Chapter 67 – From Now On, You’re Not Allowed to Hug Other Girls

Lin Xi?!

Qin Ling’s gaze froze. She hadn’t expected to see Lin Xi here.

Was there a mission?

No, that wasn’t right.

Qin Ling hadn’t received any message from Zheng Mo.

Their Captain was Zheng Mo. If there were a mission, Zheng Mo would have sent out the assignment notice.

So it was just a coincidence…

Qin Ling hadn’t told anyone on the team that she had a band performance here today.

The reason she hadn’t told them was because she felt her guitar playing still wasn’t perfect enough.

Qin Ling held herself to strict standards. She wanted to be the most perfect virtual idol, the most genius hacker, and the greatest guitarist.

She was fairly satisfied with her performance in the first two areas. As for the third-guitar-she was still improving.

That was why she hadn’t told Lin Xi and the others that she had formed a band.

Qin Ling had planned to wait until her skills reached a level she was satisfied with, then invite Lin Xi and the others to come watch her perform at a livehouse.

She hadn’t expected to run into Lin Xi here today.

Whatever, Qin Ling thought.

Compared to having her teammates see a side of her that wasn’t perfect, what she cared about more right now was the angelic girl standing beside Lin Xi.

Qin Ling felt a little annoyed.

Last time, when they had dinner at Zheng Mo’s home, Lin Xi had readily promised that she would become Qin Ling’s most loyal fan and fully assist Qin Ling in her push for the title of Moe Queen.

But now, Lin Xi had gone and picked up such a pretty girl, then brought her along to watch Qin Ling’s performance. What was that supposed to mean?

Qin Ling felt that Lin Xi had, just a little, “betrayed” her…

“Ling, the show’s about to start,” one of her bandmates quietly reminded the distracted Qin Ling.

Qin Ling came back to herself and nodded.

…

“This song, Spring Day Shadow, sounds really good,” Lin Xi commented seriously. “They’re all so into it. Especially the vocalist-she’s really giving it everything.”

Lin Xi hadn’t expected Qin Ling to be so good at guitar.

But why hadn’t she told everyone she’d formed a band?

“Thank you all for your support!” After the band’s performance ended, a staff member called out, “Anyone who wants to shake hands with their favorite band member or get an autograph card, please come this way.”

“Xinning, I’m going to get an autograph card,” Lin Xi said.

“Me too,” Zhao Xinning said. “I want the vocalist’s. What about you?”

Lin Xi replied, “I want the guitarist’s. Let’s line up separately, then leave together after we get our autograph cards.”

All four members of Kizuna Band had quite a few fans.

Lin Xi and Zhao Xinning each got in line, so it looked like they would have to wait a while.

When it was finally Lin Xi’s turn, she pretended not to know Qin Ling and praised her guitar skills.

Qin Ling, for her part, also pretended not to know Lin Xi, treating her as nothing more than an enthusiastic fan.

Lin Xi reached out, intending to shake Qin Ling’s hand, but Qin Ling directly gave Lin Xi a hug instead.

That made it easier to talk.

Qin Ling lowered her voice beside Lin Xi’s ear and asked,

“Lin Xi, you promised to become my number one fan. So where did you go and pick up such a pretty girl?”

Lin Xi: “…”

Did I ever say I was going to become her number one fan???

Lin Xi genuinely didn’t remember that.

But if Qin Ling said it happened, then sure, it happened…

“Xinning isn’t someone I picked up. Like I’d have that kind of skill.”

“She’s a good friend of mine. We came out to hang together this weekend.”

“I’m more curious about you. Since when did you form a band?”

Qin Ling said, “I formed it ages ago. I just felt like my guitar playing wasn’t perfect enough, so I didn’t tell you guys. I wanted to wait until the timing was right.”

“Still not perfect? You already played amazingly.” Lin Xi understood Qin Ling somewhat. She was the competitive type, someone who wanted everything to be flawless.

That was why, on their team, Qin Ling was the biggest overachiever, always trying to rack up accomplishments so she could become Captain.

“I really played that well?” Qin Ling asked, sounding a little unsure.

“Of course. I love telling the truth.”

“Hmph. I’ll get even better,” Qin Ling said. “Lin Xi, remember this: the perfect me will never disappoint my number one fan.”

When the hug ended, Qin Ling handed over her autograph card.

Number one fan…? Lin Xi thought and thought, but still couldn’t remember ever saying anything like that to Qin Ling…

…

“Xi!” Zhao Xinning puffed out her cheeks in anger.

Lin Xi: “???”

“Sorry, I made you wait.” By the time Lin Xi left with the autograph card, Zhao Xinning had already been waiting for her.

However, Zhao Xinning wasn’t angry because she’d had to wait a little while. She was angry because:

“Why did you hug that guitarist?!”

“Huh? Is… is there something wrong with that?”

“Yes! Very wrong! It was supposed to be a handshake and an autograph card. There wasn’t supposed to be a hug! Did you hug her first?!”

“No, she… thought I cheered her on with a lot of spirit, so she gave me an extra hug to thank me for my support.”

Lin Xi made up a lie on the spot, hoping to muddle through.

Once Zhao Xinning heard Lin Xi hadn’t been the one to initiate the hug, she felt a little better.

“That awful woman…” Zhao Xinning muttered under her breath.

Lin Xi belonged to her. She absolutely couldn’t let anyone else hug her.

Zhao Xinning opened her arms and hugged her outright.

Lin Xi was a little at a loss. “Wh-what is this???”

“I want to give Xi a hug too,” Zhao Xinning said with a smile. “Thank you for coming out with me today. I really had a lot of fun.”

“If we’re talking about thanks, I should be the one thanking you.” Lin Xi hadn’t spent a single cent all day; Zhao Xinning had insisted on paying for everything.

“Then you should give me a big hug too.” Zhao Xinning’s cheeks flushed slightly.

Lin Xi hugged her back.

After getting all cuddly with Qin Ling and Zhao Xinning one after another, Lin Xi’s lifespan increased by several more days.

She didn’t have to worry about suddenly dropping dead anymore. The lifespan she earned from cuddling was more than she could use. She simply couldn’t use it all…

“Xi, how does it… feel?”

“How does what feel?”

“Hugging me, of course.”

“Uh, very warm.” How could hugging Angel-sama not be warm?

“Compared to that girl, hugging me feels way better, right?”

“Wh-what is there to compare?”

“You have to answer me directly.”

Lin Xi found it a little strange. Why was Zhao Xinning trying to compete over such a meaningless question?

Faced with this obvious freebie of a question, Lin Xi decisively chose Zhao Xinning.

“Ehehe…” Zhao Xinning hugged Lin Xi tightly. “From now on, you’re not allowed to hug other girls, and you can’t let other girls hug you either.”

Lin Xi: “???”

“Xi?”

“Mm, okay.” Hugging people at random would make me look frivolous. Is Xinning worried I don’t understand social etiquette?

Lin Xi would never randomly hug other girls. Girls on the Cuddle Witch’s Last Wish List were the exception.

After all, that was a matter of survival…

By the time they left the live house, it was already getting late.

At last, the moment Zhao Xinning had been dreaming of arrived:

Going to a hotel with Lin Xi!

“Xi, after playing all day, I’m so tired.”

“It’s time to find a place to stay tonight.”