"Thank you," Mayi Asuka nodded gently.

It wasn't a thank you for the salutation, but gratitude for her having been invited, which allowed her to spend more time with Dubian—Xiaoquan Aonai immediately understood the meaning behind her gratitude.

She smiled, "Just call me Aonai, or Sister Aonai."

"Okay."

"From now on, come over for dinner every day." After saying this, she added worriedly, fearing rejection, "That way, both of us can eat with Dubian every day."

"Okay," Mayi nodded, "I can cook as well."

"I can't stand you guys, what's so good about that kid Dubian?" Akiko couldn't watch anymore and said, "Oh, and remember to pay for your meals. We split the cost among us, and that guy Dubian is no exception."

"Okay."

Akiko hesitated slightly, "Just call me Akiko from now on."

"Okay."

"You still have to call me teacher, got it?" Akiko turned and glared at Dubian Che.

"Yes, Akiko Sensei."

"Similarly, just call me Miyuki," Miyazaki Mieko said.

"Miyuki, we can't let that kid Dubian take any more liberties; he's already snatched our Aonai!"

"Aonai is mine," Dubian Che felt it was necessary to make this clear.

"What did you say?!" Akiko stood up on one foot, stepping on a stool.

"Aonai is mine," Dubian repeated.

Akiko was about to grab her chopsticks to duel him, but Xiaoquan Aonai quickly grabbed her hand.

"Don't argue at the dinner table, let's eat nicely!"

"Aonai, tell us, who do you belong to?" Akiko challenged.

"I…of course…" Xiaoquan Aonai also had her day in a chaotic scene.

"Tell us, do you want him or us?" Akiko pressed.

Miyazaki Mieko apathetically reached out with her chopsticks, pinched a fried shrimp from Akiko's plate, and ate leisurely.

Mayi Asuka picked up her own fried shrimp, asking Dubian Che if he wanted it, but he asked her to eat it herself.

After dinner, dishes washed, the five sat in the living room eating fruit and watching TV.

"Aonai, here," Xiaoquan Aonai passed the first slice of cantaloupe to Mayi Asuka.

"Thank you, Che," Mayi Asuka then passed it to Dubian Che.

"You eat," Dubian Che said softly.

"Okay," Mayi Asuka gently lifted her hair, her soft, thin lips touching the flesh of the cantaloupe.

After dividing the cantaloupe, Miyazaki Mieko said, "Hey, Kid."

"What is it, Miyazaki Sensei?"

"Tomorrow's your birthday?"

"Yup, got a birthday present for me?"

"June 9th is Aonai's birthday."

"So you brought up my birthday just to lead into that topic," Dubian nodded, indicating he remembered Xiaoquan Aonai's birthday, "I've already prepared the gift."

"Show us," Akiko demanded.

"Akiko!" Xiaoquan Aonai exclaimed.

"Aonai, don't mind me; you're too gentle. I'll help you keep an eye on this kid. We absolutely can't let him love you less or fool you!"

"Happy to be supervised," Dubian Che sincerely said.

"See, even he says so," Akiko boasted to Xiaoquan Aonai.

Xiaoquan Aonai sighed, a mixture of helplessness and happiness on her face, surrounded by loved ones like Dubian Che and her best friend Akiko who cared about her.

Dubian Che quickly ate the rest of his cantaloupe, threw away the rind, wiped his hands with a towel, and walked over to his backpack.

He pulled out a ring for Jiutiao Mei, a pendant for Mayi Asuka, and earrings for Xiaoquan Aonai.

A pair of small, intricately patterned blue spherical earrings, looking like jade.

"Miss Aonai, happy early birthday," Dubian Che handed over the earrings.

"So you really prepared. Well done, kid," Akiko, without complaining about the lack of a packaging, nodded approvingly.

Xiaoquan Aonai took the earrings, held them in her palm, and said happily, "Thank you!"

"Make sure you wear them all the time. They cost seven million yen," Dubian Che said.

One point equals one hundred yen, and one thousand points equal one hundred thousand yen, points translated into money may require multiplication by 10 or 100.

This is not important, the reason why it is said to be seven million yen is that it is a lucky pendant; let Xiaoquan Aonai carry it with her.

"Seven million?!" Three teachers stared at him, dumbfounded.

"Young man, did you spend Jiutiao's money?" Miyazaki Meijie asked.

"My mother is actually a lost rich young lady, and we still have some savings at home." Making up an excuse, Dubian Che continued to Xiaoquan Aonai, "Make sure you wear it."

Xiaoquan Aonai hesitated slightly, "Hmm, I will keep wearing it. By the way, Dubian, I also have a birthday gift for you."

"There's no rush, teacher, put it on for me to see first," Dubian Che said, with a hint of laughter in his voice.

Xiaoquan Aonai had ear piercings and occasionally wore some fresh and delicate earrings, which Dubian Che had seen.

Once she put on the birthday gift, the emerald-colored bead hid well within her long hair, but if noticed, it would dazzle with her fair side face, making one subconsciously think, 'That looks really nice.'

"How does it look?" Xiaoquan Aonai asked everyone, yet her gaze was fixed on Dubian Che's expression.

"Let me give that ear a kiss," Dubian Che joked.

Xiaoquan Aonai felt both delighted and embarrassed, "Mayi is still here."

"It's okay," Mayi Asuka said calmly, "After Che kisses you, I will have him kiss me."

Because she was so calm, Xiaoquan Aonai couldn't tell for the moment whether she was being provocative.

"Seven million yen earrings do look pretty," Akiko said, enviously.

Then, still somewhat in disbelief, she asked Dubian Che, "Are they really worth seven million yen?"

"Wait for your birthday, Akiko, I'll give you a five million yen watch, to thank you and Miss Miyuki for taking care of Miss Aonai."

"No, no, no, don't give it to me, I believe you, don't try to bribe me with money, I'll always stand with Aonai and keep picking on you!"

"Having a friend like you, Akiko, makes me feel assured about Mr. Xiaoquan's safety," Dubian Che said.

"However," Akiko lowered her voice jokingly, "you could buy her this apartment, I have no objections to that."

"Akiko!" Xiaoquan Aonai yelled, embarrassed.

"I agree," Miyazaki Mieko nodded, "She is willingly with you, young Dubian, you should at least make her feel secure."

"Mieko! Dubian, don't mind them, the two of them are just babbling nonsense!"

"Teacher, having friends like this makes only make me happy," Dubian Che said with a smile, "After school tomorrow, Meiji and the others are celebrating my birthday. How about shopping on Saturday?"

Akiko and Miyazaki Mieko stood there dumbfounded, but then they snapped back to reality.

Constantly reminding themselves, 'Dubian Che is a friend's boyfriend', both gradually began to get over the impact of the smile.

"Dubian!" Xiaoquan Aonai, like she was playfully complaining, caught Dubian Che's hand, slightly happy yet slightly angry, "Don't listen to them. Besides, this Saturday and Sunday, I am traveling to Atami with them."

"Aren't we kissing?" Mayi Asuka suddenly asked.

"Ah!" Xiaoquan Aonai exclaimed in surprise, hastily letting go of his hand and standing up in a flurry, "I'm going to get the birthday gift!"

Mayi Asuka's expressionless face showed a slight hint of regret.

Dubian Che patted her hand, "Don't scare Mr. Xiaoquan; she's shy."

Mayi Asuka's face remained expressionless, but she tilted her head slightly, puzzled, "Haven't Che and Aonai done it?"

Xiaoquan Aonai increased her pace to escape.

"Young man," Miyazaki Mieko asked, "how many people have you been with?"

"Should I answer that kind of question?" Dubian Che replied, surprised.

"Consider it a pre-marital check," Miyazaki Mieko joked solemnly.

"School doctor doing a pre-marital check? Two, Meiji and Mayi," he answered honestly.

"Hmm," Miyazaki Mieko nodded in approval, "Seems the pre-marital check passed."

"I thought you were a playboy, but turns out you are quite honorable—only with... no, wait, I almost got brainwashed by you!" Akiko slapped her head, "You are a scumbag with a legitimate wife and two lovers."

"That's right, I am a scumbag," Dubian Che agreed, nodding vigorously.

"Actually, it's not too bad, at least you're willing to take responsibility, not totally worthless," Akiko somewhat embarrassingly consoled, then curiously asked, "Haven't you done anything with Kiyono Lin?"

Dubian Che said helplessly, "Akiko, I've told you, she's just a friend, it was a misunderstanding when I said she was a lover."

"And you can resist such a beauty?" Akiko asked skeptically.

"You and Mieko aren't too bad either, I feel absolutely nothing for you."

"You little, are you asking for trouble?"

"Young man, you can tease Akiko, but why include me?"

Xiaoquan Aonai appeared just in time to stop a nearly breaking out brawl in the living room.

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