After leaving the ward, Song Yunshen led Xia Jinshu down the elevator. As they walked out of the hospital gate, looking at the bustling traffic on the street, he slowly let out a long sigh of relief.
"The taxi is at the intersection, it'll be there soon," Song Yunshen said to Xia Jinshu after glancing down at his phone.
"Hmm." Xia Jinshu nodded, turned to look at Song Yunshen who looked relieved, suddenly leaned close to him, raised her right hand, and gently patted his head.
She then took a half step back, put her hands behind her back, and said to him with a smile, " Yunshen is very well-behaved today."
Song Yunshen stared blankly at Xia Jinshu, who was smiling sweetly at the moment, then smiled helplessly, "Senior, can you please stop treating me like a child?"
"I'll be an adult after my birthday, but you're not yet," Xia Jinshu teased with a laugh. "If you're not a child, then who is?"
"Okay, okay, I'm just a kid." Song Yunshen shook his head with a smile, looked at the taxi that had stopped in front of them, helped Xia Jinshu into the back seat, gave her the last few digits of his phone number, and then turned to Xia Jinshu to continue, "Since you're just a kid, it's okay for you to rely on adults sometimes, right?"
"Of course you can," Xia Jinshu nodded and said.
Upon hearing this, Song Yunshen silently shifted his position closer to Xia Jinshu, sitting down next to her. He then tilted his head slightly and rested it on her shoulder.
Noticing Song Yunshen's actions, Xia Jinshu froze the moment his head rested on her shoulder. She hadn't expected that his words about leaning on her meant this.
She didn't refuse; instead, she tried to straighten her back so that Song Yunshen, who was taller, could lean on her shoulder more comfortably.
The two of them stood quietly together, not exchanging another word on the way.
The driver, while driving, saw this scene in the rearview mirror and couldn't help but secretly click his tongue, pressing the accelerator harder.
Young people these days are really... What kind of man leans on a woman's shoulder?
The taxi gradually approached the entrance of Tangning New Residence area.
Because he needed to take Xia Jinshu home first, Song Yunshen located the entrance to the East District.
Seeing this, Xia Jinshu quickly said to the driver, "Driver, please drive a little further ahead and stop at the entrance of the residential area across the street."
The driver responded and drove the car to the other side of the road and stopped.
"Why did we stop here?" Song Yunshen asked, puzzled, after getting out of the car with Xia Jinshu.
"I have to go to your house again." Xia Jinshu pointed to the lunchbox she was carrying. "The dishes haven't been washed yet."
"We have a dishwasher," Song Yunshen said.
"There are three lunchboxes inside that aren't made of metal," Xia Jinshu reminded her. "They'll get damaged if you put them in the dishwasher because of the high temperature. I'll wash them myself; it won't take long anyway."
After saying that, Xia Jinshu walked towards the entrance of the west district.
Seeing Song Yunshen had no choice but to follow.
He didn't mind, but he felt it was a bit troublesome to make Xia Jinshu make another trip back and forth.
Since Xia Jinshu was willing, there was no need for him to stop her.
So the two went back to their building and took the elevator upstairs. But just then, Song Yunshen's phone vibrated.
He took it out and looked at it, then his expression changed. He subconsciously glanced at Xia Jinshu beside him and quickly turned slightly to the side to avoid her seeing the chat history.
[ Xia Kening ]: Where are you? Why aren't you home?
Song Yunshen was completely numb.
While in the car, I was so focused on enjoying the feeling of leaning on Mama Xia's shoulder that I didn't even realize it was almost 7 p. m. and Xia Kening had come to his house.
As luck would have it, Xia Jinshu decided to go back to his house to help wash the dishes, and almost bumped into Xia Kening!
Song Yunshen's mind raced as he considered how to prevent the two of them from bumping into each other.
But then he realized something was wrong; what was there to panic about?
If anyone should be panicking, it should be Xia Kening.
After all, one was his tutor and the other was his game-playing agent. Song Yunshen was perfectly upright and had nothing to be ashamed of.
Moreover, neither Xia Kening nor Xia Jinshu knew the relationship between the three sisters.
At this point, there's even less reason to panic. With that thought, Song Yunshen rolled his eyes and sent a message to Xia Kening.
[ Song Yunshen ]: I just came back from outside with Xia Jinshu. Just tell her you're my cousin.
[ Xia Kening ]:???
[ Xia Kening ]: What the heck?!
[ Xia Kening ]: Isn't she your tutor? Why is she coming at this hour?
[ Song Yunshen ]: It's hard to explain in a short time. Anyway, we're already in the elevator. Just pretend you're my cousin. What's there to worry about?
[ Xia Kening ]: No, I'm hiding in your bedroom. Don't tell anyone I'm here.
[ Song Yunshen ]:?
[ Song Yunshen ]: What are you doing? Didn't you do the same thing when Xia Yunuo was around? Why can't it be done when it's Xia Jinshu's turn?
[ Xia Kening ]: I'm socially awkward!
[ Song Yunshen ]: Do you think I'd believe your nonsense?
[ Xia Kening ]: Anyway, I'm already hiding in your bedroom. If you don't mind her finding out your cousin is sleeping in your bed, then you can talk to her. [ Song Yunshen ]: Okay, okay, I won't say anything. We're already here. You can hide yourself.
Seeing Xia Kening's reaction on WeChat, Song Yunshen raised an eyebrow, already having made his judgment.
Judging from this, Xia Kening and Xia Yunuo probably confronted each other at home, so they both knew the other would be coming to their house, and the exposure was done.
Recently, the two of them have even been coming to his house together.
However, it seems that Xia Jinshu's two younger sisters haven't explained the situation to their beloved eldest sister yet, and are still keeping it from each other.
However, because of the previous soul swap, Xia Kening secretly learned that Xia Jinshu was his tutor.
But Xia Jinshu was clearly unaware that her dear little sister came to his house every night to play video games.
What kind of expression would Mama Xia have if she found out?
Song Yunshen secretly glanced at Xia Jinshu's profile beside him, feeling somewhat guilty, as if he were doing something wrong right under his mother's nose.
But he has a clear conscience.
He hadn't done anything bad to Xia Kening; he'd just given her a part-time job as a game booster.
What could Song Yunshen do when faced with a soul swap? He was helpless too. As long as Xia Jinshu didn't find out, he was fine.
Song Yunshen pondered these thoughts, the elevator arrived at the eighteenth floor.
The elevator doors slowly opened in front of the two of them.
The next second, Song Yunshen's eyes widened, his gaze falling on the ground at the doorway, his eyes fixed on the shoes Xia Kening was wearing.
The moment Song Yunshen saw the shoes, he shuddered and quickly stepped out of the elevator before Xia Jinshu Xia Jinshu could reach them, blocking her view with his body.
If Xia Jinshu saw Xia Kening at his house without notifying Xia Kening before getting on the elevator, she could still be explained away by the excuse of her playing games on his behalf.
If Xia Kening were to actually sneak into his bedroom and Xia Jinshu were to find out, he would be in a truly hopeless situation.
Fortunately, Xia Jinshu did not pay attention to the ground. After following Song Yunshen out of the elevator, she went to the shoe cabinet first and took out her pair of beige slippers.
At that moment, Song Yunshen seized the opportunity to kick out, sending Xia Kening's shoe into the bottom suspended shoe section of the shoe cabinet.
Crisis averted!
Song Yunshen breathed a slight sigh of relief, quickly changed into slippers, opened the door, and invited Xia Jinshu into the house.
"I'll wash the dishes and then go back," Xia Jinshu said, taking the lunchbox from his hand. "Go play games in the study, don't worry about me."
"I won't play." Song Yunshen quickly shook his head, then simply sat down at the dining table, took out his phone, and opened the homework Xia Jinshu had sent him today. "Memorize the vocabulary first."
"Don't pretend to work hard in front of the teacher," Xia Jinshu couldn't help but laugh. "Anyway, I'll be asking you to memorize vocabulary again at nine o'clock."
"I just really love learning," Song Yunshen said seriously. " Teacher Xia has a deep misunderstanding about me."
"So it's the teacher's fault then?" Xia Jinshu walked into the kitchen, heard him say this, and couldn't help but turn around and laugh. "Is Song actually a good student who loves English?"
"Of course," Song Yunshen said matter-of-factly.
"Okay, let's say that." Xia Jinshu smiled happily, put the lunchbox in the sink, and began to wash it.
She thought Song Yunshen just wanted to sit with her in the restaurant, little did Song Yunshen know that he was afraid she might suddenly run to the bedroom to check on her. Although, given Xia Jinshu's personality, the possibility of that was almost zero, it was still better to be on the safe side.
Sitting at the dining table, Song Yunshen listened to the sound of dishes being washed in the kitchen and pretended to start memorizing vocabulary.
Meanwhile, in the bedroom, Xia Kening was pressed against the door, eavesdropping on the sounds outside.
Hearing the two address each other as " Teacher Xia" and "Student Song," he couldn't help but purse his lips.
Why are my sister and Song Yunshen doing role-playing?
Judging from her tone, her sister even seemed to be enjoying it.
And then there's Song Yunshen, who usually acts very assertive towards her, but in front of his own sister, he's the one in a weaker position.
Xia Kening couldn't help but click her tongue, a little annoyed.
Then, she rolled her eyes, and suddenly an idea came to her. She chuckled twice, then quietly turned the doorknob, opened the bedroom door, and sneaked out.
The master bedroom and two secondary bedrooms in Song Yunshen's house are all located in the hallway directly opposite the main entrance.
After leaving Song Yunshen's bedroom, looking to the right, all you can see is the main gate.
Only by walking further forward, down the corridor, could one see the kitchen on the right and the doors to the living room and study on the left. Before coming out, Xia Kening had already taken off her slippers and quietly walked barefoot to the corner of the corridor. She only peeked out and saw her sister washing dishes in the kitchen. After confirming that it was safe, she peeked out again and waved to Song Yunshen in the dining room.
Song Yunshen was memorizing vocabulary words when he looked up halfway through, intending to stretch. He was startled to see Xia Kening waving her hand like a ghost, which nearly made him drop his phone.
Are you sick?!
Song Yunshen opened his mouth and silently called out to Xia Kening.
Xia Kening playfully stuck out her tongue at him, then walked out from the other end of the corridor, quickly went to the dining table, squatted down, used the tabletop to hide her body, and secretly punched Song Yunshen's thigh.
Seeing Xia Kening squat down beside him, Song Yunshen's heart jumped into his throat; he was extremely nervous.
He reached out and pressed Xia Kening's head down impatiently, then quickly whispered, "Are you out of your mind? If you're going to hide, then hide properly. Why are you out here?"
"Anyway, she can't see it, so what are you afraid of?" Xia Kening's cheeks flushed, not from shyness, but from excitement. She felt particularly thrilled and said with a grin.
"What did you just say?" Xia Jinshu asked suddenly, turning her head as she was washing the dishes.
Startled, Song Yunshen quickly withdrew his hand, lowered his head and pretended to memorize vocabulary words, then feigned confusion and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Did you just say something to me?" Xia Jinshu asked suspiciously. "Did I hear you wrong?"
"Is that the sound of me memorizing vocabulary?" Song Yunshen Shen said calmly.
Just then, Xia Kening crawled under the dining table and pinched Song Yunshen's calf.
Song Yunshen's lips twitched slightly. He wished he could pin Xia Kening to the table and spank her hard, but for now he could only endure it.
If Xia Jinshu were to see his little sister lurking under the table in front of him, doing who-knows-what, she'd probably explode.
Patience.
We must be patient!
Song Yunshen gritted his teeth without changing his expression and continued to pretend to recite vocabulary.
But Xia Kening, who was under the table, was clearly not satisfied. Instead, she reached out and poked Song Yunshen's stomach.
While glancing sideways at Xia Jinshu in the kitchen to make sure she didn't turn around, Song Yunshen turned his body to block Xia Jinshu's view after she turned around, then grabbed Xia Kening's hand and squeezed it hard.
Xia Kening was under the table, winced in pain and couldn't help but hiss, quickly pulling her small hand back. Song Yunshen was on the table, immediately raised the volume of his recitation of words, drowning out Xia Kening's voice.
Xia Jinshu, oblivious to everything, was washing the lunchboxes in the kitchen.
After finishing her work, she dried her hands, turned around and walked out of the kitchen, saying to Song Yunshen, "I'm done washing up, I have to go home now."
"Hmm." Song Yunshen responded, took a deep breath, silently endured the pain of Xia Kening plucking a hair from his leg, lowered his head and grimaced, then immediately stood up and said to Xia Jinshu, "I'll take you."
After saying that, he immediately left the dining table to avoid being tormented by Xia Kening, and escorted Xia Jinshu to the door.
As Xia Jinshu stepped into the elevator, Song Yunshen closed his apartment door. His entire figure seemed to exude a sinister aura as he lowered his head and let out a cold laugh, "Xia--Ke--Ning!!"
"You come out here!"
"Don't run away!"
"Ah!" Xia Kening hurriedly crawled out from under the dining table and fled towards the corridor, but Song Yunshen chased her relentlessly until she had nowhere to run. She finally slipped into the bedroom, where he forcefully pinned her to the bed. "No! Help!"
"You like thrills, huh? You like poking my stomach and plucking my leg hair, you're really daring! Hmm?!"
Song Yunshen pressed down on her back with one hand and pinched her wrists with the other, squeezing her hard, and said with a smile as he leaned close to her cheek.
Xia Kening smiled apologetically, then pleaded pitifully, "Brother, I was wrong! I just wasn't caught. I was just bored. Please forgive me. I'll never do it again."
"Hehe, you said the same thing last time." Song Yunshen curled his lips, still holding her hands, then released his other hand and slapped her little bottom without any politeness, making a crisp "smack" sound.
"Ah!" Xia Kening felt a shiver run through her body. Her bottom was both sore and numb. She felt like a fish out of water, struggling and thrashing about in Song Yunshen's hands.
But this struggle was clearly futile.
Song Yunshen hit her more than a dozen times before he finally calmed down and released Xia Kening's hands.
But Xia Kening was already exhausted. She lay on Song Yunshen's bed, her face flushed and panting, whimpering, "You only know how to bully me. If it were Xia Jinshu, would you dare to be so arrogant?"
"Why don't you dare?" Song Yunshen's face tightened, maintaining his authority in front of Xia Kening.
But Xia Kening just pouted, mimicking how they used to address each other, and transformed into a little clip, saying in a sweet, coquettish voice, " Teacher Xia ~ Student Song~"
"I think you didn't get enough of a beating just now, huh?" Song Yunshen's lips twitched, and he raised his hand to slap her little bottom again.
Xia Kening was already used to being beaten. She wasn't bothered by lice anymore, and her bottom wasn't hurt by being spanked so many times. She whimpered and rolled over on the bed, kicking Song Yunshen. But he grabbed her foot and pulled it into his arms, so it had no power at all.
The two of them played around in the bedroom for a while. Once things finally quieted down, Xia Kening remembered that Xia Jinshu had been washing dishes in the kitchen earlier, and asked in confusion, "Where did you two go out today? Why is she still washing dishes after we got back?"
"Go and bring my dad his food," Song Yunshen said. "He's in the hospital."
"Huh?" Xia Kening was immediately shocked and couldn't help but ask, "Why is Uncle in the hospital? What's wrong with him?"
Song Yunshen was too lazy to say much, he just mentioned briefly. "He had a minor surgery and will have to stay in the hospital for more than half a month. After Xia Jinshu heard about it, she cooked a little extra for dinner tonight and brought some over to my dad."
" Xia Jinshu went along too?" Xia Kening asked in surprise.
"Yes." Song Yunshen nodded. "I said I wanted to thank my dad and ask him to agree to let me tutor him."
In fact, Xia Jinshu didn't mention this to Song Mingyuan at all when they were at the hospital that evening.
But Song Yunshen still subconsciously gave this excuse.
Xia Kening nodded knowingly, not giving it much thought, but her expression seemed thoughtful.
After the two came out of the bedroom, they went back to the study to continue playing games.
Around 8 PM, Xia Kening returned home and waited there until 9 PM. Seeing Xia Jinshu go out for a walk, she slipped into the bedroom and found Xia Yunuo, saying to her mysteriously:
"Second sister, I have some classified information. Do you want to know it?"