With My Ability To Swap, I Will Never End Up In A Love Triangle Mess - Chapter 59

“Mmm… the taste… is really… hehe… delicious…”

The Braised Intestines melted in Xia Xi’s mouth, an indescribable flavor bursting across his taste buds. Then, the “aroma” of this particular “dish” crept from his mouth into his nasal cavity before shooting straight to the top of his skull.

“Why do you look so miserable?”

Lin Xuenning had heard Xia Xi insisting it was delicious, but his expression told a different story—his smile looked painfully forced.

“I’m just… moved to tears. I’ve never eaten anything this good in my life. It even makes me miss my dad a little.”

Xia Xi covered his mouth with his hand, looking like he was about to burst into tears of gratitude.

“Is it really that good?”

Skeptical, Lin Xuenning picked up a piece of intestine and carelessly popped it into her mouth.

In an instant, her pupils dilated, her cheeks puffed out, and—ptui!—she spat the Braised Intestines right back out. A suspicious brown substance, neither fully liquid nor solid, lingered at the corner of her lips.

“Bleh! Bleh! Xia Xi! Now I’m starting to miss your dad too!”

She glared at him fiercely.

“Hahaha! You’re the one who made me eat this! If I had to suffer, so do you! But… why my dad?”

Xia Xi lowered his hand from his mouth, revealing a mostly intact piece of Braised Intestines—only a tiny corner was missing.

“Hmph! I was just thinking… how could he raise such a devil like you?!”

Lin Xuenning grabbed the plate of intestines, stood up abruptly, and dumped the whole thing into the trash.

This… thing… was not fit for human consumption!

What a waste of perfectly good pork intestines.

“Heh, so what if I’m a devil? What can you do about it~?”

Xia Xi was being uncharacteristically mischievous.

Lin Xuenning turned her head away, pretending she didn’t want to look at him. But in reality, her cheeks were slightly flushed as she muttered under her breath:

“Just wait till I take you home with me someday… I’ll work you to death like an overused ox, hmph~”

Her voice was so soft that Xia Xi couldn’t make out a single word. He just found it odd that this girl kept blushing for no reason.

Was it the heat?

But his apartment’s AC was set to a steady 24°C—there was no way she could be overheating.

He wiped his lips with a tissue, took a big gulp of water, swished it around, and spat it out in the sink—a budget version of rinsing his mouth.

Regardless, he still had to eat. “Man is iron, rice is steel—skip a meal, and you’ll feel the ordeal.”

He shoved a mouthful of rice into his mouth and surveyed the other dishes on the table.

How about this one? Tomatoes and eggs—surely, they couldn’t be as disastrous as the Braised Intestines, right?

Maybe Lin Xuenning had just overcooked them a little?

And then…

“Xia Xi! Xia Xi, what’s wrong?!!”

One bite was all it took.

His stomach churned violently.

He couldn’t even describe the taste—all he knew was that, in that moment, he caught a glimpse of his long-departed great-grandmother…

And when she faded away, a group of angelic young women with pure white wings came fluttering toward him, each one sweet, gentle, and adorably innocent.

“Ah… so this is heaven…”

…..

When he woke up again, the first thing he saw was an unfamiliar ceiling.

Had he transmigrated again?!

Not that he could be blamed for thinking that.

After all, in so many isekai anime, the protagonist’s first sight upon waking was always an unfamiliar ceiling—often with a dutiful little maid waiting beside them.

Holding onto a sliver of hope, Xia Xi turned his head to look beside him.

Hmm.

There was a girl there.

And she was cute and innocent-looking—a college student, no less.

But…

“Why are you sitting by my bed again?!”

Waking up twice in a row with Lin Xuenning at his side made Xia Xi want to lament how small the world was.

In reality, though, Xia Xi had been rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment after his stomach and intestines staged a full-on rebellion against Lin Xuenning’s cooking.

“…According to the doctor, you’ll need to stay in bed for two or three days. Only liquids for now…”

Lin Xuenning explained what had happened, her eyes already welling up with tears.

“I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have stubbornly tried to cook! I just read online that a girl who can cook can win a man’s heart through his stomach… but I never thought I’d land you in the hospital! I’m really, really sorry!”

As she spoke, the tears began to fall.

Two streaks ran down Lin Xuenning’s delicate cheeks, her reddened eyes proof of her genuine guilt.

This was Xia Xi’s chance to play the warm, understanding guy.

He reached out, taking Lin Xuenning’s slightly damp hand (from wiping her tears) into his own, then spoke weakly:

“Don’t apologize. I was the one who chose to eat it. If I’d refused, this wouldn’t have happened.”

He gave her hand a gentle pat.

“It’s okay, stop crying. Just promise me you’ll never step foot in the kitchen again, alright?”

It was meant to be a sincere comfort, but for some reason, Lin Xuenning only cried harder, burying her face in Xia Xi’s chest.

She didn’t stop until she’d exhausted her tears, leaving only quiet sniffles behind.

“To make it up to you, I’ll take care of you every day until you recover! Don’t worry—I’ll buy food from proper restaurants. No more of my cooking!”

Her eyes were filled with determination. She would take good care of Xia Xi in the coming days.

So…

Was this all part of your plan to spend more time with him…?

Xia Xi couldn’t exactly call his little sister back from school—not only would it disrupt her studies, but he’d also earn himself the “Little Sister’s Mockery” achievement.

Just imagining Xia Yue rushing all the way from campus to the hospital…

“Ara ara~ What’s this, my useless big brother got hospitalized from eating? I thought ‘crispy college students’ were just a meme—who knew my own trashy brother would turn out to be one too~”

She’d definitely cover her mouth with one hand, wearing that trademark teasing smirk of hers.

No thanks!

That brat could stay right where she was!

He could ask Liu Jiaying to take care of him—his airhead boss would probably be thrilled—but their relationship was strictly professional. Having his employer nurse him back to health was a little too role-reversal for his liking.

Plus, spending every day with Liu Jiaying might be too much for his poor, overworked heart.

Just thinking about her generous proportions… What kind of man could withstand such temptation?

So… nope!

That left Lin Xuenning’s self-imposed “atonement” as the best option.

Sure, Class President Lin was his “rival,” but she had a good heart. Most importantly, given their antagonistic relationship, there was no way she harbored any romantic or teasing intentions toward him.

[System Alert: Detecting strong emotional will from nearby female. Temporary quest issued.]

Xia Xi: “?”

Whose System are you, anyway?!

What do you mean “strong emotional will from nearby female”? Since when does Lin Xuenning count?! I’m your master here!