Chapter 1.9

In the dreamy blue-white room, morning sunlight poured through the curtains, bathing the small figure curled up on the bed in a warm glow. Xi Lian lay nestled beneath the covers, his delicate face the only part visible, wearing a peaceful expression.

As he woke up, Xi Lian sat up in bed, still caught in the haze of sleep, struggling to fully awaken.

"Good morning, system," he murmured, his voice slightly hoarse, remnants of sleep lingering in his tone.

As expected, there was no reply. Not wanting to dwell on it, he brushed aside the messy strands of hair that had fallen over his eyes and got up, heading toward the bathroom.

I need to visit a salon today. How did the original manage this wild hair? Xi Lian thought, feeling a bit exasperated as he ran his fingers through the unruly locks.

After washing up, Xi Lian went downstairs with his bag. As anticipated, the dining table was nearly empty, with only Xi Ran sitting there. Their parents had likely already left for work.

Xi Ran finished his breakfast and glanced at his younger brother. "After you finish your work today, I'll take you to Aunt's house in the afternoon."

Xi Lian stiffened slightly and quickly shook his head. "No need, Brother. I can take the bus," he said hastily, not wanting to endure another suffocating car ride like the one from yesterday.

Xi Ran paused for a moment before casually transferring some money to Xi Lian's account.

"This is your reward for your academic progress from Father and Mother," he said, repeating the line he had prepared for a long time.

Xi Lian hesitated, surprised for a moment, then nodded. "Hmm, thank them for me."

Without waiting for a response, he grabbed his bag and left.

Taking a bus ride to the bustling city area, Xi Lian's first stop was a hair salon.

In the salon, there weren't many customers this early in the morning.

"Hello, how may I assist you?" a gentle-looking man with curly blue hair greeted him warmly upon seeing the slim teenager.

"I want a haircut," Xi Lian replied in a low voice.

Many people glaced at the boy who just come out of the hair salon. The chocolate brown hair glistening match with his brown eyes was a sight to behold , making Xi Lian look harmless and adorable.

Xi Lian was satisfied with his new hairstyle as there was not any hair hindering his view.

Looking around, thinking where to go next ,he noticed a familiar duo.

Instead of calling out, he reached forward and lightly tapped one of them on the shoulder.

Jun Hao turned around, his brows furrowing slightly as he took in the sight of an adorable teenager standing before him. With soft wavy hair and bright eyes, the boy looked harmless and familiar, yet Jun Hao couldn't quite place him.

"Hello, do I know you?" he asked, curiosity lacing his voice.

When Lu Minzhe turned to look, surprise flickered in his eyes before excitement took over.

"Xi Lian, is that you?" he exclaimed.

Jun Hao was taken aback by his close friend's reaction.

Seeing him nod, Lu Minzhe grinned and said, "You look so good!"

"Was I not good-looking before?" Xi Lian teased, raising an eyebrow.

Having interacted with them multiple times during his mission, Xi Lian found Lu Minzhe more approachable and easier to talk to than Jun Hao.

Lu Minzhe leaned in slightly, his voice dropping into a low, flirty tone as he gave a playful wink. "You were cute back then too, but now... you're even cuter."

At Lu Minzhe's playful flirt, Xi Lian instinctively leaned back a little, a soft smile tugging at his lips.

Jun Hao's eyes darkened slightly when he noticed the faint blush dusting Xi Lian's cheeks. Without giving Lu Minzhe a chance to continue, he interrupted, his voice steady but firm. "Where were you headed, Xi Lian?"

"Oh, I was just looking for a place to eat," Xi Lian replied quietly.

Noticing his restrained tone, Jun Hao's expression darkened a bit. He didn't like how reserved Xi Lian sounded with him compared to Lu Minzhe.

"We were just heading to a newly opened restaurant. Why don't you come with us?" Lu Minzhe suggested cheerfully.

As Xi Lian lowered his head, considering the offer, Lu Minzhe shot a playful, provocative glance at Jun Hao, a smirk tugging at his lips.

Jun Hao's jaw tightened at Lu Minzhe's teasing, but he maintained his composure.

Xi Lian, still looking down, paused for a moment before nodding. "Okay, I'll come with you."

Lu Minzhe smiled brightly. "Awesome! You're going to love the food there."

As they walked side by side, Jun Hao quietly fell into step beside Xi Lian, ensuring he stayed close. His gaze shifted toward Lu Minzhe, unreadable, but the slight tension between them went unnoticed by the others.