Damn it, I'm surrounded by childhood sweethearts-Chapter 573 - 404. It’s good that it’s not a misunderstanding.

They stared at each other with widened eyes, exchanging looks for quite some time before Lin Jing finally snapped impatiently, "What nonsense are you spouting!"

Xu Qingfan awkwardly scratched his head, asking uncertainly, "So, Auntie, the reason you wanted to see me... it's not about Xiaoxiao's issue?"

"Of course not!" Lin Jing was still thinking about the stepfather matter, responding without a second thought.

"No, no, it is about Xiaoxiao's issue!" She quickly realized her mistake and corrected herself.

"Huh?"

Xu Qingfan was utterly confused, "So Auntie, are you still trying to find a stepfather... pfft, pff, to find Xiaoxiao a stepfather?"

This time Lin Jing didn't answer, the thoroughly exasperated her rewarded Xu Qingfan with a knock on the head.

"No, why are you hitting me, Auntie?" Xu Qingfan looked up with an innocent expression.

Seeing Xu Qingfan's facial expression made Lin Jing even more infuriated, she raised her hand as if to strike again, but ultimately held back.

She furrowed her brows and glared, getting to the point, "When did you and Xiaoxiao start this?"

Xu Qingfan's heart skipped a beat, even though he didn't understand the meaning of Auntie's words, he couldn't help but feel guilty for no reason.

[Start what? Does Auntie know about the kissing with Xiaoxiao? That shouldn't be the case!]

Seeing Xu Qingfan still blinking cluelessly, Lin Jing grew annoyed again, but after all, Xiao Fan had grown up under her watch, so she didn't lash out in anger.

"Just tell me, I know all about you and Xiaoxiao."

Xu Qingfan stopped blinking, but his mind raced to sort things out.

[The incident on the rooftop happened almost a year ago, definitely not that, Auntie seems so serious, it must be no small matter, but I haven't taken advantage of Xia Xiaoxiao recently, have I?]

The clueless man was unaware that just two hours earlier, his hands had only just moved in slow motion.

"I'm sorry, Auntie, I know my mistake."

Although Xu Qingfan didn't know what exactly he had done wrong, he felt sure that apologizing couldn't be wrong, Lin Jing had watched him grow up, she would never harm him.

[Sure enough!]

Lin Jing felt a bolt of lightning flash through her mind, she opened her mouth several times, unable to form words.

Xu Qingfan was equally panicked; Lin Jing was the class adviser, and her silent gaze made Xu Qingfan instinctively feel guilty.

"Uh.... Auntie, I really know I was wrong, I promise there won't be a next time." Seeing Lin Jing remain silent, he continued awkwardly admitting his mistakes.

[Damn it, did I sleepwalk last night?]

As he pondered this, the memories of a dream that had dissipated instantly came flooding back into his mind.

Pigtails, splits, and even the jade feet...

"Eh." As Xu Qingfan was lost in his thoughts, Lin Jing let out a long sigh.

Xu Qingfan snapped back to reality, but he heard Lin Jing suddenly say, "Auntie has watched you grow up from a child, Xiao Fan has always been a sensible and bright boy, and Auntie is especially fond of you."

Xu Qingfan didn't know what Auntie wanted to say, but he simply nodded obediently along with her words.

"About you and Xiaoxiao, Auntie will keep it a secret for now, and in principle, I don't oppose it, but we must make some agreements!" Lin Jing raised three fingers.

"Huh?"

Lin Jing didn't pay attention to Xu Qingfan, who was dumbfounded, assuming he was just a shy young boy, and continued, "Firstly, your academic performance must not be affected, Auntie has great confidence in both of you, and I believe that won't be a problem.

Secondly, that kind of thing absolutely must not happen in the house where you two are currently living together, and especially not at school!"

Lin Jing's voice even cracked with this point, the reason she emphasized it so strongly was that students nowadays mature too early and are way too audacious.

"Thirdly, you must take safety precautions, preferably until you graduate from university, you are both still young after all."

She finished, but Xu Qingfan couldn't comprehend a word, naturally maintaining a dumbstruck appearance.

Lin Jing thought Xiao Fan felt her requirements were too strict, not strict at all, okay!

But she understood that adolescent boys are indeed energetic, and after some thought, she softened her tone, "I'll try not to be home on Saturdays and Sundays, the rest I won't interfere with, but you must take safety precautions."

After finishing, Lin Jing herself felt her face flush, what was she even saying!

Yet Xu Qingfan still didn't speak, which made Lin Jing dissatisfied, thinking Xiao Fan was still not content.

"Do you understand?" she asked with a slightly stern voice.

If Xu Qingfan was initially confused, the repeated mention of "safety precautions" was enough to make even the dimmest of wits understand the situation.

"It's not... Auntie, have you... perhaps misunderstood something?" Xu Qingfan said timidly, meeting Lin Jing's stern gaze.

"What have I misunderstood when you just admitted to knowing you were wrong?" Lin Jing frowned discontentedly, her impression of Xiao Fan was not of someone so irresponsible.

"I didn't know, I saw you were so... uh, so serious, I thought I must have done something wrong by accident, so I just admitted it."

Xu Qingfan spread his hands, but his expression wasn't one of helplessness, more of a shrug.

Lin Jing felt three black lines forming on her forehead, she deeply believed Xu Qingfan's words because Xiao Fan had never been one to lie since he was young.

[Could it really be that I've misunderstood? But what about the diary and the lubricant?]

"Nothing happened between you and Xiao Xiao?" she asked with a hint of uncertainty.

"Eh... um," Xu Qingfan responded, sounding somewhat guilty.

Lin Jing removed her hands from her chest, finding it easier to breathe: "What's this all about?"

She brought up the photo on her phone to show Xu Qingfan, naturally not mentioning the diary incident—that would just expose her for snooping through her daughter's privacy, wouldn't it?

When Xu Qingfan saw the photo of the lubricant bottle, only half full, his mouth twitched involuntarily.

He finally understood why Lin Jing might misunderstand, not to mention himself who would definitely be confused too!

[Damn it, Xia Xiaoxiao, can't you just hide it properly after taking it? Besides, there were two-thirds left originally, now there's just a little bit left. Is this really so amusing?]

"Auntie, if I say... this is all just a misunderstanding, would you believe me?" Xu Qingfan blinked weakly.

"Speak!" Lin Jing crossed her arms over her chest again and stared intently at Xu Qingfan's face, as if trying to discern whether he was lying.

[Could there be a misunderstanding?]

Meanwhile, deep down she was somewhat reluctant to believe it. She had been angry when she first thought her daughter had lost her virginity, but now that it might be a misunderstanding, Lin Jing found herself somehow even more annoyed.

"Here's what happened... Xia Xiaoxiao always has this habit of rummaging through my things, as you know, Auntie. This morning, she found it in my drawer and took it back to her room out of curiosity."

Xu Qingfan recounted every detail starting with the moving banquet day, right up until the embarrassing moment this morning when he finished brushing his teeth and encountered Xia Xiaoxiao playing with the lubricant.

"So that's it. Xia Xiaoxiao felt embarrassed and ran back with the lubricant, and without realizing, your misunderstanding occurred." Xu Qingfan spread his hands, his expression now one of speechlessness.

[Damn Xia Xiaoxiao, no, no, damn dog Xia Xiaoxiao, you're going to get me killed!]

Lin Jing's face was expressionless, and it was hard to guess what she was thinking: "Such a thing should be thrown away after use. Why bring it home!"

"Exactly, exactly, you're absolutely right, Auntie. I'll go throw it out right now!" Xu Qingfan stood up, intending to slip away.

"Come back here!" Lin Jing's sharp call made him sit back down obediently.

"Even though it's a misunderstanding, still, Auntie means, if something really were to happen by accident, remember to take precautions," Lin Jing said with a hint of relief, secretly picking at her toes.

"Don't worry, Auntie. I absolutely won't start dating prematurely. And as for Xiao Xiao, I'll keep an eye on her, no chances for early romance."

Xu Qingfan mockingly saluted like a Young Pioneer, which made Lin Jing burst into laughter, her cheeks flushed like peach blossoms.

"It's really just for taking off your shoes, right?" she asked one last time for confirmation.

"Of course. If you don't believe me, I'll call Wanning right now!" Xu Qingfan said, pulling out his phone.

"No need, no need," Lin Jing hurriedly grabbed his hand to stop him.

"I believe you now, you child. Why apologize when it's not necessary!" She then playfully hit Xu Qingfan on the head.

"Mother hen, eh. Hehe, maybe it's just the born teacher's aura, Auntie; us bad students see it and get scared," Xu Qingfan joked.

Lin Jing shook her head: "It's Auntie who misunderstood you, I apologize. But about today..."

"I won't tell a third person, especially Xiao Xiao." Xu Qingfan cut her off before she could finish.

"Mhm." Lin Jing was quite impressed with the boy's quick wit.

If Zhang Chunxue knew what she was thinking at that moment, she'd proudly say, "Clever, right? I raised him!"

Yep, he's already under Auntie's influence.

"Mhm, mhm." Xu Qingfan nodded along, "Do you have anything else for me, Auntie?"

Lin Jing sighed internally, but on the outside she smiled: "Nothing else, Xiao Fan. If you're busy, go ahead. It's good I asked ahead; turns out it was a whole lot of nothing."

"Ha! It's all Xia Xiaoxiao, never a moment of peace. I'm sure you're tired, Auntie. I won't disturb your nap; I'll come back tonight to give you a massage."

Xu Qingfan massaged Lin Jing's shoulders with his hand, waved goodbye, and left.

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"Come home early for dinner tonight," Lin Jing called out with a smile, watching his retreating figure.

"Sure!"

Xu Qingfan waved farewell while internally cursing the traitorous Xia Xiaoxiao.

[Xia Xiaoxiao, you're so unreliable!]

"Wanning, I'm on my way," he said brightly as he called Lin Wanning.

"Yeah, Brother Qingfan, come and play ducks!"

"Brother, come quickly!"

That "ducks" made Xu Qingfan's thoughts wander off. After bidding Xia Xiaoxiao farewell, he soon left the house.

[Hehe~ play ducks, play ducks!]

Unlike the beaming Xu Qingfan, Lin Jing looked quite the opposite, her face filled with worry.

"How could it just be a misunderstanding, wouldn't it be alright even if it wasn't..." she muttered softly to herself, still seated in the same spot.

...