Chapter 96 – The Realm of Love

After dinner, Zhao Xinning helped clear the table and wash the dishes.

Watching Zhao Xinning bustling around, Lin Xi couldn’t help thinking that Angel-sama would definitely make the perfect wife and mother. Whoever married her in the future would be striking gold.

“All done.” Zhao Xinning even started helping Lin Xi tidy up the living room.

She was so serious about it, she might as well have been cleaning her own home.

“Xinning, you should take a break. I can clean up myself.”

“I’m not tired.” Zhao Xinning looked toward the bedroom. “Want me to help you tidy your bedroom too?”

Lin Xi’s heart leapt into her throat.

The yuri manga sitting on the desk in her bedroom hadn’t been put away yet!

If Xinning saw them, she’d definitely think I’m a pervert, then slam the door and leave, then cut ties with me and never speak to me again…

That could not happen!

Like a gust of wind, Lin Xi drifted to the bedroom door one step ahead of Zhao Xinning.

“Xinning!”

“Give me ten seconds. I’ll clean it myself!”

“Huh?” Zhao Xinning said. “Even if Xi’s bedroom is a total mess, I won’t judge you. As they say, a beautiful girl can make even a messy room charming.”

Lin Xi wasn’t nervous because her bedroom was messy. Those manga were not something a pure-hearted girl like Xinning could handle.

“I’ll do it myself.”

“Just ten seconds.”

“Fine,” Zhao Xinning said. “Then I’ll count down from outside. Starting now!”

Lin Xi: “…”

She turned, slammed the door shut, entered the bedroom, dragged a cardboard box out from under the bed, and swept all the yuri manga on the desk and nightstand into it.

Then she shoved the box back under the bed.

By the time she finished, more than half the countdown was already gone.

Lin Xi quickly straightened the bed as well.

“Ten seconds are up. I’m coming in,” Zhao Xinning called from outside the door.

Lin Xi swept her gaze around the room. The “danger” had been eliminated.

“Okay, you can come in.”

Zhao Xinning pushed open the bedroom door.

So this is where Xi sleeps every day… Zhao Xinning looked around curiously, as if she were observing an alien.

“It’s not messy at all. It’s actually very neat.”

“It’s okay, I guess,” Lin Xi said. “It definitely isn’t as tidy as your bedroom. If I get the chance, I’ll visit your room too and learn some organizing tips.”

Zhao Xinning couldn’t smile anymore.

The walls of her bedroom were covered with photos of Lin Xi.

If Xi saw them, she’d definitely think I’m a pervert, then slam the door and leave, then cut ties with me and never speak to me again…

So if she really did invite Xi into her bedroom, she would absolutely have to put all those photos away beforehand.

It really was time to put them away. Now that she could be this close to the real Xi, those photos could be treated as collectibles and hidden somewhere safe…

Zhao Xinning went off to tidy other areas. Lin Xi said there was no need, but Zhao Xinning insisted on cleaning.

As long as it wasn’t the bedroom, Lin Xi didn’t really care, so she let Zhao Xinning clean wherever she wanted.

Once the cleaning was done, Zhao Xinning borrowed Lin Xi’s bathroom to take a shower.

Since she had come prepared, Zhao Xinning had brought pajamas with her.

Lin Xi went to shower afterward too.

When she returned to the bedroom, Lin Xi was incredibly nervous.

What she didn’t know was that Zhao Xinning was incredibly nervous too.

Zhao Xinning heard Pluto’s merciless roasting:

“What’s with this whole ‘about to go all the way’ atmosphere???”

Zhao Xinning told Pluto to shut up.

Lin Xi sat down beside Zhao Xinning, visibly nervous.

Snuggle-

Going all the way counted as a big move, and it wasn’t time to unleash a big move yet, so Zhao Xinning used a basic attack instead, testing the waters with a little “offense.”

Her view of love didn’t include speedrunning a victory, so she had no intention of launching a “blitzkrieg.”

Zhao Xinning wanted to see whether Lin Xi would push her away, or show any sign of disgust…

Being snuggled up to by Angel-sama didn’t disgust Lin Xi in the slightest. If anything, she was trying her hardest to suppress her nervousness.

Xinning must think it’s totally normal to lean on a good friend. If I start imagining things, what kind of person does that make me?

Ah, right. I’m not even human…

Lin Xi didn’t have any improper thoughts. It was just that, in a situation like this, she had to do something to distract herself.

Zhao Xinning, meanwhile, breathed a sigh of relief. Xi didn’t hate having her lean in… Maybe she thought it was normal to lean on a good friend.

I’m the only one overthinking things. How embarrassing. I have to do something to distract myself.

And so, as if by silent agreement, the two of them leaned together and watched anime.

When she was with Lin Xi, no matter what they did, Zhao Xinning found it incredibly warm and comfortable.

On top of that, time flew by. In the blink of an eye, it was already time for bed.

This must be “relativity”-when you’re with someone you like, time always seems to rush past; when you’re stuck with someone you hate, every second feels like a year.

“Xinning, good night,” Lin Xi said softly.

Tonight, she was definitely going to have sweet dreams all night long.

“Good night, Xi.” Zhao Xinning had no intention of falling asleep so soon.

What she hadn’t managed to do at the hotel last time, she was absolutely going to do today!

Before long, Zhao Xinning heard Lin Xi’s breathing even out.

She tried calling Lin Xi’s name softly and confirmed that Lin Xi had already fallen asleep.

“Are you finally going to use your big move?” Pluto asked.

Pluto kept tempting her, urging Zhao Xinning to hurry up and unleash it.

Instead, Zhao Xinning calmed down.

“No?” Pluto asked. “You’ve entered sage mode already?”

Zhao Xinning: “…”

“Don’t treat me like some pervert.”

“Xi would never like me if I were like that.”

“So, for now, this is enough.”

She told Pluto not to say another word, or she would make it disappear forever.

Pluto: “…”

Zhao Xinning lay back down and snuggled closer to Lin Xi.

True love wasn’t only desire. From the person you loved, you could also draw an incomparably beautiful sense of peace and tranquility.

Right now, Zhao Xinning felt very calm and at peace, as if she were drifting through an ocean of freedom.

She closed her eyes, centered herself, and felt the presence of the person she loved so deeply.

She told Pluto that this wasn’t sage mode. This was the realm of love.

Pluto only understood desire-the desire to kill, carnal desire. It was a true “Fallen Angel.” Zhao Xinning was different. She understood the realm of love. She was “Angel-sama.”

Tonight, she was definitely going to have sweet dreams all night long.