Chapter 33: Cake

[Baby Xia, control your expression! Your smile is reaching your temples!]

[This is hilarious, who would’ve thought Xia Linxia could be so easily pacified with candy. Her smile is sweeter than the candy itself.]

[No wonder Ji Fengxue is dating Xia Linxia. Who wouldn’t love a pretty and easy-to-please girl?]

[I want to experience the joy of hugging a girlfriend like Teacher Ji!]

Xia Linxia’s mood improved visibly as she stuffed the candy into a bag and then into her suitcase, lamenting, “This is too tempting.”

Ji Fengxue suggested, “Why don’t you leave it with me? I’ll give you a few pieces each day.”

Xia Linxia’s eyes brightened for a moment, but she hesitated and ultimately declined, “No, it’s safer with me.”

[Hahaha! Is she afraid Teacher Ji will steal her candy?]

[It’s tough being a celebrity, controlling sugar intake. Here I am sipping my milk tea, feeling sorry for her.]

[Teacher Ji is so pampering, too pampering.]

[They were both so cold earlier, but now I feel like Teacher Ji has more tricks up her sleeve.]

[Oh no! I just realized what tomorrow is!]

[Aah! I figured it out too! How could anyone not know what tomorrow is?]

[I’m so excited! What should I do? I’m already looking forward to tomorrow!]

In a good mood, Xia Linxia walked to the next room and patted her bulging pockets. “Wanyi, I have something to eat. Want some?”

“What is it?” Song Wanyi approached.

Xia Linxia grabbed a handful of candy and placed it in her hand. “You’re welcome.”

Then she went to Fang Qiushuang’s room. “Sister Shuang, I have something to eat. Want some?”

After her good deeds, she returned to her room, glanced at Ji Fengxue, and hesitated to speak. Ji Fengxue understood and offered a solution. “Can I have a piece of candy? My mouth feels bland.”

“You asked for it,” Xia Linxia said, digging into her pocket and giving her exactly one piece.

Ji Fengxue didn’t really want the candy, but she unwrapped it and put it in her mouth.

“Is it good?” Xia Linxia asked.

Ji Fengxue nodded, “Yes, it’s good.”

Just a bit too sweet, almost cloying.

Thanks to that piece of candy, their previous animosity dissolved, and the atmosphere at the dinner table lightened considerably.

After dinner, the director announced a task for the next day.

With summer vacation approaching, there was a nearby school for left-behind children that needed a visit and some attention.

The group retired early to their rooms. Xia Linxia and Song Wanyi played a silent game on their phones. Eventually, Song Wanyi privately messaged Xia Linxia, asking her to get the “big boss” to help.

Xia Linxia glanced at the bathroom, where Ji Fengxue had just finished her shower and was blow-drying her hair. She jumped off the bed and approached her, smiling. “Darling.”

Ji Fengxue’s hand shook, and she said expressionlessly, “What is it now?”

“Carry us, please.” Xia Linxia clasped her hands together, rubbing them as she blinked her innocent eyes. “Please!”

“I’m still drying my hair.”

“I’ll help!” Xia Linxia snatched the hairdryer and started blowing her hair.

Ji Fengxue looked at her messed-up hair and said coldly, “Move aside.”

“No, no, I can be gentle!” Xia Linxia stopped playing and earnestly dried her hair, softly grabbing the wet strands.

The warm air blew through every damp spot, and Ji Fengxue felt tickled by the gentle fingers. It felt like a cat’s paw scratching at her chest, something wanting to burst forth.

She glanced up at the mirror, seeing the person behind her without makeup, looking like a sexy, lazy, and sly little wildcat.

“Give me your phone,” she said, trying to distract herself.

Xia Linxia immediately handed her the phone, still in the game interface.

[Is Teacher Ji going to play games? Could she be a pro?!]

[Wow, Xia Linxia is so gentle when blow-drying hair!]

[No more talking. I asked my husband to blow-dry my hair, and he nearly yanked it out!]

[This is so heartwarming! I think I want a girlfriend now, even if I’m straight!]

[Warm air blowing, dog food everywhere]

After Ji Fengxue finished drying her hair, Xia Linxia sat beside her, watching the game, screaming and clapping. When they finally won, she excitedly hugged Ji Fengxue and shook her. “I love you! You’re amazing!”

Bang—

Ji Fengxue broke free from her embrace, picked up the phone from the floor, and said, “You made me drop it.”

“No worries, this brand has good quality!” Xia Linxia said nonchalantly, thinking about her company’s product. She decided to do some free advertising.

She scrutinized the phone and pretended to talk to Ji Fengxue. “I’ve been using this phone for years. It has a long battery life, it’s waterproof, has large memory capacity, and never lags. Plus, it has a powerful GPS function. It’s simply amazing!”

“…I’m going to sleep.”

Xia Linxia was busy with her promotion and nodded absent-mindedly, missing the faint blush on Ji Fengxue’s ears.

Not long after the lights were out, Xia Linxia fell into a deep sleep.

Ji Fengxue opened her eyes, removed the arm draped over her, propped herself up, and looked at the sleeping girl beside her. She smiled, pinched her nose, and a few seconds later, Xia Linxia opened her mouth to breathe.

Warm breath caressed her palm. She let go casually and quietly got up to go downstairs.

Early the next morning, the noises from downstairs woke Xia Linxia. She rubbed her eyes, turned off the alarm before it rang, and noticed she was alone in the room.

She sleepily opened the door and heard Ji Fengxue downstairs. She went back to wash up.

When she went downstairs, Song Wanyi was the first to notice her and shouted, “Linxia, come eat noodles! Teacher Ji made them today, and they’re delicious!”

“Wow, Old Ji cooked?” Xia Linxia was surprised. She walked to the kitchen door and froze, leaning against the doorframe, watching silently.

Ji Fengxue stood by the window. The morning sunlight streamed through the glass, bathing her in a warm, healing glow. She was slightly bent over, her hair falling over her face, holding chopsticks to scoop noodles. The sunlight spilled from behind her, reaching Xia Linxia.

“Why are you up making breakfast?” she asked as she walked over.

Ji Fengxue heard her and pushed the bowl of noodles towards her with a smile. “Perfect timing, try it and add any seasoning or toppings you think it needs.”

Xia Linxia took a bite, and her eyes caught sight of the bear apron Ji Fengxue was wearing. Without thinking, she blurted out, “You look quite wifely today.”

“……”

Ji Fengxue tapped her on the head with the chopsticks.

[Hahaha Xia Linxia, you really need to think before you speak!]

[Saying Teacher Ji looks wifely right to her face, that’s bold. We usually say it behind her back!]

[Ah, this playful banter early in the morning is so sweet it makes me want to squeal!]

[It’s the first time Teacher Ji is cooking noodles at this house, and it’s today!]

[Sisters, let’s write “XiaJi szd” on the screen!]

Xia Linxia carried her bowl back to the table, but Ji Fengxue stopped her, “Wait, add two eggs.”

Xia Linxia happily returned to the table and found that the other bowls had only one egg each, but hers had two!

So much happiness.

Sure enough, happiness comes from comparison.

She twirled some noodles around her chopsticks and took a couple of bites, just about to complain that the noodles were too long, when she noticed the odd expressions on everyone’s faces, as if they were secretly watching her.

She rolled her eyes and suddenly remembered, slapping her forehead, “Ah! Today is my birthday!”

Ji Fengxue walked over from the kitchen, heard this, and couldn’t help but ruffle her hair, smiling at the others, “This kid hasn’t fully woken up yet.”

Song Wanyi and the others laughed, “Really? You forgot your own birthday?!”

“I’ve been busy with schedules these past few days, no time to think about it.” Xia Linxia explained, adding that normally her fan club and family would send her birthday wishes early in the morning.

Remembering this, she quickly checked her Weibo. Sure enough, her official fan club and major fan pages had sent their wishes, with countless sweet messages in the comments.

She took a selfie but wasn’t satisfied with it, so she handed her phone to Ji Fengxue, holding her noodle bowl. “Take a picture of us… Never mind, Wanyi, take a picture of us.”

After all, it was a bowl of noodles made personally by Ji Fengxue, and such a day was perfect for a publicity photo.

She handed the phone to Song Wanyi, and before Ji Fengxue could react, Xia Linxia had already leaned her head on Ji Fengxue’s shoulder, smiling widely, and shouted, “Happy Birthday!”

Seeing her like this, Ji Fengxue couldn’t help but smile as well. Leaning close to her ear, she whispered, “Happy Birthday.”

[I knew it! Teacher Ji has a trick up her sleeve! The fairy has come down to earth to cook noodles for her girlfriend!]

[So skillful, so skillful, so skillful, so skillful]

[Today is June 20th, tomorrow is the start of summer, so our big baby was born in the season of Linxia! Xia, we will always love you!]

[Happy Birthday, Xia Linxia!]

[Happy Birthday, Xia Linxia!]

[Happy Birthday, Xia Linxia!]

[Sisters, what are you waiting for? Go grab the top comment on Weibo! Xia just posted a photo of them together!]

[I’m in love! This seems to be their first public photo together!]

[Xia Linxia’s smile is so silly, the cool persona is crumbling hahaha]

[Our Xia is an idol who can be both salty and sweet! Don’t forget how cool she looks when she’s serious!]

After eating, Xia Linxia felt thirsty and wanted some orange soda. She opened the fridge, froze for a few seconds, then closed the door.

A few seconds later, she yanked the door open and blinked hard, suddenly shouting, “There’s a cake in here! Whose is it? Could it be mine?”

“You found it!” Song Wanyi ran over and pointed at the cake inside. “Teacher Ji made this last night. We planned to eat it after today’s tasks.”

Xia Linxia immediately turned to Ji Fengxue passing by, looking pitiful, “Why wait until tonight? Can’t we eat it now?”

“Sure,” Ji Fengxue agreed.

Xia Linxia quickly took the cake out, opened it, and started slicing it, moving so quickly that Ji Fengxue was stunned. “Aren’t you going to make a wish?”

“My wish is to eat it right now. Is that okay?” Xia Linxia never believed in making wishes. Whenever she had a wish, she’d tell her parents and brother directly, which was much more effective than wishing on a cake.

After distributing the cake to everyone, she started eating.

The first bite was deliciously sweet.

The second bite was heavenly.

The third bite sent her to the stars.

“Ah! So good! Teacher Ji, you’re amazing!” Song Wanyi praised first, and Xia Linxia withdrew her thumbs-up a beat late.

Seeing them enjoy the cake, Ji Fengxue laughed, “How long has it been since you’ve had cake?”

“I haven’t had it in a long time,” Xia Linxia said. Her agent usually controlled her diet, so it was rare to have a legitimate chance to indulge! Anyway, they’d be doing tasks later, so they’d get plenty of exercise.

Fang Qiushuang took a few bites and said, “It’s really delicious. Thank you, Little Ji.”

Xia Linxia looked at Ji Fengxue, “Why aren’t you eating?”

“Not very hungry.” Ji Fengxue pushed her plate towards her.

Xia Linxia chuckled, “Come on, let me feed you.”

“No need.”

“Come on.” Xia Linxia placed the plate in front of her. Ji Fengxue opened her mouth to refuse, but suddenly a hand held the back of her head and pressed her down into the cake, the sweet fragrance filling the air.

“…”

“Pfft, hahaha!” Song Wanyi, seeing her lift her head covered in cake, laughed so hard she fell into Xue Hui’s arms. Tang Yuande and Fang Qiushuang were also laughing uncontrollably.

[Xia Linxia, you mischievous thing!]

[Teacher Ji, teach her a lesson! Pin her down on the bed!]

[I’m dying of laughter, Teacher Ji looks priceless with that cake on her face!]

[Teacher Ji, teach her a lesson!]

“Clean this off,” Ji Fengxue said, her voice icy, each word dropping the temperature from the warmth of Linxia’s season to an icy chill.

“Alright, I’ll clean it off for you,” Xia Linxia said, laughing uncontrollably at Ji Fengxue’s appearance. But before wiping it off, she couldn’t resist taking a photo with her phone.

Ji Fengxue stood up, grabbed the back of Xia Linxia’s neck, and dragged her back to the room.

[Is my favorite part coming up again?]

[Exciting, exciting, camera, keep up!]

[Great, now I can hear Xia Linxia’s whimpering again, serene.jpg]

[Teacher Ji, please be a little harsh with our dear Xia Xia!]

The bathroom door was locked, and Xia Linxia, pleading for mercy, looked at Ji Fengxue. “Don’t be mad, don’t be mad. I’ll clean you up thoroughly.”

As she reached out to touch Ji Fengxue’s face, she paused, her eyes drifting to the tip of her nose. She scooped a bit of cream with her finger and licked it off.

Ji Fengxue’s eyes deepened, and she asked in a low voice, “What are you doing?”

“Don’t want to waste it,” Xia Linxia smacked her lips. Seeing the remaining cream on Ji Fengxue’s face, she regretted her actions. “Oh, I was so thoughtless. This delicious thing shouldn’t be wasted.”

She scooped another bit from Ji Fengxue’s nose and ate it. With a half-tilted head, she smiled, “It’s really good. Can you make it for me again next time?”

Ji Fengxue’s eyelashes fluttered slightly. She turned on the faucet and quickly washed her face. Xia Linxia handed her a towel to dry off.

After a moment of silence, Ji Fengxue took a deep breath and looked at Xia Linxia. Xia Linxia reached out to brush away the wet hair on Ji Fengxue’s forehead.

“It’s all wet. Do you want me to blow dry it for you as an apology?”

Ji Fengxue grabbed her hand mid-air. They stayed in that position for a moment, staring at each other. Ji Fengxue looked into Xia Linxia’s puzzled and clear eyes before letting go and pushing her out. “I’ll do it myself. Stop getting in the way.”

Xia Linxia glared at the locked door, her eyes wide. “Who are you calling in the way! Come out here and say it to my face! Hmph, you can forget about sleeping in the bed tonight!”