Chapter 181 – The Drinker’s True Interest Is Not in the Wine

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Lin Xi and Zhao Xinning climbed into Xia Xun’s car.

Before Xia Xun could invite Lin Xi into the passenger seat, Zhao Xinning pulled her into the back with her.

Lu Yi put on a helmet and rode pillion on Shi Yu’s motorcycle.

The Yang sisters’ car followed behind Xia Xun’s.

“Tongtong, did you sense a dragon inside Lin Xi’s house?” Yang Shanshan asked from the passenger seat.

“I did. Probably a Special-Grade Disaster,” Yang Tongtong said. “Lin Xi really is something, keeping a dragon as a pet.”

“I don’t think it’s a pet,” Yang Shanshan said. “Lin Xi doesn’t strike me as all that daring. How could she possibly keep a dragon at home as a pet?”

Yang Tongtong offered another theory. “If Lin Xi isn’t keeping the dragon, then the dragon must be keeping Lin Xi.”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

“The dragon turned into a Dragon Maid who cooks and does laundry for her.”

“Really?” Yang Shanshan thought it over. “If that’s the case, I suppose Lin Xi really might let the dragon stay at her place.”

She still found it a little hard to believe. “How do so many strange girls keep finding their way to Lin Xi?”

“Sis, aren’t you a strange girl too?” Yang Tongtong said.

Yang Shanshan had no comeback.

She had just realized that she was one of those strange girls herself.

“Well, I guess I was worrying over nothing.” Yang Shanshan relaxed. “Whether she’s keeping the dragon or the dragon is keeping her, all that matters is that she’s safe.”

“Go on, keep spoiling her,” Yang Tongtong muttered. “With so many girls around her, she isn’t going to care about Sis in her shut-in scrub form…”

Yang Tongtong was furious at Lin Xi’s playgirl behavior. Her own sister was the Queen of Lust and even she didn’t have a harem, yet little old Lin Xi was out there building one at breakneck speed. The sheer audacity!

Someone needed to knock her down a peg or two!

“What are you muttering about, Tongtong?”

“Nothing.”

“Really? I can’t help feeling that something happened between you and Lin Xi… Did it?”

“Ha… haha-” Yang Tongtong grew slightly nervous. “What could possibly have happened between us?”

“True.” Yang Shanshan didn’t dwell on it. She merely reminded her sister, “No cheating this time when we fish.”

“I want to enjoy a peaceful, lovely day of fishing with Lin Xi.”

“We’re going out into the wilderness, not to a wet market,” Yang Tongtong said. “Even if I wanted to buy fish and hang them on our hooks, I wouldn’t have the chance.”

“I’d like to enjoy a peaceful, lovely day of fishing too. I’m only afraid-“

“Afraid of what?” Yang Shanshan asked.

“That if you don’t make a move, someone else will.” Yang Tongtong pointed out, “Haven’t you noticed what all these girls so excited to go fishing with Lin Xi are really after? The drinker’s true interest is not in the wine.”

“Then what are they interested in?”

“In the mountains and rivers.”

“Tongtong?”

“In Lin Xi! My sweet, innocent Sis! Haven’t you noticed that every last one of them has designs on Lin Xi? No wonder you ended up the wronged woman!”

That left Yang Shanshan without an answer.

“No way. Every single one of them likes Lin Xi?”

“Believe me or don’t.”

Yang Tongtong didn’t care which one of them stole Lin Xi away.

Whether Yang Tongtong took Lin Xi for herself or one of those other girls did it made no difference.

As long as Sis clearly understood that Lin Xi had cheated on her, it was bound to rekindle her fighting spirit and turn her back into the Queen of Lust.

Yang Shanshan found herself half-convinced by her sister’s words.

Should I keep an eye on them? she wondered.

…

“Queen of Curses, you’ve looked into Yang Tongtong’s eyes, haven’t you? What do you think? She hasn’t fallen for Xi like her sister has, right?”

Zhao Xinning had the Queen of Curses evaluate every girl who had dealings with Lin Xi.

“I have,” the Queen of Curses replied. “Not only does Yang Tongtong not like Lin Xi, she positively detests her.”

“Huh?!” Zhao Xinning exclaimed in shock.

This was the first girl they’d encountered who didn’t like Lin Xi.

“So such a thing really can happen…”

Even the Queen of Curses marveled at it. “Yang Tongtong’s existence disproves our hypothesis that Lin Xi is the Blazing Flame Succubus.”

Zhao Xinning paused before answering.

“Xi was never the Blazing Flame Succubus to begin with.”

“Someone actually hating Xi is far too strange.”

“Isn’t it a good thing that she doesn’t like Lin Xi?” said the Queen of Curses. “She isn’t your enemy. If everyone else were like Yang Tongtong, you wouldn’t have anything to worry about.”

“That’s true…” Zhao Xinning sighed.

The Cursed Blade was inside her bag. She simply needed to find the right opportunity to use it…

“Xi,” Zhao Xinning said to Lin Xi beside her, “I’m feeling a little sleepy. You don’t mind if I lean on you, do you?”

“Of course not.”

Lin Xi was more than happy to lend Angel-sama her shoulder.

Snuggle-

Zhao Xinning nestled against her.

Xia Xun must be making quite a face right now, Zhao Xinning thought. That was exactly what she wanted. Xia Xun needed to learn who was truly closest to Lin Xi.

Through the rearview mirror, Xia Xun saw Zhao Xinning nestled against Lin Xi, and her blood began to boil.

She silently resented Lin Xi for it. Even if Zhao Xinning was her good friend, she should still know where to draw the line and keep an appropriate distance.

“Why does it suddenly feel so cold?” Zhao Xinning wrapped both arms around one of Lin Xi’s.

Despite being held so tightly by Angel-sama, Lin Xi wasn’t too busy basking in delight to notice the sudden chill in the car.

“Xia Xun, the air-conditioning is set a little low.”

She assumed Xia Xun had turned down the temperature. In truth, the cold was pouring out of Xia Xun herself.

“Is it? I don’t feel cold,” Xia Xun answered frostily.

“Could you turn it up a little? Xinning is cold.”

Xia Xun said nothing.

You’re worrying about another girl right in front of me?!

An inexplicable fire surged in Xia Xun’s chest-and the temperature inside the car dropped even further.

Xia Xun didn’t mind Lin Xi having other friends, provided they were normal friends who maintained a safe distance.

But what was Zhao Xinning playing at?!

Did being Lin Xi’s childhood friend give her the right to take advantage of Lin Xi in broad daylight?

Of course, in Lin Xi’s eyes, she was the one taking advantage of Angel-sama!

“Xi, I think it’s getting even colder~” Zhao Xinning pressed herself closer. “Why don’t you hold me too?”

No answer came from Lin Xi-or from Xia Xun.

Xia Xun hurriedly suppressed the chill spilling from her. She couldn’t give Zhao Xinning an excuse to get even more cuddly with Lin Xi.

Once they arrived, she absolutely could not let Zhao Xinning and Lin Xi be alone together!

Although Xia Xun was only a prospective girlfriend, she already considered herself the official one, and she would never allow Lin Xi to flirt around.

Zhao Xinning felt much the same. She already considered herself Lin Xi’s wife, and she would never allow Lin Xi to flirt around either.

Both Xia Xun and Zhao Xinning vaguely sensed that sooner or later, the two of them would have to fight.

The difference was that Xia Xun wanted to settle who was superior.

Zhao Xinning wanted a fight to the death.

As for what Lin Xi wanted… that hardly mattered.

Footnote:

• The Drinker’s True Interest Is Not in the Wine(醉翁之意不在酒): A line from Ouyang Xiu’s The Old Drunkard’s Pavilion. Literally, the drinker’s true concern is not the wine; it commonly means that someone’s real aim lies elsewhere.