Time slipped by in a single night.
Outside, the sun hung high. Inside, the two remained tangled in the cozy warmth of bed.
Jiang Zixuan had been awake for ten minutes—mostly debating whether to get up.
Simple reason: Shu Yuxin clung to him like an octopus, sleeping soundly.
A faint headache throbbed behind his temples.
Sleeping beside a pretty girl should’ve been *his* advantage. Yet he felt more restrained than her—almost… girlish.
His thoughts drifted back to last night—or rather, the wee hours of this morning. Shu Yuxin had suggested watching “educational” videos. Given the mood, Jiang Zixuan naturally assumed *those* kinds of videos with the FBI warning. He’d even steeled himself mentally.
Instead, they watched a full hour of traffic accident compilations.
Honestly? Surprisingly educational. At least for Jiang Zixuan, who’d only held his license six months.
Though the unblurred fatal clips left him slightly uneasy.
Rubbing his temples, he gently lifted her arm. Just as he reached for her leg draped over his waist—she rolled over on her own, freeing him.
She yawned, eyes cracking open a slit. Blinking at him drowsily, she mumbled, “Mm… Up already?”
“Yeah. Sleep more if you’re tired,” Jiang Zixuan said. He swung out of bed, switched off the AC, and headed for the door.
Curled in the blanket, Shu Yuxin nearly drifted off—until his voice returned: “Oh, right. What do you want for breakfast? I’ll grab it.”
Her eyes snapped wide open.
“Almost forgot… I’m basically your nanny now, huh?” she muttered, struggling upright. “Gotta help make breakfast too.”
Jiang Zixuan, lingering at the door, smiled. “Nah, we’ll buy it. Rest up.”
“Hah? Ever heard of a nanny skipping breakfast ’cause she overslept?” Hair a wild nest, she wobbled off the bed, squinted blindly, and brushed past him straight into the bathroom.
Watching her yawn mid-step, Jiang Zixuan genuinely worried she’d nap against the sink.
He didn’t stop her. Glancing at the closed door, he ruffled his own messy hair, chuckled softly, and turned to dress.
Truth was, it wasn’t “morning” anymore. But for homebody youths, “morning” and “late morning” meant the same thing—anything before noon. Waking up early without school duty felt oddly novel to Shu Yuxin. After dawdling through morning routines, they finally headed downstairs to the wet market: the true start of her first day as his *private nanny*.
Though breakfast shops dotted Weiyaersi, Shu Yuxin insisted on eating home. Two bowls of noodle soup (her cooking), two youtiao, two cups of soy milk (bought outside).
Not compromise—*her* request. She rarely ate breakfast (usually slept right through it), but when she did, soy milk was non-negotiable. A tiny habit.
The meal wasn’t gourmet, but Jiang Zixuan ate until full.
After clearing the table, he watched her wash dishes. “When’ll you head back to campus for your stuff?”
“Later. Not moving yet.”
“Club recruitment started today at school,” Jiang Zixuan said, scrolling on the sofa. “Freshmen just finished training. Everyone’s scrambling for new members.”
“Clubs?” Her hands stilled.
Peng Xiaoxiao *had* mentioned clubs before…
“Nanhu College should be recruiting these days, right?”
“No clue. Never checked.”
Jiang Zixuan sighed with a wry smile. “You could at least glance at school stuff.”
Silence.
“Wanna stroll by later? Nothing else to do.”
“Pointless…”
“Aren’t you joining? Clubs give credit rewards.” He set down his phone, glancing toward the kitchen. “Heard there’s cool ones too… Anime Club, for example.”
Shu Yuxin stepped out, drying her hands. She laughed. “Anime Club? You know it’s full of *normies*, right? Or… *you’re* interested?”
Jiang Zixuan shrugged. “Just saying. Never claimed I was.”
He *had* loved anime in high school—waiting nightly with Shu Yuxin for new episodes. Passion fades. People grow. Interests shift.
Shu Yuxin plopped beside him, stretched shamelessly, and pulled out her phone.
*Ping.* A message from Peng Xiaoxiao lit the screen:
[Club fair at Central Square today! Wanna go? Gaming Club’s there too~]
“Club fair, huh…” Shu Yuxin murmured, typed a quick “yes,” and nodded. “Let’s go.”
Jiang Zixuan glanced at the screen. “Your friend?”
“Mm.”
“Guy or girl?”
She blinked. “Why?”
“Curious.”
“Girl. My roommate—the one you saw in the dorm.” She pocketed the phone. “A total otaku.”
Jiang Zixuan laughed. “So you *can* talk normally with other girls now?”
He remembered how painfully awkward she used to be.
Shu Yuxin shot him a glare—but said nothing.
Because honestly? She had no comeback.
