Chapter 334

Chapter 334: The Empress’s New Clothes

After the night of unrestrained revelry came to an end, everyone had to embark on their separate journeys. Most of the students from other counties packed their bags early and returned home, waiting for the results of the exam.

The local students, on the other hand, indulged in various activities after the exhausting college entrance exams, drinking, singing karaoke, and engaging in all sorts of wild behavior. Many were already planning their holiday trips.

On the second morning, Xia Yuan was lying on a super-soft king-size bed in a luxury hotel, scrolling through her phone to check everyone’s updates. Mei Fang had just finished his shower and stepped out of the bathroom. Xia Yuan curiously asked:

“Afang… What are our holiday plans after the college entrance exams?”

“I have to attend a management meeting tomorrow to discuss the company’s relocation. After that—”

“Everyone keeps talking about work. I don’t want to hear about work right after finishing the exams.”

Xia Yuan sat cross-legged on the bed, pouting at Mei Fang, “I know you’re busy with work, but what else do you have planned besides work?”

“After all, I’m already 18. I want to learn how to drive this summer and get my driver’s license. It would make traveling much easier, and I wouldn’t have to trouble others…”

Just as Mei Fang was speaking, Lin You Xi, who had also just come out of the bathroom, wrapped her arms around him from behind and said:

“Do you really need to go to a driving school? With your time being so precious, why not hire a personal instructor?”

“Oh, right. I didn’t think of that.”

“You really… don’t act like someone with money.”

Xia Yuan complained, then smiled, “But I actually quite like this down-to-earth Afang…”

“Afang wouldn’t change even if he had more money. Otherwise, he wouldn’t still like us.”

Lin You Xi patted Mei Fang’s shoulder, “Blow my hair dry.”

It was only then that Xia Yuan noticed Lin You Xi’s new outfit, blushing and muttering,

“Youxi, why aren’t you wearing anything after taking a bath!”

“There’s no one here, what’s there to be embarrassed about… Yuan Yuan, even at this point, you’re acting like a little girl. Afang hasn’t said anything.”

After checking out of the hotel, they called You Xi’s mother to say they’d be heading back soon. Xia Yuan continued with their previous discussion, “Although learning to drive takes a lot of time, we have almost three months of summer break. We can do a lot during that time, right? After all, we’ve worked hard for so long…”

“Sure, do you have any cities in mind for travel? Domestic or abroad?”

“There are still many places in China I haven’t been to. Let’s stay within the country… I want to visit Rongcheng. It’s where Xiao Xue spent her time, and there are many delicious foods there. I want to try them.”

“That works, let’s go to Rongcheng. There are many interesting places there. What do you think, You Xi?”

Lin You Xi clung to Mei Fang’s arm, looking affectionately at him, “Wherever Afang is, it’s fun.”

“Don’t say that, you’re spoiling me too much. I might get conceited.”

“You’re my boyfriend, of course, I should spoil you. Besides, if you can’t be conceited when I’m around, who else will take care of you?”

“Even though You Xi’s time together has a few months left, showing off like this is a bit much…”

Xia Yuan pouted angrily, “I’m going to be jealous. I want to hold Afang’s arm too.”

“If you want to hold his arm, go ahead. I won’t stop you.”

Seeing Xia Yuan reach for Mei Fang’s arm, Lin You Xi added, “As long as you don’t mind the rumors about Afang.”

So Xia Yuan withdrew her hand.

Mei Fang couldn’t stand seeing Xia Yuan being manipulated by Lin You Xi. He gently stroked her head to comfort her, “I’ll give you a big hug when we get back, not You Xi.”

“I never said You Xi couldn’t hug me…”

Xia Yuan lowered her head, stepping forward with each stone tile, “But if it’s because Afang is biased, then I guess I’ll just have to accept it…”

“Afang is biased, huh…”

Lin You Xi released Mei Fang’s hand expressionlessly, “You ignore me to please Yuan Yuan. Do you really think I won’t be angry?”

“Hey… You weren’t like this before… I’m only saying this because I’m trying to please Yuan Yuan—”

“Fine, you’re just trying to please me, but you don’t plan on giving me a full hug!”

Xia Yuan slapped Mei Fang’s arm in anger. Both girls glared at Mei Fang, making him feel overwhelmed. Looking left and right, he finally gave up. Just then, Lin You Xi and Xia Yuan burst out laughing.

“Afang is so naive, so easy to fool.”

“Hahaha, exactly!”

“You two are pretending to be angry just to play with me!”

Mei Fang hugged Xia Yuan and Lin You Xi, one on each side, and scolded them, “Wait until Aunt Liang returns, I’ll make sure you two get a good scolding!”

“Mmm, the more, the better, I like it.”

Lin You Xi stuck out her tongue, showing her playful side; Xia Yuan covered her face in embarrassment, “Youxi, you really… I can only say you’re letting loose, I can’t comment.”

“Yuan Yuan talks so reservedly, but she was actually more proactive than me at that time, little devil.”

“I-I wasn’t! I’m not as proactive as you! At least I worried about Afang and told him to rest… You just—”

“Afang never said stop, I naturally believed in him, right, Afang?”

“Afang, remember, I cared about you, Afang—”

“You two… are really loud!”

Mei Fang lightly tapped both Xia Yuan and Lin You Xi on the head.

With the college entrance exams over, Liang Meijuan naturally had no reason to stay. She helped Mei Youyuan pack some household items, then they packed everything up to take back home. The remaining items would be picked up by Xia Xun.

“Mom, why don’t we wait for Uncle Xia Xun to come and take everything back together? It’s too heavy.”

Lin You Xi felt sorry for her stepmother, Liang Meijuan, but she had long been used to it, “We can’t keep troubling Uncle Youyuan. We’ve already received too much help from him.”

Liang Meijuan whispered to Lin You Xi, “After all, you did take Afang away. Uncle Xia may not say it, but he must be uncomfortable. Asking for more favors would make him look bad.”

“Don’t worry about that. My relationship with Uncle Xia is fine.”

Thinking it was difficult to explain, Lin You Xi didn’t continue, “When you return this time, remember to tell Dad to get his driver’s license. Tell him I’ve bought a car and can’t return it.”

“Okay… Mom knows you have money now, but be careful not to spend it recklessly. It’s all hard-earned money.”

“Hard-earned money is meant to be enjoyed.”

Lin You Xi smiled, “When you guys go on a road trip in an SUV, it will be more comfortable than a group tour.”

“Mmm, Mom knows you care about us…”

Since sending her uncle away, Liang Meijuan could truly feel her daughter’s growth.

She used to help with her daughter’s daily needs, but now her daughter has found a partner she can trust for life. Her daughter is independent and strong, requiring no help from her. As a considerate mother, she wouldn’t say much, but before leaving, she couldn’t help but touch her daughter’s cheek and感慨几句.

“You… Why don’t you wait for Mom and Dad? You’ve grown up so fast.”

Lin You Xi gently stroked her mother’s hand, “Of course, to repay you sooner and bring you joy.”

“Haha… You child…”

Liang Meijuan’s education was limited, and she hadn’t fully understood the meaning of Lin You Xi’s words, but she could sense her daughter’s ambitious plans.

“In short, you three must support each other, be safe, and solve problems together. Don’t fight, okay?”

“Okay, Mom.”

Mei Fang, Lin You Xi, and Xia Yuan saw Liang Meijuan off at the bus station. They ordered a Happy Meal at the McDonald’s near the train station, and Xia Yuan suddenly remembered something:

“When Afang and I first ran away from home, we met a bad man here.”

Mei Fang reminded Xia Yuan, “You’re wrong. We didn’t meet the bad person at McDonald’s. It was at KFC.”

“How could I be wrong? This layout, this decoration, and that trash can. I got a sundae from that bad man, and you threw it in the trash without thinking. Do you remember? I was sad at first.”

“Weren’t you scared when you saw the bad man get caught?”

“Of course, I was terrified.”

Xia Yuan dipped a chicken nugget into ketchup and put it in her mouth, “I was thinking that if Afang hadn’t saved me, that bad man would have sold me far away, and we would never see each other again.”

“Don’t think about such things. Even thinking about it makes me scared.”

Mei Fang waved his hands frantically, “Taking you out was my idea. If anything happens, it’s all my responsibility. If you go missing, I’ll never forgive myself, and You Xi will hate me forever.”

“Why dwell on such unhappy things?”

Lin You Xi took a small bite of spicy chicken wing and smiled, “At least you two developed deep feelings during that incident. Yuan Yuan fell in love with Afang after that, right?”

“No, it was earlier.”

Xia Yuan shook her head, “I ran away with Afang because I liked him. I wouldn’t listen to anyone else’s advice.”

“When did you start liking Afang?”

“Um… Didn’t we talk about this before?”

Xia Yuan thought for a moment, then mumbled, “I remember it was around my 10th birthday. Youxi gave me a time capsule. I remember writing that I wanted to be Afang’s bride…”

“Really? Is that true!”

Mei Fang was excited, “Why didn’t you tell us on your 17th birthday? You’ve been wanting me for so long.”

“At that time, we hadn’t confirmed our relationship… Telling would be like confessing, wouldn’t it?”

Xia Yuan pinched Mei Fang, “What does ‘wanting’ mean? Everyone has strange ideas when they’re young… Haven’t you had any?”

Lin You Xi shook her head, “I definitely didn’t have those thoughts before elementary school. You and Afang were my best friends.”

Mei Fang nodded, “Me neither. Boys usually dream of conquering the world, not girls…”

“No way! Was I the only one who thought about love when I was young?”

Xia Yuan was shocked, “And I remember in kindergarten, I said I wanted to have a baby with Afang, and Afang thought I was disgusting. It seemed like I was always thinking about this…”

“Alright, alright, let’s not argue. Hurry up and eat. You ordered such a big Family Bucket, finish it all.”

“McDonald’s chicken isn’t very tasty…”

Xia Yuan regretted ordering so much, “I feel like I prefer KFC’s original flavor chicken. Why doesn’t McDonald’s make it? I’m going to complain! Damn it!”

Lin You Xi nodded, “From now on, don’t buy food near the station. The price-to-quality ratio is low, and the fried food is too greasy, not good.”

Mei Fang immediately chimed in, “We’re doing this for convenience, not because we’re short on money.”

“Hahaha, Afang, you’re so cocky!”

They returned home and rested. Mei Fang turned on the air conditioner in the living room, and Xia Yuan hurriedly took off her sandals, not even putting on slippers, and sat in Mei Fang’s lap, facing him with a smile.

“I’m replenishing my super Afang energy.”

“What’s there to replenish… I’m all sweaty, don’t you find it dirty?”

“This is the smell of my little Afang, how could I find it dirty?”

Xia Yuan and Mei Fang rubbed their faces against each other, but Xia Yuan got up after a while.

“Actually, it’s a bit hot.”

“It’s more than just a bit hot!”

Lin You Xi didn’t rush to join Mei Fang and Xia Yuan but instead immediately drew the curtains to block the outside view.

Xia Yuan and Mei Fang looked at Lin You Xi, who was busy, “Youxi, what are you doing? Want to watch a horror movie?”

“Watch a horror movie? It’s just a nap.”

Lin You Xi slowly undressed and changed into the empress’s new clothes.

“It’s too hot… This feels more comfortable.”

“Youxi! Don’t be stubborn. You’ll catch a cold if you stay in the air conditioning like that.”

“I won’t. I just need to take a shower. I’ve sweated too much.”

Lin You Xi looked at Mei Fang and Xia Yuan, “Are you two not taking a shower together?”

“How can we in such a small bathroom…”

“We’ve squeezed in before, don’t you remember?”

Lin You Xi stood in front of Mei Fang, making tempting gestures. Xia Yuan turned back to look at Lin You Xi, then blushed and patted Mei Fang, “Afang, calm down, okay?”

“How can I calm down…”

Mei Fang lifted Xia Yuan up, carried her on his back, and pushed Lin You Xi. The three of them went to the bathroom to take a shower.

…

After getting cleaned up, Mei Fang saw that his phone kept vibrating with an unknown number.

Mei Fang answered the call, and Bingbing’s voice came through, “Afang—”

Mei Fang finished talking with Bingbing and then looked at Xia Yuan and Lin You Xi, who were braiding each other’s hair.

“So, what did Bingbing say, Afang?”

“She invited us to visit Shennongjia in a few days. Do you two want to go? If not, I’ll turn her down.”

“Shennongjia! It must be cool there now! I kind of want to go.”

“Since Bingbing invited us, it wouldn’t hurt to visit. I’m curious if there really are wild men in Shennongjia,” Lin You Xi said with a smile.

“There definitely won’t be any wild men… But if you both want to go, shall I accept Bingbing’s invitation?”

“Go, go! Visit Shennongjia before going to Rongcheng!”

(End of Chapter)