"Why are you apologizing? It's my fault. I was too impatient. Forget it, these things should happen naturally."
Qin Tian smiled and said frankly, "Alright, I admit I'm a bit envious. Let's not talk about this anymore."
Hearing him say this, Xia Nuannuan felt even more guilty.
"No, Brother Tian, you're right. Chen Zhuang and the others call you that too. It really isn't good. I should use a more intimate term."
Xia Nuannuan said seriously.
Qin Tian looked at her with surprise.
Xia Nuannuan's pretty face turned slightly red, and she added, "But... I can't bring myself to say the one you mentioned just now. How about something else?"
"Okay, I'll go with whatever you choose," Qin Tian nodded with a smile.
"Then say another one!"
"Huh? But I don't know of any other suitable names!"
"How about this, I'll go back to the dorm later and ask Shen Siqi and the others for their advice, and then we can discuss it, okay?"
"Sure, sure." Qin Tian nodded with amusement and said, "You don't need to be so serious. I just thought of it suddenly and mentioned it casually."
Xia Nuannuan just shook her head and didn't say anything. She felt this was a very important matter. As a girlfriend, she couldn't call Qin Tian the same way others did; she needed a special term.
"Alright, let's not talk about this for now." Qin Tian didn't expect Xia Nuannuan to be so serious, so he changed the subject. "By the way, that time you slapped the table just now was pretty cool. I didn't expect you to have that side of you. You surprised me."
"I, I was just angry! Who told him to say that about you?" Xia Nuannuan put on a pouty look, then asked a bit shyly, "Did I scare you? Do I seem fierce?"
Qin Tian released her hand, walked around to her, and affectionately embraced her slender waist. He smiled gently and said, "How could you? I know you're protecting me. Otherwise, with your personality, you wouldn't get upset with others. So, I like my Nuannuan even more. What should I do?"
Xia Nuannuan's eyes curved, and she nudged his shoulder with her little head, feeling both shy and delighted.
"But, from now on, I'll handle these things. You just need to know that I'm very capable and won't let anyone bully you."
"Mhm!"
"Nuannuan."
"Mhm?"
"I want to kiss you. What should I do?"
"Ah? Here?" Xia Nuannuan's beautiful eyes widened, and her pretty face flushed as she looked around.
Qin Tian had already lowered his head and gently kissed the top of her hair.
"There, this is like interest. When I have the chance, I'll collect the principal."
"You're annoying!"
"What? You find me annoying?"
"If you keep this up, I... I'll hit you!"
"Okay, okay, I won't tease you anymore, haha..."
...
...
Xia Nuannuan returned to the dormitory with the clothes she bought today. Lu Lei and Shen Siqi were already there.
"Nuannuan, you're back! Come help us see where we should put these two forms?" Shen Siqi asked, holding two forms and some clear tape with a smile.
"On this wall, or behind the door, anywhere that's conspicuous will do," Xia Nuannuan shared her thoughts.
"Then let's put them on this wall!" Shen Siqi nodded and got busy.
"Um... Lei Jie, Siqi, I have something I need your advice on." After placing her shopping bag on her desk, Xia Nuannuan said a bit nervously.
"What is it?" Shen Siqi, tearing off a piece of tape, glanced at her curiously. Lu Lei, sitting nearby, also looked at her questioningly.
"It's... um..." Xia Nuannuan stammered for a moment, her face flushed, then gritted her teeth and said, "What do you think is a better way for me to address Brother Tian?"
"Address?" Shen Siqi blinked in surprise. Lu Lei also paused, then immediately understood and smiled knowingly, "Nuannuan, are you talking about a term of endearment between couples?"
"Yes, yes!" Xia Nuannuan nodded like a pecking chick, looking at them expectantly.
"So that's what it is. Why did you suddenly think of this?" Shen Siqi asked playfully.
"Oh, don't ask me, just give me some ideas quickly." Xia Nuannuan said with a hint of annoyance.
"Alright, let me think about it." Shen Siqi nodded with a smile, putting up the forms while pondering.
"When it comes to how couples address each other, there's no fixed answer. Every couple is different. Just choose what you like and are used to," Lu Lei said with a gentle smile.
"Lei Jie is right. I think 'Brother Tian' is a good address!" Shen Siqi agreed. Xia Nuannuan shook her head and said, "Chen Zhuang and the others also call him that. I feel..."
"I understand. You want to differentiate and be closer, right?"
"Mhm!"
"Tsk tsk!" Shen Siqi clicked her tongue enviously and said slyly, "Nuannuan, honestly, is this your own idea, or did Qin Tian suggest it?"
"Brother Tian mentioned it, but it's also my own idea," Xia Nuannuan replied, her face red.
"Is it because of Lü Yanran and Cao Mingliang?" Lu Lei asked with a smile. Xia Nuannuan looked at her in surprise.
"That's right! When they left just now, Lü Yanran called him 'darling.' Oh my goodness, I was stunned when I heard that. It was too sudden," Shen Siqi said meaningfully.
"It's not entirely because of them," Xia Nuannuan said quickly.
"Got it!" Shen Siqi nodded and suggested, "I think you could also call him 'darling.' You and Qin Tian have been dating for so long, and your feelings are strong. It wouldn't be as abrupt as their situation."
"I... I tried, but I can't say it."
"Sigh, you're just too shy. If I had your looks, your figure, and a boyfriend like Qin Tian, I'd be calling him 'baby,' 'onii-san,' 'oppa' non-stop, driving him crazy."
"What are you even talking about?" Xia Nuannuan listened, dumbfounded.
"'Onii-san' is a Japanese term of endearment, and 'oppa' is Korean," Lu Lei explained with a smile.
"I know," Xia Nuannuan replied with a wry smile.
"Since you know, pick one! I think 'onii-san' is the best. Many guys like that kind of vibe," Shen Siqi winked.
"No, I can't say that either, and Brother Tian doesn't like anime, so it's not good," Xia Nuannuan shook her head and rejected it.
"Then let's keep it simple and translate directly. How about 'gege' (brother)? You are younger than Qin Tian, and many girls call their older boyfriends that," Lu Lei suggested with a smile.
"'Gege'..." Xia Nuannuan pondered. She didn't feel that this term was that difficult.
"I also think it's quite good," Shen Siqi agreed, saying, "Qin Tian spoils you so much. He really is like the childhood friend brother next door."
Hearing this, Xia Nuannuan's beautiful eyes lit up slightly.