chapter 27 – unsparingly

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After hanging up the video call, Xie Ning’s whole face was red.

 

He took deep breaths and took his change of clothes into the bathroom.

 

As the hot water was trickling onto his body, Xie Ning’s mind, for some reason, remembered what Zhuang Yan just said, and immediately burned into a shrimp–from head to toe, he was red.

 

When he grabbed his towel, he was also in a daze, and because he wasn’t paying attention, his elbow hit the shelf, knocking down his body wash.

 

Xie Ning could only bend over and pick up the bottle, putting it back into place.
He put his hand over his chest and frowned, deep in thought, while he did this.

 

What in the world was the matter with him?

 

How come whenever he thought of Zhuang Yan, his heart couldn’t help but speed up?

 

Thinking back to what the two of them were talking about before, his face became hotter.

 

It definitely wasn’t his own problem.

 

Zhuang Yan was just too good at flirting.

 

After Xie Ning finished psychologically evaluating himself, he very seriously summarized it.

 

Yep, it’s just like that.

 

After showering, he went back in his bed and snuggled under the covers with only his fluffy head peeking out.

 

The two rabbit plushies were placed next to his head, one on each side, to accompany him while he fell asleep.

 

Xie Ning reached his hand out from under the blankets and softly rubbed their ears.

 

“Good night.”

 

Thanks to Zhuang Yan’s evening video call, Xie Ning’s gloomy mood dissipated.

 

Good dreams all night.

 

……

 

When celebrating the new year, everyone is busy yet free.

 

Busy, because relatives came to visit or because they had to follow their parents to visit others.

 

Free, because the elders’ chatting was in full swing.
Zhuang Yan could only sit on the side, and play games on his phone when he was bored.

 

Recently, the app store recommended a category that was filled with rabbit games.
He downloaded them all in one go.

 

Among the games, there was one called .
The art style was considered cute, and the goal of the game was to have the player raise a white rabbit.

 

The player could decorate the white rabbit’s home, feed the white rabbit, and interact with the white rabbit to raise the fondness level.

 

When the fondness leveled up, new interactions were unlocked.

 

Zhuang Yan read the introduction and felt like it was quite interesting, so he tapped the icon and started playing.

 

After reading the beginning quickly, the game started with an animation.

 

The main content of the animation was that the protagonist, “I”, the player, was on the way home on a rainy day when “I” encountered the white rabbit.

 

The white rabbit hid in “my” pockets and trembled, and “my” heart couldn’t take it so “I” brought the small, cute, white rabbit home.

 

The animation was introducing the backstory, and Zhuang Yan quickly finished watching it.
He thought that the game’s art was barely passable, although the white rabbit was quite cute.

 

But it’s not as cute as his Mr.
Rabbit at home.

 

After the animation, a dialogue box popped up.

 

[Please give your little rabbit a name.]

 

Zhuang Yan, with no hesitation, put in “NingNing”.

 

Right after, another dialogue box popped up.

 

[Please give yourself a name.]

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Zhuang Yan initially put his own name in, but after thinking for a bit, deleted it.
Smiling, he typed “ZhuangZhuang” and clicked the confirm button.

 

The screen transitioned.
“I” took the white rabbit home and put him in a cardboard box.

 

Zhuang Yan looked at the empty box and frowned.

 

It was cold and hard, without even a cloth spread out on the bottom–the environment was terrible!

 

He continued to look around the game interface.

 

At the top of the screen is the fondness level, which was currently empty.

 

In the upper right corner, there was a gold coin icon with 5000 written on it and a carrot icon with 0 written on it.

 

Zhuang Yan fumbled around a bit and realized that the carrots and gold coins should be the in-game currency.

 

In the bottom left corner, there was a row of system menus with things such as daily log-in, camera mode, achievements, and other random things like that.

 

The bottom right corner was much simpler and clearer.
There were only two buttons–one was for interaction, which was greyed out and couldn’t be used yet, and the other was the word “Shop” in eye-catching colors.

 

Zhuang Yan directly tapped into the shop.

 

There were three parts to the shop.
The first was the gold coin shop, where system items, like food, toys, rabbit home decorations, and more could be bought.

 

The second was the carrot currency shop, where the quality of the items were much higher than those in the gold coin shop.
The decorations were more luxurious as well, and you could even change the appearance of the white rabbit.

 

The third was the feature present in every game, turning RMB into carrots.

 

Zhuang Yan scrolled to the bottom.
The most expensive pack was 648RMB, and he bought it with no hesitation.
After he bought it, he went to the decorations page and bought the most expensive and luxurious rabbit home.

 

The little white rabbit, who was originally trembling in the corner of the cardboard box, suddenly burrowed into a soft and cozy residence, and it seemed like it confusedly looked up from the other side of the phone screen.

 

Zhuang Yan nodded, satisfied.

 

His NingNing should be treasured and taken care of this well.

 

Every mobile game can be played with real money.

 

If you aren’t happy when playing, it just means you haven’t spent enough.

 

Zhuang Yan figured out how to play the game relatively quickly.
Looking at the soaring fondness level, his mood improved with the white rabbit’s, becoming better and better.

 

The interaction button had been unlocked long ago, and when the first fondness level was filled up, the game screen suddenly changed.

 

ZhuangZhuang held NingNing in his hand, and NingNing, well-behaved, rubbed against his palm.
Then, when ZhuangZhuang wasn’t looking, NingNing jumped up and sneakily gave ZhuangZhuang’s cheek a kiss.

 

Zhuang Yan was taken aback.

 

The animation ended quickly, but thankfully, the game automatically saves the scene in an album.

 

Zhuang Yan quickly found the photo album, and the photo taken was exactly the scene of the white rabbit giving him a kiss.

 

There was a photo summary below.

 

[NingNing carefully kissed ZhuangZhuang.]

 

Zhuang Yan: “…”

 

He saved the photo onto his phone and sent it to Xie Ning, smiling.

 

Zhuang Yan: How come you can flirt with me even through a game?

 

Xie Ning: …

 

Even though there was only one ellipsis, Zhuang Yan could imagine that on the other side of the phone, Xie Ning’s face definitely started burning up.

 

Xie Ning, after a long time, asked: What game are you playing?

 

Zhuang Yan leisurely replied: A game where I raised a white rabbit.

 

Xie Ning: …What’s so fun about that sort of game?

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Zhuang Yan, laughing, teased him: Right now, I can’t kidnap Mr.
Rabbit and take care of him at home, so I can only enjoy it while playing mobile games.

 

Xie Ning: …

 

“Who are you chatting with, to smile so happily like that?”

 

Zhuang Yan looked up.
His mother, Madam Qiao, who had just finished talking with others, turned to look at him.

 

“A friend.“ Zhuang Yan put away his phone and smiled at her.

 

Madam Qiao rarely saw her son smile like that, so she became interested and asked, “Male or female?”

 

Zhuang Yan quickly answered, “Male.”

 

Madam Qiao responded with a slight tone of disappointment in her voice.
“You’re not that young anymore, so why haven’t you brought back a girlfriend for me to take a look at?”

 

Zhuang Yan raised his eyebrow.
“I’m afraid I don’t have a girlfriend.”

 

But I might bring home a boyfriend.

 

Madam Qiao glanced at him helplessly.
“Oh well, if I say any more, then you’ll think I’m nagging.”

 

Zhuang Yan only smiled.

 

“By the way, where’s Butler Yang?” Madam Qiao looked around the living room.

 

Zhuang Yan said, “There are too many guests today, so Uncle Yang is probably busy.
What are you looking for him for, Mom?”

 

Madam Qiao smiled and said, “It’s like this.
In the morning, someone brought a couple of paintings over for your grandpa, saying they are authentic and rare works.
Your grandpa loves these sorts of books and paintings, so he was very happy after seeing them.
He said he wanted Butler Yang to take it to Elder Xie to enjoy as well.”

 

Zhuang Yan was startled.
“Xie family?”

 

“Yes,” Madam Qiao said, “the Xie family that lives in the large compound as well.
You’ve been there when you were young, but you probably don’t remember any of it now.”

 

Zhuang Yan really didn’t remember any of it.

 

Madam Qiao continued to say, “But there were too many people in the morning, and I forgot about it since I was so busy.
Since I remembered it just now, I wanted to ask Butler Yang to send it over before I forget again.”

 

Zhuang Yan smiled.
“It doesn’t have to be that troublesome.
I can take a trip over and give it to them.”

 

Madam Qiao looked at him.
“You’re so careless.
You’re not afraid of breaking them?”

 

Zhuang Yan said, “…Isn’t it just a little bit of distance?”

 

Madam Qiao still distrustfully looked at him.
“Usually, no matter how many times I ask you, you won’t budge.
Why are you taking the initiative so enthusiastically today?”

 

He hadn’t responded yet when Madam Qiao said again, “Be truthful, are you trying to use the excuse of sending gifts over to sneak out and play?”

 

Zhuang Yan didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry.
“It feels like I’ve done something wrong when trying to help.”

 

He tried his best to persuade her, and Madam Qiao suspiciously handed the things over.
Before he left the house, she stopped him again and took out some New Year’s gifts from storage.

 

“Although our generation isn’t really friends with the Xie family, your grandpa and Elder Xie’s bond is deep.
Bring these gifts and give it to them while you’re there.”

 

Zhuang Yan carried the New Year’s gifts on one hand and used the other to send Xie Ning a message.

 

Zhuang Yan: Are you still at the large compound these days?

 

Xie Ning: I am, what’s the matter?

 

Zhuang Yan didn’t respond, and directly asked: Did you go out today?

 

Xie Ning: No.

 

Zhuang Yan, satisfied: Then come pick me up at the entrance.

 

Xie Ning: ???

 

Zhuang Yan: Don’t rush and come down slowly.
I just left the house and have to walk for a bit more before I’m there.

 

Xie Ning thought Zhuang Yan was going to abduct him to the outside again, so he quickly changed his clothes and ran downstairs.

 

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Unexpectedly, this time Zhuang Yan had a bunch of stuff in his arms and stood at the entrance, smiling as he looked at him.

 

Xie Ning wondered, “Why…why are you here?”

 

Zhuang Yan chuckled.
“I made preparations today and am here to see the parents.”

 

Xie Ning: !!!

 

Xie Ning was shocked.
Seeing Zhuang Yan’s serious appearance and the armful of gifts he brought, he was even more startled.

 

“What?” Zhuang Yan raised his eyebrows, “You don’t want to let me in?”

 

“It’s not that,” Xie Ning muttered, and took a while to find an excuse.
“My parents aren’t here today…”

 

Zhuang Yan found it strange.
“They’re not here?”

 

Xie Ning nodded.
“They went to visit relatives with my aunt and uncle.”

 

Zhuang Yan asked again, “You didn’t go with them? Why were you the only one left behind here?”

 

Xie Ning quietly responded, “I…didn’t really want to go, so Grandpa asked me to stay at the large compound and accompany him.”

 

“Your grandpa is here?” Zhuang Yan said lightly.
“Then this time, I’ll meet your grandpa first.”

 

Xie Ning: “…”

 

Seeing Xie Ning’s face filled with awkwardness, but too embarrassed to reject him, Zhuang Yan was happy enough.

 

He raised the New Year’s gifts in his hand upwards.
“Don’t block me and let me in.
I came today in place of my grandpa to bring gifts.”

 

Elder Xie was quite happy to see him.
“You’re…Zhuang family’s kid, right?”

 

The authentic and rare paintings were put in the study, and Elder Xie started to converse with Zhuang Yan there as well.

 

“I always hear your grandpa mention you and brag about you in front of me.
Today, I’ve seen you for myself.
You really are quite handsome, and your temperament seems quite upright.”

 

Zhuang Yan is thick-skinned, and even after being praised by Elder Xie like this, his face wasn’t red and his heart wasn’t beating quickly.
“Your grandson is also very excellent.”

 

In front of Xie Ning’s grandpa, he restrained his exaggerated opinion of his own abilities, and Elder Xie felt comfortable with him.

 

Xie Ning originally was sitting on the side, listening to their conversation, but as they kept talking, the topic turned to him.

 

Elder Xie asked, curious, “I heard Xiao Zhong said that NingNing was the one who picked you up from downstairs.
You know our NingNing?”

 

“I do.” Zhuang Yan turned his eyes away and didn’t say how they met, only saying, “Ning…Xie Ning graduated from X University, right? I also went to X University.”

 

Elder Xie nodded in understanding.
“So then, NingNing is your school junior?”

 

Zhuang Yan calmly said, “Yes.”

 

Elder Xie originally wanted to keep Zhuang Yan for dinner, but Zhuang Yan said that his family was waiting for him.

 

In previous years when the Zhuang family sent gifts, it was always the butler that came.
The Xie family also sent Uncle Zhong to give gifts to others.

 

Today, Zhuang Yan came personally to give gifts.
Elder Xie thought about it, and called Xie Ning to the side.

 

“NingNing ah,” Elder Xie held his hand as he said, “AnAn isn’t here today, so why don’t you take my place to give the Zhuang family New Year’s gifts and greetings?”

 

Xie Ning was taken aback for a moment.
“Me?”

 

Elder Xie thought he wasn’t happy to go outside and said, “If you don’t want to meet outsiders, then it’s okay.
I don’t have to go today.”

 

Xie Ning hesitated for a moment and said, “It’s fine…I’ll make a trip.”

 

Elder Xie patted his hand, saying, “The Zhuang family is clean and righteous.
Elder Zhuang and I have been friends for many years, so they won’t embarrass you.”

 

Xie Ning nodded his head, knowing that Zhuang Yan wouldn’t let anyone embarrass him either.

 

“I’ve already asked Uncle Zhong to prepare the New Year’s gifts, so you just have to take them over.” Elder Xie was still worried, and continued to say more.
“If you’re really not used to it, come back right away after giving them the gifts.”

 

Xie Ning made a sound in agreement.

 

After Zhuang Yan knew that Xie Ning would go to the Zhuang family to give New Year’s greetings, he was very happy and promised Elder Xie, “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of NingNing!”

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This time, he directly said “NingNing”, but Elder Xie didn’t notice.

 

Zhuang Yan continued, “It’s almost time for dinner.
I’ll make the decision to keep NingNing with me for dinner and send him back when it’s over.”

 

Elder Xie happily responded, “NingNing is introverted and doesn’t like to talk, don’t mind it too much.”

 

Xie Ning, on the side, said quietly, “You don’t need to send me back.”

 

Zhuang Yan pretended not to hear anything.

 

After they exited the Xie house, Xie Ning’s hands suddenly felt lighter.

 

Zhuang Yan took the New Year’s gifts off his hand and carried them instead.
Xie Ning hesitated and said, “I can carry them myself.”

 

Zhuang Yan said, “It’s fine, I’m strong.”

 

Xie Ning frowned.
“These are gifts from my family.
It’s more appropriate if I carry them…”

 

Zhuang Yan lifted his eyebrows.
“It’s for my grandpa anyways.
Just consider it as an early acceptance.”

 

Xie Ning wanted to say something else, but Zhuang Yan said first, “These things are so heavy.
If I let you take it the whole way there, I’ll be distressed to death.”

 

Xie Ning suddenly became speechless.
“…”

 

The two houses were only separated by a couple of houses, so they weren’t too far apart, but every house in between occupied a large amount of space and they had to walk around them for a bit.

 

Zhuang Yan said, “Remember the way.
This year, I’ll stay at my grandpa’s house for a couple extra days, so if you’re bored or miss me, come to my house and find me.”

 

Xie Ning: “…Okay.”

 

After a while, Zhuang Yan said, “Actually, I should pick you up at your house instead.
Send me a message first if you’re looking for me and I’ll think of a way to come out.”

 

Xie Ning said, hesitant, “Does it need to be that troublesome?”

 

“It’s not troublesome.” Zhuang Yan said seriously.
“If you came looking for me and I wasn’t at home, wouldn’t you have made a trip for nothing?”

 

Xie Ning nodded.
Some time passed before he finally reacted.
Why should he go to the Zhuang family’s house if he was bored!

 

When they reached the entrance of the Zhuang family’s home, Xie Ning looked at the bunch of parked cars and nervously licked his lips.
“Why are there s-so many people.”

 

“There are a lot of relatives today.” Zhuang Yan smiled.
“But they should be leaving soon and won’t stay until dinner.”

 

Seeing Xie Ning hesitate at the door, Zhuang Yan turned his head to look at him and curled his lip up.
“Why, are you nervous?”

 

Xie Ning nodded his head.
“A little.”

 

Zhuang Yan comforted him, saying, “Don’t worry.
My parents and my grandpa are fond of people like you, quiet and well-behaved, and their tempers are all very good.
They won’t eat you.”

 

Xie Ning was startled.
“Your parents are here too?”

 

Zhuang Yan, hearing him say this, thoughtfully said, “Speaking of which, does it count as us having met each other’s parents today?”

 

Xie Ning: “…”

 

He blushed suddenly, and pulled on Zhuang Yan’s shirt corner to stop him.

 

Zhuang Yan said, “What? Are you shy?”

 

Xie Ning didn’t say anything.

 

Zhuang Yan continued to say, “I was teasing you just now.
I wanted you to be less nervous.”

 

Xie Ning felt like crying, but no tears would come out.
“…I’m even more nervous because you said that.”

 

Zhuang Yan: “…”

——————-

Author’s Note: ZhuangZhuang: How come you can flirt with me even through a game?

NingNing: I didn’t, I didn’t, NingNing didn’t do anything.
It’s your fault for naming him that!

ZhuangZhuang: I flirted with myself.

 

I want to write an extra about if NingNing turns into the white rabbit in ZhuangZhuang’s phone game.