Big Couch-Potato Qin was all alone in the private room, staring at the 10% battery on his phone screen. He was on the verge of a breakdown. He finally understood how lonely an empty-nest senior could feel.

The private room was so huge that it felt practically empty…

He’d just messaged Colonel Zuo and Su Chen, but neither had replied yet. They were probably either getting dead drunk or already dead drunk…

Big Couch-Potato Qin clutched his head and tossed around frantically on the sofa, trying to shake off his boredom and frustration. It didn’t help at all.

He opened his messages again. He wasn’t counting on those two idiots, Colonel Zuo and Su Chen.

But even the one back home—the Cold Snake who was always messaging him to keep him in line—was unusually quiet this time. She hadn’t sent him a single message. Big Slacker Qin was so unused to it that he was practically itching for trouble.

“Sigh.”

Big Slacker Qin sighed helplessly. Come to think of it, Ning Muxuan had only just returned to the academy today. She must have a whole pile of things to deal with, so it was only natural that she hadn’t messaged him.

He looked at the last message Ning Muxuan had sent him around noon. It had been almost half a day…

Big Slacker Qin felt strangely empty inside, like he had no sense of security. Just like his mom said, when someone kept an eye on him, he’d get furious—but once nobody was there to manage him, he felt hollow and restless instead. Like a salted fish, he couldn’t even be bothered to move…

Should he message Ice Snake first?

Qin Heng thought it over, then gave up.

Forget it. If she had time, she’d message him herself. The fact that he hadn’t seen her all afternoon meant Ning Muxuan really was busy at the academy. Even if he messaged her, she probably wouldn’t reply…

Qin Heng aimlessly fiddled with his phone for a while, then casually tossed it onto the sofa. He’d get through the time by sleeping.

It was true that Qin Heng was a big couch potato, but he also couldn’t stand being alone. Boring moments always felt unbearably long…

He’d only just started to close his eyes when the phone beside him rang. One listen was all it took to tell this wasn’t an ordinary ringtone—it was a custom song.

Qin Heng perked up at once and grabbed the phone from beside the sofa. Who cared what ringtone it was? Someone was looking for him!

When he opened the message, of course, it was from Ning Muxuan.

Ning Muxuan: “What are you doing? Did you eat a proper dinner?”

Qin Heng read the message and thought, She’s finally done with work?

“Nothing much. Just playing a game and doing my daily commissions. As for dinner, I think I should be asking you that.”

“Have you eaten dinner?”

Ning Muxuan: “Mm. I have.”

Qin Heng: “What did you eat?”

Ning Muxuan: “Bread and soda water.”

I knew she wouldn’t eat properly!

Qin Heng: “How many times have I told you? No matter how busy you are, you have to eat properly—especially with your health the way it is!”

Ning Muxuan: “Mm.”

She’d been so dependable when he was little. She’d taken care of him, and she could do everything from laundry to cooking.

So how come now, at twenty-four, she couldn’t even manage to eat properly—especially when her health was already so poor?!

How was he supposed not to worry?

Qin Heng gave Ning Muxuan another long, heartfelt lecture, but Snake only replied with a few brief words: “Mm,” and “Oh.”

Ugh!!

He’d gone on and on, and he still had no idea whether she’d listened to a word!

Qin Heng: “Also, how come you suddenly have time to message me? Are you done with everything over there?”

Ning Muxuan: “No. There’s still a lot to do.”

Qin Heng: “Huh? Then why are you taking the time to chat with me?”

Ning Muxuan: “I miss you so much.”

Qin Heng: …

Those four words left Big Slacker completely speechless.

He muttered to himself, “What’s with her saying something so mushy out of nowhere…”

But deep down, Big Slacker was actually pretty happy. It felt really nice to be needed and missed…

Still, Big Slacker had to keep up appearances.

“Oh, mm. Instead of thinking about that, you should finish the work you have as soon as you can and come home early. Then you’ll get to see me, won’t you?”

The moment Qin Heng sent that message, he regretted it. If Ning Muxuan really finished up her work early and came home now, wouldn’t she find out he’d sneaked out?

And then Ning Muxuan wouldn’t be nearly as easygoing as she was now!

But the message was already sent. There was no way to take it back, and Snake had definitely seen it.

Just as he’d expected, a new message from Ning Muxuan arrived within seconds.

“Do you miss me?”

Qin Heng saw the message and suddenly had no idea how to reply…

If he said he did, it felt way too mushy. It’d make it seem like he cared about her a lot. Would she think he couldn’t get by without her?

Well, he could guarantee ten times over that Ice Snake had it completely backwards. Without him taking care of her, Snake couldn’t even manage the basics of daily life.

She was the one who couldn’t live without him! |ﾟДﾟ)))

…

But saying he didn’t miss her would be a lie. They’d only been apart for half a day, but without the person who nagged him and kept him in line, Big Slacker really did feel a little out of sorts…

Big Slacker mulled it over for ages. He’d planned to brush her off with a simple “Mm,” but he knew Ning Muxuan wouldn’t buy it. She’d get mad and go back and forth with him for ages. In the end, he decided to answer honestly:

“Mm. I miss you quite a bit.”

Ning Muxuan: “...Actually, I think I should resign from this troublesome job.”

Qin Heng: “I’d advise you to forget that idea. Finish the work you have, then come home early.”

The moment Big Slacker saw Ice Snake talking about slacking off again, he got serious. This wasn’t just about her future—it was even more important to whether Big Slacker himself would get to coast through the rest of his life.

If Snake didn’t go out and earn money, who was going to support this household? Him, the big couch potato? Give me a break.

Ning Muxuan: “Oh. I’ll try to be back earlier, but I probably won’t make it home tonight. You have to leave the door unlocked for me.”

When Big Slacker saw Ning Muxuan say she probably wouldn’t be home tonight, he almost cheered out loud.

Qin Heng: “Okay, got it. What do you want for breakfast tomorrow?”

Ning Muxuan: “You.”

Qin Heng stared at the screen, speechless. Ice Snake had been getting more and more outrageous lately—she just blurted out whatever came to mind.

Qin Heng: “Quit joking around and hurry up and tell me.”

Ning Muxuan: “I’m not joking.”

………

Qin Heng: ?

Big Slacker suddenly sensed something was off and held his phone far away from himself.

What was going on? Had she found out I’d gone out?

That couldn’t be it. If Snake knew I’d snuck out behind her back today, how could her messages still sound so calm…

Then what did she mean by “eat”!?

Before Qin Heng could think it over any further, another new message from Ning Muxuan came through.

“It’s late. Go to bed. I still have work to do.”

“Good night. Love you.”

Qin Heng sat there dazed for a long while, still unable to figure out what Snake had meant earlier. He just replied as usual:

“Oh.”

Ning Muxuan: “No ‘oh’!!! Say you love me!!!”

Big Slacker had a splitting headache, so he had to put together a new reply.

(Okay, okay. I love you, all right?)

He’d just finished typing and was about to send it when the screen suddenly went black.

??????

Hey, don’t die on me now! You can’t run out of battery right now! Are you trying to kill me?!

That last message hadn’t gone through, and on top of that, he’d gone offline without even saying goodbye…

Ice Snake was really going to eat him alive tomorrow, aaahhhhh!

Dude, can you turn back on for a second!? Just let me send one message!

Unfortunately, the phone couldn’t hear Big Slacker’s helpless fury. Its screen had already gone dark, and it wouldn’t even turn on.

Sigh. Big Slacker was doomed…