Chapter 22 – Exchanging Rings
Did she like children???
Why was Xinning suddenly asking this?
Was it because there were so many lively and cute kids here?
“Except for the bratty ones,” Lin Xi replied.
Unlike this life, where she was a witch and all alone, Lin Xi had found visiting relatives during holidays in her previous life to be a nightmare because of their bratty children.
She especially hated it when a brat broke one of her beloved figurines and a relative would just laugh and say, “This doll probably cost twenty yuan, right? Here’s a hundred. Use the change to buy some snacks.” In moments like those, Lin Xi’s blood pressure would skyrocket, and she’d feel like she was about to ascend to the heavens right then and there.
Twenty yuan wouldn’t even cover the base of a figurine! Whenever she recalled such unpleasant memories, Lin Xi suddenly felt that being alone in this world wasn’t so bad after all.
Unfortunately, that girl Shi Yu was still freeloading at her house and refused to leave.
“Just like you, Xi, I only like well-behaved children.” Zhao Xinning began to think about the future-specifically, her future with Lin Xi.
Adopting a child was a very serious matter.
I’m thinking way too far ahead… Zhao Xinning scolded herself inwardly and pulled her thoughts back to the present.
“Xi, this is a children’s theme pavilion. It seems like we can only play games with the kids; there aren’t any separate attractions for us.”
Lin Xi was determined to let that mocking jerk Shi Yu know that she could have a good time here too.
“Then let’s play with the kids for a bit.” Lin Xi noticed that some of the children’s activities actually looked quite interesting.
As a high schooler, playing games with little kids and achieving a crushing victory… Lin Xi felt that this idea was a bit too scummy.
She had probably spent too much time with Shi Yu and was becoming scummy herself…
“In that case, let’s go ask those kids over there if we can join their game of house!” Zhao Xinning seemed quite excited.
Lin Xi actually wanted to go compete with the boys playing marbles on the other side.
Winning a dozen marbles from them would be child’s play.
But since Zhao Xinning wanted to play house, Lin Xi had no choice but to give up on the marbles.
She went over with Zhao Xinning to ask the little girls playing house.
Their game hadn’t started yet because they were missing the “Mommy” and “Daddy” roles.
Upon learning that Zhao Xinning and Lin Xi wanted to join, they happily agreed.
“I’ll be the Mommy,” Zhao Xinning chose her role.
Lin Xi said, “Then I’ll be the Daddy.”
The other three little girls shouted in unison, “Okay! Let’s start the wedding ceremony for Mommy and Daddy!”
“Eh?!” Zhao Xinning covered her slightly flushed cheeks and lowered her head shyly.
Lin Xi had no reaction at all. “Xinning, are you okay? Do you suddenly feel unwell? Do you need to go rest-“
“No, it’s not that…” Zhao Xinning looked up. “It’s just that a wedding is so unexpected…”
“Unexpected? What’s unexpected about it? It’s just playing house,” Lin Xi said bluntly.
“Big sisters, do you still want to play?” the girl with the cute twin-tails asked.
“Yes!” Zhao Xinning’s gaze was firm.
The little girl gave Lin Xi and Zhao Xinning each a toy ring.
“The wedding ceremony has reached the step where Mommy and Daddy exchange rings.”
Lin Xi toyed with the prop ring and asked, “Little sister, how do you know so much about being a wedding officiant?”
The versions of the “playing house” game had certainly iterated quickly. Lin Xi remembered playing house when she was a child; it had just been about simulating cooking with the little girl next door.
Lin Xi’s culinary foundation had actually been laid during her childhood.
The little girl replied that she had learned all of this from TV dramas.
Following the instructions of the little “officiant,” Lin Xi and Zhao Xinning exchanged rings.
“We actually have to wear them?” Lin Xi asked.
“Of course,” the little officiant said.
“Xi-” Zhao Xinning extended her slender, fair hand toward Lin Xi. “You have to participate in the game seriously.”
Lin Xi held Zhao Xinning’s hand and slid the ring onto the ring finger of her left hand.
She was doing this with the mindset of playing a game, but Zhao Xinning felt much more than that.
Zhao Xinning covered her mouth, fantasizing slightly about a future where Lin Xi would slide a real ring onto her finger. She was almost moved to tears.
Lin Xi looked up and, seeing Zhao Xinning’s breathtakingly shy expression, couldn’t help but marvel at her friend’s incredible acting skills. To think she could get so invested in a simple game of house.
“Xi, hold out your hand.” Zhao Xinning wanted to put the “wedding ring” on Lin Xi.
Lin Xi extended her left hand to Zhao Xinning. As Zhao Xinning held her hand and slipped the ring on, a notification flashed in Lin Xi’s mind:
[Lifespan has doubled at this moment!]
This… what was going on?
Did finding new ways to get close and touch each other really have this kind of multiplicative effect?
“The exchange of rings is complete,” the little officiant clapped, and the other two little girls followed suit in celebration. “Now for the next stage-the vow.”
Lin Xi: “…”
Zhao Xinning: “…”
Both of them were stunned.
“Daddy and Mommy, hurry up and make your vow,” the little officiant said with wide eyes and innocent sincerity.
Whoosh-
Zhao Xinning’s face turned red all the way to her ears.
Lin Xi quickly said to the little officiant, “Let’s just skip this step.”
She didn’t want the atmosphere to become awkward.
“No!” The little officiant’s attitude was very strict. “The vow is the grand finale of this game!”
“Little sister, you’ve really watched too many TV dramas.” Lin Xi didn’t intend to see the game through to the end.
Xinning was Angel-sama; how could she dare to profane Angel-sama?!
But Angel-sama herself spoke up: “Let’s… let’s do it! Xi! Quitting the game halfway is absolutely not allowed!”
“Uh, well, Xinning, you don’t have to force yourself to finish the game.” Lin Xi planned to buy lollipops for the three children to get them to be flexible.
“Xi!” Zhao Xinning said seriously. “If you’re going to play a game, you should have the right attitude! It’s just a game setting anyway, it’s no big deal!”
“If you don’t mind, then I…” Lin Xi had no choice but to agree.
“Come on!” Zhao Xinning closed her eyes.
Lin Xi’s face flushed and her heart began to race.
Lin Xi didn’t understand why Zhao Xinning was forcing herself to play this game; perhaps she just didn’t want to disappoint the children.
Angel-sama truly was Angel-sama, so full of compassion.
In that case, she couldn’t let herself have any improper thoughts. Absolutely no improper thoughts! Lin Xi slowly leaned in toward Zhao Xinning.
Just as the vow was about to be completed, Lin Xi was stopped by a voice from the sidelines:
“Yo!”
“Isn’t this Miss Lin Xi?!”
“What a coincidence, meeting you here.”
Shi Yu, pretending to be a passerby, greeted them with a smile as she walked toward them.
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Please give the book a rating and a review on NovelUpdates.
It helps the website and helps people find this novel!
Advance Chapters:
If you'd like to support our translations with a one-time donation, you can do so via Ko-fi. For early access to chapters, 10 days in advance, consider subscribing to our Patreon.
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