Chapter 178 – Coach, I Want to Fish

1!

After they both calmed down, they sat at opposite ends of the bathtub. The atmosphere was slightly awkward.

In the end, Lin Xi spoke first. “How about we ‘save’ what happened in the bathroom for now?”

“Then skip past that ‘save’ and continue from there?”

“Good idea,” Xia Xun said. “Couples are bound to argue. We’ll save the argument and skip past it.”

They agreed immediately.

For all her insistence that she would face the problem, Lin Xi still chose to run away from it.

She knew there was only one way to truly put an end to Xia Xun’s feelings and stop her from sinking any further: reveal that she was a witch.

Lin Xi was not ready to do that yet.

After leaving the bath, Lin Xi and Xia Xun genuinely pretended nothing had happened. They played games together, then watched a movie.

It was a normal romance movie, not one overflowing with yuri vibes.

Once they grew sleepy, they returned to the bedroom together.

Xia Xun asked for only one thing: to hold Lin Xi’s hand while they slept.

Lin Xi naturally granted such a small request.

“The weekend’s almost here, Lin Xi. Let’s go out somewhere. We haven’t gone out together in ages.”

“Sorry. I’ve already arranged to go fishing with Shanshan.”

“Shanshan? Oh, you mean Miss Yang Shanshan? Can I join you?”

“Well… that should be fine.” Lin Xi asked, “Do you know how to fish?”

“No. You do, so you can teach me when we get there.”

“All right.”

“Does Miss Yang Shanshan know how to fish?”

“She is… indescribable.”

“What? What does that mean?”

“She’s obviously a beginner, but the last time I had a fishing contest with her, she crushed me.”

“Really? That sounds interesting. Hurry and tell me what happened.”

So Lin Xi turned the story of her fishing contest with Yang Shanshan into a bedtime tale for Xia Xun.

Before long, Xia Xun fell asleep.

Lin Xi tried to pull her hand free, but Xia Xun held it tightly. She had no chance of escaping.

At least Xia Xun had returned to normal after they made their “save.” Lin Xi hoped she would stay that way…

…

The next day.

The school cafeteria.

After morning classes ended, Lin Xi usually came to the cafeteria with Yang Shanshan and Su Xiangxue.

Today, only Yang Shanshan was with her. Su Xiangxue was the class’s academic representative and had something to handle after class, so she would be late for lunch.

Lin Xi and Yang Shanshan had barely sat down with their trays when Zhao Xinning arrived with her own and took the seat beside Lin Xi.

Even though they were in different classes, they often ran into each other in the cafeteria.

Whenever they did, they ate lunch together.

“Xi, what are you and Miss Shanshan talking about? You look like you’re having fun,” Zhao Xinning asked.

“We arranged to go fishing together this weekend,” Lin Xi replied.

“Fishing?” Zhao Xinning asked. “Can I come too?”

“You want to come?”

“Is someone else joining you?”

“Yes. Xia Xun and Shi Yu both said they wanted to come.”

Shi Yu had learned in class that morning that Lin Xi and Yang Shanshan were going fishing over the weekend, so she had applied to join them.

Lin Xi figured that since she was already bringing Xia Xun, adding one more person would make little difference.

More importantly, Shi Yu knew how to fish and claimed she was quite good at it.

Lin Xi did not particularly believe her. She wanted to see whether Shi Yu was really any good.

So she immediately agreed to let Shi Yu come.

If she could agree to bring Shi Yu, how could she possibly refuse Angel-sama?

“Sure, Xinning. We’ll all go together.”

“Um… I don’t know how to fish…”

“That’s fine,” Lin Xi said enthusiastically. “I’ll teach you.”

“Okay! Thank you, Xi.” Zhao Xinning’s real objective had nothing to do with fishing.

She intended to use the outing to find an opportunity to strike.

It would be much easier to stab them with the Cursed Blade during an activity away from school.

Shi Yu and Xia Xun, her two greatest pests, would both be there. So would Yang Shanshan, the mysterious pest. It was the perfect chance to act.

Zhao Xinning intended to make the most of it-and, if possible, eliminate all three in one stroke…

After lunch, Yang Shanshan returned to the classroom with Lin Xi and suddenly announced that her little sister had heard about the fishing trip and wanted to join them too.

“Little Sister Tongtong…” Lin Xi asked, “Is Little Sister Tongtong doing all right?”

She wanted to sound Yang Shanshan out and learn how Yang Tongtong was doing after being rejected.

“She’s doing great,” Yang Shanshan said. “Thank you for caring about my little sister.”

“Hahaha…” Lin Xi gave an awkward laugh.

It seemed her rejection had not hurt Little Sister Tongtong. Wonderful.

She must have given up on me.

If only Xia Xun could be like Yang Tongtong and let go immediately after a rejection, Lin Xi would lose one major headache on the spot…

“Does your sister know how to fish?” Lin Xi asked, just in case.

Of the people already joining them, Zhao Xinning and Xia Xun did not know how to fish. If another complete beginner came along, Lin Xi worried she would not be able to handle everyone.

“She does,” Yang Shanshan said. “She told me she’s extremely good at it.”

Yang Shanshan was a little worried that her sister planned to cheat again by having Liya put fish on her hook.

Yang Shanshan was taking this fishing trip seriously. She would forbid her sister from cheating in any way.

…

“Coach, I want to fish!” Thor submitted her application to Lin Xi with utmost solemnity.

“I can’t bring you,” Lin Xi said. “Xia Xun, Xinning, and Shanshan don’t even know you exist. How am I supposed to introduce you?”

“Especially with Xia Xun there. Aren’t you afraid she’ll recognize you as the Giant Dragon she’s been searching for?”

“I’ll conceal my aura. She’ll never discover me. As for the introduction… just tell them I’m your wife from back home. Our parents arranged our marriage when we were children, and I’ve come to the city so we can finally wed.”

Lin Xi: “…”

“Get lost.”

“I told you to stop reading Long Aotian power fantasies, so you switched to trashy urban melodramas instead, huh?”

Lin Xi had guessed correctly. With nothing to do at home these past few days, Thor had become thoroughly addicted to short urban melodramas.

“Take me with you~” Thor pleaded sweetly.

“No,” Lin Xi said. “The next time the ZERO members organize a fishing trip for team building, we’ll go together.”

“Fine.” Thor reluctantly agreed. “I’ll raise the matter with Zheng Mo.”

Zheng Mo was their team’s Captain. Whether the team organized an outing was up to her.

“Thor, I have an important mission for you!” Lin Xi suddenly said.

Thor’s ears perked up. “I’ll complete it with one hundred percent certainty!”

“I haven’t even told you what it is. How can you promise one hundred percent?”

“Tell me. Who are we killing? Which bank are we robbing?”

Lin Xi: “…”

“No killing and no bank robbery. I want you to investigate which cities outside Z City would be suitable places to live.”

“What? Are you planning to leave Z City?”

“No. Don’t worry. Unless I’m left with no other choice, I won’t run away,” Lin Xi said. “But it never hurts to prepare. If I do have to flee someday, wouldn’t it be better to choose a place in advance?”

Footnote:

• Coach, I Want to Fish!(教练，我想钓鱼): A parody of the famous line “Coach, I want to play basketball!” from Slam Dunk, replacing basketball with fishing to express Thor’s sudden urge to join the fishing trip.