With My Ability To Swap, I Will Never End Up In A Love Triangle Mess - Chapter 52

“Big brooo, look look, am I cute~?”

Xia Xi was having lunch with Lin Xuenning at a chicken hotpot place when his phone suddenly blared out this voice message from his little sister.

And, of course, he’d left it on speaker.

Under the weirded-out stares from nearby tables, Xia Xi could only offer an awkward smile.

“Ugh, you’re hideous! Go play somewhere else!”

The photo his sister had sent showed three girls—her dorm squad, all of whom Xia Xi knew.

From the looks of it, they were at some kind of large event, all dressed in similar outfits.

“Are they cosplaying?”

Lin Xuenning leaned in, peering at Xia Xi’s phone.

They were sitting side by side instead of across from each other—mostly because Lin Xuenning had piled all her shopping bags onto the opposite seat, leaving no room to sit.

“Seems like it.”

The wigs his sister and her friends were wearing had been picked up yesterday when he was in Bai Xiao Cha’s body. Judging by their outfits, they were cosplaying Umaru-chan.

Leng Xiyu was the high-school version, Xia Yue was the middle-school version, and Bai Xiao Cha—the most outrageous of them all—was the chibi Umaru wrapped in her hamster hood!

Well, given her tiny frame, it made sense. If she walked around like that, some concerned cop might actually stop her to ask if she was lost.

“I’m kinda jealous of your sister and her friends. They’re still in high school but already having so much fun.”

Lin Xuenning thought back to her own high school days—stuck in that prison-like classroom day after day, suffocating under the pressure.

“Eh, they’re just kids. Better they enjoy themselves now than turn into dull bookworms.”

Xia Xi was pretty laid-back about it. As long as he was around to support the family, his sister could grow up carefree.

Wasn’t that what being an older brother was all about?

“You’re definitely gonna be a great dad someday.”

Lin Xuenning glanced at Xia Xi’s profile, then subtly touched her stomach with her left hand. Her face flushed, and she quickly stuffed a few bites of food into her mouth.

Xia Xi, oblivious to her odd behavior, was too busy texting his sister.

“Big brooo, there are so many pretty girls here~”

“Look look, I can get all cozy with them~ Jealous?”

“Wild loli spotted! I can even lift her up~”

Basically, Xia Yue was finding every possible way to rub it in her brother’s face. Every text came with a short clip of her getting handsy with some cute girl.

Honestly, Xia Yue had the makings of a full-blown degenerate. If she weren’t a petite, adorable girl herself, security would’ve tossed her out long ago.

“Your sister’s adorable.”

Lin Xuenning chuckled, amused by Xia Yue’s energy. With a little sister this lively, it was hard to imagine Xia Xi being some gloomy guy.

“Pfft. She’s just a brat.”

The two finished lunch, chatting idly, then headed back to Xia Xi’s place.

As for why they weren’t going to Lin Xuenning’s house today? Simple—Xia Xi knew their bodies would swap back in the afternoon. If he was caught lounging in her bed, wearing her clothes, her dad would probably break his legs.

“I’m gonna nap in my room. If you wanna watch TV, just crash on the couch.”

Xia Xi flopped onto his bed, instantly melting into relaxation.

Ahhh, nothing beat the comfort of his own nest.

Sure, Lin Xuenning’s room smelled nice, but it was still someone else’s space. Too much pressure.

“Got it!”

Lin Xuenning sprawled on the sofa, fingers flying across her phone screen as she texted someone—who knew who she was chatting with so intensely.

“Ack! I can’t move!”

Bai Xiao Cha’s soft, panicked voice echoed in Xia Xi’s mind.

“Relax, it’s me.”

Xia Xi whispered back, then glanced around.

Yep. Definitely inside a convention hall.

“Oh! It’s Ghost-san! You scared me—I thought I got poisoned by free candy or something.”

Hearing her own body speak, Bai Xiao Cha sighed in relief.

Sure, getting possessed mid-fun wasn’t ideal, but she was kinda tired anyway. Letting someone else take over for a bit wasn’t so bad.

“Xiao Cha! What are you standing around for? Come take pics with us!”

Xia Yue and Leng Xiyu were posing with a cosplayer dressed as Konata Izumi, waiting for Bai Xiao Cha to join them.

They always took group photos together—no solo shots allowed.

After all, they were the Umaru trio!

“Coming!”

Xia Xi scurried over on stubby legs, squeezing in next to Xia Yue and the Konata cosplayer.

Click!

“Thank you, sensei! Here’s a little gift for you~”

The Konata cosplayer bowed politely and handed them three hand-drawn Konata chibi stickers.

Xia Yue and Leng Xiyu quickly dug into their bags, pulling out their own freebies to exchange.

Xia Xi, clueless about con etiquette, followed Bai Xiao Cha’s mental instructions and mimicked them.

“Bye-bye~ Your Umaru cosplays are super cute! Have fun~”

Honestly, most cosplayers at the event were surprisingly friendly and polite—calling each other “sensei,” trading gifts, and just being wholesome.

It was nothing like Xia Xi’s stereotype of antisocial otaku holed up in their rooms, screaming about 2D waifus.

Guess he’d judged too soon.

You never really knew a community until you were part of it.

“Xiao Cha, did you hear? They said I’m cute~!”

Xia Yue suddenly hugged Xia Xi from behind, resting her chin on his shoulder and pressing her cheek close.

Leng Xiyu, meanwhile, plopped a hand on both their heads, sighing.

“They meant all of us, dummy. You just want an excuse to cling to Xiao Cha.”

Xia Xi, currently sandwiched between softness and warmth, wasn’t sure how to react.

So this was why Bai Xiao Cha looked so flustered in those photos. She wasn’t voluntarily getting manhandled by Xia Yue!

Click!

A shutter sound came from nearby.

A bearded photographer approached, showing them the shot he’d just taken.

Huh.

It was… weirdly heartwarming.

Xia Yue’s playful smirk, Leng Xiyu’s exasperated fondness, and Bai Xiao Cha’s (currently Xia Xi’s) deer-in-headlights expression—somehow, it just worked.

The guy had a real eye for candid moments.