My Online Lover Lives Next Door (GL) - Chapter 22

Little Star? Jian Fanxing fell into He Qing’s arms, forgetting to get up. Her eyes moved blankly to He Qing’s face. “You… what did you just call me?”

He Qing instinctively wanted to avoid the question, but Jian Fanxing just stared at her, unwavering. There was no way to escape under that gaze. He Qing quickly composed herself and, facing Jian Fanxing, curled her lips into a slight smile.

“I called you Little Star.”

“I think Little Star sounds better than Fanxing. It also… feels closer.” He Qing’s eyes held a deeper courage now, the tenderness in them like flowing water. Jian Fanxing’s expression faltered slightly, almost sinking into that gaze.

Only then did Jian Fanxing realize how incredibly close they were. He Qing was still holding her waist. Hmm, she had never thought that He Qing, who looked so tall and slender, would have such strong arms.

Jian Fanxing was momentarily dazed again.

He Qing had no idea what Jian Fanxing was thinking. She took the opportunity to ask, “So, Little Star, can I call you that?”

He Qing’s eyes were full of expectation.

Jian Fanxing nervously bit her lip. If it were before—just half an hour ago—she would have definitely rejected the nickname. To her, it carried only bad memories. But now that she had confirmed her own feelings, she found herself unable to refuse.

The person in front of her was someone different, not the one who had hurt her before. Even if the name was the same, even if the way she was called was the same, the result would definitely be different.

Thinking this through, Jian Fanxing stopped resisting and blushed. “Okay.”

Hearing this, He Qing was overjoyed. Little Star—she could finally call her that again.

Not through WeChat, not through a screen, but right in front of her, face to face, speaking this affectionate name aloud.

“Little Star.”

“Hmm?” Jian Fanxing blinked at He Qing, expecting her to say something.

But He Qing said nothing. She just smiled and repeated it again.

“Little Star.”

Jian Fanxing: “???”

“Little Star.”

Jian Fanxing: “…Sister He, do you have something to say?”

He Qing shook her head happily. “No, I just think these two words sound nice, so I wanted to say them a few more times.”

Jian Fanxing: Suddenly, the image of He Qing as a cool, professional woman was collapsing… She seemed a bit… silly?

Jian Fanxing thought He Qing’s behavior was a little foolish, but for some reason, a sweet warmth blossomed in her heart.

Avoiding He Qing’s gaze, Jian Fanxing lowered her eyes and noticed He Qing’s hand still around her waist. “Sister He, I know you’re strong, but my waist isn’t.”

Holding this posture for too long, she was already feeling a sore ache in her waist.

If He Qing didn’t let go soon, she might have to walk while holding her back later.

“Your waist?” He Qing frowned in concern and immediately helped Jian Fanxing stand properly. At the same time, she asked worriedly, “Did you injure it before? Have you seen a doctor? Do you need me to take you?”

Jian Fanxing: “…No, it’s just that the posture lasted too long.”

Embarrassed, Jian Fanxing lowered her head, wishing she could dig a hole and crawl inside.

He Qing, however, thought Jian Fanxing was just being shy and stubborn. She barely held back the impulse to carry her straight to the hospital. Instead, she gently reminded her, “As long as you’re fine. But if your waist ever really hurts, you must see a doctor. Don’t ignore it.”

Jian Fanxing: …Her waist was perfectly fine.

So, was she unable to explain this properly? For the first time, she truly understood the phrase: “A rumor starts with a single word, but proving the truth takes a lifetime.”

And the worst part? This misunderstanding was entirely her own fault.

She could only mumble in response, “I got it.”

“By the way, why were you looking for me?” He Qing finally remembered the original reason and asked in confusion.

Jian Fanxing blinked, also recalling her purpose. “Sister He, did you just knock on my door?”

“I was chatting with Yao Yao and got too caught up. I didn’t hear it. I’m sorry.” Jian Fanxing stood up straight and even gave a deep bow.

A full ninety-degree bow.

“You got too caught up chatting?” He Qing raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying the excuse. She reached out to help Jian Fanxing up, her gaze carrying a faint hint of amusement. “Little Star, can you tell me what you were chatting about?”

Jian Fanxing realized that He Qing really seemed to like calling her “Little Star.” Every time those words reached her ears, they were filled with warmth and affection. It was so comfortable, so addictive… so nice.

Chatting about what? You.

Just as He Qing finished asking, Jian Fanxing almost blurted out her answer.

“We were just talking randomly,” Jian Fanxing muttered to herself. Was she really this weak? Just because He Qing called her “Little Star,” she nearly spilled everything, even where she kept her household registration book.

He Qing didn’t believe her excuse and just smiled at her.

Jian Fanxing deflated like a balloon and admitted, “Fine, we were talking about you.”

Her eyes darted around as she nervously kicked the floor with her foot. “I run a social media account, but I haven’t updated in a while because I couldn’t find the right subject for photos. I… Yao Yao and I think that He Qing-jie…”

“Okay.”

“What?” Jian Fanxing looked at He Qing in surprise.

He Qing smiled. “I said okay.”

“But it’ll have to be in two days. I’m busy with work and can’t take time off right now.” He Qing looked apologetic but, for the first time, felt tempted to skip work.

“No problem.” Jian Fanxing was so surprised that He Qing agreed, she wouldn’t dare be picky about the timing.

“Then we’ll do it in two days.”

He Qing nodded. “Little Star, what should I wear for the shoot?”

Jian Fanxing: …Whatever you wear, you’ll look good.

Before she could say it, He Qing added, “Why don’t you pick for me? You’re the professional.”

He Qing’s words left no room for refusal.

If she couldn’t refuse, she might as well happily accept.

“Alright!” Jian Fanxing agreed cheerfully.

He Qing was pleased and suddenly said, “Little Star, wait here a moment.”

Jian Fanxing watched curiously as He Qing disappeared inside. When she returned, she was holding…

“Is this… an Australian lobster?!” Jian Fanxing exclaimed.

He Qing nodded. “A friend gave it to me. I thought you might like it.”

Jian Fanxing: She loved it! But considering its price, she hesitated.

“No refusing,” He Qing said firmly before she could protest.

Jian Fanxing looked at He Qing’s serious expression, then obediently took the lobster. She muttered under her breath, “Fine, I won’t refuse. No need to be so fierce about it.”

Since they were standing face to face, He Qing heard her muttering. She paused for a moment and asked uncertainly, “Was I… really that fierce?”

Jian Fanxing nodded hard. “Fierce.”

But also very charming—her heart had even skipped a beat just now.

Hearing this, He Qing fell silent for a moment, as if reflecting on herself. Then, after a brief pause, she said sincerely, “I’m sorry. I promise this won’t happen again.”

Her tone was serious, her attitude sincere.

Jian Fanxing: That was a bit dramatic.

But… was He Qing saying that she cared about her?

Feeling sweet inside, Jian Fanxing nodded and boldly said, “Alright, then I’ll keep an eye on you.”

He Qing smiled warmly and nodded slightly.

The two fell into silence again. Jian Fanxing knew it was time to go home, but… why didn’t she want to leave?

She shook the lobster in her hand, glanced down at it, then looked up at He Qing. “Lobsters taste best when they’re fresh, right?”

He Qing nodded.

Jian Fanxing’s eyes lit up. She immediately said, “Sister He, have you had dinner yet? Even if you have, it’s okay. We can have a late-night snack. Why don’t we cook it now and eat it together?”

That way, she could spend more time with He Qing.

Jian Fanxing thought her idea was brilliant.

He Qing also found it a great suggestion. How could she refuse? “Sure!”

“Lobster is best when it’s eaten fresh.”

So when Lu Yao saw her friend again, not only was she carrying a lobster, but standing right beside her was… He Qing?!

Lounging lazily on the couch, Lu Yao immediately sat up straight. “Miss He? What brings you here?”

“Wow, is that Australian lobster? Fanxing, did you go out to buy it? Feeling a bit rich today, huh?”

Lu Yao teased her friend.

“I didn’t buy it. Sister He’s friend gave it to her. We’re going to cook it later,” Jian Fanxing replied while heading toward the kitchen.

“Yao Yao, come help!”

Hearing there was lobster to eat, Lu Yao quickly responded and ran to the kitchen. “Miss He, have a seat. Make yourself at home!”

He Qing had been about to step toward the kitchen to help, but hearing that, she paused. She glanced at the kitchen, then, feeling a bit disappointed, walked over to sit on the sofa instead.

Even though she couldn’t go help Little Star in the kitchen, hearing Lu Yao say to treat this place as her own home… that sounded nice.

Inside the kitchen, Lu Yao peeked toward the living room and, seeing that He Qing had indeed sat down instead of coming in, she leaned closer to Jian Fanxing with a gossip-filled expression. “You and Miss He… something happened just now, didn’t it?”

“Did you confess to her?”