"Sister An, can't you see how good I am to you?" Luo Yang whispered gently.
"I know you're good to Guihua. My parents want to meet you, and you haven't told us when you're coming yet," she replied softly.
Luo Yang had always referred to An Yuying's mother as Teacher Lin, as she had been his homeroom teacher throughout elementary school.
Suddenly calling her 'Mother' was something he still found hard to get used to inside his heart.
"Sister An, don't rush. I'm thinking about how to make your parents happy. Once I have a plan, I'll go," he said with a smile.
"You're just making excuses. I'm getting angry now. I won't bother with you anymore, bad cowboy. I really mean it this time," she said, frowning.
This time, she really was a bit annoyed.
Luo Yang tried to comfort her. "Sister An, you've misunderstood. What I mean is, let's go shopping later and buy a new outfit for my in-laws, see what the elders think. I'll try that out and then formally visit them with gifts in a couple of days," he explained.
Hearing this, An Yuying was somewhat pleased. "You better not lie, you promised me, you can't keep dragging this on," she protested sweetly.
Then, they heard Sister Guihua laugh from below, "Cowboy, Yuying, are you guys planning to stay up there overnight?"
The two of them felt slightly embarrassed upon hearing this.
"Sister Guihua, we're coming down now," Luo Yang responded.
Seeing An Yuying shyly holding back a smile, he also laughed.
"Sister An..." he called out softly.
"Let's go downstairs," she said sweetly.
After straightening up his messy clothes, Luo Yang helped her down the ladder, letting her go first.
He followed right after.
Seeing An Yuying's cheeks flushed with a light dance of red, Sister Guihua teased, "Yuying, you guys were up there without making a sound, taking so long. What were you doing up there?"
Blushing, An Yuying replied, "What could we be doing? We were just sitting for a while."
Once downstairs, having not seen Hong Jiaxin, Luo Yang asked, "Sister Piao, have you seen Jiaxin?"
Sister Piao scanned around and said, "She was just here."
They had only been in the loft for a short while, and since there were no sounds of fighting or quarreling from below, he thought it was unlikely that she had been abducted.
"She might not have gone far, maybe she's in the restroom out back," Sister Guihua suggested.
"I'll go check," Luo Yang hurried towards the back of the house.
Just as he rounded a corner, he ran smack into Hong Jiaxin, who was shaking water off her hands, evidently having just washed them.
Nearly running, Luo Yang collided with her, unintentionally knocking her backward.
"Class president, be careful."
Before he even finished speaking, he'd already grabbed her wrists and pulled her back toward him a bit forcefully.
"You almost knocked me over, why are you rushing like that?" she chided lightly.
"I was just asking where you went, why didn't you answer?" Luo Yang said with a smile.
While he spoke, she forcefully twisted his ribcage.
Pain surged through his ribs to his central nervous system, and Luo Yang gritted his teeth, laughing, "Class president, I didn't mean to."
This explanation did not satisfy her, and she continued twisting without stopping.
"Class president, stop twisting," he pleaded.
"I can't let you off!" she retorted.
She was thoroughly enjoying her grip, unwilling to stop.
Luo Yang had no choice but to retreat, but she chased him playfully, still aiming to twist him.
Suddenly, they heard An Yuying's voice, "Cowboy, Jiaxin, what are you two fussing about?"
Looking back, he saw An YuYing's lips pursed high, clearly jealous again.
"Sister An, I found the class president," Luo Yang explained.
"Sister An, he almost knocked me down. I was teaching him a lesson," Hong Jiaxin said with a laugh.
She knew An Yuying cared deeply for Luo Yang and would tease her just to see her jealous expression whenever she got the chance.
"Jiaxin, he came looking for you, don't hit him. You're hurting him when you twist him," An Yuying interjected.
"Giggle, that's exactly why I want to twist him. He deserves it for bumping into me," Hong Jiaxin said, still smiling.
"Class president, show some mercy. I need to visit the restroom," Luo Yang joked.
Hong Jiaxin was just teasing Luo Yang to irritate An Yuying.
Her hands reached for his ribs.
Luo Yang easily dodged, his figure swiftly moving behind her.
The two circled around An Yuying.
Sister Guihua and Sister Piao also came over and chuckled, "Are you guys fighting or dancing?"
"Cowboy, Jiaxin, stop fighting. Just cool down for a while," An Yuying pleaded.
"I'm going to pummel him!" Hong Jiaxin replied playfully.