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

"Pretend? Pretend what?"

Xia Qing turned her head and glared at Qin Lili again, but the tips of her ears couldn't help turning pink.

"Look at you, this is no fun at all."

Although Qin Lili was saying this, she still kept her arm around Xia Qing in that half-support, half-carrying position as they slowly walked towards the garage door. She secretly poked Xia Qing's lower back lightly with her hand.

"We've known each other for so many years. Do you think I don't know you? When you were little, you bumped your head on the corner of the table, and blood flowed down your forehead to your chin, but you didn't even groan. How come you're so weak today? You need to be carried just a few steps?"

After saying that, she raised an eyebrow at Xia Qing:

"Hmm? Go ahead and say it?"

Xia Qing's face flushed slightly at her words. She turned to look ahead, but still stubbornly insisted:

"How can that be the same? But what I'm doing is... but what you mean..."

"Come on, I've been through this before. Do you think I don't know what it's like? What are you pretending for?"

As she spoke, Qin Lili leaned close to Xia Qing's ear and asked with a smile:

"Tell me the truth, what are your thoughts? Hmm?"

At that moment, Ye Shu's voice came from behind:

"Lili, I didn't see a cell phone in the passenger seat. I only saw your lipstick."

Qin Lili turned around and casually replied:

"Oh? It might be on the dashboard, or on the car door. You should check it carefully."

After saying that, he immediately turned back and whispered to Xia Qing:

"You...you're not scared, are you? Afraid it will hurt, so you're using feeling unwell as an excuse to put it off?"

"Afraid? What do I have to be afraid of?"

Xia Qing suddenly turned her head, her eyes wide open:

"If Xiaoxue isn't afraid, what do I have to be afraid of? Besides, I've read it online; it only hurts the first time, and then it gets better."

"Oh, you even did your homework beforehand?"

Qin Lili smiled wickedly, immediately grasping the key point.

Xia Qing realized she had let something slip, and in a fit of anger, she gritted her teeth and punched Qin Lili in the arm.

"Qin Lili, don't talk nonsense! Who did any homework? I just randomly found this information online! If you keep spouting nonsense, I'll really get angry with you!"

"Okay, okay, I didn't do any research, I just scrolled through it randomly."

Qin Lili smiled and tried to coax him, but still advised:

"But honestly, what's so scary about this? If you're really uncomfortable, just tell Ye Shu. It's a matter between the two of you. He's treating you both like porcelain dolls right now. If you just say a word, I don't believe he'd ignore your life or death."

"I told you I'm not afraid! Okay, just shut up!"

Xia Qing didn't want to listen to her nonsense anymore, so she turned her face to the side and saw Ye Shu returning with the car keys.

"Sister Lili, I've looked everywhere, I really didn't see my phone."

Ye Shu returned and gave the key back to Qin Lili.

Qin Lili took the keys, reached into her pocket, pulled out her phone, and smiled at Ye Shu:

"Hey, here it is! I couldn't find it before, hahaha, I'll treat you to milk tea later."

As she spoke, she casually pushed Xia Qing, who was on top of her, towards Ye Shu:

"Come on, come on, quickly take your delicate little wife over there, she's almost crushing me."

Xia Qing was actually fine a long time ago; she was just feeling a little unwell right now, but she wasn't that delicate.

But Ye Shu didn't know that this was also his first time getting married. Upon seeing Xia Qing being pushed towards him, he quickly reached out and hugged her tightly, not forgetting to complain to the man who had gotten up:

"Go easy, Lili! Xia Qing's back hurts whenever she exerts herself, you're doing it like you're throwing a sack of potatoes..."

"Yes, yes, my back hurts."

Qin Lili stood to the side, arms crossed, watching Ye Shu's nervous demeanor, then looked at Xia Qing, who was clearly embarrassed but still trying to put on an act, and her smile stretched almost to her ears.

Xia Qing leaned against Ye Shu's chest. Hearing Qin Lili's obviously sarcastic words, she turned around and glared at her fiercely, signaling her not to talk nonsense.

Turning her head, she immediately adopted a weak demeanor, whimpering and leaning against Ye Shu:

"Let's go... I can't stand up anymore."

If you can't stand up, lean on me.

Ye Shu didn't suspect a thing. He even bent down a little to make Xia Qing more comfortable.

"How about I carry you? It's just a few steps."

"No need, no need. Just massage my back when we get back."

Xia Qing leaned against Ye Shu's chest and slowly walked forward. These two steps made her look like an old lady with bound feet.

Ye Shuxin didn't notice, but Qin Lili saw it very clearly from behind. How come it seems to be even more serious than when she got off the bus?

Ye Shu, with her arm around Xia Qing, walked unsteadily toward the door together.

"Okay, I'll give you a good massage, and I'll also fill a hot water bottle for you to apply as a heat compress. That should help."

Qin Lili followed behind, watching the two of them, one willing to hit and the other willing to be hit, one pretending full of flaws and the other trusting without reservation, and couldn't help but raise her eyebrows.

She watched Xia Qing's retreating figure and seemed to understand something.

Xia Qing's fear is probably not just simple; it's clearly greed.

She was greedy for Ye Shu's complete trust, greedy for his unreserved affection, and greedy for the feeling of being cherished and held in the palm of his hand.

Xia Qing was used to being strong, so she finally had a chance to openly act cute and spoiled, which she thoroughly enjoyed.

Back home, Qin Lili kicked off her shoes, put on slippers, waved to the two people at the door, and went into her room.

"I'm going back to my room."

"Going to bed so early? Not playing games today?"

Ye Shu stood at the door, supporting Xia Qing, and asked.

"No, I won't keep Xia Qing from recovering."

As she spoke, she gave Xia Qing, who was still leaning against Ye Shu, a wink that only the two of them understood, then smiled and went back to her room, closing the door behind her.

Ye Shu didn't understand what she meant by delaying Xia Qing's recovery, but he didn't think about it too much.

That's one of his good qualities; he never gets caught up in things that don't concern him.

He lowered his head and whispered to Xia Qing:

"Sister Xia Qing, hold onto the shoe cabinet for now, I'll help you change your shoes."

"Um."

Xia Qing agreed, reached out to hold onto the shoe cabinet next to her, and watched Ye Shu squat down at her feet to help her untie her shoelaces. She also lifted her foot to let Ye Shu help her take off her shoes.

Potato Chips had come over when the group entered the house and was wagging its tail at Xia Qing.

Xia Qing almost bent down to hug it, but just as she was about to move, she suddenly remembered that if she bent down, she would give herself away, so she could only look at the potato chips with her eyes.

Ye Shu had just slipped a slipper onto Xia Qing's foot when he saw Potato Chips nearby. Ye Shu said to Potato Chips:

"Listen to me, she's not feeling well right now. Go boil some water and fill a hot water bottle."

potato chips:???

After changing her shoes, Ye Shu helped Xia Qing back to the bedroom, gently placed her on the bed, and made sure to turn on the air conditioner and tuck the blankets in properly.

Then he bent down, reached out and touched Xia Qing's forehead, and said softly:

"Xia Qing, you rest for a while, I'll go fill a hot water bottle."

"Um."

Xia Qing nodded, watching Ye Shu leave the bedroom, and finally couldn't help but smile.

It feels so good to be pampered like this.

She stared blankly at the ceiling, thinking about how Ye Shu had changed her shoes, how he had complained to Qin Lili in the underground parking garage because he was afraid she would be in pain, and his extremely gentle tone... Her heart was filled with sweetness.

Just this once, I won't pretend next time... Or... how about pretending once in a while? Anyway, Ye Shu won't be able to tell.

Thinking of this, Xia Qing turned around, buried her face in Ye Shu's pillow, and took a deep breath.

This feeling... it's kind of addictive.