Chapter 72: A Sudden Visit When Xin arrived home, Xiaxia wasn’t there, so he decided to take charge of dinner preparation. He probably should have checked with her about her plans before deciding to cook, as it might have been easier to just grab some takeout.
Nevertheless, Xin didn’t mind, especially since there was no class scheduled for tomorrow due to a National Holiday. It meant he had a long weekend ahead, which was perfect timing for his exploration of Eternia that he had been eagerly anticipating.
Getting things ready in the kitchen, Xin started by preparing the rice. Once it began to boil and simmered on low heat, he took the opportunity to head for a refreshing shower.
The rain had left the air quite chilly, but Xin braved the cold. He wanted to get this done and over it.
As he stood under the cool water, Xin’s thoughts wandered to his plans after selling the items he had auctioned in the game.
One of his primary goals was to use the money to buy back their family’s house. The idea was enticing, yet a sudden realization struck him –– Meilyn lived right next door.
This new perspective gave him pause, causing him to question whether reclaiming the house was still the right decision.
However, memories of countless moments shared within those walls flooded his mind, and Xin couldn’t bear the thought of letting go.
The house was a repository of cherished memories, a symbol of their family history, and he was determined not to let it slip away.
Nestled within those walls were the very foundations of their growth, a repository of irreplaceable memories that Xin was certain was most important than Meilyn living next door.
As Xin went about his business, he suddenly became aware of a commotion outside, signaling Xiaxia’s return. He had assumed she wouldn’t be back so soon, leaving his fresh clothes outside of the bathroom.
Unfazed, he nonchalantly wrapped a towel around his lower half and stepped out of the bathroom.
"Hey, you’re back," Xin greeted, his damp hair being ruffled with a towel. His words, however, trailed off as he took in the scene before him.
Xiaxia was accompanied by two other girls, and all three of them wore expressions of shock, eyes wide and mouths agape.
The silence in the room was palpable, each of them seemingly unsure how to proceed.
Then, a mischievous giggle bubbled forth from Scarlet, who looked Xin up and down before speaking with a slightly slurred tone, "Well, well, well, you must be the brother . . ."
Xiaxia’s gasp was swift, and she acted like lightning, snatching Xin’s clothes from the sofa and thrusting them into his hands before hurriedly pushing him toward the bedroom.
"You absolute idiot! What on earth possessed you to stroll around the house half-naked?!" Her voice was a growl as she pushed Xin through the bedroom door, shutting it in his face before he could utter a response.
Inside the confines of the room, Xin couldn’t help but groan. How was he supposed to anticipate Xiaxia’s unexpected return, let alone the fact that she would be accompanied by friends?
He resigned himself to the situation and began getting dressed, hoping that the awkward encounter outside would soon be forgotten.
"I’m sorry you had to witness that," Xin overheard Xiaxia saying outside as he finished buttoning up his shirt.
A giggle escaped from one of Xiaxia’s friends. "Oh, I don’t mind at all. Is your brother available? You didn’t mention that he’s such a looker. He’s on the leaner side, but that’s something we could work on if you catch my drift."
"Scarlet! Sheesh, he might hear you." another voice joined in.
"Don’t even think about it. My brother isn’t looking for a relationship right now. He’s sworn off romance for the rest of his life due to a past failed relationship, so keep your hands to yourself!"
"Fine, fine. Geez, you’re quite the protective sibling . . ."
The voices outside dipped into lower tones, and Xin lost track of their conversation. He turned his attention to his reflection in the mirror, taking note of his appearance. He had lost weight during his coma, but he was slowly regaining his former physique.
Contemplating the mirror’s reflection, Xin realized that he needed to start working out to regain some muscle mass. He made up his mind to commit to it.
Stepping out of the bedroom, Xin found the three girls engaged in conversation in the living area.
Xiaxia noticed his presence and introduced him with an air of nonchalance, "Ah, Xin, this is Scarlet and Marry. Everyone, meet Xin, my brother I told you about."
Scarlet greeted him with an enthusiastic wave while Marry offered a shy nod. Their distinct personalities made each of them stand out in their own unique way.
Xin responded with a greeting, then turned to Xiaxia. "Are you okay with introducing me as your brother?"
Xiaxia’s eyebrows knitted together. "What? What are you talking about? You ARE my brother."
"But I thought you didn’t want people to know about our relationship."
Now Xiaxia’s confusion deepened, and Scarlet and Marry exchanged glances.
"What? You were the one who kept your distance from me!"
Xin was taken aback. "That’s not true. Why would you think that?"
Xiaxia’s frown shifted to bewilderment. "It isn’t true?"
"Perhaps we should give them some space—"
Before Marry could finish her sentence, Xiaxia abruptly stood up and slapped Xin on the head with the rolled-up papers in her hand.
"Then why did you act that way?! You pushed me away on the first day of school, and you never even greeted me when we saw each other in the cafeteria or anywhere else! How was I supposed to interpret that? You’re incredibly confusing! What if I hadn’t brought my friends here? Would you have ever told me?!"
In the end, Xin accepted the beating for the misunderstanding and continued to cook with wounded head.
"Ugh, my brother is such a fool," Xiaxia continued to berate.
Scarlet rested her chin on her hands, leaning forward with a knowing grin. "Aren’t you glad that he’s not embarrassed to be associated with you like you initially thought?"
Xiaxia recoiled and stammered, "W-who would be? I-I mean, why would I care?"
Scarlet chuckled. "Your smile says otherwise."
Marry joined in, saying, "Good for you, Xiaxia."