Chapter 46

Summer break should’ve meant freedom, sleeping in, playing around, not a care in the world.
But on the eve of the college entrance exam results, Yan Xiao suddenly became anxious.
So anxious, in fact, that the usually calm and confident elders of the Yan family began to grow nervous too.
Even Qiu Li, normally the picture of composure, felt uneasy because of her.
He wasn’t worried about his grades. He was worried that if her score fell short of her expectations, she’d be upset.
He’d never expected her, of all people, to be the one trembling over the results.
“Want ice cream?” he asked, taking a box from the freezer. He opened it, set a spoon inside, and handed it to her. “Strawberry flavor.”
Yan Xiao looked at it, accepted silently, and began eating, mechanically, like a little robot. Scoop, eat. Scoop, eat.
Qiu Li frowned slightly, reaching out to ruffle her hair. “What’s wrong? You’ve never been this nervous before.”
The familiar touch made her spoon pause mid-air.
She stared at the melting pink mound, blinking, saying nothing.
Qiu Li raised an eyebrow. No resistance? Normally she’d scold him for touching her head. Was she that nervous?
He hesitated, then gently rubbed again.
Still no reaction.
He frowned deeper and continued rubbing.
After what felt like an eternity, while Yan Xiao sat there drowning in thoughts of Once the results come out, I’ll have enough points. Once I do, I’ll leave this world forever, she finally snapped.
Her head whipped around, eyes blazing red with anger, glaring up at him furiously.
Qiu Li, who had just been thinking her hair’s really soft, froze for half a second, then smiled, eyes curving. “What are you so nervous about? Don’t you trust your own ability?”
Yan Xiao scowled and shot him a look that clearly said hands off.
He hadn’t meant to tease her; he just wanted to distract her. Seeing that she’d snapped out of her anxious daze, he was about to withdraw his hand, but then he noticed how messy her hair looked, how adorably puffed-up her cheeks were when she was mad.
So he couldn’t resist. He rubbed her head again.
That smile, gentle though it was, was pure provocation.
Yan Xiao exploded.
She tossed the ice cream onto the coffee table and lunged at Qiu Li in fury.
“You’re done for!” she growled, teeth clenched, fingers out like claws as she pounced on him, intent on avenging her poor, mussed-up hair.
Qiu Li was half-laughing, half-defending himself, catching her wrists and saying between chuckles, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it! I’ll help you fix it, okay?”
But Yan Xiao was too angry to listen. The problem was that he had longer limbs and a lot more strength; even though he wasn’t holding her tightly, she still couldn’t reach his head. She stretched and struggled, refusing to give up, and to keep her from falling he leaned back onto the sofa, making it look as if he’d been tackled.
One fighting to grab, the other playfully fending off, the fierce battle for vengeance slowly lost its bite.
Anger that burned too long always cooled. Looking down at Qiu Li, who was lying on the couch with a dazzling grin, Yan Xiao huffed, “You’ve gone too far!”
“Mm.” He was still smiling. “My fault.”
“You’ll dare to do it again, won’t you?” she demanded, arching a brow.
Qiu Li turned his head aside, laughing for a while before answering seriously, “No.”
(Unless I can’t help it.)
He didn’t say the last part aloud, but she didn’t believe him for a second.
She gave him a proud little snort.
Qiu Li laughed again. “What are you even so nervous about? You’ve taken first place so many times, don’t you believe in yourself?”
“I’m not nervous,” Yan Xiao retorted. “I just”
Her voice trailed off. She didn’t know how to explain it, she just felt uneasy, restless in a way she couldn’t put into words.
Seeing him still watching her, she changed the subject abruptly. “Anyway, we’ll know at midnight.”
She shifted slightly, signaling for him to let her go.
Qiu Li: “…”
He didn’t move.
“Let go!” she said, glaring.
“Oh.”
The moment he released her, Yan Xiao darted forward again, lightning-quick, pouncing a second time. You dared to turn my hair into a bird’s nest, how can I not take revenge?
But, he caught her again.
This time, though, her momentum sent them both toppling backward onto the couch. She landed squarely on top of him, the two of them flailing like children, well, she was flailing; Qiu Li only half-heartedly defended himself, letting her win.
After a while, her energy ran out. She slumped against him, chest heaving, muttering, “Fine, I’ll remember this. Just you wait!”
He could feel her breathing against him, the rise and fall of her chest. Qiu Li: “…”
[Ding! 985 points!]
Resting on him, Yan Xiao froze.
Every hair on her body stood on end.
What the hell?! He was the one who started it, using his long arms and brute strength to treat her like a cat toy, and now, when she fought back and failed, just for holding a grudge he still docked her points?
How petty could one villain get?!
Still, her points were nearly maxed. Once her exam results came out, she could grind the rest easily and finally be done. Thinking that, she didn’t hesitate any longer, she reached out and clamped both hands over his face, rubbing vigorously.
That’s for always messing up my hair! And for being petty!
Qiu Li’s nerves went rigid. “…”
[Ding! 986 points!]
Yan Xiao: “!!”
That made her even angrier. She sat up, straddled him, and took his face between both hands, rubbing and squishing with renewed vengeance.
[Ding! 988 points!]
[Ding! 990 points!]
[Ding! 991 points!]
The mechanical voice in her head went berserk, dinging nonstop.
The more it chimed, the angrier she got, until Qiu Li’s devastatingly handsome face was reduced to a wrinkled mess. “I always repay my grudges on the spot!” she declared furiously.
Qiu Li, staring up through the cracks between her fingers: “…”
Even after that triumphant proclamation, she still wasn’t satisfied. She gave his face one last squish, like kneading dough. “Admit defeat?”
Qiu Li: “…”
[Ding! 999 points!]
Yan Xiao froze.
She’d been gloating a second ago, thrilled to have ruined his perfect face, and then the number hit her.

Author’s Note:
007: Oh yeah! Full points! (^o^)/
Xiao-xiao: …
Qiu Li: Why is she this adorable (#^.^#)