The white rose I picked up cried and said she liked me.

Under Xu Xi's careful guidance, Xu Nian's grades improved by leaps and bounds.

Although he didn't have the amazing academic achievements of Xu Xi during his student days, he still stood firmly at the middle level.

He knew in his heart that his age was what it was, and his memory was not as good as before. No matter how hard he tried, there was only so much he could cram into his brain.

Even so, he was very content.

As he learned more and gained more experience, he gradually became more adept at dealing with Xu Xi's little tricks and schemes.

For example, right now.

"Brother, I have something very serious to tell you."

The living room floor lamp cast a warm, soft yellow light. Xu Xi, dressed in a well-fitting business suit, pushed up her thin-rimmed glasses, went around behind the sofa, and gently put her arm around the neck of the man who was looking down at a book.

"What's wrong?"

"Brother, have you thought about what kind of job you want to do after you graduate?"

"Work?"

Xu Nian scratched his head and remained silent for a long time.

He had never really thought about his future plans.

Given his personality, he definitely can't stay idle and would never be a full-time househusband; he'll definitely find something to do.

But he really hadn't figured out what to do.

"Since you haven't thought it through, how about I give you a suggestion?"

Xu Xi suddenly gave a wicked smile, flipped over, raised her leg clad in black stockings, and gently straddled his lap, her arms naturally wrapping around his waist.

The feel of the stockings came through the thin fabric, and Xu Nian unconsciously raised her hand and gently placed it on her calf.

"you say."

"It's like this," Xu Xi immediately stopped smiling and put on a serious expression, "As you know, I've donated most of the company's revenue, and now we're having some cash flow problems."

"So, I had a meeting with the finance department overnight and came up with a comprehensive tax avoidance plan to maintain the company's normal operation by paying less tax."

"and then?"

No matter how convincingly Xu Xi acted, Xu Nian still keenly caught the slyness in her eyes.

He knew Xu Xi was joking with him, but he deliberately didn't call her out on it. He just wanted to see how long this little girl could keep up the act and what new tricks she could come up with.

"At first there were no problems, it was all legitimate tax avoidance, but..."

Xu Xi reached out and touched her burning cheeks, coughed lightly twice, and said with a hint of embarrassment, "But recently, with the new policy regulations, many previously legitimate tax avoidances have become illegitimate tax avoidances."

"Fortunately, I have a few friends in the tax bureau who can help me turn a blind eye."

"But in a few years, they will retire, and when new tax officials take office, these irregularities of mine will definitely be discovered."

As she spoke, she leaned slightly forward, her forehead gently touching the man's, gazing intently into his eyes, and said each word carefully.

"So, I hope my brother can become that tax officer in the future and conduct a major investigation into the taxes I evaded."

After he finished speaking, an eerie silence fell over the living room.

"Pfft."

Xu Nian finally couldn't hold back and burst out laughing: "No, Xiao Xi, how can you say something so outrageous with such a straight face?"

Xu Xi couldn't hold back any longer. She instantly dropped all pretense, buried herself in the man's arms, and laughed heartily: "People who tell jokes never laugh on stage. It's etiquette, brother."

"Well done, my 'etiquette'."

Xu Nian picked her up and carried her upstairs to the bedroom.

"I think I really need to investigate you properly and see what kind of nonsense is going on in your little head."

"Hahahaha..."

...

"Waaaaah..."

.....

After a period of playful banter, the two lay on the soft bed in the bedroom, both panting heavily.

The evening breeze blew gently in through the window, lifting a corner of the curtains and revealing a hint of night.

Xu Nian turned over, wanting to pick up her phone from the bedside table to check the time. Just as she moved her arm, she heard a soft gasp from beside her.

"Duck!"

"What's wrong?"

You're stepping on my hair.

Xu Xi pouted and glared at him resentfully. She carefully picked up the few strands of hair that he had knocked down, frowned, and looked distressed.

"Hmph, brother, you're a bad guy! A bad guy, a bad guy! All you do is bully me!"

She threw herself into the man's arms and gave him a flurry of playful punches.

"Hahaha, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, it was my fault." Xu Nian quickly raised her hand and gently rubbed her hair.

"I won't accept it." Xu Xi stood with her hands on her hips, her round little face full of grievance. "If apologies were enough, what would we need the police for? What would we need the law for?"

"Then what do you suggest we do?"

Xu Xi's eyes suddenly lit up, a sly smile appeared on her face, and she leaned close to his ear and whispered, "I~want~to~punish~brother~."

Seeing her mischievous smile, Xu Nian's waist tightened instantly:

"Again? Xiaoxi, how about... tomorrow? I'm really tired today."

"Who said we were going to punish that?"

Xu Xi rolled her eyes at him, leaned back on the pillow, yawned widely, and said lazily and smugly, "I've eaten and drunk my fill today, but I'm too tired to go downstairs to pick up the package. As punishment, brother, go get the package for me."

Picking up a package?

Xu Nian immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as it's not a tax, you can punish him however you want.

How many packages have you received?

Xu Xi gave a sly smile, raised a slender finger, and waved it in front of his eyes.

"One? Okay, I'll go get it."

Xu Nian stood up, grabbed the coat draped over the bed, and put it on as she went downstairs.

As he reached the door, he suddenly stopped, recalling Xu Xi's meaningful smile from earlier, and felt inexplicably uneasy.

Usually, when Xu Xi shows that wicked smile, it means she's about to do something bad.

What tricks could she possibly pull when picking up a package?

Was the package particularly large and heavy, and she wanted to see herself embarrass herself?

Xu Nian thought about it more and more and felt it was possible, so she simply turned around and went into the storage room, pulling out the small trolley she usually used for camping.

Even the heaviest items can be easily retrieved with a trolley.

Anyway, there's only one, so it won't sink too far even if it's heavy.

Just as he was about to pull the car out, an orange figure rushed down from upstairs, meowed, and crashed heavily into the campervan, squatting down with its tail held high and swaying back and forth.

"Are you coming with me to pick up the package?" Xu Nian squatted down and rubbed the cat's head in the campervan.

"Meow." Mai Mai rubbed against his fingertips, making a soft purring sound in her throat, and her tail wagged even more happily, like a tiny antenna, which was incredibly cute.

"You weren't this enthusiastic when I asked you to go out for a run to lose weight."

Xu Nian smiled helplessly.

He knew Mai Mai too well. This little cow cat loved to go out and play, but didn't like to go out on her own. She always clung to him and Xu Xi, either stepping on their shoulders or hiding in her cat carrier, being taken out by them. She was incredibly lazy and playful.

"Let's go then, let's set off."

Xu Nian pulled the small cart and gently patted the edge of it.

Mai Mai squatted steadily inside, curiously craning her neck to look ahead.

A person and a cat walked out of their home and headed towards the express delivery station in the community.