The landlord has multiple personalities and wants everyone to pay him.

Upon hearing the sound, Ye Shu and Chen Xing both looked towards the door.

Xia Qing was already standing there, the door ajar, letting in a gust of cold wind. She seemed to have just come in, or had been standing at the door for a while.

Strangely enough, Ye Shu's first reaction was not why Xia Qing would be here at this time, but why the wind chimes at the door were not ringing.

He looked up and saw that the small wind chime, probably because Chen Xing had pushed the door too hard, had gotten stuck at an extremely tricky angle on a light strip on the door frame.

Xia Qing was still dressed in her signature black outfit this year, which actually matched Ye Shu's attire somewhat.

A long coat made of a warm-looking plush fabric wrapped her up from neck to toe, making her appear very tall.

Because the coat was made of plush fabric, it had accumulated a lot of snowflakes along the way, which had now melted into tiny water droplets that clung to it and shimmered under the light.

Xia Qing's hair was casually draped over her back, and she wore the same sunglasses she always did whenever she went out.

Although the sunglasses covered her eyes, Ye Shu could tell from Xia Qing's upturned lips and almost flying eyebrows that she was in a good mood.

Ye Shu quickly slid off the bar stool and walked a few steps to her:

"Xia Qing, what brings you here? Is it cold outside? Why aren't you wearing a hat? Come and have some to warm up."

As he spoke, he handed over the half-cup of warm coffee he was holding.

Xia Qing didn't stand on ceremony at all. She took the cup and took a big gulp from where Ye Shu had drunk. Then she stretched out her arm, put her arm around Ye Shu's neck, and pulled him closer to her, giving off a "I've got this guy under my protection" vibe.

She tilted her head, her voice laced with laughter, not caring that there were people around:

"Wearing a hat that covers your hair doesn't look good."

He offered an explanation, then changed the subject, saying with a hint of pride:

"Isn't this the person who snuggled into my arms last night, whimpering and saying they were scared? I'm in a good mood today, so I came over to give you some courage, so that you won't go home and hide in my arms crying again."

"When did I cry?"

Ye Shu was being choked by her, and had to bend over to match her height. She felt a little embarrassed because it seemed that everything she said, except for her crying, was true.

He was thus held hostage by Xia Qing, half-embracing and half-carrying her as she led him to the bar.

Chen Xing was still holding a coffee cup, looking at the two oddly dressed people in front of him, his mind still racing.

This must be Ye Shu's older sister, right? Judging from their way of getting along, she must be the older sister.

Xia Qing reached the bar, completing a kind of declaration of sovereignty. She loosened her grip on Ye Shu's neck and casually placed the coffee cup in her hand on the bar.

Taking off her sunglasses, she didn't immediately speak to Chen Xing. Instead, she tilted her head and nudged Ye Shu beside her with her elbow.

Let me introduce myself.

Ye Shu was wiping his neck with a rag next to him. Xia Qing had just wrapped her arm around his neck, and the water droplets from her sleeves and clothes had all rubbed onto his neck, making it wet and cold, which was really uncomfortable.

Since Sister Xia Qing asked me to introduce myself, I'll do that:

"Sister Chen Xing, this is my girlfriend, Xia Qing."

Upon hearing this, Xia Qing's previously smug smile instantly transformed into a radiant one. Clearly, this was the introduction she wanted.

Satisfied, extremely satisfied.

Then she gave Chen Xing a very infectious smile:

"Hello, I'm his girlfriend."

"Hello, I am... his boss."

Chen Xing quickly put down his coffee cup, nodded, and forced a polite smile, but inside he was furious.

This...this isn't right, is it?

This wasn't the first time she'd met Ye Shu's girlfriend. The first time was in the store, and the girl stared at people with a blank look in her eyes and didn't like to talk.

The second time, she suddenly fainted, and there was a video of her crying pitifully.

But this guy in front of me immediately put his arm around my neck, as if he wanted to become sworn brothers with Ye Shu. Isn't this too different from my previous impression?

Do you two live at Heilan Home? How come I always find something new here?

And...Xia Qing?

Chen Xing clearly remembered that when this girl fainted in the store last time, Ye Shu called out "Xiao Xue".

Ye Shu, who was standing next to him, also noticed this loophole and quickly explained before Chen Xing's doubts deepened:

"Um, Sister Chen Xing, her nickname is Xiaoxue."

Upon hearing this, Xia Qing's lips twitched involuntarily, but she nodded in agreement and hummed in response.

As Chen Xing watched the two people working together to patch things up, the questions in his mind not only didn't decrease, but actually increased.

However, this was someone else's private matter, and she didn't want to pry, so she could only politely say:

"Oh, I see. That's good..."

Xia Qing didn't care whether Chen Xing truly believed her or not. She turned her head, glanced around the store, then raised an eyebrow and looked directly at Ye Shu, asking:

Where are they?

"Who? Oh, Jiang Yining? She didn't even come."

"oh."

Xia Qing smacked her lips, and her expression seemed to suggest a hint of regret.

She was quite decisive, turning around and walking towards the door.

"Huh? You're leaving already?"

Ye Shuwen's original intention was actually "It's cold outside, warm up a bit before you go, don't get cold," but in his haste, he blurted out this question.

Xia Qing stopped and turned halfway around, her sunglasses already on her face.

"What am I doing here if I'm not leaving? The person hasn't even arrived yet. Call me when they do come. I even got up a little earlier today... I'm leaving now. Get back to work. Remember to buy me two candied hawthorns tonight, strawberry ones."

After saying that, she raised her hand and waved it gracefully, then pushed open the door for the mute and walked out.

They came suddenly and left just as quickly.

Why does this comment sound so familiar to Ye Shu?

The café was quiet for a few seconds. Chen Xing behind the bar and Ye Shu outside the bar stared at each other, the atmosphere somewhat awkward.

Chen Xing blinked, looked at the doorway, and then at Ye Shu.

She finally couldn't suppress her gossipy nature and blurted out the question that was on her mind:

"Xiao Ye, your girlfriend... the way she acted just now, it didn't seem like she came to visit you on set, it looked more like she came to fight for you?"

Ye Shuhui gave an awkward yet polite smile, momentarily at a loss for words.

Because, in a sense, Sister Chen Xing has already figured out the truth: Sister Xia Qing came to fight for her.

But this behavior... Ye Shu always remembered those gangsters who didn't go home after school, but blocked the school gate and extorted protection money from the younger students.

Especially when Xia Qing hugged his neck and said with a smile that she was there to support him, Ye Shu almost wanted to reach into his pocket and offer up his lunch money for today.

He even had the illusion that he shouldn't be bullied by her when he got home at night.

That's so thuggish! Who has a girlfriend like that?! How come Xia Qing is called a "big brother"?

But despite the complaints, there's another, more reassuring feeling, like a can of cola that's been shaken around for a while and then left to settle, slowly rising to the surface.

Xia Qing was the only one there today; Xiao Xue and the others didn't show up.

I usually change it every day, but I didn't change it today. Is that a coincidence?

Or is it that Xia Qing really cares about this matter, and that her strong desire to protect her cowardly boyfriend subconsciously keeps her in a more aggressive and protective state?

Regardless of the reason, Sister Xia Qing came, to support me.

This was like a reassurance to Ye Shu. All the worries and self-doubts he had imagined before suddenly seemed ridiculous to him.

He's scaring himself. He has an older brother... oops, I mean, he has a girlfriend! And his girlfriend is the kind of person who would give up sleeping in and brave the wind and snow to protect him just because of a single word he says!!!

So this is what it feels like to have an older brother protecting you?

It seems pretty good?

Feeling more confident, Ye Shu straightened her back a bit.

Wait a minute... we're a couple! A couple! Not an older brother and younger brother, you know!