Chapter 512

Xia Mujun coughed twice and quickly fabricated an excuse:

"Brother was... too tired from working part-time the night before and didn't sleep well, so I accidentally fell asleep the next day."

"But that was just that one time! It never happened again after that."

The dissatisfaction on Xia Muqihui's face was immediately replaced by heartache:

"If that's the case... then Ruri won't blame Brother. If you're not feeling well, you must rest properly; don't overwork yourself."

Xiyuanji Qilai blinked her amethyst-like eyes and murmured softly:

"So... that was the truth." Her tone carried a sense of relief and a hint of understanding.

Fujiwara Kui, though she knew Xia Mujun was very serious about his part-time jobs, hadn't expected it to affect his health.

For a moment, she couldn't help but worry about whether he could keep holding on like this.

Hearing Xia Mujun's explanation, Xuecun Lingyin lowered her eyelids and fell into a brief silence, her fingertips unconsciously stroking her chopsticks.

Xia Muqihui's curiosity was completely piqued, and she continued to press:

"Anything else? Anything else? Did anything else interesting happen to Brother at school?"

Fujiwara Kui had a sudden inspiration, her eyes brightening as she hummed with the excitement of "breaking news":

"Yes! Of course there is!"

"Your brother, he actually solved our school's famous 'Seven Mysteries' incidents!"

Xia Muqihui's eyes widened even further:

"Seven Mysteries? Really?"

Xiyuanji Qilai also nodded in confirmation with a smile:

"Mm-hmm, it's true."

"So many people in school tried, and even the people the teachers invited couldn't solve them, but in the end, it was your brother who found the truth."

Xia Muqihui covered her mouth in surprise:

"Really? What exactly happened? Tell me quickly!"

Fujiwara Kui and Xiyuanji Qilai smiled at each other and began to vividly recount that wondrous experience.

Xuecun Lingyin, listening from the side, still had no expression on her face, but a tiny bit of gloom welled up in her heart.

She regretted many times why she hadn't insisted on investigating outside with Xia Mujun.

If she had been there too, perhaps... she could have solved the mystery as well.

She secretly thought that when the next "mystery" appeared, she must compete with Xia Mujun to see who could solve it faster!

After hearing the complete story, Xia Muqihui, surprised that her brother had experienced such interesting things at school, turned to Xia Mujun with slight dissatisfaction:

"Brother! You solved such amazing things, why didn't you tell Ruri?"

Xia Mujun was focused on his meal:

"What's so special about that? It wasn't anything important."

Xia Muqihui pouted in complaint:

"Even so, Ruri wants to know everything about Brother!"

"Next time something like that happens, you must remember to tell me, okay?"

Facing his younger sister's "order," Xia Mujun could only smile helplessly and agree:

"Alright, alright, I'll definitely remember next time..."

The second half of this lunch almost became a "press conference" about Xia Mujun's school life.

Xia Muqihui kept asking questions, while Xiyuanji Qilai and Fujiwara Kui shared every detail they knew with tireless enthusiasm.

Although Xuecun Lingyin listened quietly most of the time, maintaining a cold demeanor, she would occasionally add a key piece of information concisely.

They say three women make a market.

Now with four girls gathered together, the atmosphere was even more lively; they could even play mahjong!

Xia Mujun, surrounded by them and listening to all the discussions about himself, felt like he was sitting on pins and needles, yet he couldn't get a word in.

This lunch was both warm and a bit of an "ordeal" for him.

Soon, lunch ended amidst lively laughter and conversation.

Xuecun Lingyin put down her chopsticks, elegantly wiped the corners of her mouth with a tissue, and immediately got to the point, her cold voice ringing out:

"Since lunch is finished, let's start on the real work now."

"There is still a lot of unfinished work for the Collection Force's publication."

As soon as Fujiwara Kui heard this, she slumped like a deflated balloon and laughed awkwardly:

"Just finished eating, all the blood has gone to the stomach to help with digestion, and my brain is oxygen-deprived... I'm a bit 'carb-dizzy.' Can we do it a little later?"

Xiyuanji Qilai then offered a very insightful and serious explanation:

"From a physiological perspective, to digest food after a meal, the body does indeed concentrate more blood in the gastrointestinal area to promote peristalsis and absorption."

"If you immediately engage in work or study that requires high concentration during this period, efficiency is usually quite low."

As she spoke, she suddenly pulled a deck of cards and a board game, "Monopoly," out of her bag, a bright smile blooming on her face:

"Therefore, I propose that everyone first engage in some light games to let the brain relax moderately, and then work efficiently later."

Fujiwara Kui immediately raised both hands and cheered:

"This proposal is fantastic! I raise both hands in favor!"

In a two-against-one situation.

Xuecun Lingyin immediately cast her cold gaze toward Xia Mujun; although she didn't speak, the pressure conveyed in her eyes was self-evident.

Fujiwara Kui and Xiyuanji Qilai turned their heads in sync, two pairs of eyes looking at him with anticipation, as if waiting for the "deciding vote."

Xia Mujun felt a wave of invisible pressure, and sweat seemed about to seep from his temples.

In his desperation, he tossed this "dilemma" to his younger sister:

"Ruri, what do you think?"

"Do you want to play?"

This cunning, scummy brother actually pushed the trouble onto his younger sister...

Xia Muqihui secretly complained a little in her heart, but on the surface, she pretended to be ignorant and cleverly tossed the topic back with a sweet smile:

"Ruri is fine with anything. What do you think, Brother?"

Instantly, three gazes focused on Xia Mujun again.

Xia Mujun felt even more pressure, and in a flash of inspiration, he had an idea:

"Come to think of it, I do owe quite a bit of work for the publication. As the saying goes, debts must be repaid."

"Thinking that all three of you were working hard in the department while I wasn't there, I've always felt a bit guilty."

"Now that Xiyuanji-san and Fujiwara-san are both a bit 'carb-dizzy,' Xuecun-san, why don't you all relax together and play some games to unwind your brains."

"I'll handle the remaining work for the publication for the time being. Consider it me repaying the part I dragged out before."

"Whenever you feel rested enough, we can work on the publication together."

"Xuecun-san, do you think this arrangement is acceptable?"

Xuecun Lingyin thought about it seriously for a moment, then nodded gently:

"... If this is your proposal. That's fine."

Xia Muqihui blinked from the side, secretly praising her brother for his quick reaction.

Seeing this, she also actively raised her hand and said sweetly:

"Since Brother is going to be busy with work, let Ruri accompany the sisters to play for a while!"

Xiyuanji Qilai and Fujiwara Kui naturally agreed happily.

Xuecun Lingyin hesitated for a moment, then also nodded rarely and joined the game.

Xia Mujun watched them quickly gather around the low table, the atmosphere harmonious and happy; not only did he not feel like he was doing drudgery, but he secretly rejoiced that he had reacted quickly enough to escape this "calamity."

The game began, and they were playing Old Maid.

Although Xia Mujun sat to the side, focused on processing the publication drafts, he would occasionally be drawn by their laughter and look up to check the situation.

When Xuecun Lingyin played Old Maid, she almost always kept that cold, calm expression, making it impossible for anyone to guess whether she had the Old Maid card, showing excellent psychological quality.

Fujiwara Kui was the exact opposite; her emotions were completely written on her face.

Whenever she drew the Old Maid, she would immediately make a bitter face and sigh repeatedly; but once someone drew the Old Maid from her hand, she would instantly beam with pride.

Xiyuanji Qilai was somewhere in between.

She tried to use some strategies and acting, but her skills were clearly lacking.

When someone else's hand hovered over her cards, she usually couldn't hold on for more than a few seconds before her expression would crumble due to nervousness, her eyes involuntarily darting toward a certain card, easily exposing the location of the Old Maid.