Chapter 31: Who said I have the key?

“Why are you doing this?!”

The sudden scene caused Jiang Ling to let out an involuntary scream.

Lin Xiaoyu’s expression remained calm as she raised her wrist to test the distance between them. Confirming that the two couldn’t move far apart, she nodded in satisfaction. “This should do it.”

“No, it won’t! This is illegal detention, don’t you know that?!”

Jiang Ling shouted repeatedly, flustered as she tried to take it off, only to find her wrist securely fastened—there was no way to remove it without the key.

“You should be able to get a good night’s sleep now.”

Lin Xiaoyu relaxed, even showing a faint, light smile.

“So why did you have to handcuff me first? Have you even thought about how I feel?!!!”

For the next while, Jiang Ling attempted every method she could think of to unlock the handcuffs, but all attempts failed.

Meanwhile, Lin Xiaoyu lounged nearby, casually scrolling through her phone, completely unfazed. She even turned the screen toward Jiang Ling.

“Want to watch?”

“Is now really the time to read comics?!”

Jiang Ling realized she had seriously underestimated Lin Xiaoyu’s nonsensical nature. Staring at her relaxed demeanor, she sighed helplessly, “Give me the key.”

“No.”

Lin Xiaoyu shook her head without hesitation.

There was no way she would give up the cherished pillow she had just retrieved so easily.

“So use that decisiveness of yours on something else!”

“I think it’s perfect right here.”

After several minutes of standoff, Jiang Ling finally gave in, unable to resist Lin Xiaoyu’s clear, honest gaze.

Unlike Bai Xue, who liked to play tricks on her, Lin Xiaoyu was simply unwilling to part with her pillow because she couldn’t sleep well without it.

Though the method was a bit crude and straightforward…

Jiang Ling grumbled internally but was secretly relieved she had taken a shower before coming back. She gave her arm a little shake. “Come on, let’s go to bed.”

Since she couldn’t change into different pajamas, the two clumsily got into bed.

Once lying down, Lin Xiaoyu didn’t turn off the light immediately. Instead, she fiddled with the chain in the middle of the handcuffs with her free hand. “It’s still early. Tell me about your training progress.”

Jiang Ling wasn’t very sleepy either, so she followed her lead. “Xiao Ran said we should get closer, so we live and train together. It’s working pretty well.”

“For example?”

Lin Xiaoyu pulled her wrist slightly toward herself, causing Jiang Ling to shift from lying flat to facing her.

“Geez, you scared me.”

Jiang Ling looked helplessly at the handcuffs binding them, then continued, “Like, our eye contact isn’t so stiff anymore. We’re handling details better. And it’s really nice at her place.”

Nice in many ways—like having a nutritionist prepare sumptuous meals every day and enjoying an open-air swimming pool anytime.

“Oh… so that’s why you don’t want to come back?”

Lin Xiaoyu nodded knowingly, a hint of melancholy flickering in her gaze.

That instantly made Jiang Ling feel intensely guilty. Flustered, she tried to explain, “No, I went there for stage practice, not because I didn’t want to come back—”

“But you didn’t tell me, and I haven’t slept well for a week.”

Lin Xiaoyu interrupted firmly, her tone a mix of dissatisfaction and resolve.

She was usually a calm girl who didn’t show much emotion, but now her captivatingly cold and proud face was showing a rare hint of life, like an iceberg slowly melting to reveal glistening colors.

“…I’m really sorry about that. I hope you can forgive me.”

So Jiang Ling immediately dropped to her knees to apologize and show her sincerity.

A wise person knows when to yield!

“Okay.”

Lin Xiaoyu nodded crisply, not taking advantage of the situation or forcing Jiang Ling into any embarrassing acts. In this regard, she was at least ten times better than Bai Xue!

Bai Xue: (sneezes) (confused)

“Let’s sleep.”

Lin Xiaoyu seemed satisfied, turned off the light, and quietly closed her eyes.

Between them, the locked hands rested neatly.

Normally, they would peacefully spend a special night like this.

But obviously, Lin Xiaoyu wasn’t exactly a typical person.

When Jiang Ling realized her arm was being pulled around recklessly, it was already 2:30 a.m.

Ah… how did she forget that this person didn’t sleep peacefully?

Jiang Ling lamented silently and faced Lin Xiaoyu, gently turning her over. With her free arm, she wrapped around Lin Xiaoyu’s slender waist to keep her from moving too much.

After doing all this, Jiang Ling sighed.

Ugh, this pair is really hard to please—each one more difficult than the last!

At first, the sleeping Lin Xiaoyu frowned and tried to struggle, but then she realized this felt almost like the beloved pillow she had been hugging in her dreams. Content, she tightened her hold and happily snuggled.

Jiang Ling sank into a bittersweet torment, biting her lip with a bashful expression.

Stop… stop touching me…

The next day.

When Jiang Ling woke up, she found herself tightly embraced as usual. She was somewhat used to it by now and was about to gently remove Lin Xiaoyu’s arm.

“Click.”

The handcuffs made a dull sound, and Jiang Ling suddenly remembered—they were connected for better or worse.

When Lin Xiaoyu rubbed her sleepy eyes and got up, Jiang Ling immediately asked, “Where’s the key?”

“Hmm… These are Xiao Ran’s handcuffs. The key’s not with me.”

Receiving this reply, Jiang Ling didn’t push further. After washing up in harmony, they set off for the practice room. After all, once they saw Mo Ran, the handcuffs would be unlocked.

What they didn’t realize was how striking this sight was to others. The moment they stepped into the dance studio, Jiang Ling clearly felt the air freeze instantly.

She looked up, meeting three stunned faces.

Bai Xue was fairly composed, observing their connected wrists with interest, even appraising them.

“Kind of romantic, isn’t it?”

Mo Ran, though briefly shocked, was generally accepting and spoke seriously, “This kind of thing is fine if you do it in your rooms, but there’s no need to—”

“You can’t even do it in your own room!”

Before Mo Ran could finish, Fang Wannian’s shrill scream interrupted her. Blushing furiously, she pointed at the sleepily dazed pair, stammering.

“How can you accept this so quickly? They, they’re… the two of them…”

At that moment, the young lady’s mind flashed with some indescribable scenes, turning her face redder and redder, until her forehead seemed to be steaming. She muttered words like “shameless” and “utter disgrace.”

Jiang Ling belatedly felt a strong sense of shame as well and quickly looked at Mo Ran. “Just give me the key quickly, or else Nan Nan’s going to combust on the spot!”

Mo Ran shook her head innocently.

“Who told you I have the key?”