Luo Xinyu’s gaze lingered on Tachibana Rin for a moment, then she gave an almost imperceptible shake of her head.
This girl was too tall, and her figure and style of dressing were on the more provocative side—probably not Xia Xi’s type.
So then….
Xia Chuan Weilai?
That was the name, right?
It sounded like it came from the Sakura Province. She’d heard that most girls from over there were petite, cute, and the kind that made you want to protect them.
Without making it obvious, Luo Xinyu sized up this simply dressed, pure-looking girl, then glanced at Xia Xi, who had already let go of her little brother’s mouth. She silently formed a guess in her mind.
“Big Sis, what are you—”
Luo Xingchen had barely started speaking when he caught that dangerous look in his sister’s eyes. He immediately realized he’d said something wrong.
“Um… uh… I just remembered I left something in my room. I’ll go grab it. You guys chat!”
He couldn’t figure out why—all he’d wanted was to brag about Xia Xi’s strengths to the others, give his sister a little face, and maybe show off a bit. So why had his sister gotten mad?
This was the first time in all these years that his gentle, loving sister had ever looked at him with that kind of warning. It didn’t feel like his usual sister at all—it was more like that wicked, evil sister from last night who’d made him cross-dress.
“Alright, alright, let’s not just stand around talking. Rin and little Xia Chuan, have you two eaten breakfast yet? We’ve got some steamed buns and warm milk today—should I have the maid bring some over?”
Xia Xi and Luo Xinyu had already eaten back in the room. Tachibana Rin and Xia Chuan Weilai, having planned to go hiking, had naturally eaten before coming over too. So this was really just a polite gesture to ease the current awkwardness.
“No need, thanks for the concern, Xia Xi! Rin and I already ate.”
“Mmhm. But honestly, I’m way more curious about you, Xia Xi, than about breakfast.”
Tachibana Rin looked at Luo Xinyu, who still had that faintly wicked smile lingering on her face, and felt that this man was no simpleton.
Come on—a guy who’d caught the eye of a young miss like that definitely had some outstanding qualities they hadn’t seen yet.
She’d clearly heard Luo Xingchen say that this “Xia Xi” was amazing at writing something. She didn’t know exactly what it was, but it definitely wasn’t just handwriting like the miss had claimed.
And as luck would have it, she—this so-called “great detective” who’d studied over a thousand episodes of Conan—was currently investigating the true identity of a certain author who loved dropping gut-punches on his readers. Anything related to writing, she wasn’t about to let slip by.
Plus, did they really think she and little Xia Chuan had come just to invite this miss hiking?
Nonono.
They knew perfectly well that this young miss had already spent a fair amount of time and resources investigating that very same author.
How did they know? Well, it was because the girl’s father—the shrine master who’d raised Xia Chuan—had let it slip while bragging in front of some mutual friends. He’d said his daughter had never been this invested in anyone before, and that she seemed more alive now, less like her usual lifeless self.
“Rin! His girlfriend’s right here—how can you say that?”
Xia Chuan Weilai gave Tachibana Rin’s arm a light smack, annoyed.
She didn’t want to offend this young miss.
Leaving aside the massive power behind her, they’d still need to ask her for information later—they couldn’t afford to make an enemy of her.
“Relax, relax. I’m sure the miss knows we don’t mean anything weird by it. And I’m sure Xia Xi and Sister Xinyu aren’t the petty type.”
Luo Xinyu nodded.
“Mm. Of course we wouldn’t hold a grudge over just one comment from Rin. Getting mad over that would be ridiculous… but, Rin, have you ever heard a saying that’s pretty widely spread?”
“Oh? Do tell, Xia Xi.”
Luo Xinyu looked at the straightforward girl before her, and that upward curl at the corner of her mouth never quite settled down.
“When a girl starts getting curious about a man, she’s already in dangerous waters.”
Tachibana Rin caught the underlying meaning immediately—he was basically telling her to tone it down.
But she wasn’t having it.
It wasn’t like she had any actual romantic interest in Xia Xi. It was just mild curiosity. That feeling of being so close to grasping something important, yet having no way to uncover it—it was like a kitten scratching at her heart, maddeningly itchy.
“I’d say I’ve got pretty good self-control. It’s just a little curiosity—not nearly enough to make me lose my mind.”
The girl with the striking figure and bold fashion sense lifted her chin, a mischievous grin spreading across her spirited face.
“Besides, Xia Xi, all you have to do is fill me up~ Oh, and I meant curiosity, of course~”
Tsk, tsk.
Xia Xi stood quietly to the side, not daring to say a single word.
He was terrified that at any moment, Luo Xinyu might turn around, lock eyes with him, and drop a casual, “So, my dear young miss, what do you think about that?”
He had zero interest in Tachibana Rin! He did not want a harem war!
“Heh. So what exactly are you curious about?”
Luo Xinyu naturally took Xia Xi’s hand, her long fingers playfully tracing circles on his palm. It was like she was staking her claim to outsiders, or maybe expressing her affection to Xia Xi… or perhaps a threat?
No way. There’s no way my young miss would threaten me. I’m definitely overthinking this. She’s just being spontaneous and wants to tickle my palm a little.
“I heard you’re really good at writing, Xia Xi. Do you have any works to show for it? Or, to put it another way—any writings?”
The word “writings” here pretty directly pointed to published works, most commonly used for books or articles. So Tachibana Rin was clearly not asking about calligraphy.
Luo Xinyu shook her head.
“I don’t have any works worth mentioning. Writing is just a hobby. The things I write just happen to suit my young miss’s taste, so she thinks they look nice.”
“Alright, alright. Guess little Xia Chuan and I just don’t have the eyes for it, huh~”
Tachibana Rin could clearly tell he didn’t want to talk about it.
She wasn’t about to keep pushing, either.
This wasn’t an interrogation—it was just a chat between friends. Why make it so tense? Prying too deep wasn’t always a good habit.
“Mm. Xinyu and I are heading out now. We’ve got some shopping to do. We’ll see you at the foot of the mountain.”
With that, Luo Xinyu took Xia Xi’s hand and walked toward the door.
Xia Xi didn’t resist. He kept up that obedient, good-girl act.
Honestly, if he’d been in his own male body right now, he probably wouldn’t have left so quickly. At most, he’d have sat down with the two girls and made awkward small talk.
But not Luo Xinyu. She came and went as she pleased, without a moment’s hesitation—even if it meant potentially snubbing the two girls.
