Chapter 68 - 56: No Funny Business
Xiao Wanqing had her back to the glass-walled bathroom. *Haaaah...* She took one deep breath after another, trying to calm herself. Her face wasn’t just red; it was burning.
’That damn Su Ran. He knows full well he has a great body, yet he always has to tease me like this.’
’It’s a bathroom! Doesn’t he have any clue what that implies?’
’If you, Su Ran, were even a little bit uglier, I would’ve called the police on you long ago. How could I let you get away with being such a pervert?’
Inside the bathroom.
Su Ran rested his hands on the edge of the bathtub, watching Xiao Wanqing outside through the glass wall.
’I can’t figure out what those three little rookies are up to,’ he thought, ’but I can’t be bothered to try. Those three have such a bizarre way of thinking, it’s impossible to guess.’
"You can go back to your room and sleep. Just consider your mission accomplished. Good night."
Su Ran turned his head back, closed his eyes, and enjoyed the pleasure of the hot bath.
Outside the bathroom.
’Hah! Playing hard to get, are we?’
’I want to leave, but if I do, the mission will be a failure. I won’t be able to face the other two outside. It’ll make me look useless, and my credibility will take a huge hit.’
’It’s just being a back-scrubber, right? I’m not afraid!’
Mustering all her courage, she spun around and stormed into the bathroom. She came to the side of the tub and glared down at him, really wanting to just punch him and teach him a lesson—’You don’t ask your girlfriend to scrub your back, you ask her best friend? What kind of nonsense is that?’
’Whatever. Since you helped us out of that jam before, I’ll let it slide this time.’
"Is the pressure okay?"
"It’s alright. Why don’t you call the other two in to help massage my shoulders?"
"Hah! You really think you’re some emperor, don’t you? Dream on. I’m telling you, if you don’t behave, I’ll pinch you."
Xiao Wanqing looked at Su Ran with a ’disgusted’ expression, her words filled with ’threats’.
Steam from the tub filled the small space, fogging up the glass. The temperature in the bathroom rose with it, becoming a little stuffy and hot.
SLAP.
Xiao Wanqing slapped Su Ran’s arm, signaling for him to turn so she could massage his shoulders.
’Hmm, deep down, I’m actually quite obedient.’
"Su Ran."
"What is it?"
"Um... Do you think we’re annoying? Always causing a bunch of trouble for you to solve?"
"Honestly, yes, very annoying. Hss—what are you pinching me for? You said you wanted the truth! Hss, still pinching! Fine, fine, fine, you’re not annoying. You guys are just a bit too lively. But seeing the envious looks I get from passersby on this trip has made it all worthwhile."
"Of course! We’re so beautiful, and we’re traveling with a smelly guy like you. You’re the lucky one, and you still dare to find us annoying? You have no conscience."
Su Ran opened his eyes and looked at Xiao Wanqing’s pretty face before him. He nodded. "You’re right. Having the chance to travel with you all is my honor."
"Such a sweet talker~"
If this were Liu Jinyu, she would have already leaned in for a MWAH to reward this silly Ranran.
But this was his girlfriend’s best friend. Xiao Wanqing couldn’t give him that kind of reward.
However... after a moment’s hesitation, she tucked away a lock of hair that had fallen over her left shoulder, leaned down, and planted a light, fleeting kiss on Su Ran’s damp forehead. She then immediately explained, "Don’t get the wrong idea. Think of it as a friendship kiss."
"Of course I won’t get the wrong idea. It’s just..." Su Ran touched his forehead, looking at Xiao Wanqing’s cheeks, which were flushed from the steam. "Do you often give boys ’friendship kisses’ like this?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? This is the first time I’ve ever kissed a boy! My first real kiss is still unspoken for! I’m not some easy girl, hmph."
She lifted her chin, turning her head to the side in a tsundere huff.
Xiao Wanqing changed the subject. "Hey, Su Ran, let me ask you something. Do you not like Jinyu?"
"...Sigh. I swear, you all have asked me that at least eight hundred times this trip. Aren’t you tired of asking? I’m sick of hearing it."
Su Ran was truly sick of it. His daily life with these girls, aside from eating and... other activities, was a constant stream of ’do you like so-and-so, does so-and-so like you.’ It was annoying as hell. How could a grown man’s mind be as full of mushy romance as theirs?
"Oh, don’t be like that~ It’s just, you’re so exceptional that any girl dating you would feel insecure, you know? If I were your girlfriend, I’d feel really insecure too."
"This is our Jinyu’s first boyfriend, too. And you’re so young, rich, and ridiculously handsome. Soon you’ll be starting college, and there will be so many pretty classmates and upperclassmen. Jinyu will be all the way in Shanghai. It’ll be a long-distance relationship. She’s bound to feel insecure. That’s why we’re worried for her. Can you understand our concern?"
"I admit I’m a handsome devil, but on this security issue, I think we need to have a face-to-face discussion. Let me just turn over first."
"Don’t you dare turn over! If you flip over, what does that make me?"
Xiao Wanqing shot him a "complaining" glare.
"Er... alright. Then I’ll repeat this one last time, and you can tell them: I, Su Ran, am a very faithful person, okay?"
"Faithful to *all* the pretty girls?"
"You..."
"Okay, okay, I won’t ask anymore. I believe you. But let me ask you something else. What kind of... er... you know... that... um... in what kind of setting do you think... uh... ’getting intimate’... would be the most romantic?"
"..."
’What kind of questions are these?’
"I’m asking you."
"I think a setting just like this one is pretty romantic."
SLAP~
"Don’t even think about it. You’re not getting any from me. No lewd thoughts, okay~"
"..."
"Oh, come on... just tell me..."
’Whoa, Xiao Wanqing is acting cute and whiny,’ Su Ran thought. ’I don’t know if I can handle this.’
"Honestly, I don’t really care if it’s romantic or not. But I’m a man who knows how to create romance."
"Why?"
Su Ran held out his hand and flexed his fingers, showing off his Finger Technique Fragrance.
"One killer move is all you need to conquer the world!"