168: Must appear frequently

Come more often in the future? Get used to sleeping here?

She looked up at Bai Xinran, who had already turned around to make tea.

It sounded like a casual pleasantry.

But Ning Yutong didn't think it was a pleasantry, and the words sounded strange.

Shen Yueling placed the fried bacon onto a plate, her voice faint: "A Ling is right, you can come and stay whenever you want in the future."

Ning Yutong pursed her lips: "A Ling?"

"It's my streaming ID. You can call me that too." Bai Xinran returned, holding a teacup.

"Ah!" Ning Yutong paused, "Sister A Ling?"

"Mm," Bai Xinran replied, "There's still a room empty here. You can come and stay on weekends or whenever."

Ning Yutong didn't know what to say.

Say yes? That would be tacitly agreeing to come again in the future.

Say no? That would seem too distant.

She had mentioned before that she wanted to visit often, but she usually had quite a few classes, and since the semester just started, she needed to spend time building relationships with her roommates, so she didn't have much time to come over.

She barely came before confessing. What would it mean if she came often now?

"Hmm... I'll see," she finally said, her voice a little dry.

"Let's eat first," Shen Yueling said, "It looks like Yu Heng won't be back."

Bai Xinran responded: "Master probably had something to do this morning. He said he would be back later."

When she said the word "Master," it was completely natural, and Ning Yutong's ears felt warm.

She remembered Bai Xinran saying last night, "I am Master's dog."

She was shocked then, but hearing it now, she was actually starting to get used to it.

Habit is truly a terrifying thing.

The three of them finished breakfast.

Shen Yueling got up to clear the dishes, and Ning Yutong stood up as well: "I'll help wipe the table."

"Mm." Shen Yueling didn't refuse, handing her the rag.

After Ning Yutong wiped the table, she took the rag to the sink to rinse it.

Bai Xinran was washing dishes, her sleeves rolled up to her elbows, revealing the clear lines of her forearms.

Ning Yutong glanced at her, then withdrew her gaze.

After finishing all this, it was just past nine.

Today was Sunday, and she had no classes. Saying she had to leave now seemed a little deliberate.

Shen Yueling dried her hands and walked out of the kitchen: "Want to sit in the living room for a bit?"

"Okay..." Ning Yutong said.

Sitting down on the sofa, Ning Yutong felt a little constrained.

She had never felt this way when she came here before.

Sure enough, her state of mind was different. She somewhat regretted confessing.

Keeping things ambiguous seemed fine, but now she felt awkward.

"Want to play a game?" Bai Xinran suddenly asked.

"A game?" Ning Yutong turned to look at her.

"Mm," Bai Xinran took controllers out from under the coffee table, "The one Master played with us last time, Overcooked."

Shen Yueling picked up another controller: "Sure, we have nothing else to do."

Ning Yutong had never played this game.

But she didn't want to leave now, and she didn't know what else to do.

Playing a game seemed like a good choice.

"How do you play?" she asked.

"It's very simple," Bai Xinran handed her one of the controllers, "It's a cooperative cooking game. I'll teach you."

—

Yu Heng opened the Villa door, and the sounds of laughter and game effects were the first things he heard from the living room.

They were playing a game? Ning Yutong hadn't left yet?

He closed the door, tossed the keys onto the entryway cabinet, and changed his shoes.

In the living room, the girls were sitting on the carpet with their backs to him, facing the TV screen.

Shen Yueling was sitting cross-legged, Bai Xinran was kneeling beside her, and Ning Yutong was half-lying on a cushion.

The TV screen was a mess, with pots, bowls, and utensils scattered everywhere.

"Put the lettuce on! The lettuce!" Ning Yutong's voice was slightly urgent.

"I have the meat patty in my hand!" Shen Yueling said.

"Give it to me, give it to me," Bai Xinran's controlled avatar scooted over, "I have a plate here."

Yu Heng walked over and stood behind the sofa to watch.

All three were wearing pajamas. The pink set Ning Yutong was wearing... seemed to belong to Shen Yueling.

She had also applied for off-campus housing two days ago, and all her dorm belongings had been moved over.

Shen Yueling's off-campus housing application went surprisingly smoothly; after just one call home, the Counselor signed it on her behalf.

When Yu Heng found out, he seriously suspected that Qin Lu wanted to deliberately inconvenience him.

The neckline of Shen Yueling's pajamas was a bit wide, and coupled with Ning Yutong's ample figure, it was hard for her not to expose herself while lying prone like that.

The little avatars in the game ran back and forth, but in the end, the kitchen still caught fire.

After a while, time ran out, and the screen showed "Level Failed."

"Agh..." Ning Yutong sighed softly, burying her face in the cushion, "Failed again..."

Shen Yueling put down the controller and rubbed her wrist: "This new menu is still too unfamiliar."

"Master is back." Bai Xinran was the first to notice Yu Heng, looking up at him, "You're back."

Shen Yueling also turned around, glanced at him, and didn't speak.

Ning Yutong's movements stiffened. She climbed up from the cushion, sat up straight, and tugged at her neckline.

Yu Heng walked to the edge of the carpet and sat down next to Bai Xinran: "Keep playing, don't mind me."

Bai Xinran handed him a controller: "Do you want to play?"

"You guys play," Yu Heng didn't take it, "I'll just watch."

He stretched out his legs and leaned back against the sofa.

From this angle, he could see the profiles of all three girls.

Shen Yueling's expression was calm, but a trace of a smile lingered in the corner of her eyes.

Bai Xinran naturally rested her head near his leg.

Ning Yutong, however, sat bolt upright, appearing somewhat nervous.

Yu Heng watched them.

This scene is truly harmonious.

So harmonious that he felt this scene should appear frequently.

No, it must appear frequently.

—

Yu Heng had been watching Ning Yutong, the meaning in his eyes very clear.

Ning Yutong naturally felt it. She subtly tugged at the neckline of her pajamas again, but the fabric was a bit slippery and didn't pull up much.

She glanced at the other two; their attention was focused on the screen.

Having other people present made her feel strangely excited.

They didn't play the game for much longer before Shen Yueling put down her controller.

"No more, no more," she said, pursing her lips, "It's almost noon, time to eat."

"Mm," Bai Xinran replied, standing up from the carpet, "I'll go make lunch. What would Master like to eat?"

"Anything is fine," Yu Heng said without looking at her, "Yu Tong, are you staying for lunch?"

Ning Yutong had originally planned to find an excuse to leave, but Yu Heng asked her to stay... "I..." She hesitated, actually still feeling it would be better to leave.

"Stay," Yu Heng decided for her, "A Ling is an excellent cook."

"Oh," Ning Yutong pursed her lips, "Okay."

Bai Xinran turned and walked toward the kitchen. Yu Heng then looked at Shen Yueling.

"You go help out too," he said, "It'll be faster with two people."

Shen Yueling, who was picking up a glass of water to drink, paused at his words.

She looked up at Yu Heng, then glanced at Ning Yutong sitting next to her.

"Fine." She put down the glass, stood up, and also walked toward the kitchen.

The living room suddenly became quiet, and Ning Yutong bit her lip.

There were three people just now, but now only she and Yu Heng remained.

She also stood up, wanting to follow them to the kitchen. Could she offer to help wash vegetables or something?

Yu Heng saw her stand up and, leaning back on the sofa, said: "Just sit here for a while. Lunch will be ready soon."

"Ah," Ning Yutong stopped when she heard this, and sat back down on the sofa, "Okay."

"Was the game fun?" he asked.

Ning Yutong turned her head, meeting his gaze.

"It was alright," she said, "I'm not very good at it."

"Didn't sleep well last night?" Yu Heng narrowed his eyes, "You have slight dark circles."

"A little," Ning Yutong said, "I have trouble sleeping in new places, and I have a stiff neck."

"A stiff neck?" Yu Heng raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, "Shall I massage it for you?"