With My Ability To Swap, I Will Never End Up In A Love Triangle Mess - Chapter 131

Imperial Capital.

Luo Xinyu sat in her wheelchair, flanked by her father and younger brother.

As for her mother… Luo Xinyu hadn’t seen her for a very long time. Her father almost never mentioned her either. She didn’t know if it was because he was unwilling to reminisce or for some other reason.

The family of three sat around a large round table laden with delicacies that ordinary families could scarcely afford. Maids and a butler attended to their needs.

Logically, with such a luxurious life and a family reunion, Luo Xinyu should have been very happy. Yet, for some reason, she felt like something was missing in her heart.

“Sis, what are you thinking about? You’ve been spacing out for a while now.”

Luo Xingchen picked up a piece of spare rib for Luo Jingcheng, then served one to Luo Xinyu as well.

Seeing his older sister so absent-minded, he already had a guess about what was on her mind.

“That’s right, Xinyu. If something’s on your mind, tell me. Your old dad will handle it for you.”

Although Luo Jingcheng was the wealthiest man in the Imperial Capital, he wasn’t pompous in front of his children and was always very amiable.

“It’s nothing, really. I just… well… wanted to see some fireworks.”

Luo Xinyu rested her chin in her palm, her gaze drifting towards the window.

“Is that all? Just fireworks? Well then, Old Zhao, go and arrange it. Schedule it for midnight tonight, and make sure to use the most beautiful ones.”

“Yes, sir.”

Luo Jingcheng waved his hand, delegating the task.

Although there was currently a ban on setting off fireworks in the city, with his connections, obtaining a permit was as easy as pie.

“Speaking of which, Xinyu, your birthday is coming up soon, isn’t it?”

Luo Xinyu’s birthday fell on the day of the Lantern Festival, just fifteen days away—a mere half month.

“Yes,” Luo Xinyu nodded in reply.

“Hehe, Sis, I’ve prepared a huge surprise for you! Just wait and see how happy you’ll be.”

At school, Luo Xingchen was a delinquent who led a large gang of followers, but in front of Luo Xinyu, he was like a little kid, always eager to share even the smallest thing with her.

“Oh, you’ve already started preparing? When are you going to give your old dad some ideas too?”

Luo Jingcheng chuckled and patted Luo Xingchen on the back.

He didn’t know what gift to get for his daughter.

Pianos, phones, tablets—he had given all those things repeatedly. Besides, with Luo Xinyu’s allowance, she could buy them herself; it wouldn’t reflect his heartfelt feelings at all.

As for cakes and flowers, he had given those last year. Surely he couldn’t do the same again this year?

Naturally, Luo Xingchen didn’t dare embarrass his father and quickly nodded, saying he would help his dad look for gift ideas.

Watching the two of them banter, Luo Xinyu felt both amused and a little melancholy.

Neither her father nor her brother had asked for her opinion about the gifts. Although the gifts they gave were indeed things she liked—after all, they were family who knew each other well and understood each other’s preferences—it still felt a bit…

….

Yu City.

Lin Xuening said goodbye to Xia Xi and the others but didn’t head straight home. Instead, she went to browse in a boutique shop.

She was having dinner with her family tonight. It was the New Year, after all, so of course she needed to reunite with them.

As for lunch, it was because Xia Xi and Xia Yue, the two siblings, had no other family. So, their friends joined them to ensure they wouldn’t be “orphaned siblings” during the holiday.

Of course, she had made plans with Xia Xi to set off fireworks together at a nearby square after dinner. In a small city like theirs, the ban on fireworks was less strict and enforcement was more relaxed.

Lin Xuening’s parents were aware of Xia Xi.

They knew he was a kid who had been making his own way in society, living a decent and stable life. He seemed like a reliable and down-to-earth person.

Anyway, Lin Xuening’s parents didn’t have any major objections to her spending time with Xia Xi.

“That idiot Xia Xi, actually regifting a present someone gave him to someone else…”

Lin Xuening was wearing her ear muffs at the moment. Because her left ear was stuffed with cotton and covered by the muff, Xia Xi could still only hear very faint sounds from her side.

“What are you muttering about over there?”

Xia Xi’s voice suddenly transmitted into Lin Xuening’s exchanged left ear, startling her so much she shuddered.

She slightly lifted the ear muff and complained in a low voice, “Don’t talk so suddenly like that! It’s scary!”

The feeling was like being alone, only to have a deep male voice abruptly sound right beside your ear.

In a horror movie, this would be the “whisper of a demon” or a jump-scare level of terror.

“Hmph, who told you to talk to yourself so much?”

But… having Xia Xi’s voice able to sound in her ear at any time really gave her a strange sense of security. It was as if he was always accompanying her…

Lin Xuening slipped her hand into the pocket of her JK skirt, clutching the slightly crumpled little note.

“Onii-chan! Who are you trying to outsmart talking to the air?”

Xia Yue’s adorable voice came through the ear. It seemed Xia Xi’s “talking to himself” had been caught by his little sister.

Putting the ear muff back on properly, Lin Xuening continued browsing the boutique. This time, however, she took the cotton out of her left ear, allowing the two of them to communicate unobstructed, just like a phone call.

She walked to a display of hair accessories, casually picked up a small rabbit hair clip, held it up to gauge how it looked, and then put it on her head.

“Wait a second! From my perspective, it looks like I’m the one wearing this girly hair clip! Hey!”

Xia Xi’s voice continued to come through.

Though it was much quieter than before, probably because he didn’t want to draw his sister’s attention.

Lin Xuening gave a mischievous smile, ignoring what Xia Xi said.

She checked her reflection in a small mirror, then shook her head, took the clip off, and put it back in its place.

Sharing Xia Xi’s first-person perspective, she naturally knew exactly how strange the experience felt for him.

It was just… looking at her own reflection in the mirror, but seeing a face that wasn’t “his”… it felt very odd.

But really, it wasn’t a big deal. Ever since her relationship with Xia Xi improved, and she hadn’t deliberately “targeted” him at school, it had been a long time since she’d seen him get all flustered and exasperated.

Thinking this, she moved to the plush toy section, picked up an ugly-yet-cute plushie, and pressed her cheek against it.

“I don’t want to snuggle with such an ugly plush toy!”

Sure enough, Xia Xi’s complaint came through again.

Hearing his protest, Lin Xuening hummed lightly, put the ugly plushie back, and picked out a pink-haired Miku Fufu to cuddle instead.

“Is this better now? It’s the cute Hatsune Miku.”

“That’s more like it~”

Xia Xi could really act like a child sometimes. He didn’t seem to dislike cute plush toys at all. Or perhaps… most boys secretly have a girly heart that loves adorable things?

In reality, Xia Xi was lying on his bed, covering his right eye, intently using the perspective from Lin Xuening’s left eye to keep her company. Firstly, he was worried she might run into trouble like hoodlums on her way home again. Secondly, he was feeling a bit bored, so chatting with Lin Xuening and trying to fish for information sounded good.

Speaking of which… did this count as… maintaining a continuous “call” for several hours on New Year’s Eve? Well… it definitely wasn’t the same as lovey-dovey couples spending hours on the phone!