Chapter 28: The Welcome Dinner Plot

She slept well, and her afternoon classes felt more energetic. Liu Ya woke up before Yaqi, still not used to the hard desk.

Getting up to find no one had returned, she stretched her limbs. Turning her head, she saw Yaqi still sleeping, snoring loudly. Liu Ya took out her phone and secretly recorded it, saving it for later enjoyment.

When school ended, Liu Ya packed her things and waited quietly. Yaqi saw this and packed her books quickly, happily reaching out to hold her hand, but Liu Ya turned and walked away.

“Hey? Wait for me!”

Yaqi was startled and hurried after her.

“Liu Ya, why did you leave? Weren’t you waiting for me?”

“You’re done packing, right? So let’s go?”

Liu Ya walked forward like a machine, not turning her head. Yaqi tilted her head and sneaked a peek, but wherever she went, Liu Ya dodged. Seeing this, Yaqi revealed a mischievous smile.

“Liu Ya~ Let’s hold hands!”

“Huh? Why hold hands? We’re not kids…”

“But you are younger than me!”

“Two years! Just two years! Are you people never going to stop? Why do you keep mentioning that I’m two years younger?”

Liu Ya snorted and turned away angrily, moving further from her. But Yaqi grinned and stuck close again.

“Hey, Liu Ya~ You’re not shy, are you?”

“You…!”

‘Are you kidding? Why would I be shy? It’s just holding hands! I’d love to shove those hands into my mouth!’

‘But… we’re still at school. Qu Lin just warned me, so I should be careful…’

“We used to do this all the time, right? Hey, hey, hey, hehe…”

Yaqi buzzed around Liu Ya like a little bee, and Liu Ya’s head started buzzing too.

But then again, even a rabbit bites when cornered! Liu Ya couldn’t take it anymore and stopped abruptly. Yaqi wasn’t paying attention and bumped into Liu Ya’s back like a safety airbag.

This made Liu Ya’s temper flare even more. She turned around, looked up at her, and suppressed her anger, speaking quietly:

“Hey, Sister Yaqi, don’t be so self-righteous, okay? Who’s shy?”

“Then why are you dodging?”

“I’m just… I’m just worried about the bad influence at school, you know? Didn’t I say that?”

“Really?” Yaqi squinted with a smile, questioning in disbelief.

“And another thing!”

Thinking about what she was about to say, Liu Ya’s face turned redder and redder, as embarrassing as running naked. But for the greater good, and to solidify her leadership position, she forced herself to continue:

“Speaking of shy… don’t you forget! Last… last night, when you were showering, you stared at my body with a red face!”

“Um… that…”

“We used to shower together before, didn’t we? Why were you shy? Huh? What dirty thoughts were you having?”

“Ah… ah?”

The one-sided situation reversed instantly. Yaqi was choked by Liu Ya’s rapid-fire words, stumbling. Remembering the scene last night, her face flushed with embarrassment.

“Th-that shower was different! We’ve grown up too… but I definitely wasn’t thinking anything bad!”

Liu Ya snorted disdainfully.

“Who knows?”

Hearing this, Yaqi’s expression gradually turned aggrieved.

“In those TV dramas, good friends walk home holding hands after school and stuff. It’s just holding hands, what’s the big deal…”

Yaqi lowered her head in disappointment. Liu Ya was silent for a moment, then turned her head away and sighed quietly.

“Oh… so you just want to hold hands…”

“Mm. Hey? Hey! Wait! Liu Ya, don’t pull… slow down… slow down…”

Liu Ya grabbed Yaqi’s right hand, ignoring the stares of other students, and strode towards the school gate with her head down.

“Here! Oh my?”

Aunt Zhao waved at them from across the street. Liu Ya and Yaqi came out openly, holding hands in plain sight.

But it was more like Liu Ya was forcibly dragging her. Although Aunt Zhao didn’t know what happened, seeing Liu Ya’s face as red as an apple, she could roughly guess.

“Oh my~ You two look just like a little couple! Haha!”

Aunt Zhao joked, taking their backpacks and putting them in the car. Liu Ya was quiet and didn’t refute. Yaqi, on the other hand, felt a bit shy when she heard that.

“What couple… Auntie, why are you like this too?”

“Haha! Let Auntie be trendy for once! Besides, from a distance, you two really match!”

“Auntie…”

Yaqi called out in a slightly awkward voice, but it was soft and sweet, more like whining than complaining. Then she turned to look at Liu Ya with disdain.

“I was hoping to experience the plot from TV dramas on my first day going to school with Liu Ya…”

“But this guy! She dragged me all the way! I’m exhausted…”

“Didn’t you say you wanted to hold hands? Aren’t we holding hands now?” Liu Ya retorted stubbornly.

“Huh? Is this the same?”

“Wh-what’s different about it…”

“You…!”

Yaqi pouted like an angry little rabbit. She looked mad, but it was just a small temper, with no real power.

Liu Ya snorted, stuck out her tongue at her, and turned away. Yaqi retaliated in kind and turned around huffily.

Aunt Zhao watched gleefully from the side. Seeing that the situation was getting a bit tense, she stepped forward and patted both their shoulders.

“Haha! Alright, alright… get in the car, you two. Whatever it is, we’ll talk about it at home. I’ll be the judge!”

“Okay!”

“Hmph…”

On the way, noticing the silence, Aunt Zhao asked:

“Speaking of which, Yaqi, how was school today?”

“Ah! Auntie, listen to this…”

Yaqi, as if grabbing a lifeline, recounted everything Liu Ya had done today in detail. Including how she made her join the student council but deliberately gave her a hard time, and how she stood her up at lunch.

Yaqi got more and more excited. Liu Ya, naturally, was very unhappy and thought there was a big difference in their views and opinions! At least a difference!

They bickered back and forth in the back seat like two elementary school students fighting. Aunt Zhao watched through the rearview mirror, feeling both gratified and helpless, smiling quietly.

“Hey, Auntie, isn’t this the way home? Are we going somewhere?”

Liu Ya noticed something unusual looking out the car window. Yaqi also looked out.

“Seems like a different road from yesterday?”

“Oh, this. We’re not going home first today. We’re eating out tonight. Western food!”

“Western food?”

“Huh?”

Before Yaqi could react, Liu Ya’s mouth dropped open.

“Why… so sudden…”

“I was going to tell you this morning, but you jumped out of the car and ran off.”

“I was…”

“And besides, Yaqi just moved here. It would be too bad not to have a welcome party.”

“Old Liu came back last night and discussed it with me. It’s the weekend tomorrow, and he’s free tonight, so we thought we’d celebrate for Yaqi!”

“No need, Auntie. Uncle is very busy, and for my sake…”

“Oh, Yaqi, you’re still a kid. Don’t be polite like an adult! Besides, he’s probably already there.”

“This… okay… thank you, Auntie and Uncle!”

“Mmhm. That’s right!”

After Auntie finished, Liu Ya asked uneasily:

“But why Western food? We’re not abroad. Wouldn’t Chinese food be better since we’re back in the country?”

“Hmm? I thought you liked Western food, Liu Ya?”

“I do like it, but…”

“Hmm?”

Seeing Liu Ya not answer, Yaqi looked at her curiously. Liu Ya looked troubled, frowned, and turned away from those big, curious eyes.

Aunt Zhao saw Liu Ya’s defeated expression in the rearview mirror and couldn’t help laughing.

“Today is to celebrate for Yaqi. Old Liu specially booked a private room. There won’t be any other people. Just our family.”

“Ah, really? Then that’s okay…”

Hearing this, Liu Ya relaxed a bit, and the corners of her mouth lifted as she looked forward to the delicious meal. Seeing Liu Ya smile, Yaqi didn’t think too much and turned to look out the window, starting to fantasize about the coming food.

When they arrived, before getting out of the car, Liu Ya saw Old Liu waving at the door. She snorted disdainfully and looked away. But looking at the restaurant’s facade, which seemed quite upscale, she silently added a few points for him.

“A bit late. Traffic jam?”

As Aunt Zhao got out of the car, Uncle Liu walked over to greet them.

“Yeah… I was driving pretty fast.”

“Mm, when I came here via the elevated road, it was also quite congested…”

Uncle Liu and Auntie chatted for a bit, then he opened the door for the two girls in the back seat. Liu Ya was silent, just nodding, while Yaqi smiled and greeted him.

“I need to use the restroom… where is it?” Liu Ya said.

“Oh, I’ll take you. Sister Zhao, you take Yaqi in first. Room 306!”

“Okay! You go ahead.”

With that, Uncle Liu led Liu Ya inside first. Yaqi wanted to follow, but Aunt Zhao pulled her aside. Aunt Zhao peeked to make sure they were gone, then said with a sly smile:

“Yaqi, don’t you think Liu Ya was a bit strange in the car just now?”

“Mm… a little. Does Liu Ya not like Western food? But I remember breakfast was Western-style, right?” Yaqi said, puzzled.

“It’s not that! Yaqi, let me tell you secretly. Actually, Liu Ya doesn’t know how to use a knife and fork!”

“Huh?”

Yaqi’s eyes widened, and she stared blankly at Auntie, her face full of disbelief. After seeing Liu Ya’s charm at school, she couldn’t imagine that such a small thing could be beyond Liu Ya.

“This… Yaqi, your reaction… Auntie is embarrassed to continue… ahaha…”

“No, no! I don’t mean anything bad! It’s just… I really didn’t expect that… that… mainly because Liu Ya is too amazing! I really didn’t think she would… haha!”

“Hehe! Even the most amazing person must have things they’re not good at!”

“That’s true! Hehe!”

Yaqi covered her mouth and snickered, but then realized something and asked:

“Hey, Auntie, why are you telling me this?”

“Hmph! Because this is the key point!”

“Yaqi! I’ve heard about what happened today. Honestly, are you angry?”

“Mm… I wouldn’t say angry… but… mm! I’m a little angry!”

Yaqi nodded seriously.

“See, see!”

As she spoke, Auntie’s lips curled into a sly smile. Yaqi recalled their childhood, and the corners of her mouth lifted involuntarily, showing an expectant expression.

Aunt Zhao leaned in closer and whispered:

“Yaqi… do you remember when we put makeup on Liu Ya?”

“I remember! What about it?”

“Hehe! Actually, Auntie thought of a way to get revenge for you! Come closer…”

“Okay!”

Yaqi suppressed her excitement, leaned in and listened attentively. Auntie’s words were like demon whispers, awakening the little demon that had been sleeping in Yaqi’s heart. Unknowingly, a sly smile also appeared on Yaqi’s face.

“What do you think?”

“Auntie…”

“Hmm?”

“You’re so bad! Hehe!”

“Oh! Don’t speak the truth! After all, Auntie treasures Yaqi too. If Liu Ya bullies you, I won’t allow it!”

“Hehe! Auntie, you’re the best!”

The two put their heads together and snickered. Suddenly, Yaqi thought of something, straightened up, and looked at Auntie with some concern.

“But… Liu Ya’s relationship with her father… if we do this, will it make Liu Ya angry?”

Auntie smiled gently and patted her head.

“Don’t worry! This much is fine.”

“Besides, if Liu Ya really gets angry, you can sell me out! Auntie will take the blame! Haha!”

“How can I do that? We’re comrades! I would never sell you out! If it comes to that… then we’ll live and die together! Haha!”

“Haha! Okay! Live and die together!”

The plan was set; all that was left was to go into battle!

Auntie stood up and smoothed Yaqi’s clothes and hair. They exchanged a smile, then walked in together.

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