Chapter 41: Don’t mention it again, okay?

Lin Xiaoxiao’s denial sounded feeble in the moment.

Zhou Ting returned the bank card to her, nibbling her earlobe until she winced, then said softly, “Clean yourself up. Don’t bring this up again, got it?”

Unconvinced but cowed by his wicked gaze, she pouted in silent protest.

Ignoring it, Zhou Ting tidied himself up and headed to the company. On the way, he called his secretary, Li Xian.

“Boss, what’s up?” Li Xian asked.

“Send two people to keep an eye on Xin Wan…”

After he left, the living room was a mess, the air thick with an intimate scent.

It took a while for Lin Xiaoxiao to regain her strength and sit up, her face flushing at the soaked sofa cushion.

Recalling his devilish words, she felt fear and worry, yet also a strange relief.

Right, it’s not that I don’t want to leave—he won’t let me…*

Barefoot, she went to the bathroom, washed the cushion, and sprayed air freshener until satisfied.

Exhausted from the ordeal and cleaning, she was impressed she could still function.

She napped in her room. By afternoon, she felt her body was hers again.

Two days passed, and she couldn’t muster the courage to mention ending things again.

That morning, at the school gate, two figures caught her eye.

Zhou Yang spotted her, his face lighting up as he ran over. “Lin Xiaoxiao, quick, stop this crazy girl!”

Confused, she saw Ning Xi chasing him, leaving her puzzled. “What’s going on?”

Ning Xi, thrilled to see her, said, “Little Miss, you know Zhou Yang?”

He froze, looking at Lin Xiaoxiao. The three stared at each other.

Lin Xiaoxiao coughed, clarifying, “Ning Xi, I lied that day. I’m actually a guy.”

Ning Xi glanced at Zhou Yang, then back at her, shocked, eyeing her like a rare animal. “No way! You’re so pretty and smell nice—how can you be a guy?”

Lin Xiaoxiao glanced at Zhou Yang, who shrugged. “Yeah, she’s a guy.”

Ning Xi’s feelings were mixed, but she quickly accepted it, smiling. “Guy or girl, you’re still Little Miss to me.”

Lin Xiaoxiao sighed helplessly. “So, what’s with you two?”

Zhou Yang smacked his forehead. “Lin Xiaoxiao, tell this girl to stop clinging to me!”

She frowned, turning to Ning Xi. “You explain.”

Through their bickering, Lin Xiaoxiao pieced it together.

Days ago, at a business event, Zhou Ting met Ning Xi’s father, and the two younger ones were introduced.

Coincidentally, Ning Xi and Zhou Yang had played together as kids but lost touch after she moved.

Now, Ning Xi had a crush on Zhou Yang and was relentlessly pursuing him at school.

Zhou Yang was exasperated—he had a girlfriend! He had no interest in this whirlwind of a girl.

Lin Xiaoxiao rubbed her forehead. “I can’t get involved. Sort it out yourselves.”

So Ning Xi’s “liked guy” was Zhou Yang? He was quite the catch, making Lin Xiaoxiao a bit jealous.

Zhou Yang pleaded, “Ning Xi, I have a girlfriend. Stop following me!”

“I don’t care! I’m sticking to you!” Ning Xi declared, stubborn, though tears glistened in her eyes.

Zhou Yang panicked—he was terrible with crying women—but soon realized she was faking it.

Watching them chase each other, Lin Xiaoxiao thought of Wang Shanshan, Zhou Yang’s girlfriend. Was she being cheated on?

But she shook her head—it wasn’t her business anymore. Once important, Wang Shanshan now felt irrelevant.

Her own troubles were enough.

During class, distracted, she pulled out Xin Wan’s bank card.

Since Zhou Ting wouldn’t let her end the deal, she’d return it—but worried what Xin Wan might do.

That evening, Zhou Ting returned to an empty house, puzzled.

Not home?

He frowned, unaware how accustomed he’d grown to seeing her in the kitchen after work—a domestic warmth he and Zhou Yang never had alone.

He called her.

It took a while for her to answer, her voice weak and delicate. “Hello…”

Hearing it, he frowned. “Where are you?”

In her room, Lin Xiaoxiao paused at his question, then murmured, “I’m in my room…”

The call ended. Seconds later, her door opened, and Zhou Ting sat beside her. “Sick and you didn’t call me?”

She looked uneasy. “I-I’m fine…”

He sighed, eyeing the small, curled-up girl. “I’m taking you to the hospital.”

He moved to lift her, but she struggled, blushing. “No, no need, Zhou Ting, I’m just…”

He paused, catching her shy look, realization dawning. “On your period?”

Her eyes widened, face burning. How could he say that so casually?