Chapter 563 - 363: Whose Fault Do You Think It Is?

Gu Muxue felt a little better. Xue Rui actually had every right to blame her, because they had broken up back then, and Lin Ruoxi was his girlfriend.

Now, Xue Rui’s apology made her feel how much she mattered.

An imperceptible smile graced Gu Muxue’s lips. She and Xue Rui never had to spell things out; they could always sense what the other was thinking.

"Hmph. You already have a girlfriend, so what are you doing here? Did I say we could get back together?" Gu Muxue crossed her arms and sat on the edge of the bed. She propped one leg on Xue Rui’s shoulder, swinging her bare foot back and forth with a look of utter contentment.

Xue Rui let out a helpless laugh. ’The little girl liked to look up at him, but this feisty young woman preferred to look down on him from above.’

’Too bad she’s wearing pajama pants,’ Xue Rui thought. ’I’ll have to gift Gu Muxue a few more nightgowns in the future...’

"Your Highness is magnanimous and doesn’t hold grudges against us common folk. Please spare this lowly one. Forgive me, won’t you?" Xue Rui said, playing along.

Gu Muxue looked into Xue Rui’s eyes and took a deep breath. "Fine. But I... I have one condition."

"Okay, I accept," Xue Rui said, giving Gu Muxue a meaningful smile.

"But I haven’t even said what it is," Gu Muxue murmured.

"I’ll agree to whatever you say." After speaking, Xue Rui gave her calf a light nip.

"Are you a dog or something?!" Gu Muxue scolded him with a laugh. She actually wanted to tell Xue Rui not to ask about her and Lin Ruoxi. She needed time to slowly untangle the complex emotional knot between the three of them until she could finally move past it.

But Xue Rui was so accepting of her.

’Xiaorui, you really are wonderful.’

But she wasn’t about to be nice to him. She pulled her leg back and tapped his shoulder with her foot. "Xiaoruzi, not a bad performance. You may leave now. And hand over your key on the way out."

"Muxue, try this cake." Xue Rui stood up and offered her the small cake he’d been holding this whole time. His goal for the night was to stay in her room.

"Get out, I’m going to bed." Gu Muxue suppressed a laugh. ’As if she didn’t know what was on Xue Rui’s mind.’

She picked up a glass of water from her nightstand and took the medicine she had prepared earlier, demonstrating her resolve to go to sleep.

But Xue Rui wouldn’t give up. "I’ll stand guard for Lady Muxue. I’m worried there might be assassins."

Gu Muxue shot Xue Rui an exasperated glare. ’Wasn’t he the only "assassin" here?’

"A thief crying ’thief!’"

Xue Rui paid her no mind, holding the cake to her lips. "Just one bite and I’ll leave."

’Once she eats the cake, she’ll have to get up to brush her teeth, won’t she?’

’And that’s when I can take my chance and slip into her covers.’

However, it was as if Gu Muxue had read his mind.

"I’m not eating it. I’d have to brush my teeth afterward, and who knows what you’re planning?"

As she spoke, Gu Muxue wrapped herself tightly in her blanket, tucking every last corner and edge firmly under her rear, leaving not a single gap.

Xue Rui’s brow twitched as he watched. This young woman was leagues more cunning than the little girl from before; she was guarding against him at every turn.

"Muxue, you’re not trusting me. I just want to talk with you a little longer," Xue Rui said in a soft voice.

Gu Muxue snapped her head around. "We can talk tomorrow. Didn’t you already get your wish by moving in?"

"Are you thinking there will be plenty of opportunities from now on?"

"Like, ’Oh, I’ll sleep at Muxue’s place tonight, then head over to Ruoxi’s tomorrow...’"

Xue Rui’s face flushed. The young woman was being far too blunt. What she hadn’t guessed, however, was that Xue Rui was actually thinking it would be best if they could *all* sleep together...

Xue Rui suddenly grit his teeth and pinched Gu Muxue’s cheek with his cream-covered hand.

’When dealing with this young woman, being physically assertive was far more effective than words. The only problem was you were more likely to get bitten...’

Gu Muxue suppressed her fury. Her face was now greasy. She squeezed a few words through her teeth: "Get your filthy hands off me!"

’She really wanted to bite Xue Rui, but Lin Ruoxi would be unhappy...’

For a moment, she was at a loss. Looking at the little bear-shaped cake in Xue Rui’s hand, she threatened, "Xiaorui, this is going to be your fate."

With that, Gu Muxue bit the little bear’s head off in one go. Her cheeks puffed out as she mumbled for Xue Rui to get out.

Xue Rui found her puffed-up, angry look adorable. He reached out and poked her cheek again, causing a smear of cream to ooze from the corner of Gu Muxue’s mouth...

"Mmph!"

Gu Muxue swallowed the mouthful of cake. She snatched the plate from Xue Rui’s hand, ready to smash it right in his face in retaliation.

But then she had a second thought. If this escalated, they would both end up covered in cream, and then she’d have truly fallen into Xue Rui’s trap.

She sighed helplessly. "Xiaorui, I took a sleeping pill a moment ago. It’s about to kick in."

Xue Rui’s hand trembled slightly, and a sharp pain pierced his heart. ’Does she suffer from insomnia every night?’

"Mm. Good night." Xue Rui leaned toward Gu Muxue and placed a gentle kiss on her smooth, clear forehead.

Regardless of whether she was telling the truth, he couldn’t take advantage of her in this state.

The only problem was, with both of his hands covered in cream, Xue Rui was now trying to push down the door handle with his elbow.

Gu Muxue touched her forehead, murmuring to herself. ’The Xue Rui from before wouldn’t have been this easy to get rid of. Did I make him feel guilty when I mentioned the pills?’

’Even though I acted all high and mighty, I don’t actually want him to feel indebted to me...’

Gu Muxue had never considered what life would be like as Xue Rui’s girlfriend, but a relationship built on one person owing the other was not what she wanted.

"Xiaorui, I’ll get the door for you." Gu Muxue stood up and took a delicate bite of the cake.