."

Having said that, he got up to leave. Seeing that Bo Yan seemed somewhat angry, Shen Pingchuan quickly stopped him: "Hey, Bo Yan, don't be like that."

Bo Yan said coldly: "I don't like being doubted."

Shen Pingchuan quickly said: "No no, Bo Yan, I apologize to you. Alright, let's keep our gentleman's agreement valid. Keep looking after Jin Xi for me. Since she's willing to listen to you, with the CET-4, CET-6, and final exams, please take good care of her. From now on when I do room checks I'll close one eye. Okay?"

"Add two more boxes of milk every month," said Bo Yan. "I'll consider it."

Shen Pingchuan: "No problem at all."

Jin Xi was dumbfounded.

Sexy Bo Yan's acting skills were truly off the charts.

This guy's scheming ran too deep! Her silly brother wasn't even on his level.

**

That night, Jin Xi and Bo Yan did not go straight back to their dorm. Instead they went to a cheerful KTV outside school.

To celebrate the end of the CET-4 and CET-6 exams, Xu Chaoyang had booked a room and invited some friends to come sing and relax.

When Bo Yan and Jin Xi entered the room, there were already quite a few people sitting on the sofa, including some boys from the National Defense Academy, a few familiar faces often seen around Bo Yan, as well as Lin Luo and Chu Zhao, and even Qu Xuanxuan was there.

Xia You was holding the mic singing Jolin Tsai's "Red High Heels."

The room lighting was dim. Bo Yan chose a corner spot and sat down with Jin Xi.

The boys had also ordered several cases of beer, planning to drink till they dropped tonight. As soon as Bo Yan came in, several of them brought their glasses over.

Being late called for a drinking penalty, and being in a relationship did too. They could come up with any excuse to make Bo Yan drink.

There was laughter in Bo Yan's eyes. He was happy to oblige, drinking one cup after another. His eyes gradually took on a drunken mist.

Jin Xi shielded Bo Yan and wouldn't let him drink anymore.

Jing Chi laughed and said, "Jin Xi, you're shielding him already."

"Of course. It's not like drinking milk tea, is it?"

"Can't do that." Jing Chi passed the wine glass over, "Bo Yan is the first in our dorm to get a girlfriend. No matter what, tonight we have to drink him under the table."

"No no! He'll get really drunk if he drinks more."

Seeing Jin Xi protect him so seriously, as if she were a fluffy little white rabbit blocking the wolf's way, not letting the snarling beast take advantage, Bo Yan took the wine glass from Jin Xi's hand and said gently, "Little one, you drink your soft drinks. Don't touch alcohol."

Bo Yan didn't dampen his brothers' enthusiasm. He tipped his head back and downed the wine, leaving behind an empty glass on the table before everyone. "Last cup. If I drink anymore my girlfriend really will get angry."

Bo Yan was usually flashy and arrogant. Who would've thought a few words from his girlfriend could make him so obedient.

The others didn't press him further and returned to their seats.

Qu Xuanxuan sat next to Xu Chaoyang. She glanced up at Bo Yan and Jin Xi, and asked softly, "Are they...together?"

"Yeah." Xu Chaoyang said, "My buddy Bo Yan went all out chasing Jin Xi down. He even used bitter tricks. See, Bo Yan's left leg still has scabbed wounds that haven't fully healed!"

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Since Xu Chaoyang had invited Qu Xuanxuan to sing KTV together, she had been neither cold nor warm to him, polite yet distant, and not very talkative. Xu Chaoyang hadn't managed to chat with her much all night. Now that she took the initiative to ask, he naturally answered her fully.

"Gotta say, Bo Yan was ruthless to himself. Jumped from a 3, 4-meter high wall. Played a little trick to finally win Jin Xi's heart."

Qu Xuanxuan clenched her skirt. She asked casually, "Was he badly hurt?"

"Just superficial wounds. He's fine."

Qu Xuanxuan was silent for a while, then suddenly turned enthusiastic with Xu Chaoyang. They even sang a duet of "Amicable Breakup."

Xu Chaoyang was pleasantly surprised and kept talking to her excitedly all night, making Qu Xuanxuan cover her mouth and laugh several times.

Chu Zhao sat next to Jing Chi, pretending to be indifferent, even deliberately avoiding looking at them.

At this moment, she truly wished she could become a wooden person, without a heart, so she wouldn't feel jealous or hurt.

But she wasn't made of wood.

She drank the beer in her glass like it was soda.

Just then, a warm big hand pressed over and took her beer glass away.

Chu Zhao looked up and met Jing Chi's pitch-black gaze.

She smiled without saying anything.

Jing Chi got up and sat down next to Qu Xuanxuan, interrupting the two's conversation, "Senior Xuanxuan, I'd like to toast you."

"Sure." Qu Xuanxuan raised her glass and clinked it against his.

"Senior, you must be very busy as a third-year. How do you have time to come play with us?"

"I'm going to intern at a TV station during summer vacation. I'm free these days so I thought it'd be fun to come play with you all."

"It is fun." Jing Chi had a faintly cold smile at the corner of his lips: "After all, our little buddy Chaoyang is pretty amusing."

Seeing the two were about to chat, Xu Chaoyang kept signaling Jing Chi with his eyes not to ruin things for him. But Jing Chi ignored him completely and chatted happily with Qu Xuanxuan.

"Oh right, Chaoyang, go check on your junior Chu Zhao. She's had too much to drink tonight, drinking beer like it's soda. "

"I..."

"Go take a look at her. Don't let her actually get drunk."

Although Xu Chaoyang was reluctant to leave, as someone who had been an instructor before, he always felt he should properly look after the few junior girls around him.

He got up and sat down next to Chu Zhao.

"Zhao Zhao, beer might have low alcohol content but you shouldn't drink it like that. If you're thirsty I'll order you a fruit juice."

When Xu Chaoyang sat down beside her, Chu Zhao was taken aback. She hadn't expected Jing Chi to help her like this. At a loss, she uttered a soft "Oh" and put her glass down.

Seeing how obedient she was, Xu Chaoyang was very pleased. He felt he was much more useful than that Jing Chi guy. He casually ruffled Chu Zhao's hair, "Don't drink when Instructor Xu isn't around in the future, got it?"

A warm sensation crept along Chu Zhao's skin and spread through her body.

He didn't leave either and remained sitting beside her. She could clearly feel the heat radiating from his body. Chu Zhao's heart thumped rapidly and she felt the surrounding air grow much stuffier.

Xu Chaoyang was completely oblivious to the girl's change in mood. He looked up at Jing Chi and whispered to Chu Zhao, "I feel like this guy wants to compete with me for women?"

Chu Zhao murmured, "Senior Jing Chi would never do that."

"Every time I get a chance to approach Senior Sister Qu Xuanxuan, he inexplicably pops up and ruins my plans."

Chu Zhao tightly grasped the hem of her clothes and looked at Xu Chaoyang, "Do you really like Senior Sister Qu that much? So much that she's irreplaceable?"

Xu Chaoyang thought for a moment, "Irreplaceable? Not to that extent, but goddesses are loved by all. If I could date her..."

He didn't continue and laughed instead, the corners of his mouth curving into a dazzling smile. It was as if he was imagining their future together and was extremely delighted by the prospect.

...

While Xu Chaoyang chatted with Chu Zhao, Jing Chi was stuck making small talk with Qu Xuanxuan. If it were any other girl, she might have thought Jing Chi was interested in her. But Qu Xuanxuan was very clever and immediately grasped the situation.

"Pushing the girl you like into another man's arms and enduring humiliation to this extent, I quite admire you for it."

Qu Xuanxuan held her glass and lightly clinked it against Jing Chi's.

They were both intelligent people, so Jing Chi no longer concealed the truth, "If you're interested in Xu Chaoyang, I absolutely won't interfere blindly. But if you don't like him, why lead him on?"

Qu Xuanxuan laughed softly behind her hand, her exquisite features especially lively, "Whether chasing boys or girls, it's best to rely on yourself. No matter how resourceful you are as a strategist, you can't possibly date that sophomore girl on Xu Chaoyang's behalf, right?"

Jing Chi didn't speak again. A few minutes later, Chu Zhao picked a duet love song, then handed the microphone to Xu Chaoyang, "Instructor Xu, would you sing with me?"

"Sure." Xu Chaoyang readily accepted the microphone.

The love song was winding and mellifluous. Both of them had very good singing voices. Xu Chaoyang would occasionally glance at Chu Zhao, a smile on his face.

Jing Chi raised his glass and clinked it against Qu Xuanxuan's, "My sophomore girl is pretty capable, don't you think?"

...

The ktv lighting was dim. The huge display screen on the wall emitted a silvery glow while a rotating light cast dappled reflections.

Midway, Jin Xi received a call from Shen Pingchuan.

She told him she might return to the dorm late tonight and asked him not to worry too much. Right after hanging up, she bumped into Bo Yan.

Bo Yan had been standing behind her for who knows how long. Jin Xi walked over and squeezed his hand, "What are you doing out here?"

Bo Yan naturally grasped her hand in return. His palm was dry and soft while the tips were somewhat rough, very hard—calluses built up from years of shooting.

"Wanted to talk to you for a bit," Bo Yan said. "It's noisy inside."

"Talk about what?"

Jin Xi looked at him patiently. His top buttons were undone, revealing a section of fair neck and the beautiful horizontal line of his collarbone.

He wore a soft shirt that carried a faint laundry detergent scent, giving a very clean feel. Most boys would have some body odor, faint or strong. Of course Bo Yan had it too, but it was very light, mingled with the clean fragrance of his clothes—a unique smell that belonged only to Bo Yan.

Jin Xi sniffed and committed his scent to memory. This seemed to be the instinct of mammals, to familiarize themselves with their mate's scent and mark it as their own.

"Why didn't you let me tell Shen Pingchuan today?" Bo Yan asked.

He must have been holding back this question the entire night without a chance to ask her.

Jin Xi replied, "You know my brother. He feels like no boy in this world is good enough for me. If he finds out we're together, he'll surely grumble endlessly."

Bo Yan lowered his gaze at her as if trying to discern the truth from her eyes.

"That's not the reason."

His eyes were like dark cat's eye stones, deep and penetrating even in the dim light.

It was as if...he could see through everything.

She lightly clutched his shirt hem and gently said, "Bo Yan, will you be angry if I tell you the real reason?"

Bo Yan moved closer until she could feel his breath, warm and moist, puffing the top of her head.

"You can try."

His voice was like pencil lead gliding over sandpaper, carrying a certain mellow sexiness.

Jin Xi sighed, "I didn't have a mother growing up and neither did Shen Pingchuan. He raised me. He took me to school every day, waited for me to come home, and worked hard to learn cooking, housework, and everything about a girl's growth. In a sense, he only has me and I only have him. If he knows I have a boyfriend now, he might...feel sad. I plan to tell him after some time when the occasion is right. Bo Yan, is this okay with you?"

The girl's brows were slightly knitted while her features exuded a softness never seen before. Her flushed lips were pressed together with moist, glossy fullness at the center.

She wasn't as carefree as she seemed on the surface. Her heart also harbored many complex and profound emotions that she never showed Shen Pingchuan, yet she silently considered his feelings.

The karmic bond between her and Shen Pingchuan already far surpassed that of ordinary siblings. They lacked blood ties yet were tightly bound by grief over the loss of their loved ones and the loneliness of growing up.

Bo Yan found this sentiment hard to understand. He envied it a little but was also somewhat jealous.

After Jin Xi finished speaking, he stretched out his arm and placed it behind her back. With a bit of force, he pressed her entire body against his chest.

Caught off guard, Jin Xi's face was shoved right into his chest.

Through the thin shirt, she could vividly feel his body temperature, his taut skin, and the restless, feverish heartbeat beneath.

His arm tightened until not just her face, but her waist, belly and legs were all firmly pressed to him.

"What are you..."

Her face burned crimson while her voice changed, tense and frightened yet also faintly excited. Ultimately, all these emotions turned into reassurance.

His voice drifted down from over her head, somewhat muffled, "I'm a little jealous."

"Mm."

"Hug me. I'm unhappy."

Jin Xi's hands dangling at her sides gradually rose. She threaded them under his sides and forcefully encircled his slender waist.

She obediently nestled her cheek against his scorching chest, gently embracing the man who was hugging her. An immense feeling of satisfaction welled up in her heart.

The sensation of clinging tightly to another person was so gratifying, so blissful.

Occasionally someone would walk by. They seemed to take the intimate scene of the couple in stride. But Jin Xi still felt shy. She wanted to break free yet Bo Yan only hugged her tighter until he practically pinned her to the wall.

Just then, Jin Xi clearly felt icy lips descend upon her neck.

Her heart gave a violent lurch. With his sucking, it was as if her entire soul might be drained. Successive waves of pleasure spread through her body.

"Bo...Bo Yan, what are you doing..."

But he didn't explore recklessly and only lingered at that one spot on her nape, nibbling at it meticulously, "Leaving my mark."

Jin Xi's body went limp. She clutched his shirt, wanting to push him away, but her meager strength was useless against this powerful man.

Finally, the man released her.

Jin Xi nestled softly against him, without an ounce of strength left.

"You're too annoying," she buried her entire face into his soft clothes, blushing furiously, not daring to look at him.

Bo Yan looked at the tender red strawberry by her neckline, smiling satisfiedly -

"Xi Xi, from today on, you're mine alone."

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