Saving the Heartthrob Frenemy-Chapter 35: ...praise me, aren’t I good’.

Qie Xieling had never been this excited to go back home in his entire life. He couldn’t wait to drink pumpkin soup made by his dad and sleep in his big comfy bed.

He woke up earlier than usual and teacher Wong didn’t have to drag him out of his sleeping bag. He was also the first to get on the bus and as soon as he sat down he was as silent as a church mouse. With his earbuds, he leaned his head against the window seat while listening to music.

He was so absent-minded that he didn’t immediately notice when Luo Muchen sat next to him.

It was only when Luo Muchen tapped his arm with a flask did Qie Xieling notice he was even there. Qie Xieling glanced down at the flask and asked, "What?"

Luo Muchen opened it and said, "It’s for you. Be careful it’s hot." Qie Xieling saw the steam wafting from it and was kind of interested. Today the weather was a bit on the chilly side and his hands were cold. Using that excuse he had rushed into the bus.

Who would have thought that Luo Muchen would take his words to heart and bring him something warm? Qie Xieling accepted the flask with a complicated look on his face.

"Is that why you were late?" asked Qie Xieling while accepting it.

Luo Muchen just smiled slightly as he shuffled closer. They didn’t have any place to prepare warm beverages early afternoon but he managed to talk his way into using the park rangers’ kitchen. He was a little worried that Qie Xieling would catch a cold thus he jumped through so many hoops just to get him warm milk tea.

"How did you even get this?" asked Qie Xieling after taking a sip. He was not a fan of hot milk tea but this milk tea was specially made to his liking. It tasted so good that he couldn’t help but show satisfied creases at the corners of his eyes.

Luo Muchen leaned in close and whispered, "There are certain perks of being class president," with a tone that seemed to say ’praise me, aren’t I good’.

Qie Xieling had a feeling that Luo Muchen was showing off but he couldn’t prove it. Actually, Luo Muchen wasn’t showing off but he was trying to impress Qie Xieling.

Qie Xieling looked at the flask with a plane design and said, "Then I will also nominate myself as class president in the future. Be ready to lose to me," before lowering his head and taking another sip. The wisps of steam gave his eyes an air of mystery making it easy for Luo Muchen to get lost in them.

Luo Muchen subconsciously draped his arm over the back seat of Qie Xieling’s seat and replied, "That will never happen. You can be my vice though. Don’t worry I won’t treat you badly."

Qie Xieling squinted his eyes while staring at him. He could sense something was different about Luo Muchen but he just couldn’t point it out.

He always had a subtle feeling of being overwhelmed or overpowered by him though Luo Muchen wasn’t doing anything suspicious at all.

Bo Ailun who was sitting in the seat in front of them couldn’t resist getting on the bus seat and looking back.

"What good things are you sharing among yourselves?" he asked and Qie Xieling couldn’t help but laugh while saying,

"You really can’t help yourself, can you? This is a secret between me and the class president only."

Bo Ailun, "..."

"Ohoo, I see. Now that the class president and you are so close you won’t even let me in on your little secrets? Husband how could you betray me like this?" said Bo Ailun being incredibly dramatic.

Luo Muchen raised his brow upon hearing this form of address. He knew these two called each other older brother, father, uncle and even old man but he had never heard the address husband.

"You have been barred to the cold palace. This emperor has a new favourite," he said with a sly smile.

Bo Ailun was very committed to his act. He showed a look of distress and with his hand clutching his chest he said, "You promised I would be the only one. You said I was the love of your life."

Qie Xieling gently pinched Luo Muchen’s chin and said, "Look at this face. How can you think yourself worthy to contend? How can you compare to such a beauty."

Luo Muchen, "..."

"You two think yourselves actors, don’t you? Good to know you can be actors if you fail to get into university. Ailun, sit down," said teacher Wong while passing by doing a head count.

Bo Ailun hastily sat down and Qie Xieling subconsciously turned to look at Luo Muchen only to find him chuckling softly.

"What? What’s funny?" he asked and Luo Muchen just shook his head as he took the flask from his hand and drank its contents his gaze fixed on Qie Xieling.

Qie Xieling had on a look of utter disbelief. Why? Luo Muchen gave it to him yet here he was taking it back and drinking it. After he was done drinking it he gave it back with no shame at all. Qie Xieling rolled his eyes seeing that smug smile on his face.

He put his earbuds back in his ear and gazed out of the window with a slight quirk at the corner of his lips. Luo Muchen couldn’t help but watch him for a while and the person being gawked at wasn’t even aware. He was watching the forests and river they were passing by as the bus drove down the mountain. His trance was only broken when Luo Muchen placed his hand in front of him.

Qie Xieling glanced down and with a mischievous glint in his eyes he tried to smack Luo Muchen’s hand but Luo Muchen was smarter. He predicted his move and dodged while saying, "Your phone."

"What do you want it for?" he asked and Luo Muchen took out his cell phone.

"You promised," he said and Qie Xieling knew he could no longer play dumb. He knew what he promised before and his team was already asking for this ancestor to join. Who didn’t want to play games with someone who could take them to eat chicken every time they played?

"Fine, but don’t say anything. If you so much as write the word ’hie’ you are out. If you so much as send an emoji or an expression pack you are out," he threatened seriously.

Luo Muchen, "..."