Showbiz Scandal: The Official Announcement of My Ex and Myself-Chapter 430: Dress-Up Game

"I bought this myself a long time ago. During a trip, I saw an uncle clearing out these items, saying these two wolf cubs, one male and one female, represented steadfast love because wolves are known for their loyalty, having only one partner for life. The uncle even told us a very poignant story about a wolf spirit, and then I bought them. In the scorching heat, I carried these two plush toys back, insisting on setting up a wolf den for them."

Remembering her past silly antics, she pointed to those colorful novels on the bookshelf.

"To showcase their great love, I often snuck in here late at night to sit beside the wolf den and read novels. When I cried, I’d hug them to console myself."

Back then, this wardrobe had indeed contained much of her youthful thrills and emotional tears.

The two wolf cubs were indeed gendered, with the female wolf cub having a pink bow on its head.

Xie Qingci pinched the two plush toys, casually took them over, and stuffed them into his pocket, leaving just a toy’s head sticking out.

"So you’re giving them to me, I get it."

"...You’re quite unceremonious."

Yu Xia opened the wardrobe door next to her, revealing a long clothing display area.

Various types of clothes and dresses hung inside, and she pulled out a light purple suspender dress.

"I bought it in sophomore year. There’s also a short top that matches it; I like to lower the suspenders and wear it as a normal dress. My classmates said that wearing this outfit, no boy in the class could possibly dislike me."

Xie Qingci, holding the wolf cub toy’s head, asked her, "What do you mean? You want to wear it for me?"

"My current figure should still fit," she gestured at her waist with her hands, then pretended to put the dress back, "Or I might have gained weight, so forget it, I’m still planning for the ice-breaking festival..."

Xie Qingci immediately grabbed the suspender dress, earnestly saying, "How could you possibly gain weight? You can wear it."

Yu Xia glanced at him, suppressing a laugh, "I meant washing it before the ice-breaking festival. It’s too cold to wear it now."

"You can wear two coats, plus I’ll be there," Xie Qingci opened his down jacket, stepped forward, and wrapped it around her, "You see, this works."

"Come on," she tossed the suspender dress onto the bed, pulling out another outfit from the wardrobe, "I’ll have to wait until summer to wear that."

Xie Qingci’s gaze fell on the outfit she pulled out.

A pink and white set, with a fluffy sweater featuring bunny ears on the back. The skirt was quite short, and there was... a white fluffy ball at the back.

He swallowed and said, "You’re right. This one’s good too."

Yu Xia tossed the clothes onto him, crossing her arms knowingly as she looked at him, "So, you’re into the cute style after all."

Previously, just a bit of coaxing and calling him Qingci brother, and he’d be so flustered he’d forget his own last name.

Xie Qingci didn’t deny, nor did he acknowledge, "I like whatever style you embark on."

"Even the beggar style?"

"That’s not impossible." He removed the clothes, placing them on the bed, tacitly agreeing that this piece would be taken away.

Yu Xia made a "tsk" sound.

With those two outfits as the beginning, Xie Qingci realized what kind of activity this was. Seeing her not making a move, he directly stepped in, his slender hand skimming through a row of hangers, seemingly picking clothes for himself, and selected another one.

"This one looks nice too."

Yu Xia glanced at it; it was an oatmeal-colored knit sweater with a row of buttons on the front that could be undone, usually matching it by leaving one button undone to create a small v-neck opening.

"I bought that in my junior year, wore it to an audition, and the director said I didn’t look innocent enough."

It was rather frustrating, as she hadn’t anticipated being turned down for not looking "innocent enough."

Xie Qingci commented, "Just take it as a compliment. Can I pick two more?"

She came back to her senses, "You picking clothes for yourself now?"

"I want to see you wear all these clothes one by one."

"Oh—" She narrowed her eyes, speaking meaningfully, "So deep inside, you’re a girl who loves playing dress-up games."

Xie Qingci paused, giving her a helpless look, "I just love watching you change, preferably with a transparent process and a clear result."

"In your dreams."

Later, he picked a few more clothes, but since they were mostly winter items, and a bit bulky, it wasn’t possible to carry them all in a backpack.

She exchanged it for an old suitcase, dragging it out past Yu Heng, who watched them expressionlessly.

"Are you planning to move out with all your belongings?"

Yu Xia retorted, "...What are you saying, brother? Since he’s a guest, shouldn’t we send some gifts for him to take back?"

"So many specialties in your room?"

"...It’s clothes! I’m having him take them back for me in advance!"

Yu Heng said, "Lazy to the bone, I say."

Then lowered his head, ignoring them.

Quickly, she dragged the suitcase to the guest room and told Xie Qingci, "You’ve already gained something; back then, my brother wouldn’t even let me bring a chicken leg back home for a male classmate, saying he’d rather buy a dog to eat it himself than let me give it away." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Xie Qingci couldn’t help but laugh.

"Your brother really keeps a tight watch on you. But that’s good, having a sister should be like that."

She asked, "Then why don’t you have a sister?"

He packed his belongings, saying apathetically, "My parents were contributing to social progress, no time to pass on genes."

She raised an eyebrow, saying nothing.

After packing up, Xie Qingci prepared to leave.

Before departing, he specifically pulled her aside to a corner, embracing her subtly, and said, "I have a new idea for the ice-breaking festival camping; remember to come back early."

In just one sentence, he quickly returned to a serious demeanor, dragging his suitcase out to bid farewell to Yue Ling and the others.

Yu Xia saw him to the underground parking lot, where they shared a kiss in the car.

A good while later, she finally retreated, wrapped the scarf she took from Xie Qingci loosely around her neck, covering half her face.

On New Year’s Day, Yu Yue saw her breeze into the room, bewilderedly asking Yue Ling, "Mom, what’s wrong with Aunt?"

Yue Ling was peeling an apple and meaningfully said, "Maybe she got so cold, it froze her from head to heart."

"What do you mean, Dad?"

Yu Heng glanced at him and said, "Your aunt secretly ate ice cream."

"So that’s why Mom said she got chilled." Yu Yue realized.

Yue Ling was choked, playfully glancing at Yu Heng.

In her room’s bathroom, Yu Xia couldn’t hear their conversation.

After taking off the scarf, she looked at her lips in the mirror, gave them a little pout, and felt a bit of a burning pain.

Then she turned on her phone, where the lock screen wallpaper had changed to a graphic made by Xie Qingci, simply bearing three words—Ice Breaking Festival.

Truly soul-stirring, she had seen demands for drafts or money, but never this.

So boring.

She grumbled inwardly but kept smiling as she looked, turning her phone’s screen on and off repeatedly, her mind wandering ten days ahead.

The Ice-Breaking Festival—