Keeping Her Archrival Overnight

The boy chatted freely with the family at the dining table, unaware that the girl beside him was plotting against him.

Lu Xiaoxiao lowered her eyes in thought. She planned to ply him with baijiu later, then use the excuse that he couldn't drive after drinking to keep him there overnight.

But the moment the thought crossed her mind, she suddenly remembered that Shao Enci was allergic to alcohol!

Her brother seemed to have poured him a glass of red wine just now, and he'd even finished it?!

Bang—!

Lu Xiaoxiao shot to her feet, her chair legs scraping against the floor and leaving everyone at the table staring at her in shock.

"Lu Xiaoxiao, what's wrong with you now?" Lu Jiayan's handsome brows knitted together. He couldn't make sense of his sister's strange behavior lately.

Shao Enci turned to look at her, a hint of bewilderment in his eyes.

Lu Xiaoxiao looked down and met his gaze. Her voice grew urgent. "You knew you were allergic, so why did you drink?"

The moment she spoke, everyone at the table fell silent, their gazes settling on his face. Ms. Wen took a closer look at him and frowned. "Xiao Ci, your face is all red. Are you feeling unwell?"

Lu Yifei put down his chopsticks. "If you're feeling unwell, go to the hospital and get checked. Don't try to tough it out."

Lu Jiayan said nothing.

He had been the one to offer Shao Enci the wine, hoping to use it to make amends and apologize. Instead, he'd caused trouble again, leaving him feeling even guiltier.

Shao Enci shook his head. The tips of his ears were indeed faintly red, but he looked fairly calm. "I'm fine. Even a little alcohol makes my face turn red. It's nothing."

Lu Xiaoxiao raised a hand to feel his burning forehead and said anxiously, "Mom, he can't drive in this condition. Let him stay the night."

The person in question was even more bewildered than the family.

"No need to trouble yourselves," Shao Enci said. "I can just call my driver to pick me up."

Lu Xiaoxiao quietly sat back down and, where her family couldn't see, pinched the outside of the boy's thigh hard enough to make him grunt on the spot.

She withdrew her hand and added without a change of expression, "See? He cried out in pain. He must be feeling awful."

Shao Enci gave her a puzzled look, as if to say, Was that really necessary?

Lu Jiayan glanced at the two of them and, for once, refrained from calling her out. "Stay the night. The guest room's empty anyway."

Ms. Wen chimed in as well. "Xiao Ci, stay here tonight and leave tomorrow morning."

Lu Yifei swallowed the food in his mouth and said politely, "I'll go change the sheets in the guest room in a little while."

Shao Enci was pleasantly surprised by Lu Xiaoxiao's family's warm hospitality.

But it felt a little improper to be asked to stay overnight the first time he met her parents, especially since he and Lu Xiaoxiao weren't even boyfriend and girlfriend.

"Thank you for your kindness, Uncle, Auntie, but I still have homework to take care of. I have to go back."

Lu Xiaoxiao bit her lip, frustration knotting inside her.

She had finally persuaded her family to let him stay, only for him to insist on leaving.

The system still had five tasks she needed his cooperation to complete. No matter what, she had to make him stay today!

She quietly glanced at the boy eating with his head down, then pulled out her phone and sent him a message: [Stay tonight. I have a gift for you.]

Shao Enci felt his phone vibrate, but made no move to open it.

He assumed it was an unimportant message.

Lu Xiaoxiao had no choice but to poke his arm when her family wasn't looking. Only then did the boy turn to her, his eyes questioning, as if to say, What is it?

She showed him the chat on her phone screen.

Only then did Shao Enci realize that the message just now had been from her.

Like a student sneaking a distraction during class, he carefully pulled out his phone and lowered his head to reply: [What gift?]

Lu Xiaoxiao: [You have to stay before I can give it to you.]

Shao Enci cheekily replied: [Oh, then I don't want it.]

Lu Xiaoxiao turned and glared at the boy, only to meet his deep gaze. There was a hint of teasing in his phoenix eyes.

Though the two of them hadn't spoken, the others had seen their little private exchange perfectly clearly.

Lu Jiayan had taken it all in and couldn't resist calling her out. "Lu Xiaoxiao, can you stop bothering him? He's eating."

"Doesn't eating keep your mouth shut?" Lu Xiaoxiao shot back.

The brother and sister were at it again.

After lunch, the family were all cleaning up in the kitchen. Afraid that Shao Enci would take the opportunity to leave, Lu Xiaoxiao hurriedly dragged him into her room and shut the door behind them.

The girl pinned the boy against the door. When he saw her lean in close, he anxiously covered his mouth and warned her in a low voice, "Lu Xiaoxiao, don't try anything. Your family's still outside."

Anywhere else, he would have let her take whatever liberties she wanted.

But not today, even if he wanted to kiss her too.

Lu Xiaoxiao let go of him, looking utterly speechless. "You're overthinking it. I was just afraid you were going to leave."

"You don't like me, yet you're forcing me to stay overnight. What exactly are you trying to do?"

Shao Enci really couldn't figure out what she was thinking.

Obviously, I'm going to take advantage of you and have my wicked way with you.

Lu Xiaoxiao said it silently in her heart.

"I was just worried about you." She saw that his complexion had returned to normal and that he no longer looked like he was having an allergic reaction to the alcohol. Putting on a distressed expression, she said, "Your alcohol allergy really scared me last time. This time, no matter what you say, I'm making you stay the night!"

Shao Enci fell silent for a moment. In the end, unable to win against the girl, he had no choice but to compromise.

"Fine, I'll stay."

He reached for the door handle, then thought of something and turned back to add, "I'll lock my door tonight. Send me a message if you need anything."

Shao Enci seemed to have anticipated her intentions and guessed exactly what she was thinking.

Lu Xiaoxiao blinked and said without a change of expression, "Don't worry, I won't barge into your room in the middle of the night and steal a kiss."

I'll barge into your room, kiss your abs, and leave strawberry marks all over them.