Chapter 576 - 368: I Can’t Hear Anything (Part 2)

Just then, Gu Muxue stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped snugly in a bath towel, with another one twisted around her wet hair.

Xue Rui pulled out a hairdryer he had prepared in advance. "Muxue, let me dry your hair."

There was a hairdryer in the bathroom, but he had hidden it.

Gu Muxue ignored Xue Rui, looking instead at Lin Ruoxi with some curiosity. It was the first time she had seen Lin Ruoxi actively playing with Xiaobu. She smiled and asked, "Ruoxi, you like Xiaobu too?"

Lin Ruoxi shook her head and let go of Xiaobu, allowing it to roam freely around the living room.

"I was just curious why he’s so expensive. Cats in my village are usually free, and at the market, they’re only five yuan each."

Gu Muxue was just as shocked by Lin Ruoxi’s words. She had never even seen a cat that only cost five yuan.

"Ruoxi, you’ll have to take me to see these five-yuan cats sometime," Gu Muxue said with a smile.

’Before, Lin Ruoxi was just a classmate from a poor family in my memories. But now, I’m suddenly very curious about the environment she grew up in.’

Lin Ruoxi paused for a moment. ’Would Gu Muxue really be interested in the things sold at a rural country market?’

Seeing Lin Ruoxi’s apparent reluctance, Gu Muxue reached out and gave Xue Rui a gentle push.

’As long as it’s Xue Rui asking, Lin Ruoxi never refuses.’

"I want to see them too," Xue Rui said hurriedly.

"Um, well, when I go home for winter break—" Lin Ruoxi’s voice cut off abruptly. Her eyes were glued to Xiaobu’s form as she suddenly sprinted forward.

Xue Rui and Gu Muxue looked in the same direction and saw Xiaobu on the coffee table, its tail held high, batting at a water glass. The glass was more than half full and was now teetering precariously under Xiaobu’s paws, a heart-stopping sight.

CRASH! The glass toppled over on the coffee table, spilling directly onto Lin Ruoxi’s laptop.

Even though Lin Ruoxi had reacted with incredible speed, the laptop in her hands was still dripping water...

Gu Muxue’s heart leaped into her throat. She had never seen Lin Ruoxi so tense.

’But everything that happened today was Xiaobu’s fault, and as his owner, I’m the one who’s ultimately responsible.’

"Ruoxi, I’m so sorry. I’ll buy you a new one," Gu Muxue said, bowing her head in apology.

Lin Ruoxi pouted. "I can fix it."

"Xiaobu, your price tag just went up again."

Xue Rui scooped Xiaobu into his arms. He was afraid Lin Ruoxi would "discipline" the cat, which could lead to unnecessary conflict. As long as Xiaobu was in his arms, it wouldn’t get a beating.

’Besides, a water-damaged laptop wasn’t a huge deal. Lin Ruoxi backed up all her important files; at worst, she’d only lose some recent work.’

Gu Muxue walked up to Xue Rui and lightly tapped Xiaobu on the head a few times. "Who told you to run around like that?"

Xue Rui quickly shielded Xiaobu in his arms. "Muxue, he’s just a baby!"

"And babies need to be corrected from a young age."

Gu Muxue played along with Xue Rui’s little act, all the while watching Lin Ruoxi’s reaction, hoping to cheer her up a little.

But Lin Ruoxi was in no mood to watch their performance. She had to save her laptop, and she was already heading into the bedroom with a toolbox in hand...

Gu Muxue and Xue Rui exchanged a look and followed her into the room.

"Ruoxi, don’t try to fix it. I’ll buy you a new one," Gu Muxue said timidly from the side.

"I’m sorry, I’m really so sorry," Gu Muxue apologized repeatedly next to Lin Ruoxi. She would have preferred it if Lin Ruoxi got angry and yelled at her a little; this silent, focused work was making her panic.

’Classes start tomorrow. Lin Ruoxi and Xue Rui have a place near the University of Posts and Telecommunications; they only agreed to stay here to accommodate me. I’m suddenly terrified that Lin Ruoxi will take Xue Rui and never come back.’

A faint smile played on Xue Rui’s lips. He knew Lin Ruoxi wouldn’t be angry; right now, she was more focused on assessing the laptop’s internal damage.

The water stains on the circuit board were obvious. The first thing Lin Ruoxi did was test the hard drive, after which the corners of her eyes lifted slightly.

Seeing her reaction, Xue Rui knew the data was safe. The little one’s mood wasn’t so bad after all.

"Xixi, it’s already past nine. Fixing this is probably going to keep you busy late into the night, right?" Xue Rui asked.

"Um, I’ll be quick..."

Lin Ruoxi suddenly felt Xue Rui pinch her waist. ’What is he trying to say?’

"I... I’ll be busy very late?" Lin Ruoxi said, unsure.

The expression on Gu Muxue’s face grew even more troubled. She guessed that even Lin Ruoxi wasn’t sure how long the repairs would take. ’It seems the problem is very serious.’

"So... that means we can’t turn off the lights? I can’t sleep with the lights on," Xue Rui said, letting out a yawn.

"Right."

Lin Ruoxi flinched. ’Xue Rui says he’s sleepy, and he’s making me say I’ll be up late... Does he want to stay in Gu Muxue’s room?’

With a serious expression, Lin Ruoxi said, "Oh, well, then you should sleep with Muxue."

’Since it’s what Xue Rui wants, I can sleep by myself.’

’Nice!’ Xue Rui shouted internally. ’She really gets me.’

’Now Gu Muxue has no reason to refuse. And feeling guilty, she definitely won’t kick me out tonight.’

"Okay," Gu Muxue nodded decisively.

Lin Ruoxi’s words put her anxious heart at ease. ’This means she isn’t trying to distance herself from me. She’s even willing to share her boyfriend with me.’

"Y-You’re not allowed to make him sleep on the floor," Lin Ruoxi said, turning to "threaten" Gu Muxue. But her tone was still soft and sweet, carrying no menace at all.

The last time she’d found Xue Rui in Gu Muxue’s room, he had been lying all alone on a makeshift bed on the floor.

’Gu Muxue knew what Xue Rui wanted, but she just wouldn’t give it to him.’

Gu Muxue sighed in resignation. "Fine. He can sleep on the bed."

But she suddenly felt that something was wrong. ’Is Lin Ruoxi really that generous?’

’No, when it comes to Xue Rui, Lin Ruoxi is extremely possessive. She sticks to his side during practically all her free time. Whenever I even walk past the two of them, Lin Ruoxi will shoot me a wary glance.’

’Even though Xue Rui was always trying to get into my room, Lin Ruoxi’s own bedroom door was always left open.’

’For Lin Ruoxi to now be actively pushing me to stay with Xue Rui... no matter how I look at it, Xue Rui has to be the one pulling the strings.’

’No, wait. Then who directed Xiaobu?’

"You should get some sleep soon," Gu Muxue said softly.

"Mm." Lin Ruoxi thought of Gu Muxue’s unhappy expression. ’Was that guilt?’

’But Gu Muxue is a patient. I can’t let her be unhappy.’

Lin Ruoxi smiled faintly, took Gu Muxue’s hand, and said, "The broken laptop isn’t important. Your feelings are more important. You need to be happy."

A warmth spread through Gu Muxue’s chest at her words. ’Lin Ruoxi is always so gentle. My worries were completely unfounded from the start.’

Xue Rui winked at Lin Ruoxi. "We’re going. Don’t worry about me."

’Lin Ruoxi has a habit of eavesdropping, and he’d even caught her once. Would the little one be listening outside the door tonight?’

Xue Rui guessed she most likely would.

Lin Ruoxi said guiltily, "I... I can’t hear a thing when I’m working. I won’t know what you two are doing."

Gu Muxue: "..."

The corner of Xue Rui’s mouth twitched. ’Xixi, you’re laying it on a bit thick!’

"Xiaoruzi, let’s go." Gu Muxue suddenly felt exhausted. She walked wearily out of Lin Ruoxi’s room, letting Xue Rui follow her into her bedroom.

"Muxue, this was Xixi’s request."

After entering, Xue Rui quickly locked the door behind him. His intentions couldn’t be more obvious.

Gu Muxue’s breathing grew ragged. Only now did she realize what she had actually agreed to for Lin Ruoxi.

Lin Ruoxi wasn’t some naive child. What she’d said just now wasn’t simply about finding a place for Xue Rui to sleep; it was telling her to give everything to Xue Rui.

On the surface, Xue Rui and Lin Ruoxi’s relationship seemed better, but Gu Muxue knew that was just because they had already broken through the final barrier, making their physical interactions more intimate.

But she had never thought of competing with Lin Ruoxi; she felt that the way things were now was also perfectly fine.

As for her and Xue Rui... she had made her decision long ago. She just hadn’t found the right opportunity, or perhaps, she just wasn’t mentally prepared.

"Go take a shower," Gu Muxue said in a small voice.

She didn’t know when she would ever be "ready," but right now, Xue Rui wanted this, and Lin Ruoxi wanted her to give it to him.

She had the power to veto this, but in her heart, she had already lost.

’Besides... it was going to happen sooner or later anyway.’

"Huh?" Xue Rui’s eyes widened in surprise.

He had only intended to use this chance to get closer to her, to slowly wear down her defenses.

But Gu Muxue’s compliance was completely unexpected. Xue Rui suspected a trap; for all he knew, she’d lock him in the bathroom the moment he stepped inside.

"Nope. You told me not to shower earlier," Xue Rui said with a smile.

Gu Muxue buried her burning face in Xue Rui’s chest. She wanted to bite him, but then she caught the familiar, clean scent of Lin Ruoxi on him. It was the smell of cheap laundry soap—a simple scent, yet it carried an understated elegance that felt out of her reach.

"If you don’t want to wash, then don’t."

Lin Ruoxi and Xue Rui had been stuck together all day, and he was covered in her scent.