Kidnapping the Female Teacher's Best Friend - Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Mu Hanxi never expected the kid to say such flattering words, which made her feel a little embarrassed, but she was quite happy inside.

She gently stroked Mo Zibei’s spine with her fingertip: “Do you want me to be your older sister?”

Mo Zibei felt ticklish from her touch but also very comfortable. She rubbed her cheek against the bed sheet beneath her and softly hummed in affirmation.

Mu Hanxi couldn’t help but curve her lips. Just as she was about to speak, the doorbell rang. She reached out and pulled Mo Zibei’s pajamas down, covering her back: “I’ll get the door.”

Mo Zibei hummed and planned to get up to change back into her own clothes in the bathroom. However, she ran into Mu Hanxi right as she reached the living room. Standing beside Mu Hanxi was a woman. The woman was wearing a blue dress, with a gentle smile on her face. Her straight, beautiful hair fell naturally on both sides of her shoulders. Her features looked two or three parts similar to Mu Hanxi’s…

The woman happened to look up and saw Mo Zibei. Her eyes flashed with surprise, and she turned to look at Mu Hanxi.

Mu Hanxi gently pulled Mo Zibei closer and introduced her with a shallow smile: “This is Mo Zibei. I’ve mentioned her to you—the little friend I met before,” she finished and then tilted her head toward Mo Zibei. “This is my second older sister, Mu Xuanya.”

Mo Zibei greeted her politely: “Hello, Sister Xuanya.”

“Hello.” Mu Xuanya nodded.

Mu Hanxi knew what Mo Zibei was about to do and said considerately: “You should go change in the bathroom first.”

“Okay. Then, two sisters, I’ll be going now.” Once inside the bathroom, Mo Zibei breathed a sigh of relief. She truly hadn’t expected to run into Mu Hanxi’s sister here and felt quite nervous.

After Mo Zibei entered the bathroom, Mu Xuanya pulled Mu Hanxi to sit on the sofa, looking confused: “It’s so late, why is she here, and… why is she wearing your pajamas?”

Mu Hanxi briefly explained the earlier events, not going into detail. Just then, Mo Zibei came out of the bathroom, and the two stopped talking.

“Sister Mu, Sister Xuanya, I’m going home now.” She felt quite uneasy with Mu Xuanya there.

“My sister made matsutake chicken soup. Have a bowl before you leave.”

Mu Xuanya followed up on Mu Hanxi’s suggestion: “My cooking is quite good. Try it before you go,” she lightly patted Mu Hanxi’s shoulder. “I’ll go get the bowls from the kitchen.”

“Come wash your hands with me.” Noticing Mo Zibei’s discomfort, Mu Hanxi asked her to come along.

Mo Zibei obediently followed beside her.

Mu Hanxi turned on the tap, applied some hand soap, washed thoroughly, and then used a towel to dry her hands.

“Are you nervous because my sister is here?”

“Mhm.” Mo Zibei also bent down and washed her hands.

“Last time Liu Chuqing was here, weren’t you quite composed?”

“It’s different,” Mo Zibei used the towel Mu Hanxi had just used to dry her hands. “Liu Chuqing is your friend, but she is your older sister.”

Mo Zibei explained quietly: “She’s an elder.”

Mu Hanxi couldn’t help but chuckle, her voice gentle: “Then sit next to me later.”

Mo Zibei smiled along and nodded quickly.

When they went out, Mu Xuanya had already served three bowls of soup and motioned for the two to come over.

Mu Hanxi sat in the middle, separating the two girls.

While drinking the soup, Mu Hanxi chatted with her sister about daily life, occasionally patting Mo Zibei’s knee with her palm to keep the girl from feeling awkward.

This was the first time Mo Zibei had matsutake chicken soup, and she found it quite delicious, but she felt too shy to compliment Mu Xuanya. If Mu Hanxi had made it, she definitely would have praised it.

After finishing the soup, Mo Zibei announced she was heading back. Mu Hanxi stood up to see her off. Mu Xuanya didn’t follow, going to the kitchen to wash the dishes.

After putting on her backpack and changing her shoes, Mo Zibei paused, then leaned in and whispered to Mu Hanxi: “Please help me tell Sister Xuanya later… that the chicken soup she made was very delicious.”

“Why didn’t you say it yourself just now?”

Mo Zibei scratched the back of her head, her face a little red. She didn’t know how to respond to that, so she changed the topic: “Sister Mu, you should go back inside. I’m leaving.”

Because Mu Xuanya was present, Mo Zibei insisted that Mu Hanxi not drive her home.

“Then take it slow on the way, and text me when you get home.”

Mo Zibei pursed her lips and whispered: “Can I call instead?”

“Yes,” Mu Hanxi adjusted her backpack strap. “Either way is fine.”

“Mhm… Are you still going to apply medicine for me tomorrow night?”

Mu Hanxi smiled and asked back: “What do you think?”

Mo Zibei understood immediately: “Then I’ll come straight over after evening study hall?”

“Okay.”

Just as Mo Zibei was about to turn around, Mu Hanxi changed her shoes and followed her out.

“?” Mo Zibei looked at Mu Hanxi in confusion.

“To see you to the elevator.”

“Oh.”

Mo Zibei didn’t refuse. She was naturally happy that Mu Hanxi wanted to see her off.

“Are you using that English ringtone now?” Mu Hanxi had heard the familiar tune when Mo Zibei’s phone rang in the guest room.

Mo Zibei’s face froze slightly. She subconsciously tugged at her pant crease: “I thought it sounded nice, so I set it as my ringtone.”

Mu Hanxi didn’t think much of it: “Many people like that song. Its melody is very cheerful.”

Mo Zibei nodded in agreement.

“Listen to more English songs when you have time. It can help develop your language sense.”

“Got it.”

Mu Hanxi returned only after Mo Zibei got into the elevator.

After washing the dishes, Mu Xuanya was sitting on the living room sofa holding a glass of warm water. Seeing Mu Hanxi return, she asked, “How far did you walk her?”

“To the elevator entrance.” They chatted for a bit by the elevator, and Mo Zibei only pressed the elevator button after some delay.

“I thought you walked her to the complex gate.”

Mu Hanxi smoothed a strand of hair behind her ear, sat next to Mu Xuanya, and relayed Mo Zibei’s compliment about the chicken soup.

Mu Xuanya was pleased to hear it and said: “It’s strange, you and this child have an age gap of six or seven years, but I feel your relationship is better than yours with Liu Chuqing.”

Mu Hanxi pursed her lips and smiled: “Sister, where do you see that?”

“At least I’ve never seen Liu Chuqing wear your pajamas.”

Mu Hanxi was first startled, then chuckled. If you put it that way, it was true. Mo Zibei had not only worn her pajamas but also her shirt and T-shirt. She had even given her a pair of slippers. However, Mu Hanxi hadn’t thought much about her relationship with Mo Zibei at the time, nor had she seriously considered these seemingly coincidental connections.

Mu Xuanya was here not just to deliver soup, but for something else: “Are you free on Sunday evening?”

“I should be.”

“That’s perfect. Jiazhe is free that day too. We can all go to the new house for dinner.”

“Okay.”

Mu Xuanya hesitated for two seconds and added: “Ruan Xuekai might also come. As you know, he and Jiazhe have known each other for years.” She wasn’t intentionally trying to match them up; Ruan Xuekai heard Jiazhe bought a new house and proactively suggested coming over to celebrate. Mu Xuanya genuinely couldn’t refuse such a kind gesture.

Mu Hanxi nodded, indicating understanding.

“Alright, I’ll be going then. Get some rest early.”

Mu Hanxi stood up to see her off.

When Mo Zibei called Mu Hanxi, Mu Hanxi had already finished showering: “After study hall on Sunday night, go wait for me at a specific location. I’ll send you the address on WeChat later.”

“Okay.” Mo Zibei agreed immediately without asking further questions.

Mu Hanxi had planned to briefly explain if Mo Zibei asked, but was surprised the girl agreed so readily.

That Sunday night, Ruan Xuekai arrived at Mu Xuanya’s new house early, carrying two bottles of red wine.

Mu Hanxi arrived a little later, bringing a set of tea ceremony utensils.

The four people sat across from each other, two against two: Mu Hanxi and Mu Xuanya on one side, Ruan Xuekai and Xu Jiazhe on the other.

At the dinner table, Ruan Xuekai was as attentive as ever toward Mu Hanxi, constantly pouring her wine and actively starting conversations.

Mu Hanxi’s reaction was distant, and by the end, she was becoming impatient.

She had clearly rejected Ruan Xuekai’s romantic advances, but he always played evasive games with her, sending her messages every few days with superficial greetings and care. Due to his relationship with Xu Jiazhe, Mu Hanxi found it difficult to make the situation awkward.

During the meal, she looked at her watch several times, estimating the time until Mo Zibei finished the second session of evening study hall: starting at 30 minutes, then 15 minutes, down to the last 5 minutes.

Mo Zibei’s school was very close to Mu Xuanya’s new house, only about five minutes by bike, or at most eight minutes including the time to exit the school gate.

As soon as study hall ended, Mo Zibei put on her headphones and called Mu Hanxi: “I’m off school now. I’ll come find you soon.” She said this while running toward the bike shed.

“Mhm, see you soon.”

Mu Hanxi briefly explained to the other three that she had to leave due to an urgent matter.

“I’ll leave with you,” Ruan Xuekai stood up. “It’s on my way.” Ruan Xuekai had booked a hotel near Mu Hanxi’s apartment complex.

Xu Jiazhe had already prepared a guest room for him, but Ruan Xuekai insisted on staying at a hotel, saying he didn’t want to disturb Xu Jiazhe and Mu Xuanya’s couple time.

Mu Hanxi gave an almost imperceptible frown, but couldn’t say anything, only nodding faintly.

This evening’s gathering involved drinking, so neither of them had driven, having taken separate taxis to the location.

“Hanxi, when do you plan to return to B City?” The two entered the elevator after saying goodbye to Xu Jiazhe and Mu Xuanya.

“The exact time hasn’t been set yet.” The space in the elevator was already small, and Ruan Xuekai was standing close to her. Mu Hanxi frowned and subtly shifted to the side.

“I’ve already told my family that I plan to develop my career in B City in the future, and they are very supportive.”

Mu Hanxi responded with a noncommittal “Mhm.”

Ruan Xuekai was about to say something else when Mu Hanxi’s phone rang.

“I’ll be there soon,” Mo Zibei panted, cycling against the night wind. “Did you drive tonight?” When applying medicine last night, Mu Hanxi mentioned she was going to her second sister’s house for a housewarming party. Mo Zibei had previously attended the housewarming parties of Zhou Ruoxin’s and Meng Yuanhao’s families with her father. It was a celebratory custom where close friends gathered to eat and drink… so Mo Zibei guessed Mu Hanxi might have had alcohol tonight.

“No, I took a taxi here.”

“Oh,” Mo Zibei’s lips subtly curved. “Then I’ll cycle you home later.”

Mu Hanxi was startled. She had planned to take a taxi back with the girl…

“I’m a very skilled rider,” Mo Zibei said confidently. “Sister Mu, I promise I won’t let you fall.”

Mu Hanxi hummed. Her mood relaxed inexplicably, and her expression softened.

Ruan Xuekai had never seen Mu Hanxi look so gentle and feminine. An internal alarm immediately sounded: “Whose call was that?”

“A friend,” Mu Hanxi said flatly, unwilling to elaborate. “I’ll be riding with her later.”

Even though Mu Hanxi said this, Ruan Xuekai still shamelessly followed her out of the complex gate.

It wasn’t until he saw Mo Zibei, with her high ponytail, cycling toward them that Ruan Xuekai looked slightly surprised at Mu Hanxi: “Is this your friend?” Oh, she’s a girl, and wearing a school uniform. He was relieved now.

Mu Hanxi gave a slight nod.

Mo Zibei had spotted the tall man standing next to Mu Hanxi from far away. Her face tightened, and she sped up her cycling: “Sister Mu,” Mo Zibei abruptly braked when she reached her, steadying the bike with both feet on the ground and breathing heavily. “Shall we go now?” She turned her backpack around so it hung on her chest.

Out of politeness, Mu Hanxi was about to give a simple introduction, but seeing that Mo Zibei didn’t seem inclined to do so, she subconsciously followed the girl’s lead and said to Ruan Xuekai: “You should go back and rest early. We’re leaving now.”

Since there was no romantic rival, Ruan Xuekai dropped his guard and behaved like a perfect gentleman. He nodded slightly, a polite smile on his face: “Alright, take it slow on the way.”

Mu Hanxi was wearing a white dress tonight, looking very ladylike. She held up her skirt and sat sideways behind Mo Zibei. Mo Zibei braced the bike with her feet on the ground, gripping the handlebars to keep the body steady.

“Sister Mu,” Mo Zibei glanced at Ruan Xuekai, who was still looking their way, and whispered with a blush, “Put your arms around my waist.”

Mu Hanxi had been holding onto the hem of Mo Zibei’s jacket. Hearing her request, she reached out and wrapped her arms around Mo Zibei’s waist.

“Tighter.”

Mu Hanxi tightened the hug around her waist and rested her cheek against Mo Zibei’s back: “Kid, let’s go.” Perhaps due to the alcohol, her voice was very soothing now, making Mo Zibei’s heart soften…