“……”

Ruan Nianxi’s hands paused on the keyboard. Instead of answering, she held her phone up to Xie Shu for him to see.

After glancing at the screen, Xie Shu’s tone shifted to a more serious one. “I already have Aunt Jian as a contact, no need to add her again.”

With that, he released his arm from around Ruan Nianxi and sat up straight.

He cleared his throat. “Didn’t Aunt Jian call you earlier? Why are you still chatting?”

Ruan Nianxi pouted. “She must not be busy right now, so she’s chatting with me about trivial things.”

Ruan Nianxi was genuinely annoyed. She didn’t want to keep replying, but she had no choice.

During their call, Xie Shu’s phone rang, and her mom heard it. Somehow, her mom guessed she wasn’t at school.

She didn’t want to explain at the time, and although her mom didn’t press, she ended the call abruptly. Feeling uneasy, Ruan Nianxi messaged Xie Shu just in case. Later, Xie Shu confirmed that her mom had called him.

Xie Shu didn’t reveal their relationship or her location, so after talking to him, her mom contacted her again.

Her mom seemed certain she wasn’t on campus and, having heard Xie Shu’s ringtone, believed someone else was with her. On Xie Shu’s way back, her mom subtly asked where she was and if she was with friends.

Ruan Nianxi didn’t want to continue the conversation but worried her mom might come looking for her in the middle of the night if she didn’t respond properly.

She planned to spend the night with Xie Shu. If they were discovered…

To avoid interruptions, she called her mom before Xie Shu returned, showing her the entire hotel room and even the hallway outside. She sternly said, “Do I need to report every time I go out?” Only then did her mom stop asking questions, and she ended the video call.

There was no one else in the room!

Xie Shu hadn’t returned yet!

So it was just her!

After that, her mom stopped asking about it and instead talked about Labor Day plans, suggesting several tourist spots and offering to accompany her.

Ruan Nianxi planned to visit Xie Shu’s home for Labor Day, so she declined.

Just then, Xie Shu knocked on the door. She opened it, intending to put down her phone and talk to him, but her mom kept messaging, asking if she disliked those places and suggesting other destinations, even some abroad.

She had already refused several times. Why keep asking?

She didn’t want to go out with them!

She wanted to be with Xie Shu!

Ruan Nianxi pouted, her irritation reaching its peak. But after being hugged by Xie Shu, she felt much better.

She continued typing, rejecting the travel plans and saying she needed to rest, asking her mom to stop messaging. Then she finally put down her phone.

The two of them sat at the table, ready for dinner.

Xie Shu scrolled through a video app, found a random video, and placed his phone between them, hitting play as he picked up his chopsticks.

The video had just started when a message notification popped up at the top of his screen.

Both of them saw the contact name: Aunt Jian.

Xie Shu: “……”

Ruan Nianxi: “……”

What now?

Xie Shu glanced at Ruan Nianxi, who showed no reaction.

He picked up his phone again and switched to the WeChat screen.

Opening the chat, he read the full message.

Aunt Jian: [Xie Shu, when are you free this weekend? Let’s find a time to chat.]

Ruan Nianxi, sitting next to Xie Shu, naturally saw the message content as he opened the chat.

Her mood instantly soured.

Reaching out to Xie Shu behind her back?

What was she up to?

Yesterday, her dad secretly contacted Xie Shu, and today it was her mom?

Although the message didn’t specify why Aunt Jian wanted to talk to Xie Shu, Ruan Nianxi had already imagined the worst.

What else could it be but to badmouth her?

And then Xie Shu would leave her, right?

Ruan Nianxi gripped her chopsticks tightly, staring at Xie Shu’s phone screen, her face tense and silent.

Xie Shu looked at the message, then at Ruan Nianxi, feeling caught in the middle.

This…

Aunt Jian wanted to meet him, and he was curious about why.

But Ruan Nianxi had made it clear she didn’t want him meeting her parents.

After a brief hesitation, Xie Shu typed a reply: [Sorry, Aunt Jian, I have a part-time job this weekend and won’t have time.]

He had to listen to his girlfriend.

Yeah, this should be fine, right?

He wasn’t lying; he did have a part-time job.

He had already discussed it with Teacher Li at the art studio. He had only gone once, and skipping the second time wouldn’t look good. But he also wanted to go on a date that weekend, so he asked Teacher Li if he could bring his girlfriend.

There was a scenic spot nearby, and they could have fun after work.

The art studio wasn’t as strict as school, so it should be okay. One of the young teachers often brought his girlfriend to the studio, and it didn’t bother anyone; it even lightened the atmosphere.

As expected, Teacher Li said it was fine, especially after learning his girlfriend was the one who had generously bought lunch for everyone during last week’s training. She warmly invited him to bring his girlfriend along.

As for disturbing the students…

Not at all!

They didn’t have classes on weekends anyway. The training had just started, and the students were fresh out of school with light workloads. The teachers didn’t want them wandering off and getting into trouble, so they had weekend classes, just less strict than weekdays.

Ruan Nianxi, seeing Xie Shu’s reply, felt a bit relieved.

As long as he didn’t agree.

His part-time job… it didn’t matter. Everyone had their busy times. She could wait for him to finish work. She could wait as long as needed.

As long as Xie Shu didn’t meet her parents!

That was absolutely not allowed!