Qi Yusen, "Can't she just sit out on this performance?"
"Bro, she can't." Jun Yexuan said, "Qingqing just entered university. If she bails on group activity already, people will say she's being unfriendly."
Qi Yusen, "I think you're taking advantage of her!"
Jun Yexuan rubbed his nose, "Brother, we are already dating. Isn't it normal to be intimate?"
"She's not your girlfriend yet!" Qi Yusen shouted, "Even if she does accept you, she's only 18! If I ever find out about you doing unnamed things to her, I will never allow you two to be together! Even if doing that will make her hate me!"
Jun Yexuan responded with genuinity, "Brother, do not worry. I know where to draw the line."
Qi Yusen hissed coldly and left.
After Qi Yusen left, Jun Yexuan was silent for a long time before lifting up Qiao Qing's face, "I still don't have a title? Even if I don't ask about your background or your secrets, I still can't be your boyfriend?"
Qiao Qing answered, "You know the situation with me and my brother. I don't want him to be sad. Can't you be a little tame in front of him?!"
Jun Yexuan instantly smiled, "So, when we are not in front of him, I can use my rights as your boyfriend?!"
Qiao Qing, "..."
How come he's always able to translate her words into what he wants them to mean?
Jun Yexuan held onto her face, "If you don't answer me, then I will take that as a silent yes."
Qiao Qing, "..."
Jun Yexuan quickly stole a kiss, "A good night kiss from your boyfriend."
Qiao Qing, "..."
As she watched Jun Yexuan walk away, Qiao Qing was in a daze. Did that title matter that much?
At that moment, those two had no idea that every single practice after that one, Qi Yusen would be in the audience.
Under the brother-in-law's strict watchful eyes, Jun Yexuan had fewer and fewer chances to "use his rights as the boyfriend."
As the duo became more and more used to the dance, military training came to an end, and the welcoming party day arrived.
In the morning, the moment Qiao Qing came to school, Ji Chen handed her a bag of clothes.
"You didn't respond when I messaged you. This is your dress for the performance. You'll need to wear it at the dance. You can try it on during lunch. If it doesn't fit, we can get you another one."
Qiao Qing took it over and nodded.
Ji Chen then said with a red face, "Shouldn't we practice once before we get on stage? Though I know we all know how to dance, we never danced together. I worry we won't do well on stage."
Qiao Qing pursed her lips. Before she could respond, her phone flashed. He Wanqing was calling.
Qiao Qing felt like she had been saved and showed Ji Chen her phone, "My mom's calling."
Ji Chen smiled, "Take it."
Qiao Qing walked away as she picked up the phone. Like normal, they chatted about the family and only hung up when the professor came.
Ji Chen didn't get to ask her again. When it was noon and time for a break, he wanted to ask her again but Qiao Qing had disappeared.
Until nighttime, Ji Chen didn't get to talk to Qiao Qing at all.
When the time came for the party, everyone from the class started getting ready in one of the largest halls.
Almost all the girls had changed into high heels and put on makeup. Only Qiao Qing was still wearing her military uniform and remained bare-faced.
Ji Chen said, "We are going up first. I will take you guys to get changed."
He then looked over to Qiao Qing, "We don't have much time so we can't practice. Are you okay if we just go when it's our turn?"
Qiao Qing was silent for a while. She scanned around and then nodded, disappointed.
Ji Chen sighed in relief. He thought Qiao Qing didn't want to dance with him because of that boyfriend of hers.