Chapter 5: Liu Mengxuan and Liu Mengyan

The next morning, at dawn.

“Xuan, Xuan… Wake up, Xuan.” A pleasant voice sounded by Yun Xuan’s ear.

“Hm?” Yun Xuan opened his eyes and looked at Lin Qingyu.

“Xuan, honestly, you promised we’d go out together today, but you’re still sleeping,” Lin Qingyu puffed her cheeks as she spoke, seeing Yun Xuan finally open his eyes.

“Uh, I was just a bit too tired last night,” Yun Xuan finally roused himself, and no matter how he looked, Lin Qingyu seemed irresistibly adorable.

“Were you reading last night?” Lin Qingyu asked, curious.

“Yeah, the manga was so interesting that I lost track of time,” Yun Xuan turned his head away, not daring to meet Lin Qingyu’s eyes.

Seeing such a cute boy first thing in the morning, Yun Xuan felt he’d eventually be turned by Lin Qingyu’s charm.

He quickly got dressed; while Yun Xuan was putting on his clothes, Lin Qingyu also turned her back to him. If he ignored the fact that Lin Qingyu entered the men’s restroom with him, Yun Xuan would have been even more moved.

…

After having breakfast together, Yun Xuan asked Yun Xue if she wanted to come along, but she shook her head and declined.

So Yun Xuan and Lin Qingyu left together, heading toward the central city library.

Lin Qingyu wore the same white T-shirt as the day before, paired with knee-length shorts. Her face radiated with a bright smile. As she walked down the street, every passerby turned to look at her.

Whether old or young, man or woman, no one seemed immune to Lin Qingyu’s charm.

“Xuan, hurry up, or there won’t be any seats left,” Lin Qingyu tugged at Yun Xuan.

Yun Xuan felt awkward—her soft little hand was just…

“Young people these days, holding hands so early in the morning, how sweet.”

“That boy’s actually quite handsome on a closer look, and that girl is so cute—they’re a perfect match.”

“Seeing them holding hands like that reminds me of our youth.”

Listening to the comments around him, Yun Xuan felt lines of embarrassment appear on his forehead.

…

Fangyu Library.

The largest library in the city, it was divided into sections for manga, novels, ancient history, and modern literature.

But what really drew attention wasn’t these, but the doujinshi section.

The regulations on doujinshi were strict—no one under eighteen was allowed in. The doujinshi section was filled with all kinds of risqué literature: yaoi, yuri, and doujinshi featuring manga characters. Those who read here all came in disguised.

Yun Xuan and Lin Qingyu passed by the doujinshi section. Yun Xuan glanced at the sign and couldn’t help but chuckle; he hadn’t expected this world to be so surprisingly open.

Doujinshi here couldn’t be taken out, much less purchased. Only at the summer anime convention could one buy them. They’d really gone to lengths to prevent children from getting their hands on these things.

“Hm?” Yun Xuan spotted a fully disguised girl in the doujinshi section who seemed oddly familiar.

“Xuan, what kind of books do you want to read?” Lin Qingyu whispered.

“Magazines from Manga World and Xuanwen Publishing, and a few interesting comics, I think,” Yun Xuan replied after a moment’s thought.

“Alright, I’ll go get them. You go save us a spot,” Lin Qingyu nodded and went off to find the books.

Yun Xuan sat down at one of the library tables, placing a book on the chair beside him to save the seat. Since Lin Qingyu hadn’t returned yet, he pulled out his phone to pass the time.

…

“Ding! A girl with a composite score above seven has been spotted!”

The sound startled Yun Xuan, who quickly looked around.

“Um… excuse me, could I… could I sit next to you?” A girl’s voice sounded behind him.

“Liu Mengyan?” Yun Xuan turned and exclaimed in surprise.

“You… you know my sister?” The girl covered her mouth, equally surprised.

“Sister? You’re Liu Mengyan’s younger sister?” Yun Xuan was stunned—how could two people look so alike?

The girl was dressed in a long white dress, her shy expression utterly adorable. A pink ribbon tied her hair to one side. Her features were delicate, her cheeks tinged with blush, a faint fragrance lingered around her, and her figure was curvaceous and full.

A thought flashed through Yun Xuan’s mind. He noticed a boy nearby get up and his eyes lit up.

“Please, have a seat,” Yun Xuan said softly.

The girl sat down, holding several books in her hands—all romance manga.

“My name is Yun Xuan. I didn’t know Liu Mengyan had a younger sister,” he said quietly, mindful of the library’s silence.

“I’m Liu Mengxuan. I just returned from abroad and will be attending Shengyu High School,” she replied in a low voice.

“I see. You like romance manga, don’t you?” Yun Xuan glanced at the books in her hands.

“It… it’s just a hobby,” Liu Mengxuan’s face flushed red.

“I’m from Shengyu High as well, Class 3, Year One, same as Liu Mengyan. I once confessed to your sister, overestimating myself, and she mocked me quite mercilessly,” Yun Xuan admitted with a wry smile.

“My sister already likes someone. I haven’t met him, but she really does care for him,” Liu Mengxuan whispered.

“I see. I should formally apologize to her tomorrow,” Yun Xuan nodded thoughtfully.

“Yun Xuan, since we’ll be attending the same school, and I don’t have any friends here yet, please take care of me,” Liu Mengxuan said, extending her hand.

“If you don’t mind, I’d be happy to be your friend,” Yun Xuan replied, shaking her hand lightly before letting go.

“So, Yun Xuan, what’s your phone number?” Liu Mengxuan asked happily.

“135…” Yun Xuan recited his number.

Liu Mengxuan saved it on her phone.

“Mengxuan, do you mind if I call you that?” Yun Xuan probed gently.

“I actually prefer it that way,” Liu Mengxuan replied with a sweet smile.

“You’ve just come back, so you probably haven’t explored Fangyu City yet? I was planning to hang out with a friend today—if you don’t mind, maybe you could join us for lunch later and tour the city,” Yun Xuan suggested.

“Thank you, Yun Xuan. I wanted my sister to show me around, but she refused. If you’re willing to take me, that’s wonderful,” Liu Mengxuan said, smiling.

“You’re welcome,” Yun Xuan replied, a smile playing at his lips. One third of the task was complete.

A fifty-percent favorability rating was easy enough—just a beginner’s task in making friends.

Lin Qingyu soon returned, arms full of books, and sat down next to Yun Xuan.

“Liu Mengyan?” Lin Qingyu looked at the girl beside Yun Xuan in shock.

“Ahem, Qingyu, keep your voice down,” Yun Xuan said in a low voice, noticing the curious glances from around them.

“Sorry…” Lin Qingyu blushed and apologized, realizing she’d spoken too loudly.

“This is Liu Mengxuan, Liu Mengyan’s younger sister. She just returned from abroad and will be a first-year student at Shengyu High,” Yun Xuan explained.

“Liu Mengyan’s sister?” Lin Qingyu was puzzled—she’d never heard Liu Mengyan mention a younger sister.

“Nice to meet you, Lin Qingyu,” Liu Mengxuan said, offering her hand.

“Nice to meet you too—just call me Qingyu, Mengxuan-chan,” Lin Qingyu replied, shaking her hand.

The three of them spoke in low voices, with Lin Qingyu introducing all the interesting places in Fangyu City.

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