By then, Xixi and Xiao Yi had finished changing and returned as lightly as butterflies. From afar, they spotted Chen Xiaojun amid a group of women, bobbing his head as he said something.
The girls beside him chattered away around him, filling the scene with an easy, lively atmosphere.
"Well, well, Chen Xiaojun! What are you doing here?" Xixi called as she approached, sounding both teasing and surprised.
Chen Xiaojun glanced at her and replied calmly, "Passing through."
Xixi couldn't help laughing. She blinked at him. "Chen Xiaojun, can't you speak normally? Must you act so deep and mysterious? Or have you been missing our Xiao Yi? Is this what you meant by 'one day apart feels like three autumns'?"
At those words, a blush immediately spread across Xiao Yi's face, as though Xixi had struck upon her secret thoughts.
Chen Xiaojun rolled his eyes at Xixi. "Gee, thanks. I was just passing through, and look at the whole story you've dreamed up."
Xixi gave another indignant little huff. She pointed a slender finger at Chen Xiaojun, her almond-shaped eyes wide with playful reproach. "Hmph, don't think I don't know. Anyway, what were you discussing with Sister Ru Yan and the others? You even signaled for us to come out first!"
The corners of Chen Xiaojun's mouth lifted into a devil-may-care smile as he slowly drawled, "Nothing but a few..."
Then he abruptly changed tack, his grin widening. "Secrets!"
"You! Chen Xiaojun!" Xixi stamped her feet in anger, her eyebrows arching so high they seemed ready to fly into the sky. "Careful, or I'll really hit you! I'll swell your head up until you and Xiao Yi are beauty and the beast. Let's see how you go out together then!"
The girls beside them covered their mouths and giggled.
Unbothered,