Chapter 28: Don’t Call Me That

A smile spread across Xu Sui’an’s face as she gave Shi Yubai an approving look.

The plot really is everywhere.

Just like in the original story, Ruan Qingqing had borrowed Ruan Qingyang’s phone to call Shi Yubai.

Ruan Qingyang had gotten drunk at Zero Degrees, and she was asking Shi Yubai to come pick him up…

Xu Sui’an cleared her throat before pressing the answer button.

Just as she’d expected, Ruan Qingqing’s soft voice came through the phone.

“Brother Shi… it’s Ruan Qingqing.”

“My brother got drunk at Zero Degrees.”

“I can’t move him by myself.”

“Could you come and pick him up?”

Even Xu Sui’an found it hard to refuse such a soft, pitiful, helpless voice.

She handed Shi Yubai a glass of water and gestured for him to pour it into another glass.

Shi Yubai immediately understood and cooperated, his eyes full of indulgent tenderness.

Instead of him speaking, Xu Sui’an answered sweetly,

“This is Xu Sui’an.”

“My boyfriend isn’t available right now—he’s taking a shower.”

“Would you like me to help you call a designated driver instead? I can guarantee both you and your brother will get home safely.”

“N-No… that’s not necessary…”

Ruan Qingqing’s flustered voice came through the receiver, followed by the sound of a glass shattering on the floor.

The call ended.

Xu Sui’an smiled like a cat that had just stolen a fish.

Imitating Ruan Qingqing’s soft tone, she deliberately called out,

“Brother Shi… could you wash a mango for me?”

Shi Yubai set down the glass of water and gently tapped the tip of her nose.

“Wait here.”

He strode into the kitchen.

He carefully washed the mango, peeled it, cut it into neat bite-sized cubes, and neatly arranged them with little bamboo picks.

Watching him busy himself in the kitchen, Xu Sui’an fell into thought.

Ruan Qingqing really is persistent.

She keeps finding opportunities to get close to Shi Yubai.

Is it because of the plot…

Or because she genuinely wants to?

Hmph.

Whether it’s the plot or her own intentions…

No one’s taking Shi Yubai away from me.

While her thoughts wandered, a piece of mango suddenly appeared before her.

She opened her mouth.

Nom.

The sweet fruit instantly curved her eyes into happy crescents.

Shi Yubai carried over the plate, naturally feeding her another piece with a smile.

Xu Sui’an’s eyes darted playfully.

She tossed her phone aside.

Holding a cube of mango between her lips, she leaned toward Shi Yubai and kissed him.

A mango-flavored kiss.

Stars seemed to swirl through Shi Yubai’s eyes as he deepened the kiss.

It became the sweetest…

Most unforgettable…

Piece of mango he’d ever tasted.

Only after savoring it to his heart’s content did he reluctantly let her go.

His gaze lingered on her soft, glistening lips.

His Adam’s apple bobbed.

Even his voice carried a hint of temptation.

“Suisui…”

“I want another little mango.”

Xu Sui’an’s eyelashes trembled.

Looking into his eager, burning eyes, she finally gave in once again.

She simply couldn’t refuse him.

Wrapping his arms around her, Shi Yubai kissed the corner of her lips over and over.

“Suisui…”

“You spoil me like this.”

“What if one day I start pushing my luck?”

Xu Sui’an gently traced his eyebrows with her fingertips.

Then his eyes.

Then finally rested a finger lightly against his lips.

“You’re my boyfriend.”

“If I don’t spoil you…”

“Who else would I spoil?”

“And if one day you really do start pushing your luck…”

“Then it’ll only be because I gave you the confidence to.”

Shi Yubai’s heart quivered.

“Suisui…”

“I love you so much.”

“And every day…”

“I love you a little more than the day before.”

His Suisui…

She was always so wonderful.

He never wanted to let go of her.

Not in this lifetime.

Not in the next.

Perhaps…

He really was a little greedy.

It wasn’t enough to hold her in this life.

He wanted the next one too.

Xu Sui’an stood on tiptoe and kissed his Adam’s apple before suddenly darting away.

“Xiaobai!”

“Come catch me!”

Shi Yubai’s long legs immediately gave chase after the mischievous little fox.

The apartment soon filled with laughter.

There was never any suspense about the ending.

Xu Sui’an ended up sitting triumphantly on top of Shi Yubai, looking down at him as she pinched his chin.

“Do you surrender?”

Shi Yubai chuckled softly.

Tiny flames danced in his eyes.

“I don’t.”

Without hesitation, Xu Sui’an captured his lips in another kiss, nibbling and teasing until he could barely breathe.

“How about now?”

“…I surrender.”

The corners of Shi Yubai’s eyes had turned faintly red, and his breathing was thoroughly disrupted.

Xu Sui’an curled her lips smugly.

“That’s right.”

“I specialize in curing stubborn cases like yours.”

Shi Yubai wrapped an arm around her waist and rested his head against her shoulder.

“Sister…”

“Could you be a little gentler next time?”

Boom.

Xu Sui’an’s mind went completely blank.

That single word—

“Sister.”

It almost sent her soul flying out of her body.

“Y-You…”

“Don’t call me that.”

Her heart pounded wildly, completely out of rhythm.

That was totally unfair.

Shi Yubai lightly pressed a fingertip over her heart.

Drawing out his final syllables, he said teasingly,

“Sister…”

“Your heart is beating so fast.”

“My finger almost got bounced away.”

“You obviously like hearing it.”

“So why won’t you let me call you that?”

“Or…”

“My voice just isn’t satisfying enough for you?”

A numb tingling spread through Xu Sui’an’s chest.

She’d never realized Shi Yubai could flirt like this.

Was she intimidated?

Of course not.

A teasing smile appeared in her eyes.

Her fingertips slowly brushed across his lips.

They paused briefly at his Adam’s apple, feeling it tremble beneath her touch.

Then drifted to his collarbone…

And continued lower…

Shi Yubai’s confident expression instantly collapsed.

Looking thoroughly flustered, he fled toward the bathroom.

Moments later…

The sound of running water echoed from inside.

Xu Sui’an smiled victoriously.

The lingering warmth on her fingertips made her reluctant to let it fade.

“Let’s see if you dare flirt with me like that again.”

Just then, her phone rang again, interrupting her wandering thoughts.

“Hello~”

“Suisui?”

Gu Qing’s worried voice came through immediately.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Why does your voice sound so soft? Are you feeling sick?”

Xu Sui’an gave an awkward cough and quickly steadied her voice.

“I’m fine.”

“I accidentally fell asleep while drawing.”

Drawing circles on Xiaobai’s abs also counts as drawing…

“Just don’t overwork yourself.”

“Remember to get enough rest.”

After a brief pause, Gu Qing asked again,

“So…”

“You and Xiaobai are really dating?”

“You’re not lying to me, are you?”

There was unmistakable warning in her tone.

“Mom.”

“Wasn’t Xiaobai always your perfect son-in-law candidate?”

“My eyesight isn’t bad.”

“How could I possibly fail to see how wonderful he is?”

Xu Sui’an stood up and took a sip of water.

“You used to be blind.”

“Xiaobai is wonderful in every way.”

“He’s the perfect son-in-law.”

“And yet you still rejected his confession.”

“Your father and I worried so much we couldn’t sleep.”

“We even discussed taking you to the hospital to have your eyesight checked.”

Gu Qing couldn’t help grumbling.

She’d always feared her daughter would fail to recognize her own feelings and miss out on Shi Yubai.

“Mom, believe me.”

“I’m really with Xiaobai.”

“I swear I’m not lying.”

Xu Sui’an hurriedly reassured her.

“Suisui…”

“Do you think I can trust you?”

“Your credibility with me is exactly zero.”

Gu Qing sounded thoroughly unconvinced.

“I wonder who it was that always said, ‘I know, I know,’ and then went right back to doing whatever she wanted.”

Xu Sui’an sighed helplessly and muttered under her breath,

“If I didn’t say ‘I know,’ you’d lecture me all day.”

“Xu Sui’an!”

“Who are you calling a nag?”

Gu Qing’s voice boomed through the phone.

She sounded as though she wanted to crawl through it just to twist her daughter’s ear.

“Mom…”

“I was wrong.”

“Okay?”

Xu Sui’an instinctively rubbed her ear.

Her mother had always solved disagreements by twisting it.

Just then, Shi Yubai emerged from the bathroom in a gray set of pajamas.

Hearing Xu Sui’an repeatedly begging for mercy, he immediately knew who was on the phone.

The moment Xu Sui’an saw him, it was like seeing her savior.

She clasped her hands together in a pleading gesture.

Help me.

Shi Yubai smiled knowingly.

He took the phone from her hand and gently spoke.

“Aunt Qing.”

The fiery voice on the other end instantly melted into a warm spring breeze.

“Xiaobai!”

“So you’re with Suisui right now?”